Wolf in the Woods

by N. J. Walters

  She laughed and shed a few tears, more at home right here and now than she’d been in a long, long time.

  ****

  Sue would be watching and waiting, unable to sleep until Elias got home. Their brief conversation wouldn’t have been enough to soothe her. Sure enough, as soon as he stepped into view, the back door flew open. She shot through the door and down the stairs. “Where is he? Where’s Billy?”

  He caught her in his arms. “He’s safe. He and Addie have gone to Gator’s place for breakfast. We’ll join the others in a minute. I want to talk to you first.”

  He hated the fear in her eyes. “He’s hurt.”

  Elias ran his hands over her shoulders and back, simply needing to touch her. Even after all these years, she was his heart, his reason for living. “He’s fine. He had a few gashes, but they’re already healing.”

  “Okay.” She nodded and struggled to catch her breath. Then her eyes narrowed. The woman knew him far too well. “What aren’t you telling me?”

  How did he tell her that her son was now one of them while she wasn’t? It broke his heart.

  “Elias.” She reached up and cupped his face in her hands. “Tell me what’s wrong. You’re scaring me.”

  “Billy shifted.”

  She stilled and then slowly nodded, as though she’d expected nothing less. “That’s good, right? It makes him stronger?”

  He should have never doubted she’d take the announcement the same way she’d taken everything else that had been thrown at her over the years—with grace and dignity with a dose of common sense tossed in.

  “Yes. It was during the fight. When Simon tried to attack Addie, Billy shifted. It was so fast, Sue. So damn amazing.” He couldn’t have been prouder.

  “I knew it would happen. It was only a matter of time.” When he gave her a questioning look, she simply laughed. “He’s stubborn like his father.”

  He knew she meant him and not Billy’s biological father. “There’s something else.”

  “Now you’re really worrying me.” She tugged him over to the steps and pulled him down beside her. “What is it? Are you worried because I’m the only human now, because everyone will outlive me?” Werewolves typically had twice the lifespan of humans, but often died young due to the violence that permeated their culture.

  He hated how sad she sounded. Inside him, his wolf whined, not liking this at all. “Partly.”

  “I’ve accepted it. It’s better than the alternative. Our son could have died. If he can have a long and happy life with Addie, then I’m happy for them. She came back with him, right?”

  “Yes, she did. Her folks are coming tomorrow, or rather later today.” Dawn wasn’t far off.

  She linked their hands together. “It’s about us, isn’t it?”

  “I love you.” He needed her to understand that. He lifted her off the step and into his lap, needing the press of her against him.

  “I love you, too.”

  “You’re not aging as fast as you should.”

  Sue frowned. “I have small lines around my eyes.”

  He shook his head. “You see what you want to see. You look the same as you did when we met.”

  “The lines are there.” Her voice was gentle and sad.

  “Yes, but you don’t look anything like other women your age. You’re still vital and active and except for a few tiny lines around your eyes you’re the same.”

  She frowned. “Elias, I’m human.”

  “You are,” he agreed, “but the mating mark might have changed you slightly. Hear me out,” he said when she started to interrupt him. “Your intuition is uncanny and you don’t need glasses. Most people your age at least need reading glasses.”

  She leaned in and kissed his cheek. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I will age a little slower, but I’m still human. I’m okay with that, as long as I have you.”

  “You’ll always have me.” He clung to her and peppered kisses on her face. “Always.”

  “Then that’s all that matters.”

  All the angst, all the fear, simply vanished. She was right. It was all that mattered.

  “I want to take you inside,” he told her.

  “But they’d come looking for us.”

  “And you need to see Billy.”

  “I do.”

  Elias stood with his mate, the love of his life cradled in his arms. “Then let’s go and see our son.”

  ****

  Billy watched Addie closely. She seemed calm, if tired, but he couldn’t help being concerned. Tonight had been rough on both of them.

  The walk to Gator’s house had been quick, and with Reece and Sage along there’d been no time to really talk. By the time he’d cleaned up in Gator’s bathroom, the others had started to arrive.

  Now the house was full, even though it was still dark outside. They were jammed in the living room and dining area, sitting on chairs and leaning against the walls.

  But there were two people missing.

  “They’ll be here soon,” Addie leaned over and whispered in his ear.

  His father was talking to his mom, giving her his theory about her aging. Maybe he was right. Billy wasn’t sure. He honestly didn’t notice if she was aging or not.

  He caught Elias’s scent as the door was pushed open and jumped to his feet in time to catch his mom as she flew at him.

  “I’m fine.” Thankfully, Gator had loaned him a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt so most of the healing scars were covered. He’d long since stopped bleeding, and they’d tossed the soiled blanket into the laundry room out of sight.

  “I promise I’ll stop hovering.” Before he could breathe a sigh of relief, she added, “In about a year.”

  Everyone laughed and that set the tone for the impromptu celebration. They ate blueberry pancakes and French toast, mountains of eggs, and platters of bacon and ham. There were loaves of bread toasted, including some delicious raisin bread. It was all washed down with copious amounts of coffee and orange juice.

  Ravenous, Billy dug in, while keeping one eye on Addie, only slowing down when the worst of the hunger finally dissipated. She’d picked at her food, eating enough so people wouldn’t comment but less than he would have liked.

  “Doing better?” Jacque asked. The entire room went silent.

  “I am. Thanks.” He set down his fork and pushed the plate away.

  Jacque went through what had happened for all the pack members who hadn’t been there. He kept it short and sweet, ending with the announcement that Addie’s parents were coming to visit.

  It wasn’t fair that Addie couldn’t go home to see them, at least not with him. And honestly, he wouldn’t want her to go without him. Simon had relatives in the pack. While they may accept their alpha’s decision, many of them would no doubt wrongly blame her.

  “I’ll bake a cake or maybe cupcakes,” Anny promised. “Lots and lots of cupcakes.”

  “You’ll love them,” he told Addie.

  “And pie. I’ll make some pies,” Elise offered.

  Both women looked at Gator. He grinned at them. “Guess I’m whipping up something spectacular for supper.”

  “We’ll have a cookout,” Jacque decreed. “Easier to fit everyone.”

  Addie seemed taken aback by the preparations being made to welcome her parents, but he’d expected nothing less. They might be a wolf pack, but they were family first.

  The alpha looked at them. “I imagine you both have things to discuss. You’ll need to rest, too, for when her parents arrive.”

  He appreciated what Jacque was doing. Taking full advantage of the reprieve, Billy stood and held out his hand. “Yeah, I’m tired.”

  “Tired, yeah,” Reece teased. Addie’s cheeks turned red.

  “Since you seem to have an abundance of energy, Reece, you can handle clean up,” Jacque announced. The entire group laughed, including, to his delight, Addie.

  His cousin frowned but then began to chuckle. “You got me. My twin will help me. Won�
�t you?”

  Sage gave a fake yawn. “I’m pretty tired. I figured I’d take Rina home. You know, to rest.”

  He ushered Addie out while the others were debating who was tired and who wasn’t. He heard Armand announce that he was old and needed his rest. Anny started to pipe up that she wasn’t old, but quickly changed her mind and agreed that Armand was old.

  “Are they always like this?” she asked.

  “Pretty much.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and began the walk home. He wanted to build his own now that he had Addie, but wasn’t sure about leaving his mom and dad in that big house on their own. They’d have to discuss it.

  And maybe he was getting ahead of himself. She’d told him she loved him, but she hadn’t agreed to mate with him yet.

  He kept his silence until they entered his room and closed the door behind him. The soundproofing assured no one would hear them, even when his parents returned home.

  She nibbled on her bottom lip and glanced at the bed. “So what happens now?”

  Chapter Twenty

  It surprised him that she was nervous. But this was the first time they’d been alone since he’d fought and won, since his wolf had been released.

  “What do you want to happen?” He remained by the patio door and watched the sun rising on a new day—the first one of the rest of his life. While he wanted to kiss her senseless and take her to bed, that would have to wait. She wasn’t anywhere near ready.

  She tugged on the hem of her shirt. “Can I see your wolf?”

  “You want to see my wolf?” Not what he’d expected, but it did make sense. He’d shifted mid-battle, leaving no time for her to really get a good look at him.

  She rocked back and forth on her feet. “If you don’t mind.”

  “I’m not quite sure how to do it,” he admitted.

  “Really?”

  “It just happened before.” He shrugged, trying to beat back the worry settling into his gut. “I didn’t have to think about it during the fight.” The wolf had simply been there. A part of him was worried it had been a one-time thing.

  “All you have to do is picture your wolf in your mind and let go. It will be easier now because you’ve already done it. The first time is always the hardest.”

  “So just picture my wolf and let go,” he repeated. Sounded easy enough, but he figured there had to be more to it than that.

  “Yes.” She took a step back to give him room.

  “I can do this,” he muttered under his breath. He stripped off his clothes, tossed them onto the chair, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes. A picture of his wolf formed in his mind. Billy wasn’t sure what he looked like as a wolf, but he pulled up his memory of the one he’d seen when he’d been dying.

  The creature was big, much bigger than he remembered, the fur a combination of brown with a lot of blond thrown in. Familiar blue eyes stared back at him. He looked expectantly at the wolf. The creature tilted his head back, seeming to laugh before jumping straight at him. Rather than pull back or try to block him, Billy simply opened his arms.

  His entire body jolted, and his limbs began to reshape. It should have hurt, but it didn’t. Not really. It was strange more than anything but not painful. Fur pushed out from beneath his skin. His face contorted and he fell forward, catching himself not with the palms of his hands but on two huge front paws. The wolf was in control, but he was still there. It was really weird but somehow right. They weren’t competing for the same body—rather, they were sharing.

  “Wow.” Addie stared, her eyes wide with wonder, her lips parted.

  He didn’t need to direct his wolf. The creature knew what he wanted, padding over to her and pushing his muzzle against her stomach. She laughed, leaned down, and kissed the top of his head.

  “You’re amazing. So big and beautiful.”

  His curiosity was killing him. He wished he could see himself, although he didn’t want to appear vain. She seemed to understand what he needed.

  “Give me a second.” She hurried into the bathroom, but he didn’t want to wait. He turned and looked at the patio doors, able to catch a faint reflection in the glass. It wasn’t his familiar reflection staring back at him, but that of a large wolf.

  “Look in here.” She held up the small mirror he used for shaving in the shower. It reflected his new form. It was all so unfamiliar, except for the eyes. They were his.

  “You’re very handsome.” She set the mirror down on the bedside table. “Do you want to run?”

  Excitement quivered inside him. His wolf wanted to be free, to race across the land and learn it in a way he’d never been able to as human. Was she doing this for him or was she avoiding their inevitable conversation?

  No matter. They’d talk eventually. If she needed time, he’d give it to her.

  When he pressed his head against her arm in agreement, she dug her hand into his thick fur and held on. The slight tremble in her fingers was worrisome. He wished she’d talk to him. Tell him what was on her mind.

  Giving him a pat, she stepped away and slowly pulled off her clothes, one piece at a time. A low rumble escaped him when she was finally naked. She was the most beautiful woman in the world, both inside and out. He couldn’t stop looking at her.

  She opened the door and stepped out onto the deck. He followed, not taking his eyes off of her. His wolf growled and began to pace. He didn’t like her being out here, exposed, where anyone could see her.

  His wolf was possessive.

  She raised her arms and embraced the change. He’d seen it before, but it was utterly enthralling, even more so now that he’d gone through it himself. Everything seemed to happen at once. Skin was replaced by fur. Hands and feet became paws. Some limbs elongated, while others shortened. Then she was standing in front of him, a smaller female wolf with multi-hued brown fur and honey-colored eyes.

  My Addie.

  She trotted down the steps and looked over her shoulder as if to ask him what he was waiting for. Bypassing the steps, he launched himself off the patio, landing beside her, quivering with barely suppressed excitement and anticipation.

  He was going to walk with her, run with her. And unlike their last trek through the woods the morning after he’d died and been reborn, this time he would be like her. No longer was he human or a half-breed. Today he would run as a wolf.

  She shot off between two oak trees with him right behind her. Although it was safe on pack land, the urge to protect her was foremost in his mind.

  The light was just beginning to filter through the shadows. The world was waking, and he was alive.

  He breathed the crisp morning air, catching the scent of fox, deer, and squirrel. An owl hooted and a crow cawed. But all that was in the periphery of his awareness. Addie was front and center.

  She was graceful and swift as she jumped over rocks and downed branches and zigzagged between trees.

  And he kept pace the entire way, instinctually knowing how to move for maximum efficiency, where to step to avoid making any unnecessary noise. He let the wolf lead, and the creature didn’t disappoint.

  After almost an hour, she stopped on the edge of a cliff and peered out over the land, most of which belonged to the pack. He wanted to touch her, to dig his fingers into her thick fur and delight in its warmth.

  Concentrating on a picture of himself, he was pleased when the wolf receded without a struggle. The air snaked over his bare skin, but he wasn’t cold—one of the benefits of being a fully integrated wolf.

  He crouched beside Addie and placed his hand on her shoulder, sinking his fingers into her soft fur. The muscles went taut at his touch. He slowly removed his hand and tried to find the words to reassure her.

  “You know I love you.” He held on to the fact that she’d told him that she loved him, too. “I want to mate with you, but I’ll wait until you’re ready. We don’t have to rush into anything. Don’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable with.”

  He rested his head against her
flank, absorbing her nearness and drawing comfort from the fact she hadn’t run off.

  “A lot has happened in a short amount of time, but I know how I feel. I’ll build you a house if you want one.” When she turned and stared at him, he nodded. “I can afford it. My grandparents left me a trust fund. It was supposed to be for my education, but I didn’t want to go. I’ve always worked and have never spent much. Besides, we’ve built all the houses here. It wouldn’t take long to put up a small one. Couple of months and we’d be finished. Maybe less.”

  He drew his legs in and loosely wrapped his arms around them. Addie settled in front of him and rested her chin on his knees. “I admit, I’m worried about leaving Mom and Dad in that big house on their own. Maybe we could wait a month or so before we start on ours.”

  Did she want the same things he did, or was she trying to find a way to let him down? Did his wolf make a difference to how she saw him?

  He’d won the fight for his life, but this was a bigger battle. This was for his heart.

  “I wish you’d talk to me.”

  ****

  Addie loved the freedom of running as a wolf, letting the animal side of her nature take the lead so she wouldn’t have to think about all the decisions facing her.

  But that was wrong. Billy needed more reassurance than she’d realized. She shifted, ending up kneeling in front of him with her hands resting on his knees. “You’d build me a house?” He’d said it so casually, like it was no big deal, when it meant everything to her.

  “Of course.”

  And that was Billy, right there in a nutshell. Whatever she needed, he’d provide.

  “What do you want?” she gently asked.

  “You.” He touched his fingers against her cheek. “I want you. Whatever it takes to have that, I’ll do.”

  Her chest constricted and tears welled in her eyes. “You have me.” That was the one thing about this entire situation that she was certain about.

  There was an unspoken hope, a question in his eyes. One he seemed afraid to ask. It was up to her to take the final step.

  Addie took a deep breath, released her fears, and reached out for what she wanted. “Billy Gallagher, will you mate with me?”