The Lone Wolf

Chapter 3: Katniss

I walk out of the bathroom and see Peeta sitting in the edge of his extravagant bed, his foot tapping nervously. I walk out, being careful of my feet making no sound. But Peeta scents me, because his head turns to face me quite quickly.

"He's very handsome," Taylor whispers in my head and resist the urge to snap at her. She is making this exceedingly difficult. I can't stay here, I'll only bring the rage of my mate's own pack if I stay here. A rouge as a Luna. Thats hilarious. It's never going to be possible, never gonna happen.

"Hey Katniss," he says.

"Hi," I say bowing my head.

"If you'll sit down, I'll bandage your leg for the night," he says. I sit on the edge of the bed and lift my leg up. Peeta pulls it onto his lap with extreme gentleness. He takes the poultice Delly made and gently rubs it over the jagged bite mark. It stings a little but there's also a slight relief from the pain I felt earlier. He carefully wraps the wound up snugly in the clean, white bandages and ties it off.

"I think you're set," he says and I move my leg away from him.

"Thank you," I say quietly.

"Katniss," he says. "You know I mean you no harm, right?"

"I wish I could think that Alpha," I say. "But I know how packs deal with rouges. And that's exactly what I am. Mate or not."

"Please don't call me that," he says.

"Why?" I ask him. "Thats what you are."

"Because I don't think my mate should have to call me that," he says. "Its not like you want me to call you Luna all the time."

"No," I say. "I don't want anyone to call me that. Because they will never truly accept me as their Luna."

"Yes they will," he says. "Why do you think Gale brought you back here instead of chasing you off with the others? Because the wolf part of him recognized you as the Luna before we even met. That's what he told me when he came to get me. He didn't know you were my mate, he just knew you were special."

"I knew you were mine," I say. "I didn't know you were the Alpha, but I entered the territory because I smelled my mate's scent. I knew I'd be safe, for the most part."

"I couldn't really smell your scent before," he says. "You were too covered in mud and grime. But I can now."

"What do I smell like?" I ask him.

"Pine trees, honey, and wildflowers," he says.

"That's interesting," I say.

"What about me?" he asks.

"What?" I ask.

"What do I smell like?" he asks. I start laughing and he looks at me weird. "What?"

"You are extremely unique," I say. "Cinnamon, dill, and fresh baked bread."

"Bread?" he asks giving me a weird look.

"Bread," I say, nodding in confirmation.

"Well, I like to bake," he says. "Are you sure it wasn't just with my scent?"

"No," I say. "It was part of your scent." I start laughing.

"It's not funny," he says but I see him start smirking. I look down at my hands.

"Is something wrong?" he asks.

"You're gonna mark and mate with me right away aren't you?" I say. "And then I'll be expected to bare you a heir and we'll all live happily ever after."

"If that's not what you want Katniss," he says. "I'm not gonna make you do that."

"Why not?" I ask him.

"Because I want you to be happy," he says. "And if you're forced to do something, you won't be happy."

"You aren't very possessive are you?" I ask him.

"I don't want to scare you," he says, "but I warn you, it'll probably kick in in a few days. But for right now, Troyal is happy giving you your space."

"Troyal?" I ask him.

"My wolf side," he says.

"Mine is named Taylor," I say.

"You have one?" he asks.

"Of course I have one," I say. "What kind of question is that?"

"It's just, you haven't shifted," he says. "Why?"

"I ask her every night why I haven't been able to," I say. "I get no answers."

"But you should?" he asks.

"Taylor assures me of it," I say. "But I haven't had any signs of when." Suddenly I feel a sharp pain shoot down my spine and through my limbs, causing me to cry out.

"What's wrong?" he asks.

"I felt something crack, "I say. I feel more little cracks up and down my body, causing me to let out little shrieks. I feel Peeta's hand wrap around my arm.

"Katniss, you're burning up!" he says worriedly.

"You're shifting," Taylor says "I'm finally gonna be able to talk too!"

"You better keep your big mouth shut most of the time," I say back to her and she stays silent for once.

I groan as I feel my bones start to replace themselves and feel the clothes I'm wearing rip to shreds as my body expands. My skin tingles as my fur grows in and once the pain is finally over, I'm in a panting heap on the ground.

"Katniss," Peeta asks. "Are you okay?"

"That hurt like hell!" I groan as I slump to my side. "I knew it was supposed to hurt, but I didn't think it was supposed to hurt that much."

"You are beautiful," he says gently stroking my thick fur. I always wondered what it would feel like to get pet. And it feels really weird. But I like it I guess. At least when Peeta does it. "You must have Alpha Blood."

"How do you know that?" I ask him.

"Look for yourself," he says pointing to a floor length mirror in the corner. I get up on my four, wobbly legs. I walk over to the mirror, stumbling every once in a while. I stare into the mirror, at the creature before me.

I'm huge, larger than most females I've seen, with sleek, midnight black fur. The color of the Alphas. But as I said, Alphas, not Lunas. Females are very rarely black. But I guess shifting at eighteen isn't normal either.

"That's weird," I say.

"No not weird," Peeta says walking over and crouching next to me. "Unique. You are very special my love. And all mine." I look at him and he smiles sadly. "I'm sorry. I just had to say it once."

"It's okay," I say. "I'll allow it." We sit there for a moment, Peeta gently stroking the fur behind my ears. But as we sit there, I grow extremely restless. I need to run, to get out this new found energy. Right now.

"Peeta," I say.

"What?" he asks.

"I need to run," I say.

"I know you do," he says. "You're shaking."

"Well can we go?" I ask him.

"We?" he asks.

"I don't know your territory and if one of your pack mates find me, I'd rather not end up back in that pit," I say.

"Okay," he says. "I'll go with you. Just give me a second." Suddenly his body starts to shudder and I watch as he shifts to a bold black wolf a little larger than myself. It's odd how nearly identical we are. The only difference between the two of us is our eyes. Thats the only thing that hasn't changed. His startling blue eyes stare into my dull grey ones lovingly and he nudges me to my feet.

"Come on," he says. "Let me show you our home."