The Alpha's Powerful Luna

Chapter 18

**Jade POV**

Overwhelm began to bubble over. Was I really an enhanced wolf? Those types of wolves were exceedingly rare, that was simply not possible. They were also more of a target to hunters and rival packs, if I were an enhanced wolf I could be basically asking for trouble if someone found out. I heard everyone catching up and surrounding me, but I couldn’t bring myself to focus on that. I was starting to feel dizzy, hot, confused, afraid. I had to get back to my clothes and be back to my human body. I felt somehow more exposed than ever right now, like I was seconds away from being shot down and taken as a trophy to hang on some sick hunter’s wall.

I took off running again, this time back toward the pack house. I needed to get out of there, I felt consumed by my need to be out of the open, out of the line of fire. I heard only one set of footsteps behind me— Aries. He seemed to be keeping up better this time as I darted between trees and leapt over rocks. I think he probably had the advantage of knowing the woods better than me and that was the only reason he was able to keep up, because I was running as fast as my legs could carry me and I was now more than certain my speed was enhanced. I watched as all my surroundings blurred and yet I still somehow knew exactly where I was going.

Finally, after what felt like a way longer run than the run toward the clearing, I came across the tree Elliott and I had stashed our clothes behind. Aries skidded to a stop next to me, his eyes wide with… confusion? Concern? I wasn’t too sure, and I couldn’t bring myself to figure out which one. I closed my eyes hard and felt myself coming back into control of my mind and body as I felt my claws, teeth, and my front legs beginning to retract. I was back to my human form much quicker than it took me to shift into my wolf form.

I opened my eyes to a very naked Elliott tugging his underwear back on, his eyes as wide as his wolf’s. “Jade, your wolf is—“

“White, I know.” I said mostly to myself, too consumed with fear to watch my tone or even be concerned if it was unintentionally cutting.

“No, she’s got to be enhanced. She’s FAST!” He said with a wide smile on his face. “She’s bad ass!”

I felt a small amount of relief that my mate seemed to like my wolf, but not enough to pull me from my panicked state. “Elliott, enhanced wolves are hunted and killed. Hunters AND other wolves see them as I trophy, if anyone finds out about this, I’m as good as dead.” I cried, trying my best to keep myself from actual tears. I felt like I was out of the frying pan and into the fire. I’d been brought here by my mate to mostly avoid an unjust execution and not even 24 hours later, it felt like I could be facing the same fate if I didn’t keep this as quiet as possible.

“Well, most of my family is enhanced and we’re all okay.” Elliott said with a shrug as if that were no big deal.

“You’re….” I whispered, shocked beyond belief.

“Obviously, none of us are enhanced with speed like you.” He said with a wry laugh, and I was beginning to realize he was panting pretty heavily after apparently putting a great deal of effort into keeping up with me. “It’s kind of a long story and you look a little overwhelmed. Maybe we’ll wait on that part of the ‘all about Elliott’ section.”

I giggled nervously, drawing in a ragged breath. I did feel a little bit better, but I still felt hot and disoriented. Elliott approached me slowly, his dark eyes looking a little bit darker and more sultry than usual. I suddenly realized I hadn’t put my clothes back on yet and he was looking over my naked body much like I was at his. For some reason, it made the hot feeling even more intense as I looked into his eyes and realized mine were probably looking just as hungry as his, just as desperate with a thirst I was certain only he could quench.

In only a few fractions of a moment, Elliott had closed the distance between us and scooped me up, gently placing my back against the tree and beginning to kiss my neck softly. I fought back a moan and prayed he would continue. He didn’t disappoint, moving up my jaw and finally to my lips, kissing me like my life depended on it, as if he was giving me the very air I needed to breathe directly from his own lungs. I could feel his tongue licking my lower lip and gladly allowed him access into my mouth.

I couldn’t fight the moan that escaped my lips when he brought up one of his big, strong hands to cup one of my breasts and I felt his erection pulsing against my vulnerable core. Only the extremely thin fabric of his underwear separated us from mating outside, in the open and I couldn’t bring myself to care.

To my intense dismay, I felt Elliott freeze and his entire body go rigid, his dark eyes looking frantic into mine and then narrowing as if he heard something.

“ELLIOTT! GET HER INSIDE NOW!” I heard Jasper’s far away voice just before I saw a crazed looking Cameron tearing through the trees, his eyes locked intensely on me.

Elliott wasted no time, setting me back onto the ground to catch a quick breath and then scooping me up bridal style before breaking into a sprint. I heard what sounded like Jasper grunting and looked over Elliott’s shoulder to see he’d tackled Cameron. “LOCK YOUR DOOR! I’M GOING TO DUNK HIM IN THE LAKE, BUT THAT WON’T HOLD HIM OFF FOR LONG!”

As we neared the back door to the pack house, I became extremely aware that Elliott was in his underwear and I was completely naked. I found myself worrying about my beautiful, soft sweater and hoping someone would bring it inside for me, and even more intensely worrying about how many people would be seeing my naked body before we made it to Elliott’s room.

To my surprise, as soon as we went in, Elliott turned a different way than I expected and pushed the “up” button to a service elevator before gently setting me back down and moving several feet away from me, as if I were a bomb that could go off at any second and he was afraid of being a casualty to the explosion. I tried to stand, but my legs began to buckle as even more pain ripped through my lower stomach and I couldn’t help but double over and hug myself hoping to make the pain stop.

Elliott’s strong arms picked me back up and he wordlessly boarded the elevator, pressing the “6” button to get us to his floor. I subtly looked over to him and realized he was notably not looking at me, like he was purposely resisting acknowledging me. I tried fruitlessly to hide how rejected this made me feel. Without a peep, he got off the elevator, jogged down the hall to his room, opened the door and set me gently on the bed before turning quickly back around to sprint to the door and lock it. “The door is reinforced, he won’t be able to break in here before the guards I linked arrive to guard the it.” He said with his back turned from me.

“Elliott, what’s happening to me?” I groaned, clutching my stomach for dear life.

He stopped what he was doing but didn’t turn around. “You’re in heat."