“You are turning my life in all weird directions, and all you can think about is me naked?”
The trembling started with her hands, traveled up her arms, and slowly seemed to spread like electricity hitting lines of a fuse.
“I’d take you any way you came, but...” He pointed at her. “I smell your wolf Olivia, the animal side of you and she wants out. Let her.”
Before Olivia could say anything further, she cried out in a muted voice as the wolf within her took control and pulled at her.
Ethan shifted, furious and fast. Praying to meet her on the other side. His head down, watching, waiting for her. Olivia would fight it, who wouldn't? It was against nature.
The ripping of fabric was familiar to him, and the only sound until she emerged as a white wolf.
His wolf slowly approached one paw in front of the other.
There would be no words, animals had no words. He pushed an image of her and her beauty. She cowered, her tail low.
The last thing he wanted was for her to fear him.
He nuzzled her, first nose to nose. Her head slowly rose to face him, and she whined. He tried to push more images to her, tried to communicate through their mated connection. Her thoughts were confused. Slowly as she accepted him, feelings flashed into his head of her. Confusion. Anger. Exhilaration.
He licked her and pushed his massive head against her shoulder. A picture of the nearby woods surfacing.
Yes, a run. That was the only thing to do now. He followed her to the back door where she pawed at the curved handle. It opened and out she ran, into the dark of the night.
He chased her, a freedom coursing through him. Down alleys and streets. Her pace quickened as they neared the boundary between civilization and the tree-line.
The land butting up to the city had no claim and they were free to run. He let out a howl as Olivia's white fur blurred the quicker they ran. He flanked her, keeping her safe as well as enjoying the company of his mate.
Chapter 11
“Ouch,” she said in response to a sting.
Blindly she swiped at it, her hand rubbing against soft flesh.
“Oh, God.” She bolted upright. “Oh, God. That wasn't a dream. That wasn't a dream.”
Ethan's gravelly voice cloaked in sleep responded. “Not a dream. Now get your warm body back here. The sun’s just barely rising.”
She blinked, although it was probably more to try and clear what she couldn't believe. She was in a small outcropping of stones. Not really a cave, but it held the same rough facade. Bits and pieces of the night filtered through the fog of memories.
“Why are we outside?”
Her back flexed as his hand trailed along her spine. “We aren't outside. See?” He pointed up but didn't bother stirring much more.
“That's an overhang. Like a crappy awning over a store. That's not going to protect me.”
He cleared his throat and finally sat up.
“Apparently we aren't sleeping anymore. Do you want to get going?”
She shifted, and the crisp chill of the morning dew hit her. She squealed in surprise. Bringing her knees to her chest and held tight.
Good Lord. She was naked too?
“Okay. I'm going to take your silence as a bad sign. So, let's see. You took off for a run, I followed. You know, after you shifted. It's only gentlemanly. At some point, you decided you were tired. Probably somewhere between the rabbit you caught and the fox you tried to pick a fight with.”
She bristled. “I do not pick fights. That fox started it.”
Turning her attention back to him, a smile broke the surface of her confusion.
“Do you remember then?” he asked.
A slow shake of her head and she analyzed her thoughts. “Yeah, I guess bits and pieces. It seems like a dream though. ”
She stared off into space. The cool breeze of the morning feathered across her cheek. Taking in a deep breath, she recalled the fingers of the wind running through her fur. Her skin peaked in little bumps. The absence of clothing or fur left her exposed. She sidled into Ethan, letting his warmth penetrate her skin.
"Why can I remember some things and not all things? Or rather, why does it all seem like a mess in my head? A dream, but without detail?"His hands rubbed up and down her arms.
"It's the wolf. Even new cubs that shift have a hard time remembering everything that happens at first. It's like you’re two halves of the same soul and the two need to feel their way around each other. She, your wolf, was in the driver's seat while your human side came along for the ride. You'll figure out how to be more present as time goes on. You did really well though. For your first time anyway."
She laughed and punched him. "Hey now. I think I did very well regardless of my first time. I'm still here aren't I? And I figured out how to get back to this form. That's got to count for something."
His chin rested on her upper shoulder. Kissing the skin, he pulled away.
"You did amazing for anyone. If I'm honest, I was afraid that maybe you being a witch would stop the shift somehow. No one knows every law, every rule."
He moved closer, pulling her towards him.
"I know you're the one my wolf's been searching for. I've been searching for."
He said all the right words. Did all the right things. She was putty in his hands if he only knew. Maybe he did, and that was what she loved. He could control her, he could take away her freedom, and yet he didn't seem to want to.
She studied Ethan, the man. She racked her brain for Ethan, the wolf. Both seemed to be content near her, letting her explore. He might have looked like he had it all together, but deep down she could feel his fears, his weakness.
Reaching out she
