Call of the North

Chapter 5

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Although it was not surprising, we slept the entire morning and into the late evening. When I woke, it was to see the mossy green eyes still seemingly staring into my soul. Strangely enough, it was clear he had been watching me sleep.

"Good morning. Or should I say evening?" Kai let loose a smile that warmed my heart and I grazed my hand over his arm before looking out the window. In spite of it being night, I wasn't tired but full of energy. I took in my surroundings and marveled at the sight of the stars and the moonlight, the perfect backdrop to this special moment.

My stomach rumbled and I chuckled, reaching over to press the phone for the kitchen number, knowing damn well it would be weird to order a feast for one. I was starving. But I was determined to have a meal that would satisfy my hunger, no matter the oddity of it.

However, before my hand could reach the phone, another hand grabbed my wrist, though gently. I turned my head and looked over at Kai and he was grinning, white canines sticking out from between his lips. His wolf was showing.

"Instead of eating human food, how about a hunt? I am yet to see you hunting for real, rather than crying over a deer." I flinched slightly, remembering the yearling from a week prior. He must have seen it for his hand reached under my chin to make me look at him.

"Forgive me for offending you. I wish only to humor you." The genuine apology in his eyes made me forgive him and I placed a hand on his cheek, dismissing the pain that had come with the brought-up memory.

Kai smiled and heaved himself up from the bed, carefully unwrapping himself from my hold as he walked over to the window. Unlatching it, he swung it open and gestured to the ground.

"After you, Miss Aisling." He smiled again as I got up and headed to the window, looking down. Just for a moment, I felt the playfulness of my wolf as she practically begged to be let out and I gave in.

Standing up on the ledge, I turned around so that my back was outside. Because he was now slightly shorter than my figure, to my advantage, I reached out to caress his chin. I played with the small stubble of his beard as soon as I leaned back. Right before I dropped from the ceiling, I saw worry flash in his eye, but I smiled.

"Come catch me."

The ground soon swallowed me up as I fell off the ledge. Midair, I gave my wolf control and the sound of cracking bones echoed around me as I shifted. And just as easily, I landed on all fours. Shaking my coat from the impact, I moved over just fast enough that Kai would not have landed on me.

Apparently copying my move, Kai shifted mid-air, and a flurry of coal-black fur replaced the man. I stared into the dark green eyes of my mate's wolf and felt my own wolf admire the one before her.

"You are beautiful, Aisling." I heard him say through our mind-link, both of our wolves circling each other and sniffing.

"It's not so terrible to be handsome." I teased, my wolf giving a playful bark and rolling over on her back. Kai's wolf looked at us as though we were crazy. The way he looked made it seem as though he didn't know what playing was. My wolf assumed the same and playfully lunged for his paw, nipping it just a bit.

Kai gave a low bark and nipped our flank as we attempted to get away from his revolt and the two of us played for a while. Eventually, Kai had us pinned under him and we fell limp. However, my dragon did not like this.

Without any warning, our paws shifted into talons and slashed across his chest fur, though not as aggressively as the deer.

Kai yelped and fell back, shaking his coat and looking down at my now normal paws.

"What the hell?" Kai huffed in my head and I felt both myself and my wolf whimper.

"I'm sorry, it was an accident." My wolf whimpered again and slunk against the grass, slowly creeping up towards our mate from a position of submission.

Something gleamed in Kai's eyes as he watched us submit before him, trying to earn back his good grace. A moment later, he shook his head, his chest had healed since the cuts were not that deep.

"Come on. Let's go hunt." Kai's voice seemed dangerous, almost as though he enjoyed our submission. Something about it made my desire peak and I struggled to contain it. I felt an adrenaline rush from the excitement of the hunt, which only increased as I felt Kai's gaze on me as I crossed him. I knew I couldn't deny his commands, yet I allowed myself a hint of defiance by gently caressing his chin with my tail.

As we entered the forest, our steps soon signalled the hunt.