Chapter 26
CHAPTER 26
E mery
“Am I supposed to do something?” I ask Chance probably for the third time as we walk to where the Supermoon Ceremony will take place.
We end up coming to an expansive field about a mile or so from the main area of the pack’s commune. My palms are sweaty, and I attempt to pull my hand from Chance’s firm grip to wipe the sweat away. However, he doesn’t release my hand.
It’s as if he has to be touching me whenever we’re in one another’s presence. Which, honestly, I don’t mind.
Then I realize I’ve asked my question out loud without looking at him. I tug on his hand to get his attention.
“What am I supposed to do for my wolf to come out?”
He stops and turns me to face him as he takes my free hand, ensuring both of my hands are in his.
“Your wolf knows what to do,” he says, his voice sounding strong and certain. As if he knows she’s inside of me just waiting to come out. “Trust her. Allow Mother Moon to guide her to do what she was born to do.”
I rub my lips together as I look up at the dark sky. The moon is high and bright, its fullness on clear display. As I look at the entity in the sky that Chance and his pack refer to as Mother Moon, a sense of peace falls over me.
I drop my eyes to meet Chance’s. “Will you be with me the whole time?”
He cups my face and brings his forehead to meet mine. “There’s nowhere else in this entire world or universe that I would rather be. Nothing could stop me from seeing you through this,” he promises.
The last remaining nervousness falls away. All of a sudden, I feel free. As if there’s nothing that could touch me. Whatever happens over the next few hours I know I’ll be safe because Chance is by my side.
I give him a short nod and we continue toward the Supermoon Ceremony field. Chael along with all of the other members of the pack gathered around, as well.
Electric energy swirls in the air. That deep stirring in my belly that’s been happening off and on all day, begins to intensify. It’s almost as if I can sense everyone else’s wolves stirring as well. Had this been a few months ago I’d be terrified to know that I’m among so many people that within minutes from now will shift into literal werewolves.
Now, however, I’m comforted by this fact.
“Nightwolf pack…” Chael, who stands at the center of his pack with Reese by his side, begins opening the ceremony with a few words. Chance told me almost minute by minute what would take place.
Chael gives the opening as he welcomes the younger members who’ve given signs that they’re ready to undergo their first shift. He promises to take care of the pack always, looking out for their well-being.
He speaks a little about the pack’s history and this tradition ensures not only the welcoming of new wolves but helps to cement the bond among packmates.
“Above our physical strength and endurance, it is our commitment to one another and loyalty to the Nightwolf legacy that is our pack’s greatest asset.”
A round of howls and applause rip through the air from his pack. Though he remains silent, Chance nods in agreement at his brother. His hand tightens around mine before his gaze drops and he looks down at me.
He doesn’t say anything, nor does he need to. Without words, he’s still letting me know that I’m a member of this pack as well. He hasn’t even seen me shift yet, but he’s welcoming me into his extended family.
My vision blurs and I have to look away as I blink to keep the tears at bay.
“Please come to the center,” I hear Chael say.
I look at Chance. He lifts my hand to his lips before slowly releasing it. With a hand at the small of my back, he encourages me to move forward with the rest of the younger pack members.
There are about ten of us. The others are no older than fourteen years or so. I’m obviously the oldest out of them all. Yet, their shy smiles accompanied by the welcoming expressions from Chael, Reese, Ms. Elsie and the rest of the adults around us brings me the reassurance I need.
“Nightwolf pack, tonight we welcome the next generation of our kind…” Chael continues.
His words fall to the background as my gaze searches the faces around us. Chance has moved so that he’s now on the opposite side of the circle from where we stood together. His attention remains on me.
Looking at him strengthens my resolve. There’s no fear or even hesitance. Though, I won’t know until it happens, I do believe I am a shifter.
Either way, it doesn’t matter, though. Chance has already claimed me as his. Not only with his words, but in the possessive way he holds me and looks at me like I’m the most precious gift he’s ever known.
“Mother Moon, have your will.” Chael’s words are the last I hear before a force I don’t quite understand causes my eyes to close.
Suddenly, every part of my body begins to tingle in a way that I’ve never felt before. That continuous stirring in my belly heightens to a frenzy.
Almost uncontrollable energy courses through me.
I know this feeling, though.
It’s the same restlessness that I’ve had to suppress for almost my entire life. It’s a mixture of hunger, wildness and pure animal instinct. The type of animal instinct that’s unknown to humans. A sense of knowing, of belonging that I’ve lost in my human form, but connect with as this awakening takes over my body.
I have to force myself not to run from this feeling. Especially when a deep ache begins to penetrate my bones. Pain is often part of the first shift, I’ve been told.
Even as I try to endure it, a part of me begins to pull back in fear of the unknown. I don’t know how much I can take or how long this will go on.
I won’t let anything happen to you.
Chance’s words come back to me, echoing in my mind.
Mate.
A voice I’m sure I’ve never heard before, but at the same time it sounds familiar, calls out.
Mate, s he says again, and I realize it’s coming from inside of me.
My wolf is reminding me that our mate is nearby. We’re safe here with him. Nothing will happen to us.
And so, I embrace the pain
No, not the pain.
Her.
I welcome her.
My wolf.
With my eyes firmly closed, an image of a beautiful wolf with dark-brown fur, save for a stunning gray path that runs down the length of her back extending to her long tail, appears. I meet her eyes and am shocked when they’re a mirror of my own.
I drop to my knees.
With her head down, she moves one of her large paws in my direction. Followed by another and then another. She allows her nose to brush against the palm of my hand.
“There you are,” I whisper.
A sensation of wholeness that I’ve never known I need overtakes me.
My wolf steps closer until her face meets mine. I think she’s going to stop but she continues, pushing herself into my body.
A zinging sensation ripples through me and then I open my eyes.
Chance
I’m in awe.
Those words run through my head as I look at Emery’s wolf. She’s as perfect and majestic as I knew she would be. From the coffee-brown fur and the gray streak that marks her as the storyteller of a pack, her beauty captivates me.
And my wolf.
Even as she takes tentative steps, testing out her newly acquired paws. She’s larger than the rest of the pups around her.
Yet, she’s as unsteady and unsure on her new paws as the rest of them. I take a step in her direction, my wolf pushing me to be closer to her. He’s impatient.
Before I can take my second step, my wolf demands to come out. He wants to meet his mate.
I don’t hold back as I let the familiar sensation ripple over me. My bones twist and flex in a way that would cause immense pain if I were completely human. However, there’s no pain. Just anxiousness to run my nose against my mate’s fur, to press the top of my head against her, and yes, to claim her.
The type of claiming that happens in private but is so loud that Mother Moon will hear it.
I stride toward her, our eyes locking. Emery’s eyes light up in a way that I know would mean in her human form she’s smiling. She runs to me and we meet, rubbing the tops of our heads together. I lick the sides of her face before nuzzling my face in her neck.
I sniff and inhale her delicious scent. Heat cruises through my body, making my wolf growl. He wants to mount her.
Just then, however, the alpha howls, signaling it’s time for our first run with the new wolves. Emery looks at me in confusion, trying to figure out what’s happening.
I nudge her to look in the direction of the other wolves who’ve started sprinting. Then I take a few strides. As the lead beta I always bring up the rear end on our runs, ensuring no one gets left behind and everyone’s safe.
I almost forget my responsibility to the pack as I remain focused on Emery.
My mate.
She takes a few cautious steps before pausing to look at me. I let out a moan from the back of my throat, telling her in the only way I can that she’s doing great.
A few more steps and then she picks up speed until she’s full-on running. Aside from a small stumble, in which I’m right by her side to steady her, she’s a natural. Before long, her four powerful legs carry her over the grass, rocks and dirt of the open field and deeper into the woods of the mountains.
With my enhanced wolf sight, I mark the direction the rest of the pack has taken into the woods. However, I let Emery take the lead so I can watch her beautiful wolf in action. She runs like a pro.
The freedom her wolf feels is spelled out in the way her tongue lulls out of one side of her mouth. She’s free after years of being caged up.
My wolf lets out a loud cry as we think about the time our mate was lost, locked away. I don’t know who the hell is behind keeping Emery’s wolf locked in, but when I find out, there will be absolute hell to pay.
For now, though, I focus on my mate. The powerful muscles of her four legs as they stretch and bend to carry her lithely over the peaks and valleys of our home.
Typically, this run doesn’t last for longer than a mile or so. The new wolves aren’t as strong as the older wolves. They need time to grow into their abilities and strengths. But when I spot Chael’s wolf about a half mile away from where we started, I give him a look.
His eyes narrow before his wolf’s massive head moves up and down in a knowing fashion. He’ll escort the remainder of the pack back to our origin while I’ll remain out here with my mate.
The other betas will assist him.
Emery peers over at me and twists her head slightly to the side. She’s asking whom to follow. I nudge her in the opposite direction as our pack. I run about a quarter of a mile, toward a spot deeper into the forest, just before an opening. In this spot there’s an even larger cave than the one Emery found a few weeks ago.
I come to a stop at the entrance.
Emery whimpers behind me, curious about what we’re doing. I glance at her over my shoulder before waving my head for her to follow me inside. Once she does, I take a few steps inside before moving to the side to allow her to see the entrance.
Given our wolf sight I know she can also see the drawings and writings on the cave walls. Her wolf comes to a stop after a few steps and her eyes scan the walls. Her body stiffens as she takes in the elaborate drawings on the wall and even the overhead wall of the wave.
She peers over at me with glistening eyes. I’m drawn to her, going to her to nuzzle her neck. I nuzzle and inhale her again trying to absorb as much of her as I can.
But it’s not enough.
My wolf wants to claim her. In the way of the wolf.
However, I insist my human has the opportunity to do it first. Right now, during this supermoon night, I need to make her mine.
With great effort, I push my wolf back until my body tingles with the transformation from wolf to human. I stand before Emery in her wolf form.
Her eyebrows dip in confusion. I kneel before her.
“Picture yourself in your human form,” I explain how to get back to her human. “Call on it.”
She closes her eyes and within a few seconds, Emery stands before me on her two human legs. A wild amazement fills her eyes.
I expect her to have a host of questions. But she surprises me by throwing her arms around my neck. Her hold is so tight that a lesser man might have trouble breathing.
Laughter spills from my lips as I wrap my arms around her bare waist and pull her into me, holding her as her body begins to tremble.
It takes a beat before I realize she’s crying. She buries her face into the crook of my neck as shivers rack her body. I hold her, stroking her back up and down.
The movement of her lips against my skin lets me know she’s saying something. Though I hate to do so, I have to pull away so that I can read them.
Pain lances through me when I see the tear tracks down her cheeks. I brush them away, silently vowing to kill any and everyone who caused them to fall.
“I-I…” she stutters as she tries to catch her breath. “I’ve never felt so… so… free.” Her eyes meet mine. “I’m…she’s…I’m a wolf.”
One might expect panic or even fear in her expression. To live for over two and half decades of your life and discover that you’ve always had a beast hiding inside of you, might cause anyone to go a little crazy.
But Emery actually tosses her head back and laughs.
“She’s real,” I read on her lips as she looks at me. “She’s been here the whole time.”
The pure elation on her face does something to me. I cup her face.
“I knew she was in there,” I tell her before I bring our lips together.
The moment I do, heat seizes me. Male wolves don’t go into heat the way some female wolves do, but we do experience a sensation when it’s time to mate bond with the female that is destined to be ours.
A quick sniff of the air after pulling back from the kiss, fills my nose with Emery’s arousal as well.
“I—” Her mouth remains ajar as she looks at me with a strange haze in her eyes. “What’s this?” Her lips tremble as she forms the question.
“You’re finally ready for our bond.”