Chapter 49 REACHING FOR THE MOON
Edeline
However, a thought gnawed at me. “Hey, what if William ends up spending so much time with Tatiana that he actually starts liking her?” I glanced up at him, tears brimming in my eyes.
Alpha William shook his head slightly. “No worries, I’ll make sure he doesn’t spend much time with her, alright?”
I nodded, feeling a bit more reassured. I was eager to leave, needing space to process everything. I quickly made my way out of the room, hurried down the stairs, and burst through the mudroom door. I wrapped myself in the blanket, making my way around the pack house and into the woods on the other side, away from the dirt road.
Once I was deep in the forest, I let the blanket slip off and fall to the ground. I let my wolf take over, feeling a release as she emerged fully. The cool, crisp air filled my senses as I allowed myself to fully embrace the freedom of the woods, letting my wolf’s instincts guide me.
The wolf's paws pounded rhythmically against the dirt ground, which was cushioned with a blanket of pine straw. It was tough to hear her whimpering as she sprinted through the forest. She had never really been close to our mate’s wolf, except for that one morning in the tent when they had taken over our skin. That chance might not come again.
I wasn’t even interested in Percival anymore, not with the pain he’s caused me. It stings to think of him passing what belongs to me on to another woman. And yet, being near him somehow dulls the ache—how frustrating is that? The one who hurt me is also the one who soothes me. And then there's the wolf... She’s still drawn to him, despite his past actions. She doesn’t get it. To her, Tatiana feels like a looming threat.
Her emotions were in a frenzy, and she had a desperate hunger for something more visceral—a need to feel the life draining from a creature, captured between her powerful jaws.
As she ran effortlessly through the forest, a wild rabbit’s scent drifted through the air. It wasn’t substantial enough to satisfy her intense craving for destruction.
She paused, her snout lifting to catch a better whiff. That’s when I noticed a doe’s scent mingling in the breeze. Perfect. Something big enough to vent our frustrations on, but still small enough to avoid any serious injuries. It was close by.
She bounded through the undergrowth, taking her time, her nose twitching as she neared a white-tailed deer completely unaware of the danger lurking nearby. The wolf sat silently, observing and biding her time. Fragments of the meeting’s conversation replayed in our mind, fueling her growing anger.
Without a moment to spare, she crouched low and surged from the brush, launching herself into the air and sinking her teeth into the unsuspecting doe’s flesh.
The hold wasn’t firm enough.
The deer bolted, but my wolf was ready for the chase. She sprinted through the forest, her instincts driving her as she followed close behind.
One slip-up, and it was over for the deer. The wolf pounced, her jaws clamping around the delicate throat of her prey. She let out a fierce growl, her head shaking violently as her teeth shredded muscle and tendon. We both savored the rush as the blood filled her mouth, a satisfying drink of crimson.
The deer struggled valiantly, but eventually, she succumbed. Her eyes dimmed as her blood stained my wolf’s fur before she collapsed to the ground. This was quite the feat for a young wolf—bagging a doe so close to her first shift. Impressive. A wave of satisfaction and pride surged through her.
She decided it was time to release the doe and began cleaning the blood from her fur. Then, she sank her teeth into the deer's belly, indulging in a hearty feast.
After gorging on the meat, her anger eased a bit. But then, a shadow of sadness settled in. She felt my pain because it was her pain too. She wasn’t thrilled about being separated from her partner due to an order from her Alpha.
...
I sprinted up the hillside to my favorite spot, where I had a perfect view of the packland below. From there, I could see the bonfire casting a warm, inviting glow as everyone reveled in their fun. She paused in the clearing beneath the full moon, her head tilted back as she let out a mournful howl. It was a sound so full of heartache that it could bring tears to anyone's eyes. Just the pure essence of loneliness and sadness.
We were reaching for the moon!
The moon seemed to watch over us, understanding our struggle.
The pack below responded with their own howls, a chorus that answered her call.
Women.
They heard her cry and answered with empathy, their hearts breaking for us. We were so grateful for their support that we couldn't help but release one more loud howl, a gesture of thanks.
She then plopped down by the stream, happily lapping up the cool, refreshing spring water that flowed past us on its way to the waterfall. It was comforting to let her take charge, easing my worries for a moment.
Just as we were settling in, a sudden whine came from behind us. She turned her head, catching a whiff of the breeze. A delightful shiver ran through her as the scent reached her.
Mate.
That word echoed in my mind. She was about to encounter his wolf for the very first time... his friend.
I thought, "No!" in the back of my mind. But she completely brushed me off.
"Hey there, my dear partner," I mentally warned. "If you don’t leave before either he or I shift back into our human forms, you’re just going to cause more grief. It’s probably best if you go. I can’t handle this anymore. Just a reminder to myself."
I decided I’d stick around for her first meeting with her mate, but after that, I was out of here. Percival had this uncanny ability to sway my decisions effortlessly, even when I was furious with him. At first, I didn’t blame him for everything, but now... Well, after chatting with Nixx about it, maybe he was to blame.