Chapter 107

Ashlynn POV

I was sincerely curious about Natalie's affections towards Carl. I had gotten to know him pretty well over the past couple of years. He was genuinely a good guy, but he had made a mistake by dating one of the untamed she-wolves who stayed in the pack house. The girl was trouble and she was always stirring up controversy. I stayed well away from most of it, but I still heard about it all, whether I wanted to or not. My Aunt Jenna had a few girls on her radar who she would like to see mated outside of our pack and gone. This particular girl was one of them.

Shawna filled me in on what she had overheard, both about Michael and her and about Carl. It brought me back to when Bonnie had shamelessly tried to seduce my mate and create problems for us. These women were similar, though not as brazen or trampish. At least they didn't have a child and a mate elsewhere. Regardless, Shawna should realize that Michael loves her and nothing that girl could say or do would change that. "What if she's his mate?" she asked.

"She's not," I told her with confidence. "Michael is."

"How do you know?" she asked.

"The same way I knew Dawson was mine and he knew I was his," I told her. "It's a feeling and the way he looks at you and always has, like you hung the moon. He's your mate. He's also kind of a scary guy and I imagine if those girls try to interfere tonight, they may wish they hadn't."

"He wouldn't hurt them," Shawna said.

"Why wouldn't he?" I asked. "Because he wouldn't hurt you doesn't mean he won't hurt others. He's a trained protector and, as your mate, his instinct will be ten fold, you wait and see," I advised. I motioned to the left of us. "See that big oak tree there with the carving in the bark," they both nodded. "That marks three hundred yards in on this path. Every time you see a tree with the moon carved into it, that's another three hundred yards. There is a small mark, like a line next to it. That means it's the first. The next tree will have two slashes." It had been a genius idea that Cody had come up with years ago, so the younger pups could venture out and know when they had gone to far into the woods, they would turn around at the exact tree they were instructed. It was also helpful when we had visitors.

"That's really a great idea," Natalie said. "It's good for the warriors when they want to go running too. They can know how far they have gone."

"Yes, they use it for that too. After you reach the waterfall, though, the markings change. Mostly because the general pack doesn't venture past there without letting someone know, and with the patrol being made aware. It's for their safety. We do have hunters in the mountains and while this pack land is surrounded by a fence, it won't necessarily stop and unknowing human from coming onto the land," I advised.

We continued to walk through the woods, the birds chirping all around us. Streams of light beamed down through the trees, casting beautiful rays around us. I could hear the creek gurgling nearby and if we weren't walking and talking, I could faintly make out the sounds of the waterfall as well. "So," Natalie began. "What do you know about Carl and this girl? He assured me that he was single and that he was interested in getting to know me. Is he a good guy? Should I be concerned that he's just playing with me?"

I stopped and turned around to give her a quick once over. Natalie was beautiful and strong, clearly capable of taking care of herself. I wasn't the least bit concerned that she wouldn't be able to defend herself if those girls tried anything tonight. The truth was, they would be stupid to try. Natalie had a reputation for being a strong and ruthless warrior. "I don't think you should worry. He broke it off with her a while back. He told her he didn't see a future with her and that she should find her mate, maybe go travel to some of the other packs who have mating balls and what not. She threw a tempertantrum that the whole pack heard about. I know she still tries to talk to him but he makes sure he's never alone with her. He actually moved out of the pack house and is in Dawson's old apartment now. She has no idea where he's living now, everyone has tried to keep it quiet and few people know that Dawson gave him that apartment."

"And if she starts trouble with me tonight?" Natalie asked.

"Kick her ass," I said with a smirk. "I would."