Sould As The Alpha King's Breeder

Chapter 45: Duck and Run

Troy

“Look at that thing.” I said to Keaton as we pulled the skiff to shore once again, the high tide beginning to retreat as we dragged the skiff onto the beach. I tied the rope to the stake above the shoreline, double checking the knot before looking back at the dog, who was following Maeve around as if she were a mother duck, and he was the duckling. “That’s it. That’s his name.”

“What is?” Keaton asked, wringing water from his shirt. We had almost capsized the skiff as we broke over the reef where the waves crashed into the shallows with vigor. Keaton had gotten the worst of it, the wave soaking him from the neck down.

“Duck, that’s a perfect name for him.”

“You’re naming the thing now? I thought we weren’t keeping it.”

“Try telling that to Myla and Maeve,” I said, shaking my head.

Robbie was walking towards us, looking out over the water before stopping short of us, allowing us to catch up to him.

“The crewmen we sent out as scouts last night are back,” he said, motioning to the group of men congregating around Olly’s cooking fire. “Pete said they saw no signs of the other skiffs.”

“Any signs of other people?” I asked, running my fingers through my hair.

“No, not even a scent. They did pick up on a lot of wildlife, though. Pete went a little nuts, according to the others.”

“Well, none of the crew has shifted in weeks. I don’t blame him for feeling the urge to chase lizards through the brush.” Keaton leaned over and shook his wet hair back and forth, spraying me and Robbie with water.

“I could use a shift,” Robbie said, wiping the water from his shirt as he glared down at Keaton.

“Aye, we all could. Go ahead, Rob. Let us know if you run into anything worth noting,” Keaton said as began to walk up the beach ahead of us, his sights on Myla.

“Want to come with?” Robbie asked.

“Sure, why not.” 1 shrugged, glad he asked. I hadn’t shifted since I was at the castle and had access to the grounds.

We walked up the beach for a moment with the intent of letting the others know I would be joining Robbie.

But then I had an idea.

Maeve was sitting on the beach, rolling a seashell in the palm of her hands as we approached. She looked up, shielding her eyes from the Sun with her hand.

“Hey, what’re you—”

“Where’s the dog?” I asked, looking around. Robbie whistled loudly behind me, the sound startling me and making me flinch.

The dog came bounding up the beach towards us, his tongue hanging out of the side of his mouth.

“How big do you think his brain is?” Robbie asked.

“Pretty small. I mean, look at him,”

as he came to a stop in front of her and leaned into her,

said to the dog. He seemed to understand this. He barked excitedly, his tail smacking Maeve

Duck bounded past us, zooming across the sand in a wide circle at least three times. Robbie watched in delight, clapping his hands as Duck did a fourth circle,

with that thing,” I said, reaching down and ruffling Maeve’s

him? Did you say

“Yeah, that’s his name.”

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Chapter US Dexa

un

that’s a terrible name for a

going out for a run with Robbie We’re taking the dog with

upset about this, but I couldn’t tell if it was because she couldn’t shift or because we were taking

just appear out of nowhere, Maeve. He was obviously someone’s pet at one point. We’re

her lips looking down

them. I said, and she glared up at me, tossing the shelt back into the sand. I’d take you if VOU could

you even going to run with your arm still

i insisted. The break was healing just fine, and the bruising from being tossed across the ship was starting to

legs out in

crouching down in front of her. Things had been easier between us, but there was still an obvious rift. I

a small

the urge to ruftle her hair again, my hand clenching into a fist to stop

camp, and soon we were walking in the dense, humid jungle beyond the beach, reaching

of our clothes, Duck

said to Robbie as I shook out my stiff muscles, moving my neck

testing out

deep chestnut coat shining in the soft sunlight coming

his tail slowly

us?” I asked Robbie

something, Robbie replied,

do I ask a dog?’ I stared at Duck, tilting my head from

dog!’ Robbie said, ‘Do you want to GO, GO

the ground again. “He can’t understand us, man. Don’t tell Maeve we tried

risen to all fours and was nervously shifting his weight. I barked,

were off, running into

from a small creek we had found, panting happily as he turned from the water. He was having fun with us, and he had kept up like a champ. That boy could run, that was

greyhound. He looks like one,’ Robbie said as

about that in years, ‘I answered, sitting down and resting my front legs. I could definitely feel my injury now. The bone was sore and

along the beach on our way back,

his ears perking up and eyes going wide as

smell?’ Robbie asked as he sniffed. I lifted

is that coming

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