Chapter 13 Full Moon
Full Moon
Elowen helped me with my hair, and if she could smell that I made myself come earlier to the memory of Luca dry humping me with his pierced cock, she didn’t say anything.
“You know, you’re getting highlights from the sun,” she said, holding a lock of hair out for me to see. “You look really good.”
“Thanks,” I said, feeling that tingling blush stain my cheeks. I wanted to disagree, uncomfortable with the compliment, but couldn’t help admiring myself in the mirror. Freckles dotted my cheeks after sitting in the sun knitting, and my face looked fuller.
“So how are you feeling about the full moon?” Elowen asked as she twisted the curling iron to loop another section of hair onto the barrel.
Luca’s comment about her and Archer fucking made me blush deeper, and I cleared my throat, determined to not make it weird. “Fine, I guess. It sounds like I have to show up, listen to Cade, and then somehow magically turn into a wolf.”
Elowen’s laugh sounded like bells. “You’ll feel the magic of the full moon, don’t worry. I still remember my first shift. I was a late bloomer, almost fifteen. Most people shift between eleven and thirteen. Anyways, it wasn’t scary. It doesn’t hurt very much, I promise.”
It hadn’t occurred to me that the shift might be painful, and my nails dug into the armrest of the chair.
“What’s ‘not very much’?”
“Don’t worry. You’re going to be totally fine.” Elowen dropped another curl over my shoulder and selected the next section.
“What do we do once we’ve shifted?” I asked.
She shrugged, her eyes staying on the curling iron. “Cade will sometimes lead us in a quick run together, but then everyone breaks off and does their own thing.”
I almost choked at her words. That was one way to put it.
“I expect Luca will be glued to your side. He will keep you safe. Just follow his lead. And most of us are happy to help.”
“You’ll be busy,” I muttered.
Elowen barked a laugh. “We aren’t that bad.”
“Luca used the term like bunnies,” I said, grinning at her. Her laugh turned to a snort, and she threw a hand over her mouth.
“Alright, I think your hair is done. You’re going to look so pretty for your first full moon.
And remember, if you don’t shift tonight, don’t stress it.
There’s always next month.” Her eyes crinkled as she smiled.
“I mean, it’s a monthly thing! We don’t know how long your body will take to get back to normal. ”
She unplugged the curling iron and set it down on the counter. Her hands settled on the back of my chair as she watched me through the mirror.
“Thank you, Elowen. I really appreciate you.” I squeezed her hand.
Elowen sniffed and wiped at her eyes. “These hormones! You can’t keep being so sweet. I can’t handle the emotions.”
“I’m sorry!”
“No, it’s good. Okay, we’d better get down there.” Elowen blew out a breath. “Come on.”
Straightening my dress, I followed her out of the room. The white fabric whispered across the wood floor, hiding my bare feet.
Archer paced at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for his mate. When she started down, he leapt up the last few feet and grabbed her around the waist, lifting her up for a kiss.
Elowen’s giggle bubbled up, making me smile.
My gaze snagged on a pair of amber eyes. Full lips pulled into a scowl, and he kept my gaze as I slowly descended the steps.
A tattooed hand gripped Cade’s shoulder, and Luca came into my peripheral vision. His dimple pressed into his cheek as he glanced between his mate and me.
My stomach churned, flipping over at the clear distaste in Cade’s expression in contrast with the sweet hopefulness in Luca’s silvery eyes.
I folded my arms over my stomach, wanting to hide from the intensity of both men. As I reached the bottom, Luca took my hand and kissed it. Cade’s lip curled to reveal a fang that looked a bit sharper and his eyes flared gold. There was no mistaking him for human tonight.
We followed Archer and Elowen to the deck to join the rest of the pack. Luca tugged me closer, whispering into my ear, “You smell fucking delicious. I can’t wait for morning.”
Somehow, I resisted glancing back at Cade. Surely, he smelled me too.
As we stepped off the deck into the woods, Cade called out, “Hold up, where is Jem?”
“I don’t see her,” Harper answered. “Maybe she’s still finishing up her work.”
Cade huffed, more of a growl in his voice than normal. “Luca, go get her.”
Without a word, Luca kissed my hand and released me, turning to jog back to the house. His absence felt like a gaping hole, and I found my anxiety rising.
The pack continued to walk into the trees, not waiting for Luca and Jem. I hesitated, but Cade jerked his head in a clear command to keep moving.
Under the cover of the canopy, the sunset faded to dappled darkness. The werewolves spread out and began to pull off shirts.
Cade approached, his broad frame invading my personal space. “Strip and let’s get this done.”
My heart rose to my throat. “Excuse me?”
My fingers traced the straps of my white dress. The last thing I wanted to do was get naked. Around us, the pack paused their actions. Aside from a few missing shirts, they were mostly clothed.
“You heard me. The sooner you shift, we can get this over with,” Cade growled.
“While everyone stands here and watches?”
“No one cares.” He rolled his eyes as if I was an idiot. But from the hateful sneer on Harper’s face, they did care.
“No, I’m not stripping in front of the entire pack while everyone watches.”
“This isn’t your pack,” he deadpanned. “And the sooner you shift, the sooner I can pass you off to an Alpha who actually wants you.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered, turning away. Shoulders hunched, I stomped away.
Cade snarled, sounding completely inhuman. “Get your ass back here. This isn’t optional.” He followed me, looming at my back.
My words were thick as my throat started to clog with tears. “You’re the worst. I’ve done everything I can to help you, and you hate me. Why? Because Luca likes me?”
I regretted the words as they were leaving my lips. Cade was deadly calm.
“I don’t give a flying fuck what female Luca wants to breed. He’s still mine at the end of the day and you’re nothing. He wears my mark and I wear his.”
Cade tugged his shirt collar aside, showing a circle of pale scars. A bite mark.
“Luca doesn’t…” I started to say, my words halting when I realized how dumb I was being. Of course, Luca was marked. I hadn’t studied every inch of his body.
“Then you haven’t really seen him, have you,” Cade said with a smirk. “My mate wanted his mark somewhere private.”
My cheeks flamed.
“Finally ready to submit? Now take off the dress, stray.”
One last spark of defiance remained. “You first. I’m not going to be totally naked while everyone else is clothed. That’s ridiculous.”
“Do it now or I’ll do it for you,” he said.
“Why are you such a fucking asshole?” I snapped. “I’m glad I won’t be joining your pack, because I’d hate being stuck with you.” I raised my hand and pointed a finger at him accusingly.
“Fine.”
He struck like lightning, reaching out and grabbing my bare skin. His thumb and index finger reached easily around my forearm.
The moment his skin touched mine, a shock zinged through me like he had electrocuted me. Goosebumps prickled over my skin and my body shuddered.
It was like an entirely new sense had been opened up to me and my brain reeled from the input. I felt outside of myself.
Cade’s eyes were wild, the honey brown flashing bright gold.
For one suspended moment, his lips parted and his face relaxed into a look of veneration.
I wasn’t simply reading his expression. I could feel it. I could feel wonderment and shock coursing through him, echoing in me.
All I could do was stare at him, unable to comprehend what was happening.
Without warning, Cade pulled me forward and buried his face into my hair. His other hand closed around my throat, keeping me steady as he dragged his teeth over my neck.
Memories of my dream flashed behind my eyelids. Was it actually happening? Would he rip out my throat?
A low growl rolled out from Cade, forming a single word. “Mine.”
The sound ignited a need that bloomed in my chest, curling into my stomach until my pussy throbbed.
I hated this man, but he smelled like vanilla and caramel, and I wanted to lick every inch of him. I wanted him to own me, destroy me.
My mind couldn’t handle the sudden wave of desire. It made no sense. Logic was stripped away, and my hands curled into the waistband of his jeans, wanting to tear them from his body.
Cade’s hands roughly pulled the strap of my dress over my shoulder, tugging it down to reveal one of my breasts.
Blazing honey eyes flicked down, and he gripped me roughly at the waist, bending me back to give him easier access. His tongue licked over my nipple, and I moaned, nearly fainting from the rush.
Voices faded in and out around us, but they were meaningless. Cade nipped at the soft underside of my breast, and the sting sent me reeling.
He released me, and I stumbled back a step before catching my balance. That intense gaze held me captive as he unbuttoned his pants and shoved them down his legs.
My lungs seized up as his cock was freed from his jeans, already hard and ready.
Oh, fuck.
He stalked forward, grabbed the other strap of my dress, and ripped it down so the dress slithered to the ground, leaving me bare.
My mind hadn’t caught up to what was happening, but the fact I wanted him to throw me down and fuck me until I screamed, despite how much I despised this man - it could only be one thing: a fated mate bond.
The electric shock still buzzed under my skin, unlike anything I had experienced before. I was holding a live wire.
His eyes flickered down my body for the briefest second before he turned and stalked away.
“Everyone, shift!” His demand held all the authority of his position, and my body eagerly responded, even as my mind silently screamed.
A burning, twisting feel bloomed in my chest, rapidly overtaking my body. The last thing I saw with my human eyes was Luca, standing a few yards away, his eyes wide and mouth hanging open.
Everything went dark and hazy. My muscles screamed at me, and my bones vibrated as if they were scraping against each other. It made me nauseous.
Pitching forward, my hands hit the dirt, but they weren’t hands any longer. Cream fur brushed with gray-brown covered paws. I flexed the unfamiliar muscles and my dull claws dug into the earth.
The sounds of growls and whines echoed around the space, and my massive, furry ears picked up everything.
The panic and shock of the mate bond disappeared. Everything was right in the world, no need to worry. It was far more interesting to sort through the multitude of smells on the breeze.
I could smell Elowen’s pregnancy and how aroused she was for her mate. Already, she was trotting away with Archer.
Ahead, a great golden wolf watched me. Darker brown framed his face in a thick ruff that bristled as he stalked toward me.
My mate.
Instinctively, I crouched, my belly against the pine needles. A whimper came from my chest as I stretched my head back and licked at his muzzle.
Cade dropped his head, bumping noses with me.
A silver and white wolf joined him, nuzzling against his neck and licking my cheek.
His paws pranced in place excitedly as his fluffy white tail wagged.
From his scent, my wolfish mind recognized Luca, but that information was muffled.
His name didn’t matter. He belonged to the golden wolf, just like I did.
I could feel the bond with the golden-brown wolf. His confidence bled through, urging me to stand and rub my nose into his ruff.
Luca yipped, licking at my face again. A second connection burned between Luca and me, cooler than the brighter one with Cade, but no less real. The connection on my end felt shadowy, like an echo. He was mates with Cade, and I felt what Cade felt.
Luca must have sensed it too, because he crowded against me, brushing our shoulders together and nuzzling my neck.
Cade growled, his ears pressing forward. His fur fluffed up, making him look massive. Luca bumped into him, tail wagging, and Cade softened.
Around us, Harper and Rae, a pale reddish wolf and a sleek black one, took off running into the woods. Elowen and Archer had disappeared already.
A large gray wolf I suspected was Holt watched from a distance before he lowered his nose to the ground. Past him, a lanky black wolf leaped at a pure white wolf whose tail was wagging furiously. Finn and Jem. They tumbled into a mess of fur and panting tongues.
The whole pack was together, and my heart swelled. This was where I belonged.
Distantly my human brain disagreed. But those thoughts were irrelevant. The overwhelming sense of rightness soaked through my entire being.
Luca lowered his front legs, his butt high in the air and tail wagging. Cade answered his play bow with a resounding bark. Luca’s pale eyes met mine, silently asking.
I wanted nothing more than to run with him and be together. Tentatively, I stepped forward. Luca bolted, his tail whipping behind him as he raced through the trees.
Cade lurched forward, giving chase.
My wolfish instincts took over and my paws scrambled to launch myself after him. We ran through the trees at breakneck speeds, leaping over logs and crashing through brambles.
Cade and I cornered Luca against a rocky outcropping and leapt at him, growling playfully. We rolled, and Cade pinned me to the ground, nipping at the thick fur around my neck. Luca took full advantage, licking at my muzzle as I wiggled, trying to free myself.
It was Cade’s turn to run, and I did my best to catch him, Luca flanking me.
For hours, we ran and chased, wrestled, and gave each other affection. My human awareness faded until I was fully wolf, all instinct and heightened senses.
The moon arched above us as the night grew colder and we drew closer. Far from the pack house, there was nothing but the three of us and the bonds burning between us.