She places the bowl aside and sits up straighter, ramrod straight, with her head held high. It makes me snort. She looks wooden. Why doesn’t she relax and get comfortable?
That’s when I realise from her wince and slumping shoulders my mate has probably never been allowed to. Fae are quite strict. I’ve only glimpsed their culture, but it was enough to know how stringent they are. From her dress and powers, I am assuming she is quite high on the social ladder of court, and that would mean rules, restrictions, games, and glamour.
My poor glowing mate has never been allowed to be herself. She watches me then, almost nervously. “What now? What do I do? Where do I go?” She seems to be asking me, but again, I think she’s talking to herself. I wish I could answer, reassure her, and help her in any way.
Anger fills my veins. Fuck! Why can’t I talk to her?
Her eyes widen, and her mouth opens in shock. “Did you just… I heard that.”
Wait…she heard me?
Alejandra
Fuck! Why can’t I talk to her?
The echo of the deep, rumbling male voice in my mind makes me shiver with desire. It was so dark and deadly… Can it really be coming from the wolf in front of me? He appears just as shocked as me. Is he a shifter? Or simply a monster able to communicate telepathically?
Can you hear me? His growling voice floats into my mind again, making me gasp and jump with the sudden yank on my body from that voice.
I nod mutely, unable to speak as I stare. Who is this creature? Why am I drawn to him? The voice belongs to a dark, beautiful being…but it’s a wolf. What would he look like as a human?
Breathtaking, I know it.
“I can,” I rasp slowly. “What-what are you? If I may ask?” I inquire politely, even though the profanity he used made that dirty rebellious part of me perk up, but ladies do not speak like that. Not even here, alone in the forest with a wolf…
The eater, he growls, but I catch an afterthought. Once a man… What I wouldn’t do—
“You were a man once?” I ask, and he lowers his head, studying me as if thinking how to answer. What a strange day, sitting here conversing with a wolf big enough to eat me after I ran from my people.
Once, shining one, a very long time ago.
“How is that possible? I’ve heard of people able to shift into animals, like familiars…but are you stuck?” I reach forward as if to touch him, and then remember how improper that is, so I drop my hand. He snorts and drops to his belly, so his head is level with mine, and nudges my hand. Smiling softly, I run my fingers through his smooth, fluffy fur. He rumbles with an almost purr and pushes his head further into my hand, making me giggle.
I am a shifter, the original wolf god. Once I walked this world as both, able to change at will.
I freeze, but he nudges me to carry on stroking, so I do, along his ears and muzzle and back, then up again as he continues speaking. That dark voice fills my mind so completely, it consumes me and leaves traces of desire behind. He is nothing like the soft-spoken, silver-tongued men I am used to at court. He is rough and raw. Why is that so appealing? Why does my center heat and start to pulse? So much so that I have to shift on my knees and sit in a very unladylike position to relieve some of the pressure. Not that he seems to mind, or even notice.
I was fucking betrayed.
I gasp at the crude word, even though part of me likes it. He notices, of course he did. He seems attuned to my every movement. I almost catch what I think is an arrogant gleam in his eye as he purposely says that word again.
By some fucking angel trying to create more supernaturals that were better, stronger, by corrupting nature and our bloodlines. He cursed me into my wolf form, and ever since, I have been stuck inside it, losing myself with every day that passes.
“Losing yourself?” I repeat with a frown. “I’m sorry, my wolf, that is terrible. Can we not reverse it?”
I have tried every day since I escaped and came to this forest so I wouldn’t hurt anyone. My wolf…he grows stronger every day, more feral, more primal. I am losing my human half with each day, week, and month that passes without being able to change back.
“There must be a way.” I shake my head. “We will find it, I will find it.”
Why?
“In thanks… You saved my life, it is the least I can do.”
But then you healed me. Your debt is paid, darling.
“No,” I snap almost harshly, and then recoil at my own vehemence. For some reason, I know it is important to heal this wolf, to bring him back to his full glory, to set him free, though I do not know why. But sometimes, blind faith is all you have, and you have to trust that the world and the Fates will not steer you wrong.
He watches me with those glimmering eyes as I stroke his fur, and for a moment, a human expression takes precedence in those glowing depths. It’s a very human emotion that I do not have much experience with, one that has me stilling my touch. The breath in my lungs freezes like the trees and leaves in the winter cold. My heart races as if I have pushed my body to its limit, and my stomach clenches, but it is not a sick feeling, just strange.
Shining one…no one’s help is for free. It comes with a cost. What is the cost for you trying to help me?
I lick my lips, understanding his hesitation. When you have been hurt and betrayed for so long, it distorts the way you look at the world. I understand, I am slow to trust, even slower to reveal my true self in fear of the repercussions. “No payment. I want nothing from you, wolf.” I smile as my stomach makes a very unladylike rumbling. “Except possibly some food if you have any. My body is healing, and that requires extra sustenance, if you have enough to spare?”
He snorts. Let me get you some.
He stands, and I almost fall back at his sudden closeness, but he turns, running his body along mine, before leaving the den. I look around for a moment before following him out, crawling on my knees and out into the brightness of the night.
He huffs at me, trying to urge me back in, but I stand and stretch my fingers towards the sky and send thanks to the deities for sending the wolf to save me, to protect me.
Fine, but stay close. These woods are filled with monsters just fucking waiting to eat nice little women like you.
I do not know why I say it, it just pops out. “Like you?”
Darling, if I was going to eat you, it would be in a totally different way, and I can guarantee you would love it.
My face heats, and he lets out what sounds like a laugh as he wanders away, but not too far. He can still see me, but he’s far enough away to reach the trees. I duck my head as I recover my composure, a shy smile curling my lips at his meaning. Is he flirting with me? Teasing me?
I find myself liking the playfulness and crude, dirty comments. No one is that frank or…or, well, open back in court to a lady. Not to me. He freely admitted it. Not only that, but the intention behind his words sent a shiver of desire blooming through me.
He nudges a tree, and a few apples fall from it. With a snort, he throws his body at it, and the whole tree shakes as nearly every single apple falls to the ground. He moves to the bush next to it then and starts gently collecting berries with his mouth. That’s fine, I don’t eat much meat anyway. Animals are precious and to be worshipped and cared for. You never know what could be an entity of the deity or of the hunt, and to eat it without their willing sacrifice would be sacrilege.