“Let go, Astrid,” he said firmly. “Let go now…”
Her spirits submitted to the unmistakable command in his voice and soared to meet each other, as her body rose up to meet his, shiny from sweat and hot from passion.
The first hard spasms shook her very core, spreading across her body as wild fire. She could feel how Jack’s body tightened and stood motionless for a fraction of time before his own hot release flooded her womb.
There was a buzzing sound in her ears, and she thought, God, I’m gonna pass out again, as little white spirals danced in front of her eyes. She could hear the rush of her own blood, the loud beating of their hearts, his moans, and her cries. And then, a surge of heat soaring inside her chest, as powerful and delightful as the warm current of their bond, yet different from it.
“I’m home, Astrid!” She heard her wolf one more time, before her deep, velvety laugh disappeared inside Astrid’s mind.
“Welcome home, Wolf,” Astrid said aloud, oblivious of the tears that leaked down from her eyes in two thick lines.
Jack held her tight and rocked her gently. She pressed her head against his bare chest, listening to the rhythmic sounds of his heart.
She closed her moss-green eyes and fell asleep.
Twenty-Nine
Astrid
I WOKE up with an incredible sense of well-being. I felt rested, strong, bursting with a vitality different from the familiar wizard vigor.
I was a full-fledged werewolf!
I kept my eyes closed, assessing my surroundings with my other senses.
First, smell. I sniffed a new component in my natural scent: a subtle hint of rain, sun and musk. That was Jack’s mark on me.
I’d marked my territory, too. I could smell myself on Jack, underneath his scent. So, that was how everybody else in our world knew we belonged to each other. Cool.
I could distinguish even the most subtle aromas: the wood of the floor, the fabric of the sofa, bed sheets, the wall paint... The wind that was gently moving the curtains. Grass, trees, even a small creek in the forest…
The feeling wasn’t completely new. I’d become aware of it and its sounds and smells and tastes the first time I’d hunted in the forest.
Next—hearing. Like a month ago when I’d chased deer, I was absolutely aware of every sound around me: the beats of my heart and flow of my blood, Jack’s heartbeats, his breathing—he was awake, and he was aware I wasn’t sleeping anymore—the gentle movement of the tree crowns, a dog howling at the edge of the town, a single car passing by Kalamata Grocery.
Yet, all those sounds didn’t create a cacophony in my head. They coexisted in harmony, each of them distinctive, sharp yet subtle, like a very clear whisper. And I realized I was able to tune out all those tones I didn’t need at the moment.
After that I explored my new tactile abilities. I ran my fingers across Jack’s upper arm. The warm river rushed through my body, stronger and warmer than ever before.
“So, that’s how you’ve been feeling it all this time,” I said. “It wasn’t as strong for me. It was nice, fulfilling, it made me feel a part of you, it was very potent, but now there’s a whole new dimension to it. No wonder you fell in love with me at the first touch.”
“That’s a lovely speech, Astrid,” Jack said, still keeping his eyes closed, devouring my fingers on his skin. “Now you know what I went through. How are you feeling?”
“Strong and happy.”
“What time is it?”
My inner clock told me the exact time: “3:15 a.m. I slept almost twenty-four hours.”
“You needed it. Are you happy with your new skills?”
“I’m delighted. I’ve been testing them. I haven’t checked my enhanced sense of taste and sight yet, so I’ll keep my eyes closed for a while,” I said and pressed myself against Jack. I found his mouth and kissed him long and gently. “Mmmm, delicious. You taste incredible, better than ever before,” I murmured between kisses, moving from his lips to the sweet hollow of his neck.
Free from uncontrollable lust, safely tucked in Jack’s arms, I explored him with my awakened senses, breathing in his incredible scent that was a part of me now, holding the length and width of his swollen flesh in my hands, so ready and eager, feeling his fingers parting me, making me ready for him.
It briefly crossed my mind how anxious I’d been about our sex life, mostly because of the different levels of experience Jack and I had. I still didn’t know what challenges lay ahead of us in the future. Despite the bond, there had to be some, if for no other reason, than because we both had strong personalities, we were stubborn and fiercely independent, so occasional clashes were inevitable. But now I was positive that our intimate life was not going to be an issue.
Jack kissed my breasts, one by one, playing gently with their tips. His hands moved to my bare bottom, cupping and squeezing it. He rolled me under him, opening my legs, angling me for easy penetration. He entered me slowly, with infinite tenderness, and started moving inside me in long, unhurried strokes.
Eyes still closed, I caught up with Jack’s easy rhythm. I raked my fingers through his hair and buried my head in his neck, savoring him with my skin, my nose and my taste buds. I felt safe, powerful and protected because of that strong body inside me. We were one body, one mind, and one soul—in two bodies, two minds, and two souls.
“Let go, baby,” he whispered into my ear, and started pouring himself into me, triggering a string of pre-climaxes, each one stronger than the previous one, until the final tremor hit me with the force of a tornado.
“OPEN YOUR eyes, Astrid,” Jack whispered into my ear much later. “I’m curious to see them.”
Slowly I lifted my eyelids and let Jack get used to my new eye color. An amused glint in his own eyes told me they had changed.
I looked around. It was still dark outside. The moon was hidden behind the heavy, grayish clouds that announced a new dump of snow. I could smell it now. The room was in almost total darkness, yet I could see everything: every shape, every contour and every shadow, clear and sharp.
“So, what do you say?” I said.
He smiled. “Incredible .You should see yourself.”
“Blue and amber… They could only be green now. They are green, aren’t they? What about my hair?” I asked and took a lock of my hair between my fingers, examining it carefully. “My wolf promised my hair color wouldn’t change so that I can still wear pink. And she kept her word!” I said excitedly, staring into my light brownish-blond hair with occasional copper hints.
“Have a look in the mirror,” Jack said, tugging me out of the bed and towing me to the bathroom.
Eyes still shut, I stood in front of the mirror. Jack was behind me, his hands on my shoulder. “Ready?”
I opened my eyes. No matter how prepared I was to find them changed, it still felt strange.
I actually gasped when I saw two dark-green eyes staring into me from the mirror. They were pretty, still framed by thick, dark lashes, still almond-shaped like their blue counterparts. But the green hue made them look so different that I blinked several times as if trying to break the illusion.
“How would you describe this color?” I asked Jack, unable to take my eyes away from my eyes.
“Moss-green.”
“Like Uncle James’,” I said with a smile.
“He’ll be over the moon. But look, there is a touch of blue close to the pupils, and golden flecks sprinkled all around. Beautiful!” Jack said, smiling at my reflection.
What truly thrilled me was the fact that now my vision, together with my other senses, had improved.
I turned around to look at Jack. “I should be now able to change at will, shouldn’t I? How do I do that?”
“You just do. Wanna try?”
“Is it safe? It’s still the full moon.”
He ran his knuckles alongside my face. “Trust your instincts, Astrid. What do they tell you?”
I stood motionless for a moment, listening to my inn
er senses, and then laughed. “They tell me, since I’m already naked, it’s the perfect time to change.”
As I said it, I started shifting from my feet up, in the same pattern of Jack’s transformation. Like putting on a furry Halloween costume. It tickled a bit, and I could feel gentle bone shifting, some stretching and pulling, but that was it. Painless, effortless, much slower than before. At the precise moment my arms turned into front legs, I lowered my body and they touched the floor.
“See, piece of cake,” Jack said and kissed my muzzle.
“I love you, Jack,” I said happily. “Let me out now.”
We walked to the front door. Jack opened it and then changed shape.
I stepped outside, feeling like an energy bomb.
I sprinted across the lawn, between the houses, instinctively finding shortcuts to the forest. Jack ran by my side until we came to the clearing.
We rolled together, chased each other, splashed through the creek and ran to the top of a small hill on the edge of the forest. We spotted a deer herd in front of us, but I wasn’t in a hunting mood. I smelled a pack of wolves deeper in the forest, aware of our presence. Further down, a fox peeked out of her burrow, sniffed the air and quickly disappeared again.
It started snowing, in huge, wet snowflakes that melted away as soon as they touched the ground. I looked toward the milky gray sky, blinking away the snowflakes from my eyes and brushing them off my muzzle with my front paw.
“Let me do that,” Jack said and licked my face. His warm, moist tongue tasted delicious. I licked him back, sniffed him, bit him gently and rolled over him on a wet, soft, thick yellowish-green layer of leaves, pine needles and grass. I jumped, bounced and laughed until my jaw hurt and my chest almost burst.
“This is almost as good as sex with you,” I shrieked in pure delight.
“There’s nothing as good as sex with you, Miss Spock,” Jack said, laughing and panting.
I finally calmed down and stretched myself over Jack’s sprawled body.
“Now I’m ready for breakfast.”
“Are you ready to face our family?” Jack teased me, nuzzling around my neck. “They know exactly what we were doing in the last two days. There’re going to be some questions, be prepared for that.”
I laughed. “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. And about the questions, well, you can answer them. You’ve been with me all the time. And stop tickling me, Jack!”
WE RAN back to the house. On the porch, I turned to Jack. “My eyes, are they still green?”
“That’s permanent now, regardless of your form.” He fixed his gaze on me. “You know what? That hint of blue when you’re in your human shape, it’s an amber undertone in your wolf form. But they are definitely green.”
“My fur?” I lifted my front leg. It hadn’t changed. It was the same reddish-brown color as before.
“Yep, it’s the same.”
Jack’s voice came from behind me, not in my head.
“Oh you’re already done!” I said, amused at finding his naked, gorgeous self on the porch. “Get inside. You don’t want Red Cliffs to see their Einhamir naked!” I laughed and pushed him toward the entrance.
Laughing along with me, he opened the door and let me in. “I’m going to take a shower, baby. Will you join me?”
Walking slowly backward toward the bathroom, Jack kept his eyes on me, watching my shifting.
It was as easy and natural as changing into a wolf had been an hour ago. It started from my head and ended with my feet. I stretched, bent my head back and forth, left and right several times, and let out a deep satisfied sigh. Jack lifted me in his arms and carried me to the bathroom.
One hour later and very hungry by then, we crossed the lawn to my uncle and aunt’s house.
Thirty
JAMES HAD methodically planned the inauguration ceremony and celebration that followed.
The ceremonial part was simple. Standing on the improvised podium in front of almost the entire Red Cliffs population, gathered in the small central square, Astrid made the long anticipated announcement.
She started her short proclamation with a slight tremor in her voice, moving her eyes over the crowd. “I’ve decided to stay with my clan as its Ellida…” She swallowed hard before she squared her shoulders and continued, “As you know, I’m bonded with your Einhamir, Jack Canagan, and I’m choosing him as my mate.”
One… two… three… Astrid had silently counted the seconds of the silence that followed.
It seemed that Red Cliffs had expected more than this simple statement, but when they realized Astrid had finished, the square exploded with cheering, clapping and whistling. You are ours and we are yours, they were telling her, and she smiled happily. Yes, this was her home, her place, her life, her people, her clan and her pack, she thought as a wonderful sense of belonging washed over her.
When the noise died out, she repeated a simple, ancient oath. “I, Astrid Vandermeer-Mohegan, from House Canagan, solemnly swear to perform the duty of Red Cliffs Ellida, to safeguard the interest of my clan, to uphold our laws and do justice to all, and to protect our sacred territory with all my power.”
Jack came to her and bowed slightly, right hand over his heart. “I receive you and do homage to you as our Ellida in the name of the Red Cliffs clan.”
And with that, the official part was over.
THE CELEBRATION lasted all night. Rawhide, minus their famous singer, was in charge of the music. When they pushed a bit too hard toward their own songs, Maggie took the microphone and brought them back on track with some good old rock’n’roll and pop songs.
The long tables were piled with food that magically stayed hot all the time. Countless kegs of beer and casks of wine were placed in several strategically chosen positions so that the townsfolk had easy access to them. Alcohol had little effect on werewolves, except a cheering one, so the atmosphere in the central square was merry and festive. People talked and laughed, kids bounced between them while small babies slept in their strollers or in their parents’ arms.
The night ended with fireworks that turned the ultramarine sky of pre-dawn to a multicolored explosion of light.
When a thin orange glow lit up the eastern sky, the new alpha pair, Red Cliffs’ Ellida and their Enhamir, walked home, hand in hand.
A WEEK after the town square celebration, Astrid started working at the Clinic. As her boss Dr. Falkenstein had promised, she was paired with Ahmed. She decided to work two night shifts and pick up odd substitute hours here and there.
Her trainer wasn’t happy with her irregular working hours. Astrid’s job blew up their routine. In order to continue with regular practices, Takeshi had to accommodate Astrid’s busy schedule.
“It’s beyond me how your skills are getting better with such a casual approach, but there we are,” he said irritably one morning while they fought with bamboo poles.
Astrid laughed, efficiently blocking a particularly clever attack. “Isn’t that great? You should be proud of me.”
“And look what you’ve made me do,” Takeshi continued with his rumble and launched another attack. “We are not supposed to talk. You do not talk to your enemy while you fight with him.”
“And why’s that? It may distract the opponent. Now I’m going to demonstrate it: I’ve overheard someone saying you are sexy as hell.”
Takeshi smirked. “Nice try, Astrid, but I’ve gotten used to such comments. Women have been throwing themselves at me since I came out of puberty. It’s either my damn good looks, or my irresistible personality.”
Takeshi’s unexpected words and even more the humorous tone he’d used broke Astrid’s concentration. The next moment she was on her back. Takeshi’s bamboo pole gently pressed on the hollow of her neck. “Still want to chit-chat while fighting?”
She laughed and swiftly rolled over and, reaching for the pole Takeshi had knocked out of her hands, launched a ferocious counterattack.
After practice Takeshi took the bamboo pole from h
er hand. “You won’t need it anymore, Ellida. Tomorrow we’ll use katanas.”
“I have a feeling I’ll like that,” she said. “Now remind me, why am I doing all this? Human combat techniques are not efficient against werewolves, wizards or Tel-Urughs, are they?”
“Oh, they are, Astrid. Do not underestimate human abilities. Samurai fighting skills, for example, are not inferior to those of wizards or werewolves.”
Astrid laughed. “No matter how hard you try, Takeshi, you’re not gonna make a Samurai out of me.”
“You’d be amazed what I could make out of you, Astrid, given time and a little bit of your willingness to experiment. It won’t be necessary, though. You know that when you’re pregnant, you can’t use your werewolf or wizard powers. Human combat techniques can’t harm you, because you use a different energy source. What I want is to give you a secret weapon. Nobody would expect you to use human fighting skills. That’s enough to surprise your enemy and buy you the necessary time to escape.”
BLENDING WITH Astrid’s human spirit, her wolf had tuned Astrid’s overall personality. With no side effects on her rational, logical way of thinking, she became more relaxed, open and sociable.
The wolf had passed on all her memories and experiences from every transformation Astrid had gone through yet couldn’t remember. Now she better understood the enormous role her wolf had played in keeping her unharmed change after change.
They couldn’t talk to each other anymore, but Astrid felt the presence of her wolf in her green eyes and her throaty laugh, in her abundance of raw physical strength and general easiness of being. Her body, always healthy and strong, was now literally bursting with power. She could feel it in her blood, in her muscles, under her skin. With her sharpened senses, food tasted better and water sweeter. Nature unfolded its wonders, previously invisible: new smells, sounds, colors and shapes.
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