“You don’t have to leave, Zee,” I leaned down to kiss her lips. “They all love you. Okay, maybe not Delaney, but she hates everyone.”
“Thanks Alex,” she spoke softly as she threaded her fingers through my hair. I loved how she was curling the strands around her fingers. It reminded me of the first day she saw me as a wolf, and her fingers sliding through my fur.
She tugged me down and kissed my lips gently at first. Her teeth grazed my bottom lip and her tongue followed to sooth it. I parted my lips for her, and she flicked her tongue against mine. A growl rumbled in my chest and I tightened my grip around her waist and deepened the kiss. When we finally pulled apart, we were both panting.
“God, I love you,” I murmured while I brushed a temperamental strand of hair out of her face. It wasn’t until I noticed how still she was that I realized I had spoken out loud. She was staring up at me with her eyes as wide as saucers. I fought the urge to take it back or play it off somehow. I looked back at her, hoping she felt the same.
“I love you, too, Alex,” Zee whispered before she buried her head in my chest and wrapped her arms around my waist. We stood holding each other until I felt her shivering against me. I pulled back to see her teeth chattering.
“Come on, let’s get you warmed up,” I said as I shooed her into the house. I took her to the room she’d been using on the first floor. Carefully I helped her pull off all her layers of clothes. She stood shivering in her bra and panties in front of me and I fought the urge to toss her on the bed and make love to her. Instead I checked that her bandages were still wrapped tight like Eli had instructed. Then I helped her pull on a pair of my flannel pants and a t-shirt to sleep in. When I headed to her chair to help her get comfortable, she stopped me.
“I wanted to try sleeping in the bed tonight,” she told me. “My ribs aren’t horrible with all the pain meds and my back could truthfully use a break from sleeping sitting halfway up. Besides, if we lie in the bed, I can snuggle with you.” She pulled me with her over to the bed, and I helped her get laid down in a way that didn’t hurt he ribs too badly. She looked up at me expectantly and I laughed.
“Okay, but Eli will kill me if you hurt yourself,” I told her. “Let me go shower and I’ll come lie down with you.” She smiled and settled back on the bed with her eyes closed. I figured she would be asleep by the time I got back to her bed.
I went up the stairs to my room. As I stripped and showered, I considered Zee’s request to stay with the pack. I wasn’t sure if it was her way of asking to be turned or not. I found myself rushing to get back before she fell asleep. I didn’t wait for the shower to heat, jumping into the barely warm water I scrubbed quickly. I was climbing out before the mirror had a chance to fog over in the cool bathroom. I dried quickly and pulled on a pair of sleep pants and padded barefoot out of my room.
Tegan came out of her room and closed the door softly before turning to see me at the top of the stairs. She froze and her eyes darted to Wyatt’s door before she walked with purpose towards me on the stairs. She held her head high and moved with an air of nonchalance as if she always snuck from her room quietly to go downstairs. I watched her veer towards the kitchen and glance back at me furtively. I laughed quietly as I turned the other way to go to Zee’s room. I suspected my little sister wasn’t planning on sleeping in her own bed that night.
When I opened Zee’s door she was breathing deeply, and I moved through the dark room to climb into the bed beside her. I laid on my side so I could look at her face peaceful in sleep. She shifted a little and grimaced. I slid closer to her and gently eased her to her right side so I could cradle her to my chest. She pressed her cheek into my chest and sighed as she relaxed into me. I smiled and closed my eyes.
“Will it hurt when I become a wolf?” she asked sleepily. My eyes jerked open and looked down at her. She hadn’t moved except to press her body more firmly against mine.
“The bite might hurt,” I told her honestly. “But changing is effortless. It’s like you become liquid for a moment and your body just flows into a new form. You know you don’t have to change for me Zee. I will love you as a human as much as I would as a wolf.” I stroked her hair while I spoke.
“I want to feel that freedom,” Zee spoke softly. “Like I’m a superhero who is flying through the woods. I want to run with you, Alex. I was scared of the idea before because I don’t want to lose who I am in the process, but Tegan and I talked a lot. She says she didn’t feel like she lost herself, but more like she gained something more. I want that.”
Zee turned her head and pressed a kiss to my bare chest. She continued kissing my skin up to my neck as she carefully inched up my body. I fought to keep my hands still as her
