Rebel Wolf

by Lowe, Anna

  She’d shrugged. “I don’t know. You know how dreams are. Everything seems important while you’re dreaming, even if it’s nothing. But it was so fun! All that dirt flying. Now I know why Boris does it.”

  They had a good laugh over that one, and the next day, Chase had gone out and had a good dig himself, like he used to as a pup. Front paws scooping, back legs just far enough apart to kick the dirt through. He’d made a mental note to teach her the joys of digging in shallow water someday, because splashing added to the fun.

  He’d spent the entire next day grinning, he felt that good. For years, he’d painstakingly hidden his wolf side from the human world. It was strangely liberating to be able to share the joy of it all with Sophie — from the thrills to the quirky little things he’d never appreciated before. Like scratching an ear with his back foot. Turning three times before curling up to sleep. And best of all, doing a deep, doggie stretch before starting his day.

  “No wonder they call it downward dog.” Sophie had laughed, watching him do it.

  For most of his life, he’d never quite fit in. Not in the wolf pack, not in the human world. An involuntary rebel, as his brothers had once joked. But now, he felt absolutely, positively content being himself. Truly at peace.

  And Sophie, thank goodness, was the same way, despite all the changes she’d experienced. She seemed excited — even eager — to shift, and she had been hearing her inner wolf more and more clearly all the time. She’d even had dirty wolf dreams, as she’d admitted, blushing a deep crimson color.

  Good ones, I hope? he’d asked.

  She’d nodded quickly. Amazing. I can’t wait.

  Frankly, he couldn’t wait for her to shift either. But on the other hand, he was pretty content as things were. Settling in to a new life with his mate, enjoying night walks like these — especially when Sophie rested her hand lightly on his back as she strode along at his side.

  “Listen,” she said, pointing to the left.

  Her senses were growing more discerning, especially when it came to scent and sound.

  Good one, he called into her mind as Buzz — their newest dog — came dashing out of the underbrush.

  Sophie had spotted the skinny stray shivering under a park bench after a rainstorm. Neither the police nor the animal shelter had a matching report of a missing dog, so they’d taken in the mutt who was part corgi, part terrier, and part nobody knows.

  “Your family is growing fast,” Dell had commented.

  Chase hadn’t answered, lest he give anything away. He hoped to have lots of kids with Sophie someday, but for now… Well, dogs were fun too. His own little pack. And Sophie was right — the more love they shared, the more joy filled their days. Which shouldn’t have been possible, but he was learning that happiness knew no bounds, as Buzz demonstrated by tearing around them in three hyper circles, then dashing away again. The mutt had been left locked indoors for most of the day before his owner abandoned him. At least, that was what they’d gathered from the scattered memories that flitted through the dog’s mind. Lately, though, Buzz had nothing but good things to report.

  Wow, wow, wow, he yipped to the other dogs. Smelly bear poop over there!

  And, zoom! Off they went — all four dogs — to investigate, leaving Chase and Sophie in peace. Even Darcy scampered after them, entrusting his nice lady to Chase. Sophie and Chase continued toward the beach, and when they turned the last corner of the twisting path, Sophie sighed at the view.

  “So beautiful.”

  Chase wagged his tail so hard, it swatted her legs, but she didn’t seem to mind. It really was beautiful. The nearly full moon was close to setting, with a few hours to go until sunrise. They were awake that early because Sophie had been too restless to sleep.

  “All my life, I missed seeing things like this,” she whispered, looking up at a sky alive with stars, all twinkling merrily.

  Chase walked with her to the waterline and thumped his tail in agreement. Most humans stuck to regular daylight hours, and that was a crying shame. How many moonrises and moonsets did the average human see in their lifetime? How many shooting stars?

  Sophie sat in the sand, and he sat next to her, keeping her side warm with his huge wolf body. She looped an arm over his back and absently petted his ears, making him hum with pleasure as they looked up at the Milky Way.

  “Someday, when I can shift…” she murmured.

  Chase nuzzled her, trying to look mournful when he was secretly delighted at her impatience.

  Take all the time you need, he said. I’ll always love you, even if you never shifted at all — but I know you will soon, he hastened to add when she shot him a worried glance.

  “I feel ready.” She sighed and picked up a handful of sand then let the grains pour slowly between her fingers like an hourglass. “But somehow, nothing is happening.”

  He didn’t know what to say, having never been in that position, but he nuzzled her thoroughly, and that seemed to help. Then he pushed his head back and let out a long, warbly call, warming up his voice.

  Sophie smiled beside him. “I love listening to you sing.”

  Then she sat in silence as if attending the performance of a fancy orchestra. And in a way, that fit. The water lapping at the shoreline created a steady undertone, and chirping crickets played a quick tune. Palm fronds swished like so many string instruments, leaving just one thing missing. A wolf call.

  Chase closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and howled, holding the note as long as he could. Arooooo….

  All that sound resonating in his chest felt good, so he did it again. He made sure the notes were slow and ponderous, just the way he’d been taught as a pup. Back then, he’d been envious of the way the oldest, most grizzled wolves were able to stretch out their howls, letting them echo off the hills. Now, he was pretty good at it himself, if not quite the experts they were.

  He swallowed one note, smiling to himself. Someday he’d be an old, grizzled wolf with so many memories to look back on — especially good ones.

  Then he started a new note, and it was the best yet — nice, round, and full-bodied, if a sound could be called such a thing. The longer he howled, the more satisfied he felt, and he could sense Sophie sigh in contentment too.

  The first time she’d listened to him howl, her eyes had filled with tears. “It sounds so sad.”

  He’d shifted back to human form to explain. “Wolf howls are like ballads — there’s always something sad in them. But that’s only to get started. Then you sing about all the good stuff.”

  “Like what?” she’d asked, eager, as always, to learn.

  “Like you.”

  That made her smile, and him, too.

  Since then, he’d gone out howling regularly, just for the joy of it. Like at that very moment — celebrating the close of another great day with Sophie and celebrating the beginning of a new one, with many more ahead.

  The row of cliffs where Connor and Jenna had their dragon lair stood just south of the beach, absorbing most of the sound, so he didn’t have to fear any neighbors overhearing. And, anyway, their nearest neighbors were the shifters of Koa Point, who emitted their fair share of howling, yowling, and feline calls.

  So he sang on and on, happier than he’d ever been, dreaming of the day when Sophie could join in. He squeezed his eyes even tighter and imagined what her voice would be like. Higher than his, but smoother, he supposed. Much like the way she was humming at the moment. His imagination took that hum and slowly magnified it until it grew to a full howl.

  Aroooooo, he’d sing.

  Aroooooo, she would echo.

  If he imagined hard enough, he could hear their voices mingle and carry out over the ocean. Their song would join the moonlight, the dancing waves, and the stars, adding a whole new layer of beauty to the scene.

  One by one, the dogs trotted over and sat around him and Sophie. Chase didn’t stop howling to look, but he could feel them jostle for position and settle down. That came with the occasio
nal grunt and bump, but he ignored all that and continued howling. When a wolf howled, it was with his mind, body, and soul, so it was hard not to get swept up in the sound. So swept up, in fact, that his imagination got more and more carried away. He pictured Sophie’s voice joining his, softly at first, then louder. Near and clear enough to seem real.

  His eyes snapped open, and his head turned. His howl faded away, but a voice still rang out over the sea.

  Sophie’s voice. Sophie’s howl.

  He blinked a few times just to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. Had Sophie really shifted into wolf form?

  There she sat with her front paws neatly arranged before her lean, canine body and her dainty muzzle aimed upward.

  He held his breath. She was the most beautiful wolf he’d ever seen. Her howl was heavenly, with the same soft, clear syllables she made when she spoke. Her coat was the same shiny, chestnut color as her hair — so distinctive, he could have picked her out of a crowd at a glance.

  But…but… He sputtered.

  But what? Darcy seemed to say. My nice lady can do anything.

  Sophie held on to her last note then quietly let it go, listening to the sound drift away on the wind. Then she opened her eyes, revealing that gorgeous forest green, and looked at him.

  Wow. Her murmur registered in his mind. You’re right. That feels so good. Then she lifted one paw and stared at it. And, oh my God. Look at me. I’m really a wolf.

  He nodded eagerly. You are. And you did it by yourself.

  She turned one way then another, looking over her new body. One minute, I was humming, wishing I could join you, and the next, I was howling. It just happened. She looked flabbergasted. It didn’t even hurt.

  There was so much he wanted to say and ask and do. But there would be time for all that later. The moon was sinking slowly toward the horizon, and his wolf instincts overrode the impulse to question her. So he lifted his chin slowly, watching to see if Sophie did the same. When she did, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and howled again. A howl as happy and proud as he’d ever made

  Arooooooo…

  Sophie didn’t even have to wait a few beats to find her way into the song. Her voice just slipped in alongside his, and together, they sent a serenade up to the stars. Their voices lifted, dropped, and rose again, with her sweet alto an octave above his. Chase’s heart pounded as loud and steady as a metronome. And when he really tuned in, he could feel Sophie’s heart thumping too. He leaned gently against her side, feeling more grounded than ever before.

  One by one, the dogs joined in as well — some more, some less in tune. Even so, it sounded great. Just like the old days in his mother’s wolf pack, where everyone would gather around and join in a group howl. One big, happy family, even if they were a scrappy one.

  Chase had seen humans go to church, hold hands, and say Amen. Howling was a lot like that, in a sense. A celebration of life, love, and values. A time to marvel in the magic of the universe. A way to reinforce mutual bonds.

  So he howled his heart out until he grew hoarse. Even then, he went on singing, because he couldn’t bear to stop. Sophie sang with all her heart, using instinct to guide her well as they warbled through a duet.

  It was beautiful. Perfect. Timeless. Perhaps the best moment of his entire life, even if he knew there was trouble brewing in the shifter world. Moira was still out there, and rumors of the mysterious dragon slayer kept rolling in. Sooner or later, he would have to leave his bubble of newfound bliss and face the outside world again. But for now…

  Chase howled away, the happiest wolf there’d ever been. The moon touched the horizon then slid lower until only the upper edge showed as a bright glow. After a deep inhale, he and Sophie howled one more time — a long, low note. They released it the way a child might blow a soap bubble and let it drift away on the wind. Then they leaned against each other and listened as the howl carried across the ocean and faded. But it didn’t disappear so much as it became part of all the other sounds out there.

  Magic, Sophie whispered in his mind. We made magic.

  Chase turned sideways and nuzzled her neck. Sure did.

  She sighed, sounding sad, but then brightened. Do we get to do this tomorrow night too?

  He laughed and cuddled closer. We get to do this forever, my mate.

  * * *

  Thank you for reading Rebel Wolf! If you enjoyed the story, please leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads. Reviews are the best way to thank an independent author for a story you’ve loved. Thank you!

  Did you know Rebel Wolf is also available in audio? Audio brings the story to life in a whole different way and can be enjoyed anywhere, anytime.

  Rebel Wolf is Book 4 of 5 in Anna Lowe’s new Aloha Shifters: PEARLS of DESIRE series. The action, emotion, and passion continues in Rebel Alpha, Book 5. Click here for a sneak peek of Cynthia’s second chance love story and the short story prequel that reveals her backstory.

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  Sneak Peek

  * * *

  The next two releases in the Aloha Shifters: Pearls of Desire series both focus on Cynthia, the mysterious dragon widow. The first of them is Rebel Heart, a short story prequel that reveals Cynthia’s backstory. It takes place a decade before she comes to Maui after many cruel twists of fate.

  Rebel Heart

  All Cynthia was planning for the weekend was a quick escape from college to the countryside where her inner dragon can stretch its wings. She wasn’t counting on a handsome, enigmatic wolf shifter to come along and sweep her off her feet. In no time, she finds herself making reckless, irresponsible choices and taking Cal to a private getaway for a little starlit one-on-one. Is Cal the one to blame for making her throw caution to the wind — or is it destiny?

  * * *

  * * *

  Rebel Alpha - Aloha Shifters: Pearls of Desire, Book 5

  Following Rebel Heart is Rebel Alpha, Book 5 in the Aloha Shifters: Pearls of Desire series. That is Cynthia’s second chance at romance.

  All dragon shifter Cynthia “Brown” wants is a safe place to raise her child and heal from bitter betrayal. But when a rakish wolf shifter from her past unexpectedly appears on Maui, he stirs all kinds of other desires. And trouble - as usual - is hot on his heels. Does Cal pose the ultimate danger - or is he her only hope?

  Don’t miss Rebel Alpha, coming December 2018 - or Rebel Heart, the short story prequel, available right away.

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