Chapter 26
Jade
The woods abided by no rules. The trees grew where they wished and how they wanted. Every tree twisted in a different direction with its own pattern and print. Some had spots while others had stripes. Vines curled up and down some while others had branches like thin abrasive needles. The crisp fresh air wrapped around me in a cool embrace. My eyes closed on their own accord to enjoy the serenity around me. The thick soil didn’t squish between my toes but instead was warm beneath my feet. The scent of pine lingered in the air but it wasn’t the smell of my mate. It was the smell of the forest. It was calming and quiet. A quiet I had never experienced by myself before. I didn’t blame Rafe for wanting to build here eventually. I could imagine raising kids here someday and I hadn’t thought that before. This place was making me soft.
There usually were other wolves around to echo noise through the trees, but not this time. Rafe had been right to suggest a shift of my own. I didn’t know how much I needed it. Nalia practically sighed in my head. Fur rippled across my bare skin and a chill raced over me. The magic in the air charged like electricity as Nalia took over. My body jerked forward onto all fours and knew exactly what to do. A growl escaped my lips and contentment flooded me. There was a prickle at the back of my mind that our mate was close. I didn’t mind it and neither did Nalia. Cracks and pops echoed off of the trees and foliage. My gums ached as my teeth elongated and my nose itched. A howl scratched at the back of my throat as my body contorted.
Dead leaves crunched under my paws as I finally took on my other form. Something dusty and white caught the corner of my eye and it took me a moment to realize it was my tail. A wolffish laugh escaped my maw. Nalia threw our head back and howled. My body twitched right before we launched forward and ran. The trees blurred past me as we tested our speed to the max. My lungs felt tight as we slid to a stop at the edge of a cliff. I hadn’t even realized we had gotten up so high. Everything had been a blur in my head.
How do you do that?I internally asked Nalia.
She chuckled.I was made for this. Your other half was literally created to go fast. I think we are the fastest in the pack too.
I could imagine myself rolling my human eyes. She was too proud of our new abilities and discovery of our actual speed. I let myself zone out like Nalia did for most situations when we were in my human form. It wasn’t until I noticed the change in altitude that I snapped back to reality.
Nalia threw our head back and howled again. The entire pack was beneath us. Somehow we had gotten to the top of the mountain. Our breath hitched in awe.
This is our home. This is our pack.Nalia’s emotions flooded the both of us and I swore she was crying but wasn’t entirely sure. Being a wolf was a completely different feeling than being a human. I didn’t know about half of the things she was feeling. The scents were overwhelming enough in this form. I was sure that was why Nalia checked out so much. There was no way to describe this feeling except awe. In the distance, I could make out my parent’s house but just barely. How had we gotten up so high?
Leave it all to me.
And I did. I zoned out and disappeared inside our head while she ran. While she hunted and didn’t perk back up until she scented our mate again. He wasn’t in his wolf form but instead was sitting on a gray boulder against the mountainside. He wore a dark blue flannel button-down and light wash jeans. His ankles were crossed and he was leaning back on his forearms. His eyes were closed but we both knew that he was aware of our observation. When he finally opened his eyes they were glowing yellow.
“You weren’t supposed to come find me,” he smirked.
Nalia threw her head.Why ever not?
Rafe threw us a wolf-y grin before his voice entered our mind.Because my wolf is big and bad. He doesn’t just want to play. He wants more than that.
Nalia yipped before she cut tail and raced the rest of the way down the mountain. I laughed internally.You fool, he’s going to enjoy the chase now.
I felt Nalia grin.Not when he realizes how much faster we are. Then he will have damaged pride.
She was right, like usual. He didn’t chase for long knowing he was outmatched. I could have sworn I smelled disappointment mixed with appreciation in the air but Nalia kept running at the same speed. When she stopped we were in front of the waterfall again.
Did you feel the magic here before?Nalia asked.
Yes, but it’s different. As if this place is reverent.
“That’s because it is,” Granny said from the other side of the small pool. I didn’t know how we hadn’t noticed her sooner until she held up a velvet bag.Magic.
Nalia tilted our head.What do you know, witch?
Granny simply smiled. “This was the place that Axel and Vivian found each other. A long time ago the only ones that could enter this area were true mates. They would come from miles around to see who their mate was. Eventually, the practice became outdated and wolves no longer looked for mates like they once had. Rafe’s wolf brought him here to show him this place so he would eventually bring you here. The only reason you know this place exists is because you are both fated mates.”
Nalia grew tired of speaking through her mind to the witch and shoved me forward into my human body. It took no time for my body to contort back to its original form. I panted on the rocks and the water splashed onto my fevered skin. I didn’t remember a time when I had shifted so quickly.
We are stronger than all the others. We are sigma. They rely on the pack. We rely on ourselves.Nalia practically purred inside of my head. This made her happy. Knowing we were more powerful than other wolves wasn’t a bad thing.We can protect ourselves, our pack, and our mate.
I didn’t think we would have to protect our mate. Rafe was pretty capable on his own but she was onto something. It was a nice feeling to know I was capable. Capable of being one of the best, all on my own. I didn’t need anyone to protect me.
Granny smiled as she sat down on a big boulder beside the water. “It’s nice to have you back, Jade.”
I wrapped my arms around my nakedness. Granny chuckled. “None of that, being naked around here is natural. I know it will take you a little bit to get used to that but know, I’ve seen more naked wolves than any other supernatural race.”
I didn’t unwrap my arms from around my chest even if my shoulders did relax slightly. “Wasn’t Vivian a witch?”
Granny nodded as she watched the water splash on the pool across from us. “Yes, she was. Our coven was arranging a meeting with the Alpha here. I don’t know if it was the magic that called to the both of them but somehow they ended up here together. The magic tethered them in a way that even their mating bond couldn’t compete with. Axel tried to claim her immediately and scared Vivian off. I knew the stories of the Crimson Pack and the magic that resided on their land. If I hadn’t, Vivian would have left her true mate forever. She was on her way out when I found her.”
