Easy for him to say.
She was standing here as naked as the day she was born with nothing but his bare body protecting her from the view of the others. Everyone was waiting for her to make her first change.
Their official joining ceremony had passed by in a blur. Ritual words had been said and vows exchanged. Alex wished she could remember exactly what it was she’d agreed to, but she’d been too nervous to pay much attention. She inwardly shrugged. What was done was done. She’d find out the details later. Surrounded by all the members of the pack, it had been all she could do to keep from turning and running.
She loved Joshua. Of that she had no doubt. But the ceremony was the final nail in the coffin of her old life. There really was no going back. She was now a member of the Wolf Creek pack. Some people welcomed her with open arms, while just as many were suspicious or downright hostile.
She shivered again. And within a few moments, she’d be changed forever.
That is if she could manage the transformation.
Joshua had explained it all to her earlier this morning after they’d finished their shower. Over breakfast, he’d told her it was perfectly natural and he had every faith in her that she could do it. She wasn’t so certain. She’d overheard several men and women speculating on whether or not a half-breed could actually go through the change and take wolf form.
“It’s all right, Alex.” Joshua’s voice was low as he whispered in her ear. “If it doesn’t happen now, we’ll try again another time. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself.”
“I want to do this, but I’m not sure I can.” There. She’d said it. Voiced her fear out loud. “Part of me wants it to happen, but part of me is scared.”
He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a quick squeeze of reassurance. She felt surrounded by his love and acceptance.
“That’s perfectly understandable. You’ve been through so much in the past few days. If you need more time, we’ll wait.”
“Really?” The last thing she wanted to do was to disappoint or shame him in front of the other members of the pack.
“Really.”
Joshua sounded certain, but she could hear the muttering starting behind her. The crowd was getting restless.
“Tell me again what I’m supposed to do.”
Joshua sighed so hard her hair fluttered. “Alex, don’t try so hard. Just relax, close your eyes and feel your wolf. She’s there. Right beneath the surface of your skin. You’ve felt her before. She’s familiar to you.”
Closing her eyes, she let Joshua’s voice and words seep into her soul. He was right. She had felt her wolf within her. Now that she knew what it was, she realized she’d been feeling that other presence inside her for quite some time now. She’d even briefly glimpsed her wolf in the bathroom mirror before Joshua had claimed her.
“I want to share the night and the woods with you. Show you all the wonders that exist in the world of the wolf. It’s not all bad, my love.”
Alex could hear the aching in Joshua’s voice. She wanted to share that with him too. Taking a deep breath, she let it out slowly and let her mind drift. The wolf was there in her mind’s eye. Alex studied her. She was smaller than Joshua’s wolf, but that was to be expected. Her fur was thick and lush, a rainbow of browns from mahogany to tawny brown and every shade in between. But it was the eyes that caught her attention. The eyes were very familiar to her. They were the same pale, silvery gray eyes she’d seen in the mirror since she was a child.
The wolf was her and she was the wolf. She got it now. They weren’t separate beings at all, but two sides of the same coin.
As if acceptance was all that was needed, Alex felt something beginning to ripple beneath her skin. Joshua loosened his hold on her.
“Let it happen,” he whispered before stepping back.
Alex reached out to the wolf within her, embracing her totally. The wolf surged forward, wanting to be released from its human form. She fell to her hands and knees and arched her back. Bones cracked and reformed. Fur covered her limbs. Her face contorted, her jaw lengthening. Her vision changed, growing sharper. Smells assaulted her from all around. Strength rippled through her muscles.
She took a step and stumbled. A low growl came from within her. She blinked, all of a sudden realizing that she was no longer human. She was wolf. It felt strange. Yet she was still herself. The primal urges of the wolf were there, but she was still able to think and reason.
My love.
Alex spun around and came face-to-face or rather muzzle-to-muzzle with the familiar, large black wolf. Joshua. She’d heard him in her mind.
Are you all right?
She could hear the concern even though no words had been spoken aloud. Concentrating on him, she nodded. I’m fine.
Then run, little wolf. Stretch your legs and run.
Alex gave a happy yip and padded toward the forest. She didn’t have to look behind her to know Joshua was with her. She could sense his presence. He kept pace as she picked up speed.
Other wolves ran alongside them. Some of them passed her, disappearing into the forest, while a small, select group ran with them for almost an hour. She recognized most of them and knew Joshua’s brothers and her father were with them, protecting her and sharing in her first run as a wolf.
Alex had never experienced anything like this in her life. Everything seemed more somehow—brighter, more vibrant—just more. She felt totally alive and at one with her surroundings. She knew where every creature of the forest was for at least half a mile, from birds to squirrels to a lone black bear. The smell of the rich, dark earth filled her nostrils. She could see easily even though it was nighttime.
She didn’t want it to end, but Joshua started to herd her back toward the compound, nipping at her when she dared to try to veer away from him. She snapped back, but he didn’t look impressed. Instead, he growled at her. Not willing to push her luck, she reluctantly turned back.
Don’t worry, little wolf. There will be more times to run.
Can anyone else hear us?
No. The only mental communication is between mated pairs.
That was a relief to Alex. She didn’t want to have to worry about other people being able to hear her thoughts. Can you hear me all the time? She wasn’t sure she liked that idea.
Joshua’s laughter rang in her ears. No. We have to concentrate to hear or send a thought.
That’s a relief.
The compound came into sight and Alex was suddenly glad. As much as she’d enjoyed the experience, she was ready to become human again. Stopping on the edge of the forest, she closed her eyes and embraced her human form. She felt her wolf protest, but sent out waves of assurance that the wolf would have many more times to run in the future. Her bones began to shift and reform once again. Alex was surprised that it didn’t hurt. Not really. It was disorienting for a moment, but then it was over.
Alex slumped on the soft forest floor, smelling the pine trees and feeling the moss beneath her. Strong arms picked her up from the ground. Joshua. She’d know his touch anywhere.
“Thank you.” His husky voice was filled with unspoken emotion. “Thank you for accepting me and joining your life with mine.”
Alex touched his face. It still amazed her how much this man had come to mean to her in such a short time. She loved him. He was a part of her life now. Forever. “Thank you for sharing your life with me.”
His arms tightened around her as his mouth came down on hers. Their lips melded, their breath mingled, as Joshua carried her across the compound to their home.