17. Lea
17
LEA
I waited until the sun went down before opening my bedroom window and sneaking into the woods. I followed the Lunairlit path deep into the forest, where I was sure no one would find me.
My body was riddled with excitement. I was practically vibrating.
As much as I tried, I couldn’t stop panicking.
My lips still tingled with the feeling of Jax against them.
I still can’t believe he kissed me! This morning still feels like a dream.
I looked up at the bright Lunair sitting like a ball of white light in the sky. It shamed every celestial star in sight.
My body began feeling restless, preparing to shift.
I wanted to wait for Jax, but I ran out of time.
Suddenly, something ran past me so fast that I couldn’t see what it was.
The scent, however, was undeniable.
It was Jax. He had already transformed. He stopped a few hundred feet away from me and turned back so that his silvery green eyes glowed like flashlights in the night. He was egging me on.
I smirked and shook my head. “That’s cheating.”
Then I lunged forward, shifting into my wolf form.
My clothes shredded around me and fell on top of the leaf-ridden ground.
My muscles stretched, and my teeth elongated.
My nails turned into claws and dug into the damp soil.
The sticky summer air disappeared as a gentle breeze rushed through, rustling the leaves before brushing through my thick fur.
After the fear and pain I had felt this last month, I deserved a moment to let loose. I needed a small reminder that life was still worth living. I understood Jax better than I’d like to admit. I also wanted to be someone someday, and it was starting to look like that may happen. All I had to do was follow him.
I breathed deeply through my snout, filling my lungs with this sweet scent of the flora around me before darting into the darkness toward those silvery green eyes. I raced as far as my paws would carry me.
The power behind every step caused a rumble that rippled through the ground.
I was unstoppable. Unbreakable.
You just wait and see, Mama—Papa. I’m going to take care of Mema and save our family home. I won’t let this world get me down. I’ll be someone that you can be proud of!
I had lost sight of Jax, but I continued running.
All my focus fell on the cliff I knew was ahead.
I knew these woods like the back of my hand. So much so that I could run around here blindfolded and still find my way back home.
Jax, I was sure, must have been lost by now.
The cliff came into view, and I ran up alongside a slanted tree and bounded off the side, ripping through the bark with my claws and landing on the other side of the cliff.
I turned around, admiring the great leap I had just made, and howled at the moon victoriously. Then, without warning, something smashed into me, knocking the air out of me and causing me to tumble on the ground. As soon as I could rediscover my equilibrium, I looked around at what hit me.
It was Jax. He had knocked me over for some reason.
I got up slowly, wincing at him but unable to ask him why he did it.
He breathed heavily, and a smile crossed his wolf face as he crouched low to the ground and quickly shifted back into his human form.
“You are the most singular woman I’ve ever met. I admire so many things about you. I’m not sure I’ve ever said that to anyone in my life.” His voice was rough from the way he was heaving prior.
I found myself distracted by his lack of clothing.
My eyes trailed down, and his perfectly beautiful porcelain skin glistened in the moonlight.
Shadows cast over his toned muscles.
I averted my eyes, feeling much less powerful now, and shifted back into my human form. “What do you think you’re doing, Jax?”
“I thought I made myself pretty clear this morning. I want to be with you in whatever capacity that means.” He knelt beside me as my fur retracted into my skin, leaving me human again.
I pulled my arms over my chest, feeling how cold it was without my fur to cover me.
Jax placed his warm hand on my shoulder and pulled me into him. “Lea, you can relax. It’s just us here.”
I looked up at him and found myself lost in his eyes again. “All of this feels like a dream. There’s no way this is happening, right?”
Jax raised his eyebrows and laughed, “You’re such a funny girl.”
That was his only response before placing his pointer finger underneath my chin and pulling me into another kiss.
My eyes fluttered closed.
Our lips parted for a moment as he breathed into my mouth.
“You taste so sweet… Like the nectar of a flower.” He hummed the words, and I could feel them digging into my skin.
Any sense of right or wrong vanished, leaving only the anticipation of delightful sensations. “Lea, I want you,” he growled, more persistent this time.
“But I’ve never—” I stammered, embarrassment flooding my voice.
He pushed me away slightly but firmly gripped my arm, preventing me from retreating too far. “Really? Not ever?”
I shook my head slowly, anxiety twisting in my stomach as I wondered if he would laugh or leave. Instead, he smiled gently and stroked my hair. “Don’t worry, I’ll guide you.”
Heat flushed through my chest. He was even kinder and more gentle than I had imagined. I nodded once, and he pulled me back into a kiss. My mind went blissfully blank.
His lips were soft and reassuring.
Every touch was tender yet filled with a growing intensity, making my heart race.
His hands traced gentle patterns around the sigil burned into my shoulder as he pulled me closer.
He whispered soothing words in my ear.
Any nervousness I felt before melted away, replaced by a warmth spreading through my body.
He guided me patiently, his movements careful and considerate, and he never rushed.
W e moved together, our breaths mingling and hearts beating in unison. The world around us blurred, leaving only the two of us now.
The anticipation built with each touch, each kiss, bringing us closer.
His hands were warm as they caressed my skin, and his whispered reassurances wrapped around me like a comforting embrace. I felt myself yielding to the sensations, letting go of my fears.
I could no longer tell what was around me or ahead of me. All I knew was that I was with Jax and happier than ever.
Just as the intensity peaked, we shared a final, deep kiss. The world seemed to fade away, leaving only the warmth of his embrace and the promise of what would come. Then, everything dissolved into a comforting darkness, filled with the echoes of our shared passion.