Darkest Wolf

XXIV

His wolf was glorious.

And mine was darkened ash.

Too many things can go wrong in the dark. I've known this since I was a pup. Tyler made sure I knew what kind of evil may be lurking out there, waiting to take me. To hurt me. To kill me.

He made it clear that it was my job to protect Eve, even if it was for my own sake.

But running with Nathaniel showed me that the dark was not something to fear.

We rushed through the darkness, jumping over objects in our way and swerving around trees that may stop us. We were invincible.

His wolf got competitive, but I am worse. When he lept in front of me I nipped at him. When he took the lead I took it back. Racing under the Goddesses pure white glow made me strong but being with him left me indomitable. Uncontrollable. 

Insatiable.

And when we finally stopped it took us what seemed like ions to find our breath. That is the right word. Our. 

Because here, in this moment, we are one and nothing can divide us. 

Neither of us shifted back right away. Neither of us shifted back at all. We laid there as wolves, humans trapped in animalistic bodies with nothing better to do than to watch the stars twinkle above us in the cold Irish sky. 

Goddess knows how far we went from the house. We may never go back. This could be our little meadow and we could stay here forever, not Alpha Mike, no Tyler, no Jade. No one.

Just my mate and I.

Eve wiggled under my skin but I shushed her. She just wanted to tell me things I didn't want to hear, I'm sure. Things about how he doesn't feel this way and how I need to let her out. But I don't.

I never need to do anything again while I'm with him.

But she was fighting me and he could sense it. He could feel her wanting freedom which stirred Nathaniel enough to make him also want out. His eyes finally blackened like my own and yet they flickered blue again and again. He rubbed his nose against mine, his wolf whispering something beautiful to me.

"Is túsa atá tú."

I don't remember how to say that. Those were words he may have said to Sorcha long ago. Those were not words for Eve and I. 

I whined a bit at the pain those words caused by not being mine but watched in silence as he turned back to human. His tall stature near me while he waited patiently for me to turn, but I had no interest in turning just yet.

He sighed a little as I curled up against his side to watch the stars shine above us but his hand still fell on my head in a comforting sort of way.

I woke up on his couch, curled up in a small ball with only a blanket covering me. I don't suppose he could have found my clothing but he still brought me back to his cabin.

In the prime light of the morning I could practically see the hopeful haze radiating off of me. After all, there I am in the cabin of my mate with nothing separating the two of us but his disapproval of my reincarnated state.

Sure he would learn to accept Eve as he once did Sorcha. We are the same soul, after all. The same wolf.

My feet touched the floor barely but pulled back due to the sudden cool feel. I stood up, blanket around my shoulders, and went to look for Nathaniel.

He wasn't in the kitchen or outside. I caught sight of my scraggly reflection in a puddle outside. I looked young, my hair mussed from sleep and my eyes a king of violet from a calm joy that had slipped over my shoulders much like the blanket itself.

My heart glowed with pride at my eyes. My father's eyes. Surely he would like to see his baby girl so at peace with the world finally.

I turned back into the house to see him standing behind me.

"Where you leaving?"

I was suddenly very aware that he hadn't brought my clothing back with him. I pulled the blanket tighter, not to hide myself but to shield my skin from the deathly cold wind.

"No."