by A Lonergan
Her eyes avoided looking at me this time but her cheeks stained pink. It was enough of a response to rev me forward. I ran my fingers down her back. Her head rolled back and her hair brushed over my fingers. I caught a few of the silky strands between my fingers. I couldn’t help myself and tugged gently. A purr escaped her lips but she didn’t turn toward me. She stayed painfully still as I wrapped her hair around my wrist.
“You probably won’t believe me but this isn’t why I brought you here.”
She still didn’t turn around. “Oh?”
I brushed her hair away from her back and over her shoulder. “Yes, it’s rather important.” I planted a kiss where her neck met her shoulder. She still didn’t move and I wondered if I overstepped until her scent overwhelmed me. I didn’t overstep at all. She was pleased far more than I expected. “I think you need to shift outside of the full moon. I know it’s been a little while for you.”
“Are you worried I’m a threat to the pack?”
She stiffened as I chuckled. “Definitely not. I think you need to do it for you. As far as I know, you have only shifted a few times outside of the pack. It’s important for you and your wolf to get that bonding time together without the constant chatter of other wolves around you, especially once you pledge.”
“And how would I do that?” Her voice was breathy.
“Shift alone or pledge?” I took a step away from her so we could both think clearly.
“Pledge,”
I walked away from her and watched the water splash into the pool. A thick mist surrounded the top of the water. I slid my boots off before I walked into the water. The ice-cold water lapped over the tops of my feet but I hardly felt it with the way Jade was watching me. Her chest rose and fell quickly with each breath she took. She kicked off her hiking boots next and stood next to me in the water. Her nose was slightly red and that was the only indication I had that she was actually cold. With our wolves, we ran a lot hotter than other supernatural races. We didn’t feel the elements like others did.
“Well, once I claim you that’s all that will matter. If you don’t want me to claim you then you will simply bare your neck to me and slash your wrist over the Alpha gauntlet. Your wolf will let you bleed for a little bit inside of it then you’re done.”
“And if you claim me? What’s that like?”
My breath hitched in my chest. I hadn’t expected her to ask me that. Usually it was the mothers that told their daughters about the claiming, but there was something intoxicating about explaining it to her. I took a step closer, no longer worried about the way our bodies reacted to each other. She watched me eagerly as I touched the place I had pressed a kiss to. “I would bite you right here, you’ll wear my claim marks for everyone to see. They will also be able to scent me on you even if we don’t touch for a few days.” My canines poked through my lip to show her, maybe to scare her so this conversation would halt and I would stop feeling like I was. Instead of being afraid, she looked eager.
“Could I claim you?”
My brows pulled together. In the few conversations I had with my father, he never mentioned a woman claiming her mate in return. “I haven’t heard of that done before but I don’t see why not.” My father had been a stickler by the rules. He probably wouldn’t have let my mother put a scar on him to show the world. But there was something about the thought of bearing her scar to the rest of the pack.
The water splashed against my ankles as she took a step back from me. I was glad for the space but also disappointed.
“When should I attempt that change?” She ducked her head in a very un-Jade-like fashion.
I hummed as I thought about it. The full moon was a few days away. “You can do it today, you should regain enough strength to be able to shift with the pack when the full moon rolls around.”
My mate looked at the waterfall with longing before she walked away from me and sat down to put her boots back on even though the edges of her leggings were soaked. “Where should I change at?”
“There’s a place at the top of the property where I imagined building a cabin one day. It’s close to the mountainside. It’s a higher elevation than what your wolf is used to but it’ll be a good teamwork practice for the both of you.”
Chapter 26
Jade
The woods abided by no rules. The trees grew where they wished and how they wanted. Every tree twisted in a different direction with its own pattern and print. Some had spots while others had stripes. Vines curled up and down some while others had branches like thin abrasive needles. The crisp fresh air wrapped around me in a cool embrace. My eyes closed on their own accord to enjoy the serenity around me. The thick soil didn’t squish between my toes but instead was warm beneath my feet. The scent of pine lingered in the air but it wasn’t the smell of my mate. It was the smell of the forest. It was calming and quiet. A quiet I had never experienced by myself before. I didn’t blame Rafe for wanting to build here eventually. I could imagine raising kids here someday and I hadn’t thought that before. This place was making me soft.
There usually were other wolves around to echo noise through the trees, but not this time. Rafe had been right to suggest a shift of my own. I didn’t know how much I needed it. Nalia practically sighed in my head. Fur rippled across my bare skin and a chill raced over me. The magic in the air charged like electricity as Nalia took over. My body jerked forward onto all fours and knew exactly what to do. A growl escaped my lips and contentment flooded me. There was a prickle at the back of my mind that our mate was close. I didn’t mind it and neither did Nalia. Cracks and pops echoed off of the trees and foliage. My gums ached as my teeth elongated and my nose itched. A howl scratched at the back of my throat as my body contorted.
Dead leaves crunched under my paws as I finally took on my other form. Something dusty and white caught the corner of my eye and it took me a moment to realize it was my tail. A wolffish laugh escaped my maw. Nalia threw our head back and howled. My body twitched right before we launched forward and ran. The trees blurred past me as we tested our speed to the max. My lungs felt tight as we slid to a stop at the edge of a cliff. I hadn’t even realized we had gotten up so high. Everything had been a blur in my head.
How do you do that? I internally asked Nalia.
She chuckled. I was made for this. Your other half was literally created to go fast. I think we are the fastest in the pack too.
I could imagine myself rolling my human eyes. She was too proud of our new abilities and discovery of our actual speed. I let myself zone out like Nalia did for most situations when we were in my human form. It wasn’t until I noticed the change in altitude that I snapped back to reality.
Nalia threw our head back and howled again. The entire pack was beneath us. Somehow we had gotten to the top of the mountain. Our breath hitched in awe.
This is our home. This is our pack. Nalia’s emotions flooded the both of us and I swore she was crying but wasn’t entirely sure. Being a wolf was a completely different feeling than being a human. I didn’t know about half of the things she was feeling. The scents were overwhelming enough in this form. I was sure that was why Nalia checked out so much. There was no way to describe this feeling except awe. In the distance, I could make out my parent’s house but just barely. How had we gotten up so high?
Leave it all to me.
And I did. I zoned out and disappeared inside our head while she ran. While she hunted and didn’t perk back up until she scented our mate again. He wasn’t in his wolf form but instead was sitting on a gray boulder against the mountainside. He wore a dark blue flannel button-down and light wash jeans. His ankles were crossed and he was leaning back on his forearms. His eyes were closed but we both knew that he was aware of our observation. When he finally opened his eyes they were glowing yellow.
“You weren’t supposed to come find me,” he smirked.
Nalia threw her head. Why ever not?
Rafe threw us a wolf-y grin before his voice entered
our mind. Because my wolf is big and bad. He doesn’t just want to play. He wants more than that.
Nalia yipped before she cut tail and raced the rest of the way down the mountain. I laughed internally. You fool, he’s going to enjoy the chase now.
I felt Nalia grin. Not when he realizes how much faster we are. Then he will have damaged pride.
She was right, like usual. He didn’t chase for long knowing he was outmatched. I could have sworn I smelled disappointment mixed with appreciation in the air but Nalia kept running at the same speed. When she stopped we were in front of the waterfall again.
Did you feel the magic here before? Nalia asked.
Yes, but it’s different. As if this place is reverent.
“That’s because it is,” Granny said from the other side of the small pool. I didn’t know how we hadn’t noticed her sooner until she held up a velvet bag. Magic.
Nalia tilted our head. What do you know, witch?
Granny simply smiled. “This was the place that Axel and Vivian found each other. A long time ago the only ones that could enter this area were true mates. They would come from miles around to see who their mate was. Eventually, the practice became outdated and wolves no longer looked for mates like they once had. Rafe’s wolf brought him here to show him this place so he would eventually bring you here. The only reason you know this place exists is because you are both fated mates.”
Nalia grew tired of speaking through her mind to the witch and shoved me forward into my human body. It took no time for my body to contort back to its original form. I panted on the rocks and the water splashed onto my fevered skin. I didn’t remember a time when I had shifted so quickly.
We are stronger than all the others. We are sigma. They rely on the pack. We rely on ourselves. Nalia practically purred inside of my head. This made her happy. Knowing we were more powerful than other wolves wasn’t a bad thing. We can protect ourselves, our pack, and our mate.
I didn’t think we would have to protect our mate. Rafe was pretty capable on his own but she was onto something. It was a nice feeling to know I was capable. Capable of being one of the best, all on my own. I didn’t need anyone to protect me.
Granny smiled as she sat down on a big boulder beside the water. “It’s nice to have you back, Jade.”
I wrapped my arms around my nakedness. Granny chuckled. “None of that, being naked around here is natural. I know it will take you a little bit to get used to that but know, I’ve seen more naked wolves than any other supernatural race.”
I didn’t unwrap my arms from around my chest even if my shoulders did relax slightly. “Wasn’t Vivian a witch?”
Granny nodded as she watched the water splash on the pool across from us. “Yes, she was. Our coven was arranging a meeting with the Alpha here. I don’t know if it was the magic that called to the both of them but somehow they ended up here together. The magic tethered them in a way that even their mating bond couldn’t compete with. Axel tried to claim her immediately and scared Vivian off. I knew the stories of the Crimson Pack and the magic that resided on their land. If I hadn’t, Vivian would have left her true mate forever. She was on her way out when I found her.”
“How did you end up here?” That was the one story I hadn’t heard.
Granny pressed her lips together. “My husband had died tragically at the hands of our Coven Maiden. She was the one that held the most of the power in the coven. I’m not sure if that’s how covens operate today,” She shrugged. “He was a powerful witch and she wanted what he had. There are some witches out there that can steal magic and she was one of those. She kept it from most of our families. She was good at hiding. She was a master manipulator.” Granny’s voice grew hard. “We hadn’t been with this coven for long, but they accepted us like no one else had. Most covens don’t like outsiders that are more powerful than them. It’s a very competitive culture. There’s a hierarchy very similar to a pack dynamic. We should have known better.” Her voice grew sadder as she spoke. “The Coven Maiden helped me bring Vivian into the world but held my life-force by a string of magic. I don’t know if it was because I was weak from childbirth and sharing my magic with my child but she was able to tether us to her.” Granny pulled the neckline of her dress down. Right above her left breast was a silver scar that looked like someone had carved a chunk of skin out of her. “She drained my Howard of his magic and then his blood. There was blood everywhere and she reveled in it. She bathed in it. She celebrated in his life-force all while I practically faded from existence.”
Knox’s words immediately came to my mind. “I hope you ate her heart,”
Granny chuckled but it sounded strained. “I didn’t go that far but I did kill her. When I realized what had happened, I was running for my life with Vivian. We never felt comfortable in another coven. Homelessness was all we had. I didn’t have diapers for her or even clothes for myself that weren’t covered in afterbirth and Howard’s blood. I don’t know how we survived. There were good people that helped us and magic grew stronger eventually. Vivian’s was the most magnificent magic I had ever seen. It was full of life and laughter. Full of soul that I hoped meant Howard was watching over us from somewhere.”
When I had asked for her story I hadn’t realized what I was getting myself into. I didn’t know there had been so much heartache. I didn’t know there was so much darkness in her past.
“As I said, being a witch is very competitive. If you aren’t first, you are last. When we were finally getting on our feet, I was apprenticing for a local apothecary. It was an honest living that provided for the both of us, even if I knew more than the mortal I was working for. A local coven got tipped off about our location and my help with mortal businesses in the area. The coven burned down the building and killed the man. Once again, we were homeless. We were sleeping under a bridge just outside of the Crimson Pack territory when I felt this pull in my chest. I knew it was my magic leading me somewhere but I had no idea where.” A smile tugged at the corners of her lips. “We ended up at the front door of Rafe’s father’s home. He told me he had been tracking me around his property and was curious enough to hear what I had to say. I didn’t even know what to say, to be honest. I think I pulled it all out of my ass. Rafe’s father promised that Vivian would be safe with his people and gave me his word. I knew Rafe’s father was a good man when I told him my story and I could feel his emotions in the air. He didn’t understand coven life and we made a bargain right then and there. He would protect us and give us a place to live, in exchange for me protecting his people and giving him information on the witches.
There had been a war between the wolves and witches. Rafe’s father had been married to a witch and his heart was still healing from that entire ordeal. As long as we were honest with each other and worked together, a treaty was signed.”
“So that’s how Vivian turned into a wolf?” I thought of Tracey’s mom. She was such a sweet woman. I couldn’t imagine her homeless. I also couldn’t imagine Axel pursuing her.
Granny shook her head. “Definitely not. She didn’t let him claim her for years. It wasn’t until after Lucas was born that she let him. Axel has a will of steel. I haven’t seen any other wolf resist the way he did. He respected her even when his wolf didn’t. He likes to act as if being a wolf is better than human, but his humanity is what saved his marriage.”
“Did you just feel like sharing a story today?” The spray of the water created a mist in the air that was causing me to shiver. There weren’t many things that made me cold these days, but the magic in the air wasn’t helping either.
Granny slid from the rock and ducked down to run her fingers through the water. “I wanted you to know that you have a choice, Rafe doesn’t have to claim you if you aren’t ready.”
I cocked my head to the side. “He hasn’t insisted.” He had been really patient with me. Rafe didn’t constantly bring it up or try to get me to feel one way over the other. He gave me the space I needed in order to process my t
houghts and feelings without his getting in the way.
One of Granny’s brows lifted on her forehead. “That’s a surprise. Most men are very impatient and don’t like to wait for answers especially when the answer is no.”
My lips twitched. “Good thing, he didn’t claim me when he changed me. He could have done that then.”
Granny disappeared without another word and I was left alone and naked beside the water.
Chapter 27
Rafe
We had a plan. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity we had come to a solution on how to get Damian to come to us. It was going to take a lot of patience but I knew we could do it. It was only a matter of waiting for him to strike again. He would grow antsy soon enough. He was out for blood, after all.
“We got our girl back,” Tracey sat in the rocking chair beside me with a cold glass of lemonade between her hands. It was no longer as cool outside and pretty soon spring would take over the Pack Lands. It was my favorite season, but not my wolf's. He was extremely allergic to the pollen, even while my human form was not. He would want to shift less and less as it started to warm up. Which wouldn’t be a bad thing. It would make it easier being around Jade.
Tracey’s eyes followed Jade around the front yard. Two pups were chasing after her. They hadn’t been able to turn back into their human form for a few days and all they wanted to do was play. One of their mothers was too tired with the twins to play with them like she did before and Jade took up the torch almost immediately. Her cheeks were a soft pink from all the exercise and sweat was sliding down her temples. Her loose-fitting shirt clung to her curves and made it slightly uncomfortable for me to be sitting beside her best friend. One of the gray pups knocked her feet out from under her and her body flew up. Before she could land on her back, Nalia was staring down at the two children.