Slaved By The Moon God

10

I quickly walked back over to my tent, nodding to everyone I made eye contact with. Most of them I didn’t know, but the Virgo alpha sent me a smile that bolstered my mood. Maybe everyone didn’t hate me here. Maybe there was a chance I wouldn’t remain an outcast for the rest of my life.

I pulled on my worn-out hiking boots that Wesley had gotten me for my last birthday, the second-best present I’d ever gotten, the first being my camera. I grabbed my phone to take some photos too, cursing Brad and Lori under my breath again, before stepping outside.

Dad was walking toward the tent, deep in conversation with the Pisces alpha, gesturing around as if he was plotting something out, and I quickly slipped away. I made my way back toward the cars, checking over my shoulder just to be sure he hadn’t caught sight of me. He was focused on everything else right now, but it would be my luck that he’d catch me at the wrong moment and force me to stay by his side. I didn’t want him to ask me where I was going because he’d say it was important that I stay here in case he needed me. For what, his own personal punching bag? I thought as I shook my head and continued walking quickly. If he’d had it his way, he probably would have confined me to the tent. No one would note my absence though. I knew that much. He spent so much of his time talking about Wesley that most packs forgot he also had a daughter, and a half-human one at that. It was an impressive feat he’d managed, almost completely erasing me from the minds of the other packs.

I found the trail head without a problem, and as the noise of the Convergence faded away, my shoulders relaxed. Out here in nature, I could be myself without any fear of repercussions. I could take pictures and hike, and no one would yell at me for simply existing.

I pulled out Wesley’s old, cracked phone and took a picture of the way the sunlight filtered through the leaves. It was a beautiful day, not a single cloud in the sky, and I wanted to take advantage of it. There wouldn’t be anyone out here except me. Everyone else was conversing with their friends from other packs, and humans were warded off by a spell the Sun Witches had cast across their lands. I could finally relax.

The further I hiked, the more at home I felt in this strange forest. It wrapped around me, comforting in its embrace, and I found myself smiling as I walked. The sound of rushing water grew louder, and before I knew it, I was crossing the stream. I was almost at the falls.

A few minutes later the falls came in view, the water feeding into an almost perfectly round turquoise pool. The sight took my breath away, and I felt the absence of my camera even more than I had on our drive here. I’d never be able to justify the sight with a phone camera, no matter how much editing I did.

I was so taken aback by the beauty of the waterfall that I didn’t notice the large, naked man crouched at the bank until he moved. I took a step back, shocked to see another person out this far away from the Convergence. The graceful way he moved screamed shifter, but I couldn’t see a pack mark anywhere on his exposed skin, and it was all exposed. His clothes were a pile at his feet, and his big, muscular body was fully on display. He was turned away from me, giving me a full view of a back corded with muscle and an ass so firm it begged to be slapped. Not to mention arms and thighs so thick they put the trees around us to shame.

I watched, unable to look away from his hands sluicing water over his hard body. His hair was dark, and water trickled down it onto his broad shoulders like a caress. Every inch of him was tan, and he looked like he spent more time away from civilization than in it, and was right at home in the forest. If I’d seen him in a city, he would have stuck out like a sore thumb.

Realizing I was staring like some kind of creep, I tore my gaze away with a ragged breath. As quietly as possible, I stepped behind a tree and wondered what I should do. It would be hard to hike back down without making any noise, and even the smallest crackle of leaves or snap of a branch would alert his wolf senses. It was a miracle I hadn’t stepped on any on the way up.

As I tried to slink away, a twig snapped under my foot and my theory was confirmed as he turned, eyes narrowed, searching me out. Definitely a shifter, and now he knew I was here. He lifted his head as if trying to catch my scent. I chewed on my lip, trying to figure out my next step. From where I was it looked like I was hiding, or even spying on him. I huffed in frustration. There was no good way out of this.

Before I could decide, he shifted. It was so easy, so smooth that I almost missed it. A huge black wolf with brilliant blue, intelligent eyes prowled directly toward me. There was no way I could outrun him on foot, not when he was in his wolf form. I stepped out from behind the trees, holding my hands up to show I wasn’t carrying any weapons.

A low growl overpowered the thunder of the falls, and he crouched down, heavy muscles bunching as if he was preparing to attack. “Dammit,” I muttered. Without any Cancer armor, I didn’t stand a chance against his wolf’s teeth, and since I didn’t have my own wolf yet—really poor timing, Ayla—I’d have to depend on his mercy alone. “I didn’t mean to disturb you. I’m just hiking—”