14. Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fourteen
EMILY
I’m racing through the forest, weaving in and out of the trees. Birds erupt into the sky, and tiny mammals flee as my paws pound into the dirt. The dry underbrush rustles beneath my feet, poking at my skin, but my thick fur is a shield against any injury.
The sun filtering through the treetops highlights dust, pollen, insects, and the occasional feather. The scent of pine tickles my nose, and I let out an excited yip. It reverberates off the trunks and back through me, spurring me into a faster pace around the lakeshore.
I’ve run this path countless times since joining Crescent Lake.
Slow at first, as I grew accustomed to the layout and my body acclimated to the increased exercise.
Now I can anticipate the obstacles, the twists and turns meant to keep you on your toes.
I can’t run the course as fast as Harrison or his friends—I doubt I’ll ever get even close to their times—but I can run it without stopping, and I improve my pace every time.
The end comes into sight, and I yip again.
The breeze passes through my fur like tentative fingers combing through tangles.
I leap across the finish line, rolling onto the smooth, pebbled shore on the far side of the lake.
The cool water clings to my fur, soaking through it just enough to provide relief from the heat.
I twist from side to side on my back, massaging my spine against the rocks, before I land on all fours to lap at the clear lake water.
I lower my muzzle, tongue out to take my first drink, and stumble backwards in surprise.
Was that… was that what I think it was?
I tiptoe—can wolves tiptoe?—back to the water and stare into the reflective surface.
There, staring back at me, is… me. My wolf.
Pure black fur that shines in the sunlight. Soft gray eyes. Adorable pointed ears. Huge paws, strong enough to knock down a grown human.
“Oh, my Goddess!” I jolt back in shock, eyes opening back in the gym, my visualization shattered.
Harrison is at my side in an instant, gripping my shoulder, worry in his eyes. “Em? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Nothing is wrong at all.” I slowly relax, and a smile—a genuine smile—forms on my lips. “I saw her. I saw my wolf.”