The Black Forest's Beta

Chapter 18

Once I surrendered to the shift, it stopped hurting as much. There was still pain, but it was easier to deal with, my bones snapped and re-alligned, I felt hair sprout from my entire body, my tail bone grew, breaking through the skin of my ass, which was the most painful part of the shift. I could feel my body trembling even after it was over, Cassie yipped and jumped in the front of my mind as she was finally free of her invisible cage. 

I felt myself smiling internally before I opened my eyes, for the first time since I was fifteen I was able to see as a wolf. I looked up at Raphael who's eyes were black as his wolf fought for control. I realized my head was in his lap and I was still laying on the ground. I stood myself up and shook my entire body, I noticed my outfit was on the ground in shreds, but I was to elated from my shift to care. A tantalizing scent hit my nose, my mouth watered and butterflies filled my stomach. 

It didn't take me long to realize the scent was Raphael's, I licked my chops as I pictured doing really dirty things to him. I could practically taste the salty sweat on his chiseled abs, I felt the need to claim him, so no other she-wolves would dare look at him. I had to push the possessive thoughts away before I actually acted on them. 

I looked back at my mate who was still struggling with himself, I yipped in his direction which snapped him out of his trance. His smile was breathtaking as he stood up, movement on my right caught my attention. I looked over at Luna Gisela and Alpha Gunter's wolves as they walked over, both of them looking at Cassie and I with large eyes. 

A low growl sounded from my side and I found myself rubbing against Raphael's large wolf form, he made a purring sound while he bowed his head to our Alpha and Luna. "Emma!" My head shot up and my paws moved before I could stop them. I ran to Ozzy as fast at I possibly could, worried he was in distress. 

It was only a few seconds before I made it to him and scanned the immediate area for danger. His dark eyes lit up as his arms wrapped around my neck. Keifer and Evangeline were looking at my wolf shape in awe as my mate and our Alpha pair joined us. "Hi Cassie!" Ozzy said happily once he let go of my neck. I yipped and licked his face before I looked back at Raphael. He had on a wolfish grin as he sauntered over to us and nipped my ear. 

I felt myself practically vibrating with the need to run, to get closer with my new pack, and with myself and wolf. I nudged Ozzy into Raphael and pawed the ground, Alpha Gunter's wolf let out a chuckle-like growl as Keifer and Evangeline shifted. Gamma Elias and a rust colored wolf joined us as Ozzy climbed on Raphael's back. Alpha Gunter howled followed by Luna Gisela, then Raphael and myself. Gamma Elias sounded off next before a chorus of other wolves joined. We all began zipping through the trees, wolves joining us out of nowhere as we ran through the pack strengthening our bonds. 

The buzz of excitement the surrounded us did nothing but grow as more and more pack members joined the impromptu run. Cassie came forward and we bonded as we ran with our new pack, I could feel her and Raphael's wolf connecting as I did with his human half. Ozzy was smiling brightly as his spirit soared with ours. The sun was sinking in the sky when we reached the back of the pack house. Alpha Gunter howled signaling the end of the run, wolves began departing as Ozzy climbed off of my mate. 

Luna Gisela was panting as she layed down in the grass, I made my way over to her right side and settled beside her. My eyes fell to Raphael who was standing in his wolf shape with Alpha Gunter, Gamma Elias, Keifer and the rust colored wolf. Evangeline shifted from her brown wolf into her human shape and pulled on a large black t-shirt. 

"I'll see everyone later." She said with a small wave. Keifer gave her a pout but nodded at her before she left, he only had about a month left before he could finally make his claim on her. Ozzy walked over to Gisela and I and sat between us, running his hands through our fur. 

"That was better than watching movies." He said lightly, both Gisela and I chuckled in our wolf forms. I rested my head on his legs as I looked at my mate. A second large black wolf along with a dark brown wolf walked over to us, I sat up and bowed my head feeling the power of the Alpha pair. A small grey wolf walked over after them with a fawn colored wolf by its side. 

I could feel my anxiety begin to creep its way into my mind, Ozzy rested his hand on my shoulder blades as I shifted uncomfortably. Another hand made its way onto the top of my head, the mate sparks ricocheted through my body working in chasing the fear away. I looked up at Raphael who had a large shirt that smelled like him is his hand. 

I knew he wanted me to shift back, but I wasn't ready yet. I huffed and shook my head at the shirt before laying back down. "You have to eat Emmaline." 

(We can hunt.) Cassie voiced, I liked that idea. I looked up at my mate and tried to figure out how to tell him I wanted to hunt. 

"You can shift again tomorrow." Tomorrow was so far away though, I heard myself whimper defiantly. He sighed and crouched down, his mouth right next to my ear. "I can't imagine what this feels like for you miele. Being in wolf form is freeing to me and I do it all the time. I know you finally have Cassie back, and I know it feels amazing, but I need you to eat and sleep so you get healthier." I looked at him, and he caressed my muzzle. I used my long pink tongue to lick his nose before I took the shirt in my teeth and walked into the tree line where no-one could see me naked. 

The shift back was also painful, so when it was over I layed still for a few minutes before pulling on Raphael's top. as if he knew it was okay he popped out from behind the tree and crouched down beside me and pushed a strand of hair behind my ear. "Let's get you some food eh?" I wrapped my arms around his neck while laughing happily, he chuckled as he wrapped his arms around my back and stood up. I inhaled his alluring aroma which caused a throbbing reaction in my nether region. 

"You smell really good." I voiced out loud, his scent got stronger and wafted into my nostrils making my stomach rumble and my mouth water. I pulled back a little and looked into his eye, which darkened slightly, I felt myself blush at his reaction.

"Did I not before?" He asked with a fake pout. 

"You did, but it's stronger now." He smiled and placed his lips on my nose before setting me back down on the ground. 

"How are you feeling miele?" My lips turned upward as I took his hand. 

"Blissful." He beamed down at me as we walked back to the others. Gisela had already shifted back, she was wearing a light cream colored robe that was tied shut. Alpha Gunter was wearing a pair of gym shorts as was a tall man standing next to Mila. Mila, Inasya and Rosina were all wearing matching grey robes. Ozzy was laughing with Gamma Elias, Tobias and Keifer who were in sweatpants. Raphael led me right up to Alpha Gunter along with his mother and who I assumed was his father. Once we had stopped walking I found myself leaning into Raphael, his arm wrapped around my shoulder once I did. 

"Your wolf is very pretty Emma." Gisela commented as she stood on my free side. 

"So is Odette." I responded. "She's tall and well built, especially for a she wolf." Gisela blushed and leaned into Alpha Gunter who pulled her into his side. 

"Hello Emma, my name is Luis, former Alpha and this one's father." He said reaching out his hand, I gave him a tiny smile while gently shaking his hand. "I didn't get the chance to introduce myself at dinner the other day."

"I wasn't feeling well so we left early." I said shyly as I pulled my hand back. 

"Ahh, that makes sense, usually Raphael is the life of the party." I looked up at my mate who shrugged before squeezing my shoulder with his large hand. 

"I still am." He said confidently. "But now I have more important things to tend to than my reputation." I chuckled while rolling my eyes. I found myself grinning from ear to ear as I heard Ozzy coming up behind me. I turned to him and noticed he was still about six steps away from us. He beamed back at me and pulled me into a large hug. 

"I missed seeing that smile." He whispered as he held me. 

"I finally shifted again." I whispered back while squeezing him. "I can do so much that I haven't been able to do in so long."

"How is Cassie?" I looked into my mind where she was laying comfortably, she was alert and smiling in her own fashion. 

"Stupendous." He beamed again before he took my hand. I turned back to the group, Ozzy slipping in beside myself and Luna Gisela, Raphael put his arm back around my body, only this time it was around my waist. 

"We should probably go eat." It was Alpha Gunter who suggested it. 

"I agree." Everyone chuckled and giggled at Raphael's enthusiastic reply. We all went into the pack house and into a dining area where only a few people were eating. They all stopped and bowed at Alpha Gunter as we walked in, Raphael sat on the left of Gunter and pulled me down on his other side, Ozzy sat beside me followed by Rosina. 

Some pack members carried plates to our table and set them before us. Alpha Gunter took the first bite before the rest of us began picking through our food. Whatever the food was, it tasted amazing and I ate everything that had been piled in front of my face. I noticed Keifer was looking at me with a very stunned expression, I looked at Raphael who wiped his face with a napkin, he looked at my plate and his eyes went wide before he looked down at me. 

"It was really good." I told him, he chuckled and grabbed my hand with his. 

"Ja, it was." I sighed and leaned my head on his arm, after giving it a moment I realized how stuffed I was. I didn't think I was going to be able to walk back to the house. 

"Ozzy." He turned to me and tilted his head. "I think you might need to roll me home." His response was to laugh loudly, while looking down at my belly. I heard Raphael chuckle from my other side so I looked up at him. His eyes were on me and they sparkled with amusement. 

"You're too thin to roll." Rosina said from her spot down the table, I turned to her with red cheeks as she looked me over. "Perhaps in a few months you'll be round for another reason." She winked and my entire face blazed as everyone, except for Inasya laughed loudly. 

"Nonna!" Raphael groaned. 

"I want to see my great-great-grandbabies before I go Raphy!" She remarked while pointing at him. "I'm getting old so get on it!"

"Nonna." This time Raphael's voice held a bit of a warning to it, he was being serious about wanting her to stop. My demons reappeared, this time when they spoke, their words clung to my mind, making me wonder if there was truth to what they were saying. 

[He doesn't want to have pups with you!]

[Too ugly for a wolf as perfect as him]

[You're too damaged]

[Not good enough]

[Broken]

[Weak]

[You can never be enough for him]

They were relentless, all the voices from everyone who had ever tormented and abused me. I could hear Niyuki and Otto clear as day, they were right I wasn't good enough for Raphael. He was an amazing wolf, strong, loyal, unbroken. Me, I was too ugly, thin, weak, I was worthless. I had to rely on him to save me, I couldn't save myself from Teresa, or from my own damn mind. How in the world was I supposed to be a good mother or more importantly, a good mate. 

Luna Gisela needed a strong beta female, I wasn't it. Ozzy deserved a better sister, someone who could protect him, provide him with all he could ever dream. Hell I couldn't even get him out of our old pack, again I was a damsel saved by my knight in shining fur. Not even the moon-goddess wanted me, she didn't take me from the suffering, she let it happen, and when I was ready to die, when I accepted my fate, still she let the suffering continue. 

The voices were right, and Raphael, refusing to even speak of having pups with me, it was the proof I needed to know that all of this had been some long game ploy to break my soul. They wanted to build me up, just to watch me crumble, they wanted to see me suffer by their hands. This was why I hadn't wanted a mate, I knew this was going to happen. 

After the past week of bliss and serenity I finally knew the truth. I was a pawn in their sick and twisted game, that realization almost ripped my heart in two.