In the Heart of the Forest

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Thea

"Only two more weeks until Christmas break!" Rose says as we sit down at our lunch table.

"I can't believe it's been over three months since I moved here," I say.

"Its been the best three months for me," Carter says smiling down at me as he places his arm over my shoulders. I snuggle into his side, returning the affection. I guess you could say we have gotten closer. We have brushed lips a few times and I am much more comfortable having his arms around me, though I am nowhere near giving myself to him completely.

It's just not who I am. I suppose one could say I am old fashioned; I prefer to wait until marriage before going all the way. Though he doesn't necessarily like it, Carter respects my boundaries. I feel like if it were a major problem he would have told me or broken up with me, but since that hasn't happened, I suppose he is alright with it.

I pull out my lunch and take a bite of my sandwich. Across from me, Rose talks animatedly with Jack. I feel like there is something between them, but I'm not sure.

On the other side of the room, I see Logan sitting quietly. He seems kind of down, but then again, he always does. He wears the usual cuts and scrapes with dark circles under his eyes.

"Who are you looking at?" Carter says, pulling me closer almost possesively.

"Erm, no one," I lie, looking up at him.

"I'm glad that Logan guy stopped stalking you. I think the creep knows you're mine now," he whispers in my ear. I shake my head nearly imperceptibly. Nearly.

"What do you mean, no?" Carter says, pulling back to look at me. "No, as in, you aren't mine? Or no, as in, you wish he were still stalking you?"

Both.

"He never stalked me, per se, he just watched out for me. And I guess when we started dating he realized I didn't need protecting," I say with a shrug, not even mentioning his use of the word 'mine.' For some reason, that one doesn't sit well with me.

"Whatever. The guy is still a creep," he says, going back to his food.

I sigh, looking back at Logan. I wish there were something that could make him as happy as he was when he was with me.

○○○

Logan

We are slowly making headway with the Black Claws. Their numbers are slowly decreasing due to attacks on our end and failed attacks on their part. At this point, we just need to kill the alpha. I know it sounds harsh, but it's the only way to destroy a pack. At this point, its kill or be killed.

I watch as Carter and Thea seem to be having an argument. I can't hear what they are saying from here, but I can tell he is more upset than she is. He better not be being mean to her. Eventually, they go back to eating their lunch, effectively ridding me of my concerns.

Maybe this war will end soon, but then what? Thea is already in a relationship and I wouldn't break them up if it meant ruining her happiness.

Don't you think you should have thought of that before? I told you it was a bad idea to let her go. My wolf says. Just think. She could be pregnant with our pups by now! She could be bearing our mark on her neck, but no, that was apparently a terrible idea.

Shut up! There is more to it than just instinct. Yes, I wish she bore our mark, but there is no way I would get her pregnant! Well, not unless she wanted me to. It's not like I would say no... I trail off before shaking my head, dismissing my perverted thoughts.