Chapter 89
“Kanneeeeee!” Ariel screamed out from the pain, letting her hatred for him fuel her desire to survive.
She couldn’t die here, not until she had gotten her revenge, and for that, she had to live. She had to survive this shift.
“Kanneee!” She screamed out again, only the words had been replaced with incoherent groaning that she couldn’t place until they were just growls.
The experience was an otherworldly feeling because, at that moment, all her body had realigned, and she was standing on all fours, and when she looked down, she was met with paws.
Her hackles were raised as she emerged into the world, her senses were on high alert, and she perceived everyone as a potential threat to her. She was quick to make her anger known with a low growl that sent chills down the spines of everyone that had gathered.
This was no ordinary wolf; she was an alpha-born, and it was obvious in her stance. She stared at the new world with a curious look, yet she was wary of the people that surrounded her.
The wolf felt trapped, and she wanted an opening. And she bared her teeth, saliva dripping out of them in a manner that terrified everyone.
“Laura.” The wolf’s ears perked up, and she focused her gaze on the speaker, recognizing her as Ariel’s friend, Judith. “Welcome back to the world, wolf. We mean no harm, and we are glad you are back. You are free to roam, to run under the full moon, and to reclaim your place in the wild. We will not hinder you.” The wolf’s hackles slowly lowered as she talked, and the smile the woman gave her was something welcoming.
The wolf lowered her head in gratitude, acknowledging the help.
And then she took off.
The wolf broke into a jog, stretching her limbs as she ran as if uncoiling from a long slumber.
But she picked up her speed as she ran, throwing her limb as far as she could go, even as her paws pound the soft earth. The wolf ran through the woods, weaving through the trees as blades of grass swiped at her, the dew wetting her coat.
All of the snow had melted, so the earth was a little wet, and as she ran, the earth flew from her paw.
Her tongue hung outside, feeling the wind as she ran, and a smile pulled up her lips. She had missed this. For more than five years, she had been trapped in the darkness with no means to escape, but she is now free.
And so she ran with that freedom, the forest alive the more she ran deeper into it. She could hear the birds chirping, as if in encouragement, and the howls of the pack were only an echo in the forest.
She only stopped to drink water from the puddle that had gathered on the ground, and she lapped from it, the soothing liquid quenching her taste while the full moon shone brightly on all.
The wolf lay to rest beside the water, and she was content with observing the world around her.
She closed her eyes in bliss, the noise of the forest purring her to sleep and tiny fireflies dancing around her in welcome. But her ears pricked as she heard the noise of footsteps quickly advancing toward her, and she opened her eyes, the orange amber glowing in the dark.
She growled her disapproval, angry with the male that was approaching, but she laid still, unmoving. The bushes around her rustled, and she lazily followed his movement, watching him carefully.
The female glared at the intruder, a male wolf that had strayed too far from home. He stood in all his glory, his sandy brown fur shinning even in the dark, and she bared her teeth, letting him know he wasn’t welcomed.
But the male advanced closer, his head lowered as if in submission, and the female wolf continued watching him even as he placed his offering before her.
He had caught a fawn, and the blood smeared the carcass, but saliva pooled at the female’s mouth at the thought of the meal. However, she ignored it, turning her face to the other side and letting him know that his offering wasn’t accepted.
But the male wolf couldn’t be deterred; he nudged the meal forward, lowering his head, and a whine left his lips.
He had wronged his mate, and it was only right that he sought forgiveness.
The female wolf glared at her mate, wishing she could convey all she had to say, but their bond was still shaking, and the wolves hadn’t developed their bond enough to communicate.
Grudgingly, she bit into his offering, tearing the flesh off the carcass, her snout stained with blood, but her eyes refused to leave him, nor did his.
She watched him watch her, his eyes flitting about her body and staring in a way that she didn’t like, and she growled, boiling out her displeasures.
She finished his offering, and she strolled to the water, lapping it until she was content, and she laid down, resting her giant head on her paw.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.
The male wolf, feeling brave, advanced forward, but her growls stopped him in his tracks, and she glared at him, conveying with unspoken words that she had forgiven him.
But the male wolf hasn’t been someone to listen to people, so he advanced forward, ignoring her warning growls, and he laid down beside her, resting his head on her body.
The electricity sparked between them everywhere their bodies met, the connection almost instantly, and the wolf sagged against her mate, unable to resist him any longer.
The mate bond came alive between them, the rusty chains tightening with each connection they formed, and they closed their eyes, embracing it.
The female wolf was totally relaxed, and she surrendered everything. Although she knew of her mate, this was the first time she was meeting him in such circumstances, and she wept for the years she had missed.
She shook her head as she felt a warm tongue lick the top of her head, the male grooming his female, and he looked at her, feeling the unsaid things between them.
The two wolves lay at peace, oblivious to what was going on around them; instead, they were just content with discovering the bond.
No one would dare come close to them, for the alpha wolf had already marked his territory, and it would be foolish for anyone to wander close.
They got tired of lying down, so they stood up and began to run, and all of the forest had no choice but to give way for them.
The wolves ran together, the female wolf running in front in a pretend chase, and the male was just behind her, running and nipping her paw whenever he came close to her.
The action only spurred her to run faster, their hearts beating in sync, and she loved the game. She pumped her limbs faster, determined to show him that she was equally as strong even if she had been dormant for such a long time.
And his delightful howls were her reward.
The two wolves continued running, not caring that they had long passed the pack and had ventured deep into unknown territory. They continued running, not caring that they were beat and that dawn was almost approaching.
They had to enjoy their little time to the fullest because soon the morning would come with all of its troubles.
The wolves ran until they were beat, and they laid together, closing their eyes to rest, exhausted from the exercise.
And this time, when she opened her eyes, she was back to the pack and to her human body.