He froze.
Chloe’s heartbreaking cries had stopped.
Lifting his head, he met her gaze.
Holy shit.
She’d changed with him, shifting from one form to another by drawing on the energy created by his wolf. Damn she was a tiny thing—closer to the size of a dog than a werewolf—but he’d never seen anything more beautiful. Her coat was like her hair minus the curls, thick, luxurious blonde. And her eyes were stunning emerald along the edge, shining like peridot near the center.
Perfect.
His suspicion that she was an Alpha was confirmed when she didn’t look away, keeping her stare level with his. She wouldn’t back down. Not to anyone. Even newly changed, the authority her wolf displayed was impressive.
Damn she was beautiful. Proud and untamed.
Still, he had to make his position clear, so there were no disillusions.
He growled, the rumbling sound a deep warning drone. He was the head of the pack, the absolute authority in all matters. There were no second chances. This was a lesson she had to understand and appreciate from the onset. Her safety and place as his Lupa hinged on it.
Her wolf responded, lowering her head, accepting his dominance. A low, confused whine drew him close. He couldn’t and wouldn’t deny her comfort and reassurance. Their shoulders brushed, his dark fur a stark contrast to hers. His inability to communicate telepathically had never bothered him before. A few older wolves possessed that talent—as well other unique abilities—but he wasn’t one of them. Right now, however, he wished he could slide into her head and share his thoughts. In order to communicate he had to rely on physical connection, reading her body language and scent. Right now she was anxious, but he didn’t detect fear. Likely she was acclimating to her senses, becoming accustomed to her wolven half.
Scuffling leaves just past the trees got her attention. Her head darted to the side, nostrils flaring and ears lifting to points. He heard and scented the same thing she did. A squirrel wasn’t the best game but her interest was what was important. She was past the difficult part. It was time to introduce her to the world that existed right in front of her that she’d been unable to see.
When he nudged her toward the trees she moved awkwardly, testing her legs as she swayed from side to side. He knew precisely when she found her balance. Her spine straightened and she stood tall. Wind shuffled through her blonde fur, the lush strands like waves in an ocean. She took a few hesitant steps, as though she wanted to be certain her legs would hold her.
With a soft growl, he gently nipped her flank. She shot him a look, her gaze playful. He gave her another heave with his nose, urging her forward. The gesture was greeted with a soft snort and the turning of her head. She stared into the distance, eyes alert. He felt the anticipation flowing from her, their connection growing and solidifying their bond.
As she took off in a graceful lope, he followed.
Tonight belonged to them.
Amazing.
The wind rushed over her face, forcing her to fold back her ears—her ears for goodness sake—so she didn’t have to slow down. Her vision had never been so clear, her sense of smell so strong. Although it was dark, she was able to distinguish each tree, able to locate the noisy critter she’d heard in the clearing.
The squirrel ran up a tree as she approached, taking shelter in the branches. Leaves rained down, their scent earthy and sweet. She stopped to take a deep breath, finding herself absorbed in the beauty of the world at night. The soft chorus of crickets whispered in her ears, the light from the moon covering everything in a beautiful glow.
For a moment thoughts of her mother and father intruded.
The memory of reading their letters seemed hazy now, more of an afterthought. When she tried to focus, recalling the envelope her father had given her, her wolf changed her train of thought.
There was another—more alluring—scent she needed to pay attention to.
Jackson.
Moving came naturally now, allowing her to turn and face the man-turned-wolf behind her. He was enormous and stunning.
Broad shoulders. Dark fur. Golden eyes.
Mine.
In this form her wolf was louder and more demanding. They didn’t speak to each other, rather they shared impressions of things. Right now the proud entity wanted to get closer to her mate, to rub against him so her scent mingled with his. She also wanted to mark him, burying her teeth in the fleshy portion of skin that ran from his shoulder to his neck.
A rustle from the woods beyond distracted her. She whipped her head around, homing on the sound and smell. The scent was different than the squirrels, grassier somehow. She couldn’t identify what existed out of her line of sight, but she was eager to find out.
Jackson came to her side. He was so much larger, his shoulders inches above hers. After a quick look in her direction he took off, running toward the animal in the distance. Instinct took over, guiding her feet as she followed. Trees bled past, a continuous blur in her peripheral vision. The earth was cold beneath her feet, clumps of it giving way to her claws.
Her muscles pulsed, her heart beating faster than usual. Each breath she took immersed her deeper in the night. So many things surrounded them, unique in their own special way. Even the trees seemed to come to life. The wind made the branches sway, a dance of twigs and leaves.
In seconds they came upon an open field.
Deer.
Jackson picked a target, never slowing down. She was amazed at how easy it was to keep up. Although he was larger, she seemed to be just as fast.
The herd of deer broke apart, scattering in various directions. The one her mate was intent on—a large, gorgeous doe—made a beeline for trees at the end of the clearing. It didn’t make it, unable to outrun the wolves in pursuit. The noise the doe made when Jackson pounced on her was pitiful, a mixture of a cry and a bark.
Realization slammed into Chloe, slowing her down.
When Gramps hunted, she never tagged along. She didn’t mind eating game but she didn’t think she could kill an animal. Empathy threatened to stop her dead in her tracks until her wolf raged, snarling in her head. She staggered, off balance as the beast demanded she continue. Jackson didn’t seem to notice, taking the doe down in a graceful swoop.
She stopped running and approached slowly, fighting an inner battle, unsure of what to do. The deer’s thrashing legs made her wolf giddy. She could almost taste the warmth of the animal’s blood on her tongue, the way its life would pulse into her mouth. Unfortunately the idea of the creature suffering made Chloe sick. She didn’t want to eat raw meat or devour bloody flesh. She had enough common sense to know that when she changed back she’d be digesting anything she ate in wolf form.
Yuck.
She jumped back when Jackson moved and the doe leapt to her feet. A flash of brown and the animal was gone, vanishing into the trees. He waited until the deer disappeared before he faced her.
Was that disappointment in his eyes? Confusion?
With a snort, he started toward her. She lowered her head again, embarrassed of what he must be thinking. To her surprise he pressed his muzzle to hers, their fur blending together. His nose skimmed over her ear, his heated exhale sending a tingle down her spine.
Embarrassment quickly became something else. The flutter in her stomach sent heat through her limbs. Even like this she was able to feel desire. Lust cascaded through her. Different, yes, but easily identifiable. He growled as he moved away and lifted his head. His gaze traveled to the direction they’d come from. The message was loud and clear.