Ashleigh quickly opened her door, hopping out of the car.

“Granger?” she called out to him. A lilt in her voice expressed her confusion at his presence.

He smiled at her, rushing to her side and wrapping his arms around her waist. Then he lifted her into the air, eliciting an involuntary squeal from her lips. Finally, he spun her around with a laugh.

“What are you—mmf!” Ashleigh started to ask as he lowered her to the ground, her words quickly smothered by his mouth covering hers.

He pulled her tightly against his body, kissing her passionately.

Ashleigh melted against him, the familiar feeling of him, the sweet taste of his lips. Without even realizing it, she had already responded to him enthusiastically.

Granger pulled away when their mutual need for air became unbearable. Ashleigh was left panting breathlessly as Granger nuzzled against her throat.

He kissed her lightly, his lips grazing over a particular bundle of nerves that sent a wave of pleasure through her body.

Ashleigh moaned softly. It felt good; she gripped his hair between her fingers. Suddenly, a memory slipped through the pleasure that muddled her mind.

Caleb rushed towards her, wrapping his arms around her waist. He pressed his nose into the crook of her neck, breathing her scent into his lungs deeply as though it were oxygen.

She laughed at his impatience before wrapping her arms around his neck and laying her head against his.

The memory was enough to bring her back to her senses. She felt as though a bucket of ice water had been dropped over her.

“Granger,” she said softly, gently pushing him away from her neck.

He looked into her eyes questioningly. She smiled, trying to reassure him. He smiled back, but not before she noticed a glimmer of fear.

Granger backed up just enough for a hand to fit between them. He kept his arms around her.

“Didn’t you miss me?” he murmured playfully.

“Of course,” she laughed, a blush creeping into her face, “but we aren’t alone right now.”_.

Granger leaned close to her ear, whispering, “if only we were.”

Ashleigh turned her eyes down shyly. Granger let out a satisfied chuckle as he looked away just long enough for her to look past him. Her eyes immediately found where Caleb stood.

His eyes were locked on them, witnessing each intimate moment with a front-row view.

Even at this distance, she could see the hurt in those grey orbs. She swallowed the guilt that crept up from the pit in her stomach.

Granger kissed her lips once more.

“Let’s go find where we are staying tonight,” Ganger whispered before pulling her along behind him. They walked past Caleb without a word.

***

The campsite was more of a small camp. There were four modest cabins, each with enough room for up to five people to sleep.

It was the halfway point between Summer and Winter, frequently used by different packs and considered neutral ground.

Caleb had stayed here only once or twice before. Over the years, the few trips he had taken to Winter had him driving through the night. They had only stopped this time by his request.

He had wanted Ashleigh to have a break from being in the car so long.

A decision he regretted.

The door to the cabin opened behind him. He turned to see Galen entering.

“The car has been fueled and locked up; it is ready to go at first light,” Galen reported.

Caleb only grunted an acknowledgment in response.

Galen sighed. They had hardly spoken a word to each other in the past two days. He wasn’t sure which one of them owed the other an apology, but after what Caleb had just been forced to witness, it didn’t matter anymore.

“So,” Galen began, “do you want to talk about it? Go for a run?”

“Galen,” Caleb sighed.

“Sparring?” Galen offered, taking off his coat, “Ok. Just remember I do need to be able to drive tomorrow, so try to hold back a little.”

“It’s not like I didn’t know.” Caleb sighed with a grumble, “I told you before, she already has a mate.”

Caleb had stood frozen for a solid minute after Granger had led Ashleigh away. He had been unable to peel his eyes away from the disgusting display.

“Hmm,” Galen replied, “so you’re just fine with it?”

They had known each other for ten years and saw each other through their father’s deaths. But Caleb had never allowed the kind of sadness Galen could see now to show in his eyes before.

Caleb read his reaction. Suddenly, the sadness Galen had glimpsed disappeared.

“I’m going for a walk,” Caleb stated as he headed to the door.

***

Ashleigh closed the cabin door behind her. Saul and Granger had taken the second bedroom.

Granger had decided to take a shower, and Ashleigh took the opportunity to get some fresh air.

She walked past the cabins into the trees that surrounded them. There was an overwhelming need to get away.

Ashleigh had been shocked to see Granger. She had missed him. She was happy to see him, but there was a guilt that tugged at the edges of her heart.

‘For who?’ she wondered to herself.

“A warning would have been nice,” Caleb’s voice came from the trees ahead of her.

He stepped out into the moonlight, highlighted as though he were some kind of ethereal being, her breath caught in her throat.

‘Why, of all people, is he here?” Ashleigh grumbled in her mind.

“I didn’t know,” she replied softly. “I was just as surprised as you were.”

“Not quite,” he murmured to himself.

“Caleb, I really—” Ashleigh tried to explain but was interrupted.

“There you are,” Granger called out from behind her.

He approached them with a big smile.

“Alpha Caleb.”

Granger greeted Caleb with a proper salute before wrapping his arms around Ashleigh’s waist from behind. He rested his chin on her shoulder, kissing her neck tenderly.

“Don’t let me intrude.” Caleb huffed before walking away.

Ashleigh was unable to say a word. What was there to say? Granger was the one she loved, the one she had chosen.

When Caleb was far enough away, just as Ashleigh had started to relax in Granger’s arms. He let her go.

“Why does he keep trying to get close to you?” Granger asked, still watching in the direction Caleb had left.

“He wasn’t. He just—” Ashleigh started to answer.

“Oh, come on, Ash, you don’t really think he just happened to run into you.” Granger scoffed.

“Granger, I was the one that walked in his direction,” Ashleigh answered. Then, noticing the look he gave her, she quickly added, “I didn’t know he was there. I just wanted to enjoy the moonlight.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving?” he asked, getting close to her again.

“I thought you were getting in the shower; I wasn’t planning to be gone long.”

“You need to tell me when you go somewhere,” Granger demanded.

“As I said, I planned to be back quickly,” Ashleigh said.

“It doesn’t matter,” Granger said aggressively.

Ashleigh found herself taking a step back. His tone was unlike anything she had ever heard from him before. As their eyes met, his expression changed abruptly. He then smiled warmly.

“Baby, I worry about you,” he sighed. Reaching out to her once more. “You are my everything, and we haven’t seen each other in two weeks. The thought that you have spent all this time near him. It kills me.”

He pulled her close, kissing the top of her head.

“Don’t you know how much you mean to me?” he whispered.

Ashleigh hugged him back.

“I know,” she whispered.

They held each other quietly for a long time. It wasn’t until they walked back to the cabin that they spoke again.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were going to Summer?” Granger asked.

“I tried, but you wouldn’t talk to me,” she answered honestly.

“I was upset,” Granger replied, keeping his voice neutral, though he clenched his jaw tightly. “You told me you didn’t want to marry me.”

“That’s not what I said!”

Ashleigh stopped walking, pulling on his hand to look at her. He turned slowly, looking down and refusing to look at her face. Finally, she reached a hand up to his chin, forcing him to look at her.

“Granger, I told you that we couldn’t get married yet. Yet. We just need to wait until everything has calmed down.”

“Yea, that’s what you said, but then you took off to Summer with him.” Granger huffed, looking away.

“My Alpha gave me an assignment, and I fulfilled my duty. That is all!” Ashleigh shouted.

“Really?” Granger asked, raising his eyes to Ashleigh.

“Yes,” she answered.

Granger stepped close to her again, reaching his hands out to hers, she took them.

“Do you mean it, Ashleigh?” he asked, looking her in the eyes, searching for something. “You still love me?”

“Of course…” Ashleigh said, placing her hand on his cheek.

She had loved him for two years and continued to love him now. He was her mate; she would marry him. The guilt in her heart was his, only his.

‘Yes,’ she thought to herself, ‘I regret the moments I have shared with Caleb. I regret doing anything that could have hurt Granger. I love him. Granger is the man I will marry.’

“Do you promise?” Granger asked.

“What?” she wasn’t sure what he was asking.

“Do you promise that I am the one you choose? That you will marry me? That I am the only one you love?”

Ashleigh hesitated. Her heart was racing. She felt as though it would leap out of her throat.

“Yes. I promise,” Ashleigh whispered.

Granger hugged her tightly, an action that allowed Ashleigh to hide the tears that fell. Instead, she made a silent promise to herself.

‘I promise from now on, you will be the only one I love.’