Chapter 108

Shawna POV

I was both excited and nervous for the run. I had decided to not be overly bothered by those women. After everything I had gone through, how could I not trust Michael at his word? He'd been there for me from day one and I know in my heart he loves me. It was of course deeper than that. What if the Moon Goddess hadn't chosen us to be together and it was all a cruel joke, his love to be taken from me now when I was so close to feeling whole again? I shook my head as if I could simply shake those thoughts away. It was going to be fine, I had to think like that. There was no other way to be. I was just lacing up and tying my sneakers when there was a knock on the door. I answered and Natalie strode in, looking like a fitness model in her short tight shorts and tank top. "Are you planning to shift tonight?" she asked me as she walked in and took a seat on the chair against the wall.

"If we find each other in the woods and his wolf wishes us to make that connection, then yes, I will," I answered. I finished tying my shoes and stood. "Well I guess here goes. It's nearly midnight. How does this work anyway?" I asked.

Natalie laughed. "You mean you didn't ask?"

I shrugged. "I assumed you would ask, as my bodyguard and all." I made air quotes when I said bodyguard.

Natalie rolled her eyes. "We stick together tonight, until you're joined with Michael. Understand?"

It was my turn to roll my eyes. "Yes, Mom. But seriously, what happens?"

"So we go to the yard and five minutes before midnight, the Alpha will send the females into the forest. At midnight, the run begins, and the males will start their search. I was told that most of them shift into their wolf forms immediately to enhance their sense of smell, but not all. It's not required either. I spoke to Michael, he said he isn't going to shift because he knows you aren't go to shift until he finds you. Basically, the males take off running until they scent their mates. If they don't find their mate, they return to the packhouse. After that, there's a big party with a bbq for those who want to indulge. Ashlynn said the newly mated wolves don't normally go back for the party, because they disappear together to consummate their new-found mating. Again, that's also not required."

"Sounds like an excuse for the untamed wolves to hook up after drinking and eating," I said as I brushed my long hair back into a pony tail.

"I suppose," Natalie shrugged. "I'm sure it has happened, but who cares. Everyone is a consenting adult." She was far more carefree about people just hooking up for sex than I was. I know it was because of what happened to me. I hadn't been a saint when I was abducted, but I didn't sleep around either. I'd been with only one man at that time. Even though Michael and I had been seeing each other for a year, we still hadn't had sex. He wasn't trying to rush me in anyway and I was so nervous that I was somehow damaged. It's another reason I felt the need to explore this under the full moon of the mating run. The Moon Goddess would bless us and I might lose some of my insecurities. Ashlynn had fully examined me and assured me that physically I was fine. It was all emotional and mental, and I was working through that.

I took a deep breath and walked towards the door. "Let's go visit with Ashlynn for a few minutes," I said. "She offered that we could come by and have a glass of wine before we go on the run. She won't be drinking of course but she did say she had no problem sharing her wine with us."

"I'm down," Natalie said and stood to follow me.

We left the Alpha's house and walked down the short path to the big long white stall barn. Ashlynn's apartment was on the end nearest the house, above the clinic.We walked around to the breezeway and then took the steps up to her door, giving it a light knock. Ashlynn flung the door open and pulled me in for an embrace. "Aren't you excited?" she asked. "You are about to officially join with your fated mate." She pulled the door open wide and motioned for us to enter.

"Well I don't actually know if he's my mate," I reminded her. "But yes I am excited and hopeful for the future."

"Oh he's your mate alright! I remember the way he looked at you even when you first met and you were hurting so much. He has adored you from first site, so I'm not doubting it for even a second. Come on it and I will pour you a glass of wine," she ushered us in and closed the door.

"Where is Dawson?" Natalie asked as she took a seat on the couch.

"He's helping the Alpha and Beta get everything ready for tonight. They still have to run patrols and many of our warriors are running tonight so he agree to run patrol so that they can participate." Ashlynn handed us both a glass of wine and grabbed her own glass of what assumed was water, since it was clear.

"I wanted to ask you a question while I have you here," Ashlynn stated as she stared at Natalie. "If that's okay?"

"Of course, ask away," Natalie told her.

"This might be awkward, but how much time do you spend around Alpha James? How well do you know him? And has Michael ever shared anything with you regarding his time as Alpha James protector?" Natalie's eyes went wide and she took a big gulp of her wine.

"That I was not expecting. Wow. Uh, I don't know that I know him really, not like on a personal level. I rarely have face time with him, but Michael has to be around him way more than he wants to be," she admitted. "I don't think my brother particularly cares for the Alpha to be honest."

"Why is that?" Ashlynn asked.

"He has said as much, but hasn't elaborated. He's sworn to secrecy, you know, he took an oath and he believes in it."

"Of course, he's a good and loyal man. But just how loyal is he willing to remain?"

Natalie looked uncomfortable as she set her glass on the table and looked Ashlynn in the eye. "I'm not sure what you mean or where you are going with this. I'm a straight shooter, so just spit it out Ashlynn. I don't do well with riddles."

Ashlynn gave her a hard stare and then nodded. "Fair enough, but this doesn't leave this room. I'm purely doing some digging around is all."

Natalie said nothing and I sat still as a stone, holding my breath in anticipation. With a deep sigh, Ashlynn leaned forward, and her voice became so low that if you weren't sitting as close as we were, you wouldn't have heard it. "I think he was involved in that whole thing with the lab in the dungeon. He assigned the warrior that was to check that wing. We looked into it. He also got extremely nervous when he heard it had been discovered. Some of the things he told my uncle do not add up."

I felt my stomach drop. "I doubt Michael knows about it, I can't see him keeping that to himself when he loves Shawna the way he does. I don't know what Alpha James is hiding and why he got involved, but I aim to find out."