by A. J. Colby
Juliet, of course, was the first to approach me, moving forward on long, cream colored legs to nuzzle my cheek. It was a foreign exchange, and yet it felt natural to lean into her and return the gesture. The familiarity of her sweet cinnamon scent erased the last of my nervousness, and before I knew it, I was bounding after her, barking in exuberance.
At first, the run was limited to chasing each other back and forth across a shallow creek that burbled near the clearing, but the group’s mood changed when Hank let out a long, low call.
There was prey nearby.
The energy of the group was infectious, flooding me with excitement. I barely spared a thought for how quickly and easily I was swept up in their eagerness for the hunt as I raced along with Juliet on my left, following the mouthwatering scent of elk. On my other side, Hank was a dark shape, visible as a deadly shadow between the trees, his feet moving over the ground in an almost silent whisper. He was an impressive figure, whether on two legs or four, but my attraction extended no further than the desire to feel his flesh, hot and slick against mine. Sure, it was likely to be some of the hottest and wildest sex of my life, but inevitably it would pale in comparison to the deeper connection I shared with Holbrook.
Besides, Holbrook’s no slouch in the bedroom either, I reminded myself.
With a teasing bark, Juliet put on a burst of speed, outpacing her brother and me in just a few strides. Answering her challenge with a short bark of my own, I loped after her, my tongue hanging from my mouth in a delighted grin. The pale wolf moved as fast as quicksilver, appearing to flow over and around boulders and fallen trees as if she was the raging waters of a river, and yet, it didn’t take long for me to catch up to her, and then pass her. Chuffing in pride, I listened to Juliet and the others fall behind, leaving me to run alone. Running with the group was more fun than I ever would have imagined, but it was the solitary race through the forest that spoke to something deep in my soul. The wolf and I moved as one, our thoughts interwoven into a seamless pattern of hunger and joy.
Moonlight dappled the path ahead, creating deep pockets of shadow, but I moved with ease over unseen obstacles, the scent of my prey leading me on as surely as a neon sign. I didn’t realize just how far ahead I’d gotten, the others fading away to a distant rustle, until I caught sight of the elk up ahead and looked around for Hank or Juliet to take the lead. I slowed to a rolling trot as I moved from shadow to shadow, measuring up the animal, while waiting for the others to join me.
The elk was an impressive bull: a massive beast that would tower above Hank in his human form. Powerful muscles rippled like water beneath his dark coat as he moved in a slow amble, his head bent to search the undergrowth for the last grass of the season. Sharp antlers, large enough to gore the most fearsome of predators, sprouted from his head in a rack that any hunter would be proud to have mounted on his wall, but I had no doubt that the seven of us could take him down easily.
Except we left the others in our dust, the wolf reminded me at the same moment the elk’s dark head rose at the sound of a twig snapping beneath my foot.
Dark eyes widened in alarm a second before the massive animal emitted a bugling cry of challenge and spun around to face me. His snorting breath was a silvery plume on the frosty air, mirroring my rapid and excited breaths. The rational half of my brain knew that I should wait for the others to catch up as things could turn very bad in the blink of an eye. Even a were of Hank’s size would find it challenging to take down a creature that big on its own. But the need to feel hot flesh between my jaws would not be tempered by logic, and I felt my muscles coil in readiness to leap forward.
Letting out another bugle of defiance, the elk stamped and pawed at the ground, churning up clods of frozen dirt.
Lifting my nose to the sky, I let my voice drift up in reply, a loud, echoing howl filling the air. Behind me, a chorus of answering cries rent the stillness of the forest. Appearing to realize that I wasn’t a lone predator, the elk’s posture changed from defiance to one of survival as he turned and broke into a galloping run. I waited a single heartbeat before giving chase, leaping forward with a powerful burst of renewed energy.
Excitement was a raging fire in my veins, making my heart thump against my ribs as I flew amongst the trees. To run was to know a freedom never experienced by my human self, but there was something about the scent of strong, red-blooded prey that leant an even greater exhilaration to my flight. I could hear the others behind me, their excited yips sparking bright and golden in the back of my awareness, and I felt my lips spread in a wide grin. Ahead, our prey thundered through the undergrowth, caution giving way to panic as he felt the pack closing in. He knew there was no escape, no hope of eluding us, yet even as his legs began to tire and his muscles burn in unsustainable exertion, he pressed on, fear driving him forward, and ever closer to death.
A throaty bellow of frustration as loud as a thunder crack sliced through the air, and as I burst through the undergrowth I discovered the source of the elk’s distress: blinded by fear, he had run headlong into a clearing surrounded by steep rock walls. The only way out was back the way he’d come, past an approaching pack of ruthless killers. He was trapped, and he knew it.
Driven by his instinctual desire to survive, the elk whirled around to face me and lowered his head, presenting an impressive rack of antlers. I’d hunted deer before and knew first hand just how dangerous the sharp tips of those antlers could be. A creature as large as the elk could easily gore more than one of us before we were able to take him down. I was in no rush to find myself impaled, but at the same time, the adrenaline pumping through my veins demanded action. Luckily, the others had caught up, and I didn’t have to wait long for them to join the party.
Hank was the first to materialize from the shadows, as silent and unseen as a dark wisp of smoke. I could feel the weight of his presence hovering just beyond the corner of my vision. Juliet came next, followed closely by Sam, her excited grin widening at the sight of the cornered elk. As the others flowed out of the trees, we fanned out to surround our prey.
I was aware of Juliet and the others sliding into position, moving soundlessly like choreographed dancers. Anticipation rippled through the group, building as it bounced back and forth between us until I felt like I might burst apart if we waited a second longer. A silent motion from Hank was all it took to unleash our combined savagery, and as one we surged forward in a deadly wave. Thoughts fled as instinct took over, allowing me to dodge out of the reach of the elk’s swinging antlers before the conscious thought to do so even had a chance to form in my mind.
Nothing existed beyond the sheer joy of the hunt, the exhilaration that came from lunging forward to close teeth over musky hide before darting back to a safe distance. Time passed, but it became meaningless in the ceaseless dance of attack and retreat. Occasionally, one of the pack would whimper when the elk scored a hit—even I took a glancing blow off my flank—but he was no match for our combined strength. I was nowhere close to tiring when our prey stumbled, bleeding from a dozen wounds and pushed to the brink of its endurance. Working together, we had worn the elk down, and now it was time to claim our victory.
Moving a fraction of a second faster than Hank, I leapt at the elk, letting my excitement rise up once more to smother all other thoughts and emotions. Hard muscles and supple skin writhed beneath me, bucking and kicking in a last attempt at survival, but it was too late: the beast’s fate had been sealed. A rich, gamey aroma rose from his dark hide, adding renewed ferocity to my bite, and I thought I might come apart at the first glorious taste of hot blood between my teeth. Together, Hank and I tore into our prey, its bellows of pain and terror fading as its life bled away. Death came quickly and my blood sang with glory.
While distantly aware of the others hanging back as a sign of respect to their alpha, letting him have first choice of the kill, I felt no such compulsion to delay my gratification. My gaze met Hank’s over the steaming carcass, and with a toss of my head told him
it’d be a cold day in hell before I acknowledged him as my alpha. I got the strong sense that if he could have rolled his eyes at me, he would have, but instead he settled for letting out a huffing breath and tearing into the elk’s flank.
I was nose deep in the belly of the carcass, savoring the sweetness of the kill, when Hank gave a silent signal to the others. Dipping their heads in acknowledgment of their alpha, they converged on the feast in a mass of snapping jaws and rending claws. Except for a brief tussle between Sam and Brandon as they jockeyed for position, everyone appeared to know their place within the hierarchy of who got to eat first. Between the seven of us, it wasn’t long before we had much of the flesh stripped away.
Fat and happy from gorging myself on the meat of the elk, I slunk away from the others where they continued to pick over the carcass, and found a sheltered patch of earth beneath a rocky outcropping. After turning several circles to flatten the bed of dead leaves, I’d just curled into a tight ball, tucking my nose beneath the end of my tail, when Juliet broke away from the group and padded towards me, her tongue lolling in a cheerful, canine greeting. I watched her approach with a combination of curiosity and wariness, my ears twitching in uncertainty when she lay down beside me, stretching out her neck to touch the tip of her nose to mine where it was buried beneath my tail.
A brief spark of sensation shot through me at the soft touch, leaving me to puzzle it over while Juliet snuggled in against me. My uncertainty deepened when one by one the others abandoned the elk carcass to join us beneath the shelter of the rocky overhang, until Hank was the last one who remained apart from the large tangle of fur and full bellies. I’d thought that running with them was a strange experience, but it paled in comparison to the feeling of several furry bodies pressed against me, welcoming me as one of their own.
Abandoning what was left of our kill, Hank ambled towards us on long, blood-speckled legs, his sharp gaze beginning to show the first signs of weariness. Nipping at Brandon’s where he had tucked himself in against my side, Hank forced the young wolf to move before settling himself into the newly vacated spot. Brandon had been warm and solid against my side, but Hank was like a furnace, and, regardless of my better judgment, I leaned into his warmth. It came as a surprise to both me and the wolf when his long tongue, still dark with the elk’s blood, licked my muzzle and I didn’t pull away. After a moment of indecision, I returned the affectionate touch and settled back into the warmth of the dogpile, finding comfort in the chorus of contented yawns around me.
* * *
The moon had reached its zenith and was beginning its descent back down to the horizon when I emerged from the shapeless dreams of the wolf. Around me, the air was thick with the scent of were and spilled blood. For a moment I struggled to remember where I was, panic spurring my heart into a frenzied tattoo against my ribs until memories began to come back to me in fragments. Images of the hunt flickered past: bright splashes of red and the coppery taste of blood. I gradually released my hold on the energy stored in the trembling muscles of my legs as I settled back into the warmth and protection of the bodies piled around me, dreams calling to me from the hazy edges of my awareness.
I was hovering on the edge of sleep again when someone shifted beside me, stretching and yawning as they shrugged off the vestiges of sleep. Turning my head to see who was the first to stir, I found Hank watching me with eyes of molten gold, flecks of moonlight dancing in their depths. Although he wore the furry face of the wolf, there was no mistaking the beginnings of heat in his gaze, and the unspoken invitation behind it. While I was flattered, and more than a little tempted to investigate the depths of his attraction, the wolf bristled at his audacity.
Holbrook is our mate, she reminded me with a disgruntled growl.
Sensing the wolf’s disapproval, which no doubt was all too evident on my face, he looked away and rose to his feet, letting out a short yip to rouse the others. A series of whines and yawns rose from the group as one by one they all cast off the warmth of the pile. Another sharp bark was Hank’s signal for us to move out, and, with steps slowed by our full bellies, we made the trek back to the trailhead.
I was dead on my feet by the time we reached the small gravel lot where we’d parked our cars, and could think of nothing beyond the softness of my waiting pillow. Tensing in anticipation of the pain I was sure would come fierce and strong as it had earlier in the evening, a sighing gasp was all I uttered as the shift flowed over me, soft and gentle as a lover’s caress. The wolf, it seemed, was calm and at ease after running with Hank and his wolves. Contented, she slid away into the darkness without a fight. Echoes of sensations tripped along my nerves and my nipples stood erect as much from the fading pleasure of the change as the cold air that embraced my bare skin.
Distracted by the sensations buzzing through my body I didn’t realize that Juliet had drawn near until the gentle touch of her fingers on my shoulder startled me out of my thoughts. I was relieved to see that she’d donned her sweatpants and tank top again, although her hair remained the same flawless waterfall of moonlight while mine was made all the frizzier by the change.
“She’s beautiful,” she said with a smile.
Glancing around in puzzlement, I turned back to her with a furrow between my brows. “Who?”
“Your wolf, she’s magnificent. I’ve never met anyone who could outrun me.”
Flushing in embarrassment I murmured my thanks and looked about for something to change the subject.
Sensing my discomfort, Juliet held out the small bag I’d stuffed my t-shirt and jeans into before the run. “Here’s your clothes. I’ll be over there if you need anything.”
Following the direction of her pointing hand, I felt my brain short circuit as I caught sight of Hank straightening from a crouch, the last of the wolf’s fur drifting from his skin before being carried away on the breeze. Moonlight gilded the edges of his body, highlighting the angles of his hips and the curve of his ass. The last tremors of the change made the corded muscles of his thighs dance beneath the bronze silk of his skin.
Looking away from him, I dropped down to my haunches and opened the bag while doing my best to ignore Juliet’s retreating chuckle. Under the guise of pulling out my clothes, I watched Hank through the curtain of my hair. It had only been a few days since Holbrook had left for his super-secret assignment, but having grown accustomed to his frequent intimate touches over past the few months, my body ached to feel him. Although the wolf was adamant about her lack of attraction for the pack master, there was no denying the way my pulse quickened when he bent to retrieve his shorts from the bag Juliet had tossed at his feet.
Unabashedly, I watched the muscles flex in his back and thighs as he snugged his shorts up over his hips, and thought I might pass out from the sudden lack of blood in my brain when a bronzed hand slid down to adjust himself.
Hot damn!
“You okay over there?” Juliet called in a teasing voice that brought five pairs of eyes swinging around to pin me in place with a mixture of concern and curiosity.
“I’m fine,” I croaked, clamping down on the desire to throw a one-fingered salute at the smirking blonde.
Running a trembling hand through my hair, I let out a slow breath as one by one the others turned their attention back to sorting out their own clothes, until Hank was the only one watching me, a knowing smile curving his lips.
Busted.
“Damn werewolves,” I muttered under my breath, my gaze sliding away from the smirking pack master even as the heat in my cheeks ratcheted up a notch or two.
Spurred on by my embarrassment, I kept my back to the group as I dressed in record time, not daring to look up until I’d tugged on my shoes and pulled my hair up into a loose bun.
“Anyone up for breakfast?” Juliet asked with a wide smile that encompassed the group as she rocked back and forth on her heels.
Where the hell does she get all this energy from? I wondered, feeling tired just watching her bounce from one foot
to the other.
Hesitating, I was glad when I wasn’t alone in having to stifle a yawn and rub my eyes.
“We’ll have to pass,” Gayle said with an apologetic smile. “This one’s got school in the morning,” she added, hooking a thumb over her shoulder at Brandon who looked like he was seconds away from falling asleep on his feet.
“Yeah, I need to bail too, I’ve got the early shift at work,” Sam said, pausing long enough to give the petite were a goodbye hug before waving farewell to the group and loping off towards her car.
The revving of Sam’s engine almost drowned out Gayle’s words when she said, “It was nice meeting you, Riley. I hope we’ll see you again soon.”
Unsure if, or when, I’d ever run with Hank and his wolves again, all I could do was smile noncommittally and try not to squeak in surprise when the older woman wrapped me in a warm embrace. Releasing me, she hugged Juliet and Hank in turn, thanking them for a good hunt, and then intertwining her fingers with Derek’s, herded their sleepy son along to their car.
“I guess that just leaves you, Riley. What do you think?” Juliet asked, her voice hopeful.
Wiping the moisture from my eyes brought on by several jaw-wrenching yawns I shook my head. “I need to get home, sorry. If I don’t start spending more time at home, Loki will change the locks.”
I could tell from their matching expressions of bewilderment that they were both still flummoxed by the fact that I had a pet, but they made no comments about my peculiar situation. Instead, Juliet nodded her understanding, and said, “No problem. Maybe next time.”