72. Kaylee
72
Kaylee
Sitting in the hospital room, I wait patiently for Hannah to return. She had just finished running all the tests we did last week, before being called away to help a pup that fell from a tree while training and broke her wrist.
Last night, the initiation ceremony went better than expected. The afterparty went even better, as everyone drank the moonshine and laughed to their heart’s content. We were all one pack now. One family. No one was an outsider.
Simon and Evette had danced most of the night before slipping away, and Marco joked that Simon was finally going to mark and claim her as his. This prompted me to roll my eyes and shove cake in his face, before a few of our warriors came and stole him away.
“Kaylee,” Hannah calls, breaking me from my thoughts.
“Hey. Are the results in?” I ask, curious to know if there were lasting effects from all the drugs. I missed training. Missed sparring hand-to-hand with the others.
“They are,” she confirms, closing the door behind her and giving me a relieved smile.
“Everything came back clear. If you want, you can resume training again later today.” Relief fills me at Hannah’s words, and I find myself flopping back onto the bed as I let out a giggle. For a week, I worried that there would be side effects from the drugs Jordan injected into me. Knowing that I am perfectly fine and can go back to training with the others in my pack makes me happy.
“There is a small change in your hormones, but I can’t really discern it. The pregnancy test did come back negative, so it could be your period coming since it’s been about a week since your forced heat,” she adds.
“That’s fine. Some pain meds and a heating pad will help with it,” I wave off the concern, knowing that it is expected for a she-wolf to get her period after a heat if she isn’t pregnant. Judging by how fine I feel, there is no way I am pregnant. Thank the goddess for that.
“Glad to see you’re optimistic about this,” Hannah laughs at my words as I sit up, the two of us smiling at one another. We decide to book regular checkups every six weeks to make sure there are no surprises caused by me being held captive, before I leave the pack infirmary. I decide that a run will do me good, and without a care in the world, I shift into my wolf form for the first time since waking up after my heat. My clothes shred as I take off, paws pounding on the earth while the warm summer wind blows through my fur. Many of my packmates wave to me, and I yip back before heading towards the forest. I feel strong, fast, and happy.
[What’s with the running?] Simon calls into the link before his wolf appears beside me. I give him a wolfish grin, my eyes gleaming with excitement.
[Got a clean bill of health,] I answer, bumping my shoulder against his before I rush forward. Simon growls playfully, racing after me and catching up. Without any more words, he and I race through the forest, jumping over logs and bursting through bushes. It feels nice to stretch my wolf side, to feel the dirt beneath my paws.
We pass by other wolves, many on patrol guarding the territory, who let out their own yips of greetings. My ears flick in acknowledgment, too focused on beating Simon in this race.
[First to the willow tree by the pack house wins,] Simon calls through the link, his voice coming in pants. I can tell that he is losing stamina, and decide to push harder. He can’t be a good hunter if he can’t keep up with me.
We burst out of the forest, me having to jump over a group of pups playing by the forest edge that causes me to stumble. Simon takes this as his chance to push forward, taking the lead, but I find my footing once more and bolt forward. In no time I am beside him, the two of us neck and neck as the willow tree comes into view. With a grin, I take a deep breath, smelling vanilla and mint. Lucas comes around the pack house, his eyes lit in amusement as he watches Simon and I race. With his eyes on me, I decide to show off, and with a final push, race past Simon. I make it under the willow tree in no time, nearly colliding with the trunk but manage to dodge at the last second.
[Kaylee won,] Lucas calls out into the link with a chuckle, Simon growling in annoyance.
[She always wins,] Simon grumbles as I come out from under the tree branches, tongue lolling out as I pant for breath.
[Not my fault you are as slow as a pup,] I tease, getting another chuckle from Lucas, who shrugs as Simon glares at him.
[So, what’s with all the running? Shouldn’t you be at a doctor’s appointment?] Lucas asks, turning to look at me. His scars have healed further since last night, the four gashes no longer covering his face, but just half of it. They were slowly fading, and I wonder once again if this is because I have forgiven him for what he did.
[I was. Got a clean bill of health,] I answer, my hind paw coming to scratch behind my ear. I feel relief through the mate bond and suppress a sigh. It is still not completely healed, but it is close. Close enough that I worry it will snap back into place, despite my wanting it not to.
[I’m glad. Whatever Jordan used on you worried me. Titus and his men are still trying to figure it out, so we can all learn about its effects.] Shocked by this, I ask Lucas if he has been speaking to Titus since our return to Ivory Fangs. He has, stating that Shadow Moon has been renamed to Growling Heart. Daisy has taken well to being Luna and it seems the pack is on the mend now that Jordan and his men are gone. Once things have stabilized there, Titus plans to come to Ivory Fangs with his mate and make a treaty with Amelia and David.
[So, when can you start training?] Lucas asks and I grin, standing to my paws and shaking out my fur.
[Today.]