I shake my head, but he holds it steady.
“Yes, I want to put you in a pretty dress and show you off to everyone I know. I want them to see you on my arm, holding my hand, kissing my lips. I want the fucking pack to understand what you mean to me.”
“And what do I mean to you, Cal?” I ask in nothing but a whisper.
“I mean that I love you, Remedy, and I won’t let you doubt it.”
The words shock me. The only person to have ever said they love me is Sadie. And since I recently killed her boyfriend, I’m not so sure as to where we stand anymore. I want to believe his words. To believe that someone would look at me and want me to stay. To be theirs.
I don’t know how to respond—it feels too good to be true. It’s also the most terrifying thing in the world. Behind Cal, River and East stand, arms crossed, and I wonder if they’re concerned as to where they fit into Callum’s confession of love.
But I don’t need to worry.
“Fuck,” East snorts. “We knew you wanted to get us all to the pack meeting. But that was sure a hell of a way to do it.”
I look at him, amazed at his lack of insecurity or jealousy.
“You went all caveman on her, now there’s no way in hell we can let you take her alone,” River adds with a smile playing on his soft lips.
Realizing that these men aren’t going to let me go anywhere, I surrender, giving into what I really want.
Them.
Raising my eyebrows, the tears that threatened to run down my cheeks are now gone. I’m relieved at Cal’s confession—at the prospect that these men want me. For good.
But another part of me doubts it. How can someone fall in love after a handful of days? What would that love even mean? But the biggest doubt of mine is whether or not that love is going to be real once they all find out the truth of what happened in Sadie’s apartment.
Cal thinks he loves me but he doesn’t know I killed a man.
So, I say the only thing I can think of—the only thing that will take the heat off the confession and remind us of why this argument started in the first place.
I ask, “So when’s the next pack meeting?”
“In a few days,” Cal says.
“So, what should we do in the meantime?” I ask.
East speaks up. “It’s time we took our wolf on a hunt.”
Chapter 14
East
River shoots down the idea, straightaway—and Cal twists his lips.
“What? It would be good for all of us to get some fresh air, and if this is Rem’s life now, she should at least get used to her new skin.”
Remedy’s face lights up. “I’m in.”
“You sure?” River asks her gently. “It might be better for you to stay back and rest.”
“I’m pregnant, not bedridden.”
“Still….” River sighs. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“What if we compromised?” Cal asks.
River raises his eyebrows. “What do you have in mind?”
An idea forms in my mind. The perfect way to spend the day. “Let’s skip the hunt and go have some fun.”
“Why kind of fun?” Remedy asks, carrying her breakfast dishes to the sink, her little tee shirt tempting me in all sorts of ways.
“Guess you’ll have to shift and find out,” I say with a grin, and then I take her hand and lead her outside.
*
The air is cool, a soft breeze coming from the dense forest around us. The crisp mountain air awakens my senses and with Rem’s hand in mine, I show her how we can shift with our own will.
“Just focus on what you want to be,” I tell her.
“Just like that?”
I nod. “It’s that simple.”
“We don’t need a full moon or anything?”
“This isn’t Teen Wolf.”
“But last time, I didn’t focus on what I wanted,” she says. “I didn’t even know it was possible.”
“But you were protecting your young—your animal instincts took over.”
“I guess I’ll just… do it then?” She shakes her head, standing outside in nothing but that tee shirt, with bare legs and feet and looking divine.
Callum and River are outside with us, and we all step back, instinctually and let our primal needs come through. One second we’re human, the next we’re wolves.
Rem is a beautiful wolf—sleek and glossy, her fur drawing me in. I’m mesmerized by the way she paces around us, getting used to her paws and her heightened senses.
Our eyes meet. Ready to play?
She nods, ready for the thrill. The chase. So am I.
And then the four of us are off, panting and darting around trees and hills, jumping through the icy mountain streams and lifting our eyes as we dare one another to leap. She may be a woman, but deep in Rem’s bones, it’s clear she is more. When we pause to drink some water, I watch Cal and River run up ahead. Alone with Rem, I can’t help but ask, You sure you weren’t born part of this pack? I know you say you’ve never been here before, but girl, you know how to move.
She smirks—a wolf-smirk, which gets me really turned on. Her eyes are brighter than I’ve ever seen them. It’s like the walls she keeps up are down in this new form. Like it’s the second skin she’s been missing her entire life.
It’s my first time here, I swear. I think I’d remember being a wolf and traipsing through the woods.
You like it here? With us?
I’ve never felt so safe before. Hell, I never even knew I needed to feel safe. Now that I’ve found it, I can’t imagine leaving. But I’m not so naive to assume we will always be together.
For a moment, I fear there is something else in her eyes, something more she isn’t revealing.
Why would you think this can’t be forever?
She presses her paw against mine, nuzzling her nose against my neck. Nothing is forever, East. Even if we want it to be.
Cal is calling us, and she takes off towards River and Cal up ahead.
I watch her go, wishing she’d come back.
Hoping that her comments weren't an omen of what’s to come.
But as she runs toward Callum, her black fur, with the bright red stripe down the center, feels like a warning.
Remedy isn’t a woman who stays in one place very long.
Chapter 15
Remedy
By the time we stop to rest for the second time, I’m panting and out of breath. Cal comes up behind me, his eyes gleaming with endorphins, and he pounces on me playfully. Within seconds we’re rolling on the pine needle covered floor of the old-growth forest, growling eagerly as our bodies are charged with excitement.
You look hungry, little wolf.
My body pulses with desire at his words. I am hungry but not for a meal.
For a treat.
He has me pinned to the ground, looking down at me. There is no doubt what he craves.
So, are we gonna fool around or what?
He bares his teeth, nipping at me in such a sexy way I can’t help but howl. I swear I never found the idea of mating to be exhilarating but suddenly all I want is for this wolf to devour me.
Not here.