by Hana Blue
I eased deeper into the water, cringing from the cold, and she swam closer. The water around me splashing up higher on my body as she caused it to ripple around us.
Next thing I knew, I felt her frozen hand grabbing at my wrist and it pulled me into the water. My head went under and I almost panicked as the cold knocked the breath out of my chest. Bubbles escaping from my nose as I struggled to hold my breath as the crushing weight of the cold held me down.
The only thing keeping me from being afraid of it was the feeling of her hand on my skin, holding onto me as we sank together.
Her grasp remained powerful as she pulled me deeper before letting me bring my head to the surface. Leading both of us farther into the water till our feet no longer could touch the sand below, leaving us completely buoyant and without control.
Once my head was above the water I frantically spit out the little that had made it into my mouth and pushed my hair back, my body trembling from the cold. My lungs burning from holding my breath so long.
“Goddamnit Aine.” I barked at her.
Pushing the last strands away from my eyes, I looked at her, and the most enchanting smile was directed at me. Those blood-red eyes of hers dancing with joy. She giggled at me as I struggled to catch my breath and wrapped her arms around me. Her legs hitting mine as she trod the water effortlessly.
Her body was trembling too, but she didn’t seem to mind it like it didn’t even phase her she was freezing cold. She let out a breath, watching the slight fog roll from her lips as the warm breath hit the frigid air. Mingling with the slight cloud of steam that rolled off of our bodies around us. Surrounding us in a secluded fog.
“You like speed. The danger of it.” She commented, pulling me tighter to her. Holding my body against hers as she spins us slowly in the water. Moving both of us gently with her legs, looking like she was in heaven.
“I love the cold.” She added with a giggle.
She chewed her lower lip for a moment, just looking at me proudly.
Pulling away, she threw herself back into the water, spinning right underneath it before returning above again, her full lips a slight shade of purple.
“It’s exhilarating.” She mused as she swam back up to me, pulling my face down to kiss me.
“And you trusted me enough to get in. Knowing it would hurt.”
I shivered as I shook my head at her in amusement. I saw what she was doing. She was beating me at my game, and she was doing it expertly. Like a frozen siren, she lured me in and proved a point. Leaving me to float here in the arctic waves with nothing to hold on to but her.
Watching as she bobbed there in front of me like an angel, and I never felt freer. I grabbed the sides of her face that were chilled to the bone and pulled her into me. Kissing her feverishly. There was no doubt in my mind, I loved her more than anything in this world, and there was no better match for me than her.
“I love you,” I muttered out between kisses and she grinned against my lips. The steam that once was rolling off of our warm bodies nothing more than a memory as we were completely icy. Her soft lips meshing with mine, becoming bluer by the second. Frostbite close to setting in. Sure it wouldn’t affect her like it would anyone else, but I knew she must have felt on fire, if not already numbed to the bone.
“We need to get out.” I finally gasped, pulling away from her and she giggled. Nodding just a little. Her teeth chattering.
“Fine.” She playfully replied, and then dived under the water, swimming closer to the shore like a torpedo shooting through the water, and I followed.
Back on the beach, we used our shirts for towels and threw them onto the saddlebags on my bike, leaving us only wearing our jackets as we took the trip back. Much like the trip there, I let my bike run free, sailing down the road like we were weightless. The wind slicing against our damn skin.
This time, she showed no fear as we rode. Trusting me completely as I drove, regardless of how fast and how reckless. Her grip wasn’t as tight, and she remained relaxed. Much like I did before, I tested the limits and tried to scare her, but I couldn’t. Between the time she first got on and now, I won her trust.
As we finally made it back to the pack house, I felt like the wall that stood between us had fallen. That nothing but freedom was between us, and the door was finally open. We had a chance; I had a chance.
That after tonight, I could know her. Really know her.
The differences are gone, the barrier that held us back, gone.
* * *
“Damn you two look cold.” Lilith giggled as Aine and I walked into the house. Aine holding onto my arm as we entered.
“We went swimming.” Aine chattered out, leaning her head on my arm.
Lilith shook her head at us and laughed. “Well, go get warm again. Damien wanted to see you guys.”
I nodded curtly at her and lead Aine upstairs.
We took our time, taking a long hot shower to bring our body heat back. Enjoying the warmth washing over us as we held each other, still entranced by the moment together. Once out of the shower we dressed ourself in warm clothes. Almost like we were suiting up for a blizzard.
The gentle smile on Aine’s face almost stuck there as she combed out her hair. Looking into the mirror as she untangled its length.
I watched my figure in the mirror as I came up behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist. Her smile only growing wider. Causing her freckled, scarred face to look soft and gentle. The look I wanted her to have when looking at me, I finally saw. I couldn’t have been happier.
“Thank you.” She whispered, turning her head to the side to look back at me.
“For?”
“Looking at me like I’m not a monster.” She closed her eyes softly.
My heart broke a little for her as I looked at her serene expression in the mirror. How many had looked at her and only saw a beast, as I had? How many never get to see the precious soul that she had because they couldn’t get past what she was? Sure, she had family here, but I couldn’t have been the only one who was afraid of her.
“You are no monster,” I muttered into her ear. “You are perfect.”
She opened her eyes slowly and looked at me in the mirror. Taking in the sight of the very unlikely pair. Her deep tan skin glowing radiantly in contrast to mine. Her raven hair so dark and alluring against her skin. The light, and the darkness. On the outside. But on the inside, I was the darkness, and she was the light.
We were opposites but fit so perfectly. Complimenting and completing each other, making up for what each other lacked.
“Come on, I have some apologies to make.”
She let out a silent giggle and nodded her head. “Let’s go.”
* * *
AINE~
“I take it all is well in paradise again?” Damien chuckled as we stepped out onto the back patio where he sat drinking a beer.
Dominic nodded behind me, and I gave a shy smile. Tightening my grip on Dominic’s arm. Resting my head against his shoulder. I felt like I was walking on cloud nine, dancing around in a constant euphoric state.
For the first time in a long time, I felt loved. I truly felt loved, and I would bask in it for as long as I could before it went away.
The freedom I felt was magnificent. The way within a blink of an eye, every reservation I had about Dominic blew away. Carried off the back of his bike with the wind. Drown in the frozen water of the sea. Gone. Leaving nothing left then two people. Open and raw, willing to place their lives in the other’s hand.
Giving a minor piece of myself to him, opening up and being exposed.
I was I able to feel joy there in his arms. I could feel safe, and that meant more to me than anything else. Our bond bedamned, our love be damned. The moment spent without fear, knowing I had someone there who didn’t think I was some beast to fear, that meant the most.
“Aine?” Dominic muttered down to me, snatching me from my daze.
I looked up and was met with his crystal blue
eyes shining with amusement. “Did you hear any of that?” He chuckled, and I chewed my lip. I hadn’t. I had heard nothing.
I shook my head no, and he laughed. “Damien wants you to help train me.” He stated.
I looked over to Damien who was nodding in agreement to his son’s statement.
“While you two were off, I spoke with Micheal and your sister. I will train the two of them so they can be skilled in battle before we take on Evangeline. I don’t want to step on any toes, because I know you can fight with the best of us, but you have a skill that I do not, that they will need.” Damien elaborated.
I nodded with a sigh. “What skill?”
“You can give your beast full control, even in human form. That is correct, right?”
I swallow hard, recalling the years I spent doing just that.
“Yes.”
Damien nodded to me knowingly, like he could sense the darkness that flooded me, thinking of this so-called skill I possessed.
“I need you to teach them. Give then that skill.”
Twenty Seven
Winds of Change
DOMINIC~
(1 month later)
Time went by faster than I had ever experienced in my life. Things seemed to settle in place despite the driving force behind the time. Sure, we spent most of our days readying to take on my mother and take my pack back, but as we did, I found myself at home. Being here higher in the mountains with Michael’s pack was almost like a dream. It gave me a sense of freedom and family I had never known before.
I felt like I was in a whole unfamiliar world, one where nothing mattered than the fleeting moments that surrounded me. The moments that were slowly changing me as a man, and I could tell. This place, with Aine, her family, and her friends, I felt like I belonged. I felt myself changing the more time I was around them. The hate and anger in my soul slowly shifting. I was becoming so much different from the drunk, hateful man that left Sitka months ago. I was enjoying life.
Aine, Michael, and my father started tag-teaming the training. Each of them having their own specific talents. They started training Caireen and me, and admittedly, it was nice to get to know the girl that my beautiful Aine raised. Caireen had a gentle spirit, and she struggled at first, accepting being a beast.
She was getting more accepting of it though as we continued to train, and even I believed that it was a beautiful thing alongside her. She had a way of talking about it that was so unlike anything I had ever heard. She had a way of taking the monsters we were and describing them like we were the most exquisite creatures. It gave me some hope.
Caireen and I spent a lot of time talking as we trained together. Her favorite topic. Her older sister. She loved to tell me stories from when she was little. From what she said, Aine played the mom role very well. Making me wonder what it would be like to see her raise a child of her own.
I gained a whole new appreciation for the two of them, especially Caireen. She was brilliant and gentle. Quiet. The polar opposite of her sister. She was bubbly and saw everything through rose-colored glasses, and she was fine with it. She was happy, rather than let the situations of life bring her down. It was admirable.
Aine spent a lot of time teaching us how to control our beast’s consciousness regardless of what form we were in. I could tell that she struggled with it, but she still taught us willingly. All the while though, her eyes screamed out in pain behind the haunting glow. I wanted to ask why, but I could never come up with the courage to pry.
I know her scarring her face had something to do with it, but I felt like there was so much more to it.
Michael trained us mostly for battle. He was skilled in fighting tactics, so that was his main lot in our training. He was readying us for the upcoming battle, making sure that we could hold our own. I trusted him to do that well too. I saw how well they operated and fought when my mother came last; they were like an army. It was beyond impressive.
He had already made his pack like a tactical force. Every one of them having their own place in the formation. He taught them how to work together, and to do it smoothly, and I was keen to have my spot in it.
Then my father. He educated us on our beast forms, helping us to understand their strength, how to control it, and how to use it to its fullest potential. Being as his soul, the soul he traded his human soul for was a hunter, he understood exactly how it worked.
He knew the ins and outs of it, so he could train both of us effectively. I was appreciating and treasuring the time training with him. It made me feel like we were making up for the time lost when I was a child. As it turns out, I ended up just like him, even though he wasn’t there to guide me, resulting in certain ease while working together.
My favorite of the training was when Aine and I would work one on one. She definitely had a leader’s spirit, and it showed. Perfect for being our Luna. She was patient and always explained things well. More than that though, I loved just being with her. Seeing what she was capable of. Watching her move around so gracefully. She was enchanting to watch.
Since the night at the beach where we openly admitted love and exchanged trust, we gradually kept getting closer. I was far more affectionate towards her than I ever thought I would be with a woman. I always felt a need to touch her when near her, even if was just brushing my hand on her arm as I was walking past.
I couldn’t get enough of her. The closer we got, the more she opened up. I found myself in a trance, just listening to her talk about her hopes and fears. Listening to her dreams. She was slowly consuming all of mine. She was my waking thought, and all of my future plans were revolving completely around her.
* * *
“Ok, remember, don’t fight it back. Let it take over.” Aine instructed.
She stood still, watching as I transformed. I watched as her tiny human frame became even smaller as I took on the massive size of the beast. Like a statue, she stood fearlessly before me. Her long hair blowing in the icy wind around her, snowflakes landing on the strands and leaving a white glow around her.
“Good.” She muttered as I was finally ready. Smiling at me from ear to ear. Craning her next back to look me in my face.
There was something so pure in how she looked at me. Despite how mangled my form had become from the curse, her gentle human face looked at me like I was the most handsome thing she had ever seen. Baffling me.
“Now.” She cleared her throat. “I want you to will me to do something. Anything. You need to control my head.”
I nodded in response and she lifted her chin, standing strong and proud. Holding onto the edges of her leather jacket. I lowered my face down to hers, my snout only but a few inches away from her nose. I locked my eyes on her and focused on taking control of her.
Her eyes dilated, the first sign of her losing control. Training my eyes on hers, I watched as they lost their red and mirrored my own. Quickly taking on a glossy black color. Clear like a mirror. I saw my horrific reflection in them, and I shuttered. How could she not be terrified?
How could she stand here so fearlessly, looking at me the way she was when this was the face looking back at her? It was interesting, to say the least, but I absolutely loved it. I loved that despite the horrid face that looked at her, love was still in her eyes.
Once I had her completely unable to control herself, I struggled to think of what to make her do.Up to this point, the most I had ever done was halt her from doing anything, but I had never controlled her to do anything. I was strange to see her stand there completely immobile and almost helpless, but she showed no signs of fear. She just stood to wait.
The sound of her voice in my head was gone, which was eerie, but for as long as she was under my control, she had no thoughts of her own as far as I knew. At least not ones that she could communicate back and forth with me. It was surreal, like she wasn’t really there anymore. She just seemed so small and weak, and it was strange.
Finally, after an eternity of just holding her in place, I decided what I
wanted. I needed to feel her love for the beast I was. I wanted to feel it. As selfish and almost disturbing as it was, the fact fascinated me. She could still want me after seeing me this was, and I want to capitalize on it, even just a bit.
Before I could even truly focus on making her do it, her actions started responding to my own thoughts. My mind directing her with no effort. What I thought she did. It was terrifying at first, watching as she took a step forward to me as I thought of it, so I took a step back, but she continued coming. Her hips swaying gently with her steps.
I breathed deep and forced myself to relax. I was actually doing it. I couldn’t believe it. Keeping my eyes on hers so the link wouldn’t break, I straightened up, and let my mind just work. Watching her intently as she followed the silent commands.
* * *
AINE~
I was proud of him. I could tell he was struggling to hold it, but he was doing it. I felt all the control of my body slip away and I welcomed it without a fight.
Next thing I knew he was panicking, forcing me to come closer to him. I wasn’t sure what exactly he was trying to do, or if he was just afraid because he was doing it, but he backed away all the while he was forcing me closer. A look of dread on his face.
My legs carried me closer on their own, taking small silent steps closer to him like I was creeping over the thin layer of snow on the ground. Finally, his chest rose slowly as he calmed himself and I felt the pull even stronger than before. He was regaining his control, and it was exciting.
I had never just willingly let someone take control. I always put up a fight. Letting him take full control was almost exciting, and I was more than curious to know how he would direct me.