a Witch's Wolf

Episode 11 - Bound

They kept up an easy banter along the walk. She would stumble every once in a while, and he'd reach over and steady her. He felt protective and primal towards her and had to keep looking at his hand to make sure he wasn't shifting into a wolf. She filled the silence by pointing out plants and odd things in the forest. He'd ask her questions about names or how she knew about them, things he'd seen and smelled a million times, but felt genuinely interested when she looked up at him with such excitement. He slowed down a little when he realized she was out of breath trying to keep up with him. Her fast heart rate and heavy breathing made his mouth water. He stopped for a minute and brushed some things off his bare feet.

"Oh, you don't even have shoes on!" She forgot he didn't have any shoes. What were people going to think?!

He laughed and said he had some in his gym bag in his locker. When her breathing seemed to level out more, he started walking again, trying to go slower. With any luck, they'd get there after the bell, and he'd have time to change before anyone saw them.

She kept looking over at him, trying to figure out how she ended up walking side by side with Noah Riley. She'd practically been obsessed with him since she smashed into him and, if she was honest, she'd been trying not to think about him since the first day she'd ever laid eyes on him. He was really the most beautiful guy she'd ever seen, he was dark and quiet, like a mystery. She swallowed and tried to think about something other than his arms and chest and the feel of his lips under her fingers.

She stumbled beside him and he grabbed her wrist. Her pulse leaped under his touch and he swallowed. He didn't let go, just slid his hand down hers and interlaced his fingers with hers. "I won't let you fall." He said softly. She almost didn't hear him, but he smiled before he looked ahead, and she felt like the most empty-headed person ever to live, unable to form a thought of any kind at all.

The closer they got to the school, the quieter they both became. Worried about how to explain walking up with her, where he'd been and why he was wearing sweats that were a little tight, made him grind his teeth. He knew he had to walk away, but he couldn't leave her side. The realization that he couldn't just walk away from her made him growl.

She stopped up short beside him. Before he could even say anything, she said, "I'm sorry, I just can't walk in with you." He didn't even know what to say before she pulled her hand away and started pacing around. Even though he'd been thinking about the same thing, he felt the loss of her hand like it was part of his own body. The thought of her walking away from him now made his throat dry up. He felt like he was losing control.

"It was hard enough after I slammed into you in the hallway, I just don't think I can handle everyone talking about me again." He had watched her enough to know how timid she was and how cruel people were about it. The thought of anyone hurting her made his wolf swell up inside. He felt the shiver of hair on the back of his neck and took a deep breath to gain some control. She looked up at him and her big eyes were so pleading it tugged at parts of him he hadn't ever felt before. The effect she had on him was unnerving. He had to get away from her.

"You have been wonderful, I don't want you to think it's that I don't want to be your friend or that I hold anything against you, it's just... I just..." She flexed her hand and thought of his strong hand holding hers. She couldn't seem to say the right words. She couldn't even look at him, he was too handsome, his eyes were so intensely staring at her, like he was reading every letter of her soul. She shook her head to clear it and started pacing again, fumbling for the right words to get out of this situation. The thought of everyone staring and laughing at her made tears well up in her eyes and her voice cracked a little when she realized she'd said that out loud.

He put his hand on her shoulder to stop her from pacing around and waited for her to look up at him. "Willow." It was the first time he'd said her name. She couldn't breathe. "I'm not going anywhere without you." He hadn't meant to say that, hadn't planned to do that and couldn't believe he actually said it out loud, but he meant every word. She was his and he wasn't leaving her side.

Her mouth dropped open. She tried to form a sentence and failed. He knew he should go home and change into his own clothes. He knew he should stay as far away from her as possible and go tell his uncle what had happened. He knew that the last thing in the world he should do was pair up with a witch. It was probably against every rule, and he would be kicked out of his pack, but it didn't matter. Nothing mattered. For some unexplainable reason, he was bound to her, and he couldn't leave her side if he wanted to.

She couldn't speak. The most gorgeous, dangerous guy in school had just told her he wasn't going anywhere without her, and he was still touching her. The heat from his hand was melting her skin. She would probably just melt right there and die and no one would ever know that Noah Riley had actually put his hand on her shoulder... after she found him in the forest without any clothes on. She'd rubbed healing salve on his bare chest, and he held her hand through the woods. She swallowed a giant lump and reminded herself to breathe.

He was losing control and had to do something other than just stare at her. He moved his hand over her shoulder as if to comfort her, but the sound that escaped her pulled him closer. His hand slowly moved up her neck, his fingers got lost in her hair. He felt the air move when she sucked in her breath, and he paused half an inch from her face. Everything around him grew dim. Either he was about to wolf out right in front of her, or he had to kiss her.

He kissed her. He was kissing her. She could not believe this was actually happening. His hand came up around her face and her arms came up around his neck. She was standing on her tip-toes when his arm came around her and lifted her off the ground. She squeaked a little, and he smiled around the kiss. She felt the whole world disappear around her, he felt himself growl and shudder.

"Noah." She barely managed to whisper his name. Her taste and scent overwhelmed him, he had to force himself to stop, leaning his forehead against hers as he took deep gulping breaths.

"Noah." She whispered his name again, and he set her down. She couldn't say anything more than his name. It wasn't a question, more like a revelation. She said his name like he was hers and always had been. He didn't say anything at all, just took her hand and silently turned back toward school. She didn't know what had just happened or what it meant, but she wasn't about to break the spell. They walked slowly and without words, hand in hand the rest of the way.

When they made it around the side entrance, he saw his truck in the parking lot and nodded toward it. "Wait here." He said softly and let go of her hand. She watched as he sprinted to his truck, grabbed a bag from behind his seat and dug around for shoes. He quickly slipped them on and slammed the door shut before running back to her. He slung the bag over his shoulder and gently slid his other arm around her, guiding her along into the building. He didn't want to spook her and kept his hand light on her in case she wanted free. She didn't pull away or shrink when they walked in though, she just leaned her head on his chest and walked with him. He smiled when he saw their reflection in the trophy case glass and walked her to her first class. She didn't think to ask how he knew where to go, he just pushed the door open for her, and she smiled before turning toward her seat. He watched half the class realize it was him in the doorway before the door shut between them and huffed out a breath as it clicked. She was on her own and he didn't like the feeling. She sighed at the door and pretended not to hear all the whispers or see everyone staring at her. Noah Riley had kissed her, and everything was different. With no idea how much trouble was coming, she spent the rest of class in a daze, surprised to find him waiting for her outside her class, still wearing her dad's clothes!