By mid-afternoon, the buzz of flirting with Preston has worn off, and he doesn’t seem any closer to being done with his work. Boredom is setting in, and I’m getting restless. I venture further from the Airstream, poking around the ground I’ve combed over a hundred times at this point, but whenever I get too far for Preston, his wolf barks, and my chain gets yanked. I should’ve never shown him that.

My wolf propels me back to camp like a trained dog. I had no idea she was so submissive. She doesn’t settle down until Preston’s wolf gives her a soothing rumble.

It’s the warmest part of a cool...