The Mate He Gave Away novel · Chapter 23 of 40

Chapter 23: The Pass

I waited one more hour.

It was the longest hour of my life.

Then I went down to the yard.

The sergeant was already there with a lantern, arguing with the gate guard about who'd go up next.

"Nobody can see a hand in front of their face up there," the guard was saying. "We'll lose more men."

"Then we lose them," the sergeant said. "I'm not leaving the lad on the mountain."

"You won't find him," I said.

They both turned around.

"Not with lanterns. Not in that. The snow's filled every track they made."

"Then how?" said the sergeant.

I untied my shawl.

"With a nose."

Agnes had followed me out. She grabbed my arm.

"No. Absolutely not. You're carrying."

"I know what I'm carrying."

"You'll lose it."

I looked past her at the physician, who'd come out wrapped in two blankets.

"Will I?"

He hesitated.

"Early on, a she-wolf can run," he said slowly. "The pup's safer in her than anywhere. It's the cold that's the danger. And falls."

"Then I won't fall."

"Clem," Agnes said.

"He's up there, Agnes." My voice cracked. I let it. "He's up there, and I can smell my way to him, and nobody else here can. I'm going."

She held on to my arm a moment longer.

← Chapter 22 · All chapters · Chapter 24 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend