I could smell them deeper in the forest. The scent of pine and earth mingled with the faint aroma of rain. The ground was still dry, but it was coming. I could feel the approaching rainfall. Of all the wonderful smells in nature, rain had to be among my favorites.
Gradually, I slowed my pace until I trotted along leisurely, slipping through the trees with grace and ease. I was lost in thought, pondering my upcoming birthday party. In just a few days, I would be another year older, something I considered a success. Every year was worth celebrating, but I wasn’t sure I agreed with Shaz’ idea of a celebration. I wasn’t sure about having a big party. For the most part, I was going along with it because I couldn’t bring myself to crush his enthusiasm.
Twenty-seven wasn’t all that old; however, I couldn’t help but wonder how many years I would have before it all caught up to me, before I died and rose as a vampire. That concept seemed so foreign as I moved through the forest as wolf. I could no longer readily accept that fate. I possessed a deep inner fear that when that time came, my wolf would cease to exist. It had taken so long to accept that I was the wolf. To think of losing that side of me was like losing myself.
It terrified me because I didn’t know what would happen. Werewolves don’t become vampires the way humans do. Biologically, it just didn’t happen. Our bodies don’t process anything the same way a human’s does. Though Arys insisted my mortality ensured the blood bond would cause me to rise again as a vampire, I had my doubts. If it were to happen the way he thought it would, I would be the only shape-shifting vampire in existence.
Shoving the thoughts from my mind, I turned my attention to the moment at hand. I cleared a fallen tree with a bound, landing lightly on the other side. A few stray twigs snapped beneath my feet. Such simple sounds, but I loved them. The wolf was in me all the time, but only in these moments did I appreciate it fully.
The stress and pain of recent events slipped away as the night wind carried me along. I made my way through the trees to the clearing where the pack gathered on nights like this. I could feel the tiny eyes of small critters watching me from the safety of the treetops. The scent of new life was everywhere as summer flourished. It was entrancing.
I broke through the trees into the clearing with an extra bounce to my step. Abandoning my human form didn’t happen often enough, but nothing felt so good, so truly free. I gazed at the moon overhead, drinking in the silver light it cast upon me. The blanket of stars stretched as far as I could see. Wistful and happy, I lifted my voice to the sky and howled, a long gut-wrenching sound that echoed all around me.
The chorus of howls that filled the night in response stirred a warmth in my belly. My wolves answered my call, and I knew they were coming. Kylarai emerged from the opposite side of the clearing, her muzzle coated in deer blood. Her grey eyes fixed me with a calm stare, but I could feel the pain she tried not to convey. Without Julian at her side, she was lost.
Shaz appeared right behind her, his white fur also bloody from their kill. He had a goofy wolf grin as he trotted over to nuzzle me with his wet nose. I sat back on my haunches, giving in to his playfulness. We wrestled and nipped at one another until the others began to fill the clearing.
When every wolf was present, watching me with attentive gazes, I embraced the change and resumed my human form. I wasn’t ready to let the wolf slip away, but I needed my voice for this. Like usual, there was a brief burst of excruciating pain as my body reformed itself, and then splendor when I was whole again. It happened fast, faster than it had when I was a new wolf. For that I was grateful.
Letting my hair fall over my br**sts, I positioned myself behind Shaz’ sitting form so that for the most part, my nakedness was minimal. I had nothing these people hadn’t seen before, but it made it a little easier to look them all in the eyes.
“I’m sure you all know that we recently lost one of our own.” It was easier to claim Julian than I’d thought. He was no less of an ass**le in death, but the reality of it was, he was ours regardless.
I took a few deep breaths, hoping the right words would come to me. For so long I had kept this side of my life separate from the rest, but that had changed when I decided to take wolves on the hunt for Maxwell and Claire. I owed it to the rest of them to let them know what was really going on outside of our town and our pack.
I scanned the group of wolves sitting so patiently, waiting to hear why I’d called them together. Our pack had shrunk over the past year. Currently there were nine wolves calling this town home, myself included. Each of us so different as people and animals.