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

coming with us, Duck,” I said to the dog. He seemed to understand this. He

a wide circle at least three times. Robbie watched in delight,

said, reaching down and ruffling Maeve’s

you call him?

“Yeah, that’s his name.”

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Chapter US Dexa

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when that’s a terrible name

a run with Robbie We’re taking the

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

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

pursed her lips looking down at the

We can decorate our tent with them. I said, and she glared up at me, tossing

you even going to run

the bruising from being

her legs out in the sand, Just don’t lose my dog,

crouching down in front of her. Things had been easier between us, but there was still an obvious rift. I kissed her, nonetheless, thankful when she returned the kiss

a

resisted the urge to ruftle her hair again, my hand clenching into a fist to stop myself from messing with her just

still watching the dog run excited circles around the camp, and soon we

Duck sitting patiently

to Robbie as I

a bit as I pawed the ground, testing out my hurt arm. Well, now it was

came up beside me, his deep chestnut coat shining in the soft sunlight

slightly, his tail slowly moving back and forth on the

think he can understand us?” I asked Robbie over

him something, Robbie replied, sniffing the

at Duck,

you want to GO, GO

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

away from the pool, looking back over our shoulders at Duck, who had risen to all fours and was nervously shifting his weight. I barked, once, getting his attention. His ears perked up, accepting whatever silent invitation passed between

into the depths

a few hours since we left camp, and the sun was beginning to set. Duck was lapping water 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

He looks like one,’ Robbie said as

the races in Avondale? I haven’t thought about that in years, ‘I answered, sitting down and resting my front legs. I could definitely

talking about running along the beach

ears perking up and eyes going

smell?’ Robbie asked as he sniffed. I

that coming

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