Chapter 15: Just a Run and a Swim
Violet woke up early and tiptoed past her best friend sleeping in her old room. She went to the kitchen and put on a pot of coffee for Cora. According to the kitchen clock, it was only 5 AM. She knew Cora would want coffee when she got up. She then headed out the door, closing it softly behind her. She looked towards the boy’s little cottage and wondered if they were up. It was funny how quickly her mind could turn to Eli. Knowing it was too early to go over there she walked to the back of her cabin.
It was such a peaceful morning she decided to take a run. She got undressed behind the house then shifted into her beautiful wolf. It was exhilarating to phase and run as a wolf, so freeing and powerful. She sprinted into the trees behind the cabin. The air combing through her hair felt amazing. Lettie howled in appreciation as they ran through the trees. She could barely feel the ground as they sprinted along with no real destination in mind, just the memories of last night playing in her head. I have a mate Violet said to herself excited by the thought of Eli. He is kind and strong and smelled of fresh pine. Lettie agreed with Violet's thoughts, adding Elis is great too. I miss him already. Elis is that his wolf’s name? Violet laughed in her head, not very different from his own name, how funny. She had gone pretty far into the forest already. So she decided to slow down and find water. Quickly she found a creek and decided to take a drink since she was getting thirsty.
Since she now has wolf senses she felt like the forest had come alive. She could hear ants marching on the forest floor, birds rustling in the trees, and the sound of deer not far away munching on a fern. The colors seemed more vibrant as well; the greens of the forest canopy were beautiful in the rare Oregon summer sun. She wondered what else she could sense. She decided to try her nose. She could smell the musty damp earth of the creek she was in and the smell of juniper and pine on the breeze. She could smell the scent of her mate on the breeze coming from his home.
There was a smell in the air she faintly recognized but she couldn't put her finger on it. She looked around feeling like she was being watched. She was beginning to get an uneasy feeling in her stomach. This was new to her having the overwhelming feeling of dread. She looked into the shadows for a long time but seeing nothing decided to turn back towards the cabin. She wondered if the feeling was because of being far from what she knew.
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"What a glorious specimen," Bacchus said while watching from far away. "She is so naive, running alone. Then again her pack isn't protecting their Alpha very well are they?"
"I would say not father." Said a female voice indifferently. "They haven't even shown her where the borders lie. So what's your plan? Why did I have to come out here with you?"
"Oh, Lizbeth, you need to know who she is. I will explain everything in due time." Bacchus said lazily as they watched Violet run back into pack territory.
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When Violet got back to the yard she phased back and looking down at her phone saw only a half-hour had passed. She really wanted to take a swim, but she knew she would wake Cora if she went back into the house. So she put back on her underwear and sports bra and looked around. Not seeing anyone she ran down to the boat dock and jumped in. It felt wonderful feeling the water surrounding her, taking all her weight away. She started swimming, taking long fine strokes through the lake. It was a rhythmic pattern she loved to feel. It gave her a chance to ignore all the things that bothered her like they just floated away with each stroke. She was so engulfed in her breathing and repetition that she had forgotten to stay alert. She screamed when something warm grabbed her leg.