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The Future Luna of Our Pack

Amaris

I stay back in the far recess of my mind, trying to come to grips with being a wolf, while she enjoys running through the forest, loving the feel of the wind whipping through her fur, splashing through the shallow streams of water, and enjoying her freedom.

My wolf.

I am a wolf.

I've always felt out of place like I've never belonged anywhere. But, I always assumed it was due to Axel and I being orphans, not because we were fricking shapeshifters.

I figured with my high, prominent cheekbones, nearly black hair, and naturally tanned skin, that I was of Native American descent, belonging to a tribe somewhere.

And I guess in a way, I do. A fricking werewolf tribe—pack. They're called packs, not tribes.

But do I? That would mean that I have an Alpha, but I don't. If I did, I would have known what I was, right?

The sound of howls off in the distance breaks me from my inner monologue—and makes her still, ears perked, assessing if there is a threat nearby.

The howls become closer with each passing moment, sounding as if they're coming from every direction.

What do we do? I ask her, beginning to panic.

'We run,' she breathes the words as barely a whisper as if they too will hear her thoughts.

And maybe they can. Since I know next to nothing of this world, I can't say either way.

She takes off, darting to the left, only to quickly find herself face to face with a group of angry-looking wolves with red eyes, baring their canines in a threatening manner.

Why didn't I just go home again? I cry as fear, as I've never felt before, paralyzes me in the back of our mind.

'Calm down. I've got this,' my wolf tells me, sending a wave of calmness through us.

Beneath her paws, the ground begins to tremble and then split. Suddenly, a deep crevice separates her from the red-eyed wolves who are backing away from the growing chasm.

What in the heck? I ask, yet again unable to believe what I'm seeing.

Whipping around at the sound of someone or something approaching, I see that more wolves are surrounding us from behind. Getting into a defensive stance, she bares her teeth, preparing to fight if need be. She glances behind her quickly, checking on the red-eyed wolves on the other side of the trench in the ground, and when she turns back, two big black wolves are standing before her with their heads bowed, necks bared.

What the heck?

A moment later, I'm no longer staring at two wolves, but one wolf and the guy from earlier. Kenton.

A very naked Kenton.

'Mate,' my wolf yaps excitedly. 'Our mate is here! He came to find us.'

"Amaris," he says, his deep voice doing funny things to my insides.

I nod my head, indicating that I understand him.

He smiles widely and steps forward, kneeling to pet behind her ears, "You are so incredible, Amaris," he murmurs, burrowing his face into her neck, inhaling deeply, taking her scent into his lungs. "Can you shift back?"

She lets out a small bark in response but doesn't bother moving away from him.

"That's what I figured," he says with an understanding nod. When he pulls back, the look in his eyes has my insides doing funny things again, causing her to whimper in response. "Sometimes, all it takes is asking her to let you have control back and then focusing on what your human body looks like, your every feature."

As he says this, he stands up.

Can I have control back? I'd like to be in my human form again if that's okay, I ask, trying to sound calm and sure of myself. Even though I'm slightly freaking out because if Kenton is naked when he shifts back, then that means that I will—

Suddenly, I'm back in control, staring at Kenton through my own eyes, instead of those of my wolf. Now, I close my eyes, take a deep breath and imagine my human body. I imagine my bones changing, shortening, and then snapping back into place. I imagine my claws shortening and turning back into human nails. I imagine my fur no longer covering my body, and instead, I'm back in my own skin. I imagine my face now being my own, instead of that of my wolf.

When I open my eyes, I look down and find that I'm kneeling on the ground, where there previously were paws, I now have hands and feet.

I smile, taking in the rest of me, and realize that I am absolutely filthy and as naked as the day I was born.

Kenton steps towards me, pulling me into his body and hiding me from the other wolves, who I would assume are members of his pack.

"Thank you," I mumble, unable to meet his eyes as embarrassment heats my cheeks due to my naked state.

"No need to thank you. But, you're welcome," he murmurs and then brings one of his large hands up and curls it against my cheek, his thumb resting just underneath my chin. He lifts my face so that we are staring into one another's eyes, and his bright green eyes are filled with wonder, awe, and something else.

"Amaris, there is someone that I would like to introduce you to," Kenton says, reaching out with his other hand and grasping ahold of my own, then curls me into his body as he tries to shield me from the eyes of the other now naked men and women before us.

We come to stop before a man who looks to be in his forties. He looks like an older version of the man standing next to me. He has a big smile on his face as he takes the two of us in, taking note of his son's hand in mine, his other tucking me into his side.

"Amaris, I would like you to meet my dad, Alpha Kerryington Clearwater.”

Alpha? The word, what I've read about Alpha wolves in books, causes a lead weight to develop in the pit of my stomach.

'It's okay, you will see,' my wolf says, trying to reassure me.

"Dad, I would like to introduce you to my mate, Amaris Redding," I hear several gasps from the people surrounding us and it takes everything in me not to cower away from all of the eyes that are currently on me.

Umm, besides, shouldn't we kind of discuss this whole mate business before he goes shouting it for the whole world to hear? I wonder, but don't voice the thoughts aloud. I mean, I don't even know the guy. Not to mention the fact that if I understood my brother's note correctly, he may know something about, or even be an accomplice to, Axel's abuse.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Amaris," the Alpha says, grinning at me. Then, his eyes go to his son. At Kenton's nod, he turns to the people of his pack. I Look from the two men before me, then turn my attention to the men and women who are standing before the three of us, trepidation creeping in as I watch them lower their heads at the three of us as if I'm someone important to them along with the two men standing next to me.

"Everyone, I would like to introduce to you Kenton's mate and the future Luna of our pack, Amaris Redding."

Kenton turns to me, face beaming with happiness until he sees that I don't reciprocate the feeling as Kerryington's words settle in, confirming my fears.

"Amaris..." he says my name like a plea, causing my gut to churn, I can tell that my wolf is just as happy as he is with the announcement, but I don't currently reciprocate those feelings.

*This is all too much, too soon.

I can't do this.*

"No..." I whisper, in a full-on panic as my fight or flight instincts kick in, and given the way that I've grown up, I do the only logical thing that I can at the moment.

I run.

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