Chapter 112

Shawna POV

As soon as I realized that Natalie had found her mate, I left quietly. It was not my place to hang around and see how it went. Besides, my goal was to meet up with Michael so we could finally prove to ourselves that we were mates. As I ran off through the trees, hugging the shadows, I heard howl after howl through the night. Many wolves were finding their mates, and I hoped that I would be one of them. Natalie and I had plotted our course earlier in the day, after we had a walk through with Ashlynn. I felt confident that if I stuck to the plan, Michael would scent me and we'd be mated by morning. Provided he was my mate at all. I felt a little uneasy at that thought and wondered why I hadn't caught his scent at all tonight. Did he change his mind and not come out on the run after all? That would be terrible, especially if he had made that decision and then didn't want to tell me. The thoughts were trickling in and in rapid succession. It was making me angry with myself for even thinking of these things at this time. I shook my head to clear it and veered off to the path that led to the waterfall. Not much longer and I'd be able to hear the water plunging into the pool.

Every once in a while, I would catch a whisper in the wind or the sounds of growling in the distance. I was pretty certain I had even heard the sounds of someone having sex in the bushes not far off the path. That was probably one of the most uncomfortable feelings I'd ever had in my life. I certainly did not want to witness a couple fornicating in the open like that. I hoped I had more self-control to take my needs someplace away from prying eyes and ears. It's not that I was uncomfortable about the way that my body looked, not at all. I had some scars from my time in captivity, but they really didn't bother me. The scars showed that I was a survivor. I'd had eyes on me as those heinous men took advantage of me and had developed the ability to take my mind elsewhere, during those times. This would be different though. This would be consensual and loving, and it would be with my mate. Regardless of that fact, I didn't want anyone watching. The idea of that made my nose twitch with disdain.

I walked towards the direction of the waterfall, keeping my senses on alert. As I drew closer, I could hear the splashing of the water into the pool. A smile spread across my face as I came around the corner and found the most beautiful waterfall before me. The water came from a cliff above the pool, probably a hundred feet above. The pool was so beautiful with the moonlight shining down on it, that I couldn't help but feel like this was some sort of dream. The reflection of the full moon in the pool literally lit up the area. I was astonished that no one else was around. Even if they hadn't found their mate tonight, surely this beauty was enough to draw them in. I know I am going to enjoy this tonight, no matter what.

I walked to the water's edge and removed my shoes and then my clothes. I dipped my toe in and was pleasantly surprised that the water wasn't freezing. I stepped into the pool and instantly felt a sense of relief and calmness flow through me. With a sigh, I walked in further and sunk until my body was submerged. I closed my eyes and lifted my face towards the moon. I spoke aloud, thanking the Moon Goddess for this beautiful night and for her gifts. I slowly opened my eyes and then turned and swam towards the falls. Once I was under the waterfall, I ducked behind the curtain of water as Ashlynn had told me there was a small cave behind it. She hadn't been wrong, and I gasped at the sight of it. I pulled myself up to the ledge and sat behind the curtain of water, surprised that I could see clearly beyond its veil. It was even more beautiful to see through the water falling from above, the light from the moon creating rivulets of cascading light.

I must have sat on the ledge behind the water for an hour. My skin had begun to prune a little where my feet dangled into the pool. Making a decision, I jumped back into the water and ducked under the steady shower from above. As soon as I broke through the curtain of water, I submerged myself completely and swam towards the shore. I was a good swimmer and had always been able to hold my breath for a long time, so I made it back to a few feet from shore and popped my head out of the water. My eyes were closed so when I opened them to find wolf eyes staring a me from the bank, I almost screamed. The wolf sat on his hind legs, my shirt gripped in his jaw. "Ummm, can you put my clothes back on the ground please?" I asked quietly. "I kind of need those."

The wolf cocked his head to the side as if he was contemplating what I had just said. With a sigh, he released my shirt but didn't move from his spot. "Do you mind going away please?" I asked. The wolf shook his head and didn't move from his spot. I backed up in the water, creating some distance. I wasn't sure what was going on but I wasn't about to be a victim again. I blinked and the wolf shifted into his human form. Michael stood on the bank, completely naked with a huge grin on his face.

"You didn't make it easy, finding you. Who hides in the water so that their mate can"t catch their scent?" he asked ruefully. I hadn't even thought of that.

"Oh gosh, I didn't think. I'm sorry Michael. I was just enjoying the waterfall and you had taken so long that I thought maybe you changed your mind," I admitted.

"I would never change my mind, though I apologize for taking so long. There was a bit of a disturbance and I had to stay back for a bit after the Alpha ordered the males into the woods. It's all handled and I came for you as soon as I could." He paused and looked at me. "Can I come in?"

"Yes," I answered. Michael waded into the water until he stood before me. He drew in a deep breath and smiled.

"You are my mate, I knew you were. I smelled it on your clothes, your scent and when I arrived to find only a pile of clothing and no you, I was worried. You weren't under water this entire time were you?" he asked. "Because if you were, that's like a mermaid thing not a werewolf."

We both laughed and I took a step to close the distance. I inhaled his strong male woodsy scent and my hormones immediately went into overdrive, my sex clenching. Michael and I had never been completely intimate because of the fears I held inside. At this moment, my body seemed to have let go of all of that. "Thank you," I whispered silently to the Moon Goddess.

"Let me show you," I told him. I beckoned him towards the waterfall, holding his hand in mine. When we reached the curtain of water, I released his hand and ducked through it. He followed.

"Oh wow," he said. "You were in here?"

"I was," I told him. I pulled myself up on the ledge with my legs dangling over. Michael was so tall that he was able to stand in front of me and our eyes were level. He put himself between my legs and placed a hand on my cheek, searching my eyes.

"God I love you Shawna," his lips lowered to mine, slowly and tenderly. This was how he had always kissed me, but tonight I wanted more. No I needed more. I wrapped my arms tightly around him and pulled him against my naked wet body. I kissed him with hunger and tugged at his lip with my teeth. Michael groaned in my mouth and wrapped one arm around my waist, pulling me tight against him. His erection ground into my core, leaving no doubt about his desire for me. "Are you okay?" he suddenly asked, pulling away.

I pulled him back towards me. "Don't pull away. I'm fine Michael. We have waited to long for this and now that I know you are my mate, my entire being wants you. My wolf is whining in my head for us to finally mate and seal the bond. She's not wrong." I pulled back further on the ledge. "Come up here and make love to me."

Michael's eyes turned dark and he launched himself with a solid lunge from the water to the cave ledge. "You don't have to tell me twice," he growled out as his mouth descended on mine again. It was like fire and ice. The heat that flowed through my veins was intense, but it was calmed when his mouth blazed from one breast to the next. When his mouth descended on my core and his tongue swept inside me, I was a goner. I felt my eyes roll back in my head as my orgasm ripped through my body, and as I began to come down from that high, he plunged his cock inside me, and I was riding high again. I never knew it could be like this, or that one person could make me feel whole again. With Michael, I felt safe, loved, cherished, and more than anything else, I felt like I was my whole self again.

We lay in the cave for a long time, wrapped in each other's arms. Michael's lips traced trails of sweet kisses all over my body, and he murmured words of love and praise throughout. I was sad when he suggested we leave the cave and head back to the pack house. As we emerged from the cave, we saw that it was nearly sunrise. We dressed quickly, and then he pulled me into his arms bridal style and carried me back. We didn't bother stopping at the pack house, just kept on going back to the Alpha's house, where we snuck in quietly and went to my room. We locked the door and undressed again and then tucked into my bed where we both fell asleep. I don't remember ever being happier in my life.