Chapter Forty-Three
My tired self is aimlessly watching a movie on my laptop. As soft as my pillow is, I can't seem to fall asleep. I toss and turn, trying to find a comfortable position but I can't. The door to my room opens and Axe walks in.
“Why are you in here?” Axe asks.
“I didn't realise I had to ask to have privacy,” I say sulkily.
“Okay.” Axe frowns. “Do you want to have dinner together and watch a movie?”
“I'm already watching one.”
“Are you alright?” he asks.
“I'm fine. By the way, I'm thinking of going back to work soon,” I let him know. I've been thinking about it for a while.
“What? You don't need to work. I'll take care of you.”
“Excuse me, but I don't need you to take care of me. I like working and I don't need your permission to go back,” I state. Why is everything he's saying irritating me? He can't tell me what to do.
“Why are you so mood... ohh.” Axe's expression turns to one of realisation.
“What?” I demand impatiently.
“Elora... your heat is starting. You're agitated,” Axe tells me gently.
“What?” I sit upright. “It's happening?” I ask, now nervous.
“In a few days, our wolves will come together. Do you want to be alone until then?” Axe asks compassionately.
“I... whatever.”
He nods in understanding and leaves the room. I lie back down and think in three days' time my heat will kick in. Axe will mark me. Axe's wolf will take mine. We will really be mates when this happens.
***
Going to school today is a mistake. I end up telling a teacher to piss off because my temper is slightly out of whack.
I get a detention but that is actually better because it is a quiet room for a while where no one annoys me.
I think even Amelia notices my off mood, which is why she's quiet around me.
At the end of the day while I'm walking to my car someone says something to me.
“Just letting you know, you might not want to come to school tomorrow,” one of the male werewolves from the pack says.
“Who are you to tell me that you prick?” I question, my anger rising.
“I can sense your heat,” he whispers so no one in the crowded parking lot can hear. “Your heat will get stronger and if you're at school with a bunch of unmated males, it will be a blood bath.”
“Oh.”
I turn and cross the parking lot to get to my car.
After he says that, I notice a few of the males looking at me.
Shit, why didn't Axe warn me? Actually, he told me not to go to school this morning but I got angry.
Okay, maybe I need to try and think rationally.
People are just looking out for me. I've really got to quit being so quick-tempered.
I rush home, feeling nervous about being around other wolves, especially males at the moment. Axe is in his office when I storm in.
“Why didn't you tell me you could sense my heat?” I question.
“I figured it was obvious. Did something happen?” He stands up and comes over to me.
“No, but everything is just ugh.” I groan.
“Just stay home until your heat is over.” Axe slides his hands around my back, linking them together. I glare at him without meaning to, and he drops his hands.
“I have to go through this every year,” I growl.
“Yeah.” Axe grins.
“Why are you smiling at my misery?” I demand to know.
“I'm not, it's just that growl was sexy,” he admits. I give him a look of disbelief and he just shrugs.
I groan. “I'm going to bed.”
***
I wake up in the middle of the night, feeling my wolf more prominently.
She's very active. I get up feeling my body start changing.
My body feels hot. I go outside into the backyard and strip off my clothes.
My wolf just needs to be let out. I shift into my wolf and walk around the yard but she is just flustered and frustrated.
I curl up in a corner of the backyard and let her be in control for my heat.
I notice once the moon reaches its full peak, my wolf gets restless, desirous and is pained. She howls up at the moon in affliction.
I hear a low guttural humming which makes my wolf jolt into action.
Axe's wolf, his coat different shades of dark brown, is standing on the path where the open gate is.
My wolf goes to him and he nuzzles her fur.
I'm surprised that Axe's wolf doesn't mate me right away.
Our wolves spend some time nuzzling and testing the waters it seems. When Axe's wolf makes it clear the time has come, I let my wolf take over completely and just stay in her mind while she performs the marking ceremony with Axe's wolf.
Our wolves stay conjoined for a good half hour before Axe's wolf backs off.
My wolf shifts, feeling her heat has calmed down enough to give me back control for a while. I lie on my belly, the cool grass tickling my skin. Axe's wolf stays as himself for a little longer before he eventually shifts back and comes over and sits next to me.
“He accepted you.” Axe's lips pull up in a delighted way.
“Were you worried he wouldn't?” I ask.
“I just felt he would be more hesitant about taking another mate. But I guess I waited a long enough time for him to reconcile with himself. Anyway, how are you after that?”
“Good.” I fold my arms under my head and rest my chin on them.
“I can mark you now that our wolves have accepted each other.” He lies down on his side and stares at me.
“Can we leave it just as our wolves for the night?” I ask, feeling relieved enough to sleep.
“Of course. Our wolves aren't done with each other anyway.”
For the next two days, our wolves mate and bond. While we take a break, Axe and I just lie on the grass talking and having something to eat before my heat works back up. By the time my heat comes to an end, our wolves are connected and our relationship has moved onto the next level.