ANNALISE

‘I’m taking us to the lake so we can see what has my parent’s in an uproar. Food will need to come afterwards, Larissa.’

‘There are no complaints coming from me. That one human thought we were gorgeous. He’s scrumptious. I would love to have a taste of him.’

Shaking my head, I chuckle and if I weren’t in my lupine form; I know I would be scarlet right about now. ‘That human’s name is Zane. He’s one of my best friends. We went beyond friendship last night and I don’t know if things will ever be the same between us now.’

‘What about the other one, who was also fawning over us? His wolf was talking about pouncing on us and making us his. I’d let him own us all night long. Those grey eyes of his lured me in from first sight. He’s downright sexy and damn…’

‘His name is Xillon. We aren’t as close as Zane and I are, but we are good friends as well. I’ve been hot for him for a while now. Don’t be getting any idea, though. I’m saving myself for our mate.’

‘Oh, come on now. There’s no harm in having a little fun until then.’

‘Now I completely understand why girls can’t hold out for their mates. But I will Larissa, so, no. There will be no romping in the sheets any time soon. We’re almost there.’

Coming to a halt, Larissa and I slowly stride towards the lake’s edge and peer downwards to glimpse ourselves. The beautiful crescent moon, which is the shade of my eyes, was the first thing that came into view. And unlike most wolf shifters, my eyes have remained sky blue instead of gold. Slowly turning around, I take note that my wolf is slightly larger than your average female wolf shifter. I’ve never had the privilege of meeting an ancient werewolf, so I suppose that’s where our size comes from. Our fur is black as midnight, however our tail and paws are grey. Grey and Auburn undertones highlight the darkness, which is quite mesmerizing.

‘No wonder Xillon and Zane were so taken with you. You’re absolutely stunning, Larrisa. So we are a part of the ancient bloodline, and if what my dad says is correct, we also have alpha blood coursing through our veins. I’m not sure how I feel about possibly being the daughter of a lunatic rapist and murderer, though. At least we know he’s deceased and unable to bring harm to anyone else.’

‘I wouldn’t think too much about it, Annalise. The answers will come when needed. Let’s just bask in our awesomeness and fetch some fresh kill.’

‘Sounds like a plan to me. They will prepare a feast from what we bring back. Of course, we won’t be able to have it until after everyone else shifts. You came early, and we missed out on the shifter ceremony. But that’s okay. This way, we can take a nap and shift with Xena and Zariah later. I can’t wait for you to meet them and their wolves. You’ll love them. They are the best.’

***

Larissa and I hunted a few rabbits and a squirrel before hunting our prey to bring back to the pack. We killed us a decent sized doe. It was hard to keep ourselves from devouring it as we trotted back to the pack house. But we’ve managed so far.

‘Look, there’s Xena and Zariah. They came to meet you. I see Xillon and Zane haven’t left either. That other guy with the black hair standing with them is my brother, Jarek. He is to be the next alpha in a couple of years. Xillon will become the beta of the pack and Zane will be gamma.’

‘A beta would do nicely for us, don’t you think? Gammas are fierce warriors, so I wouldn’t mind that either. I hope either Xillon or Zane will be our mate. I like them both. Especially Xillon and his wolf. They want us bad. But he’s like you. Saying he’s holding out for his mate. Zane has experience and could give us what we need. Too bad he fears you, just as much as he wants you…’

Chucking the doe to the ground, Larissa shags our fur to clear the blood from our body and chuckles before making me shift back into my human skin without warning. My hands automatically reach to cover my breast and pussy and I turn abruptly so the guys won’t see me naked as the day I was born. I’d rather they see my ass, then my most intimate areas.

“Here sweetheart. It’s hard at first, but modesty will become a thing of the past. You’ll get used to being naked in front of people. It can’t be helped when you are a werewolf.” Mom says with a smile as she places a ceremonial robe around my shoulders.

“I, uh… I can hear people’s thoughts. I’m getting bombarded from all angles here. It’s a little unnerving,” I whispered into my mom’s ear and massaged my temples.

Zane and Xillon both are trying to talk their wolves down and fighting to keep them back from shifting. It’s going to be hard to keep my hormones in check now that I’ve connected with Larissa. I can feel the dampness coating my thighs as their banter between them and their wolves makes my arousal skyrocket. More so than ever.

‘Selene, help me out here.’

“Your father contacted Alpha Gabriel from the werewolf kingdom in Scotland. They arrive to meet you in a few days. They are excited to meet you, sweetheart. Alpha Gabriel classified you as a princess. Not that you weren’t already being our daughter and all. The ancients rule over there and we rule the werewolf shifters in this country. He told us you would most likely experience that. He said that he can help you drown out the voices.”

“What do I do until then, momma?”

“I’m not sure, dear. He didn’t say, but it’s early morning there. We had woken him when your father called.”

“Can we get my induction over with so I can go up to my room, then? I’m not trying to be a jerk or anything, but this is so much to take in, all at once. Maybe if I can meditate, I’ll figure out some way to turn it off. That way, I can come back and shift with Xena, and Zariah later.”

“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I know hearing people’s thoughts must be a pain. I sent a mind link to your father as soon as you came through the entrance and he’s on his way.”

“I know, I heard you. Can I get some muscle relaxers or something from Cadance? I’m getting a pounding headache.”

“That’s normal after transforming into your wolf for the first time, sweetheart. She’s already prepared something for you. Perhaps they will help you shut off the voices in your mind.”

“Oh, Goddess I hope so.”

***

I’ve concluded that staying on muscle relaxers until my uncle Alpha Gabriel arrives will be a normal thing for me. No longer have I been able to hear the voices of those around me, and I’m functioning ten times better now. I’m saddened because my parents won’t let me shift with Xena and Zariah, though. They said I needed to rest and they would fetch me when supper was served. That didn’t keep me from standing aside in the dungeon as my dad performed the shifting ceremony, though. I wouldn’t have missed that, even if my dad had commanded me to do otherwise. Larissa seems to hide for the time being, anyway. I haven’t heard from her since we arrived and I shifted back into my human skin.

“I haven’t told you how stunning your wolf is. Xavier was… uh… smitten with her. That’s the nicest way I could put it, without me sounding like a complete perve.”

Shaking my head and chuckling, I bite my bottom lip and roll my eyes. “Xillon, dear, I must tell you I can hear people’s thoughts. So I heard the entire conversation you and Xavier were having. It’s all good. Larissa said she would like a taste of you. And her banter with me wasn’t any better than yours and Xaviers. She’s annoyed that I, like you, want to hold out for my mate.”

“Oh shit! Really! Damn! I’m sorry. I didn’t know. Uh… yes. I want to hold out for my mate. Um… We should, uh… go hunting together. Xavier wants to run with Larissa. I wouldn’t mind that either.”

“Sure. I don’t see why not. Mom and dad won’t allow me to shift for a couple of days though. They want me to rest. Larissa’s zonked out, I suppose. But I’m on muscle relaxers. I’m high, but it’s nice. I can’t hear anyone’s thoughts right now. I thought I was going to go nuts earlier.”

His eyes cloud over, and I know he and Xavier are conversing with one another. I wouldn’t mind hearing their banter at this moment. Can’t wait until my uncle gets here so I can learn how to switch it off and on whenever I want.

“Xavier apologizes for being so crude. He’s overly ecstatic about going for a hunt together, though. He promises to keep his thoughts to a minimum, when the time comes.”

“Xavier, I love you to death. Larissa would be excited if she weren’t passed out right now. At least we’re all linked now, so you and Larissa can chat when we go on our hunt. I’m sorry she’s not able to mind link with you right now. I guess staying high on muscle relaxers isn’t a good idea. Hell, I’m too high right now to mind link period. Obviously. Since I’m talking to you through Xillon. Sorry, by the way, please forgive me,” I whisper and giggle.

He chuckles and shakes his head. “Annalise, you are a remarkable woman. You should go rest before Alpha Max scolds you. You’re not supposed to be here. He’s been glaring in our direction for the last five minutes. We’ve been whispering in each other’s ears, so I’m sure he hasn’t heard our conversation, but still. If he has heard any of it, I would like to keep my head on my shoulders a while longer.”

“Yeah. I won’t have any problems staying a virgin. You all are fearful of my father and brother. Bye Xillon. I look forward to our hunting session.”

Turning and walking away, I make my way upstairs, leaving the dungeon. He’s right. Dad was upset when I arrived for the shifting ceremony. I was about to leave, but that’s when Xillon came up and started talking to me. My mind is reeling and the muscle relaxers have me wanting to pass out right here on these damn stairs.

Xillon and Zane both want me. And Larissa wants them. I’ve had a crush on them both forever, so it’s not like I don’t want them as well. I have to keep my mind and body in check. Look, but don’t touch. That’s going to be hard with knowing how much they both want me. I can’t get overly attached to either. Dating when you are a werewolf is stupid, if you ask me. Because nine times out of ten, the person you date doesn’t wind up being your mate. Then hearts are broken and I don’t want that.

“Can we talk?” Zane asks as he catches up to me once I’ve reached the landing.

“If you don’t mind following me to my room. I’m about to pass out. I’m so exhausted suddenly.”

Zane hoists me up, carrying me bridal style until we’ve reached my bed. He lays me down, then crawls in behind me. “Rest for now and we’ll talk later.”

His fingers combing through my locks soothe me, and not much time passes before I fall into a peaceful slumber.