Chapter 6
CHAPTER 6
T he next night was the full moon. The pack gathered to celebrate those of us who might be about to start shifting. This time, it was just me and my childhood friend Lawson. We hadn't seen each other in months since he'd been busy and I’d been spending every spare second with Brennan, but when he winked at me, I felt instantly more at ease.
"Today we celebrate the newest wolves to fully join our pack as adults," the alpha, Jacob, said. He smiled at me warmly. "I know the next few shifts will be an adjustment. But we're proud of you both."
"Theirs is not the only adjustment to be made."
There were shocked gasps and a ripple of disquiet from the pack. I knew even before I turned that Nathan Longwood would be standing there.
The pack parted. For long seconds, the alpha and his son stared at each other. Then Jacob walked through the crowd to where Nathan stood. Both of them were tall and imposing, and the pack shifted away nervously as if they might transform at any moment and rip into each other. My heart was in my throat, and I could feel Lawson watching me but I didn’t dare tear my gaze away from the two of them. Both their faces were unreadable.
Jacob stepped forward and embraced his son in a tight hug. After a second that seemed to last far longer, Nathan hugged him back. I exhaled, but my heart was still racing.
As he pack began to mumble among themselves, Nathan held up his hand to quiet them. "I just want to be part of this pack again. I know some of you may not trust me, but I can promise you that I've changed."
Jacob nodded, then turned to face the pack again. "If Nathan has learned from his time away, then we will welcome him back into the fold.”
The tension between father and son was tangible no matter what they said. Jacob clapped Nathan on the shoulder before stepping back, signaling that it was time for us all to go out into the forest together as a pack.
Nathan strode through the crowd, his gaze locked on me. Some of the other shifters stared at us, and my cheeks blazed. The whole pack would talk about the way Nathan had rushed toward me. Lawson shifted uncomfortably at my side. Nathan was half a foot taller than Lawson.
"I came for you," Nathan told me with burning intensity. I could barely meet his gaze. "To run with you on your first shift. I should be here."
"Nathan..." He clearly thought we had some special connection, but I didn't understand why. Now I knew how powerful the mate bond was, because I felt it with Brennan. "Let's just run."
Maybe dealing with Nathan would be easier as a wolf. Because as a human, I had no idea what to say.
As I stepped closer to the edge of the forest, I felt the power of the moon shining down on me. I knew that moons might pass without Lawson or me shifting, and yet… as the moon shone on my face, I was sure it was my time. Regret filled me. I didn’t want to miss Brennan for months to come. But excitement also sparked through my body, and a sudden rush of adrenaline and euphoria swept through me. I grinned at Lawson, who grinned back at me, and I barely noticed the way Nathan narrowed his eyes at me. It didn’t matter right now.
The shift was painful, but then as I emerged in my wolf form, I felt joyful and powerful. It was like I had been reborn. I’d always wished I could just be a normal human girl. Today, I was glad to be something else entirely.
The pack ran together through the forest, faster than we ever could have on two legs. Nathan ran alongside me and every now and then he would nudge me with his muzzle in a gesture of reassurance or support. I let my tongue loll out of my head, giving him a silly expression, but I appreciated that he was being kind in this wild, freeing moment.
We ran until the sun began to rise. I felt filled with happiness and I even had warm feelings toward Nathan. Then I had changed into my clothes again and saw him waiting for me. He fixed me with a cocky smile.
"You did well tonight," he said.
"Thank you." I didn't want to give him the wrong impression and have him think I was flirting with him. But I was surprised and relieved he had returned to the pack without violence. "I'm glad you're joined the pack."
He inclined his head. "I'll do whatever it takes to be here for you. This was the only way to run with you tonight."
I hesitated, licking my lips. Maybe I should talk to him and make sure he didn't expect anything, but Nathan gave off slightly crazed vibes. I didn't feel safe rejecting him outright. I just hoped he'd find someone who liked his kind of crazy and that he would settle back into pack life without killing his father or anyone else. Some
I turned away to find Curtis watching me from across the field. There was a knowing smile on his face.
I clutched my fleece closed more tightly, bunching the zipper in my hand. It had been fun being a wolf for the night.
But I wasn't the biggest, most dangerous wolf in our pack. Not a by a long shot.