Midnight Moons

Tracking

POV: Tim

"Don't follow me!" Hope's anguished shout caused me to shudder. Malcolm whimpered in my head. "Find our mate Tim."

"Don't worry big guy. You're in control. You're the best tracker in the pack. Are you forgetting you're an Alpha wolf?" I settled back and allowed Malcolm to track Hope with all his senses.

The intervention at Hope's house didn't go as smoothly as planned. When she rushed out, I had no choice but to shift. I could cover more ground in my wolf form.

Malcolm lifted his huge head and sniffed the air. "I can't smell mate." I sense his confusion as his head whips back and forth in the brisk air. Even if we couldn't sense her wolf, we should be able to detect her human form.

I always know when Hope is nearby. Her delicious smell alerts me when she's within a mile of me. She smells like sugar cookies and lavender. Thinking about her smell made my d**k twitch. I groaned as I forced the thoughts out of my mind.

Malcolm sniffs again.

"Mate!"

He breaks into a trot. "Her scent is faint but I can sense her nearby." Quickening his pace, my wolf crashes into the woods bordering Hope's neighborhood.

"Mate will shift soon. Need to find her now."

"Malcolm, I know where she's going!" I yell excitedly. "Go through the woods to that park Hope loves. She goes there to clear her head."

My wolf's massive paws dug into the earth with every stride. Hope's tantalizing smell got stronger with each step. Malcolm's sense of urgency resounds in my mind as he deftly dodges trees and underbrush.

Abruptly he skids to a stop. I peer out through his eyes. Hope is huddled on a bench with her knees drawn close to her chest.

"Mate."

"Hope."

"Mate is scared. We need to shift. I want to go to her but she will be scared of me. After she shifts, I want to see her!" Malcolm shakes his huge frame excitedly and relinquished control.

I hurriedly throw on the shorts Dana had tied around his neck. "Seeing me naked out here in the woods might scare her too." I paced the tree line before approaching Hope.

Drawing near, her aroma fills my nostrils. I've known for months that Hope was my mate. Even if she wasn't my chosen mate, I knew I wanted to be with her forever. The aromas of lavender and sugar cookies surge through my nostrils.

I step out of the tree line and swiftly cross the small manicured park to Hope's small form. I purposely make noise as I approach so as not to scare my mate.

Hope's head pops up. She scans the trees until her eyes land on me. "Tim!" Hope exclaims. "How did you find me?" She stood and rushed towards me. "I'm so sorry I yelled at you like that. I...I want to hear what you were saying."

Enveloping her into a big bear hug, I scan her face for fear or anxiety. Finding none, I scoop her up and walk back to the bench. Hope settles on my lap and tucks her face into my shoulder.

"Tim, I could stay like this with you forever." She sighs as she nuzzles my neck. I can feel Malcolm prancing in my head. Ignoring his panting, I adjust Hope's bottom on my lap. Having her this close was causing an erection. Now wasn't the time but my horny wolf was telegraphing vivid pictures.

She sensed why I moved her and brushed her lips against my neck. Hope chuckled at my discomfort and rolled her tight little butt against my throbbing erection.

"Ahh...Hope, we need to hold off on that."

She leaned back to stare into my eyes. "You don't want to?" She croaked. Clearing her throat, she scanned my face. "I will be 18 in about an hour, Tim. We might as well start now." Hope kissed my lips and sighed as my arms went around her waist.

"Baby, I would like nothing more than to make love to you but I have to prepare you for your first shift. Let's get over to the pack house. The whole pack is gathered there. There are a couple of others who will shift for the first time. And just as I want our first time as lovers to be perfect, I want your first wolf experience to be perfect." I licked her bottom lip and stood with her still in my arms.

"Hope, I'm going to shift into my wolf. Don't be afraid. His name is Malcolm and he's going to get you to the pack house in record time. I waited for her nod of acceptance.

Uh..I'm going to take my shorts off. Will you carry them back with you?"

"Tim, why aren't you wearing more than that?" Hope just noticed my bare chest and shoeless feet. She placed her splayed palms over my chest. "Oh my."

Hope lowered her gaze to my taut stomach and licked her lips. "I never realized you were hiding all of this under your hoodie."

"Hope, we need to move baby." I slipped my shorts off and grinned at her wickedly before shifting into my wolf form.

"Tim, you're beautiful!" Hope looked at my giant wolf and edged closer. Malcolm bowed his great head and nuzzled her face before covering her with sloppy wolf kisses. He spun around in circles and nipped her legs, propelling her forward.

Hope caught on and climbed onto his back. Grabbing a fistful of fur, she leaned down and whispered in Malcolm's ear. "Nice to meet you. I can't wait to get to know you."

Her breathy whisper drove my wolf crazy. I can feel his pride surge as he basked in Hope's adoration.

"Mate likes me better than you." He boasted in my head.

"Just get us to the packhouse horn dog." I grumbled to my beast.

Malcolm moved towards the treeline. Hope leaned forward again. "I'm ready Tim."

Taking his cue, Malcolm bounded through the trees like a young pup. Again, he deftly dodged trees as he surged through the woods. Hope held on for dear life as the giant wolf picked up speed and moved deeper into the woods.

"This is awesome! Hope squealed excitedly. "I can't wait to run with you. Both of you."

Before I knew it, Malcolm skidded to a stop close to our packhouse. Hope slid off his back and looked deeply into his eyes. "Thank you so much. I know that we will be friends forever." She kissed his wet nose before stepping back and looking around.

I quickly took control and shifted back into my human form. I grabbed the shorts from her outstretched hands, blushing slightly at her lust filled gaze.

My thoughts were abruptly shattered as the packhouse doors crashed open.

"Hope!"

"Hi Mom. Hi Daddy." Hope rushed forward to hug her worried parents.

"Tim. Glad you made it back son." My dad first bumped me as my mom threw me a hoodie.

Handing Hope a long white garment, my mom and Dana hurriedly ushered her through the doors.

"Meet us on the training ground in five minutes." My dad yelled at their retreating backs.

Connor approached me. "Thank you for bringing my baby girl back Tim." He grasped my hand and pulled me into a bro hug.

"No problem Mr. Springs."

"Connor." He admonished. "You're soon to be my Alpha. Just call me Connor."

"He better not." Dad ruffled my hair and air punched me. "This pup knows to respect his elders. Come on son, let's go welcome our new wolves into the pack."