She Wolf

8.

Marcus POV

I still can’t sleep.

I grab my phone to look at the time. It’s already past midnight! I must be at training in 4 hours. I lay still for a few more minutes, trying so desperately to fall asleep, but fail. The events of the evening keep flashing before me.

“...she'll be down in a minute, I'm sure." Jo’s mom welcomed me into their home. Jen came running downstairs. “She’s ready, she’s ready.” she said, overexcited.

At that moment, I looked up, and I was met with the most beautiful pair of blue eyes. I got lost in her gaze, drowning like a sailor that fell overboard. Staring at her as she gracefully walked towards me. I was ripped back to reality when I felt her hands moving over my chest, up to my neck to fix my tie. Her touch sent shivers through my body.

“You clean up nicely. So much better than the dirt you were wearing this morning.” she smirked. Her soft brown hair bouncing off her shoulders with every movement of her body. I lifted my hand to get a stray hair out of her face, but her mom beat me to it.

I get up from my bed, tired of tossing and turning. I grab the black hoodie lying over the armchair and pull it over my head. As I walk past my window, I can see the lights from Jo’s bedroom are still on. Is she still awake?

What the f**k? Does this kid have a death wish? Who does he think he is dancing with what is mine?

“I’ll take it from here.” I said, my voice deep and authoritative. The little human ran away looking like he had just s**t his pants.

I pulled her into my body and felt her relax in my arms as we started to move together. “Where were you?” she asked, sounding a little too annoyed for my liking. “I was requesting this song.” I said, pulling her even closer. “This song?” she asked. “Yeah. It reminds me of you.” I said, looking into those ocean-blue eyes. I picked her up slightly, burying my face in her neck. Her skin is so soft. I take in the intoxicating smell coming from her hair, sending me on a high that I do not want to come down from. I never wanted to let her go. “You are so beautiful, the most beautiful creature I have ever seen.” I whispered.

Jo POV

I jerk my head to my nightstand when I hear a beep from my phone. It’s Marcus. Is he still awake?

** Hi **

Beep - ** I see your lights are still on **

He can see my house from his bedroom window in the pack house.

Another beep -** You want to go for a ride? **

** Yes ** I send back.

I get dressed in comfy sweats and sneak out of my room. My parents' room is the first at the top of the stairs, so I creep past quietly.

As I take the last step to the bottom, I know I'm home free.

When I open the front door, I see Marcus already standing outside on our porch, holding a… backpack? "Ready?" He asks, taking my hand.

"Where's your car?" I ask, looking over his shoulder.

"It’s not that kind of ride," he says with a wink. "Come on." he gently pulls my hand to walk with him.

It's a cold night. I tuck my arm in his to be closer to the heat emitting from his body.

"What are you up to?" I ask looking up at him. "You'll see." He smiles down at me, pulling me tightly to him.

We walk all the way to the middle of the training field. I am totally confused.

"Turn around." he gestures with his hand raised, making a circle with his index finger.

Frowning in further confusion, I just do as he says.

I hear him sliding down the zipper of the hoodie he is wearing.

"Are you getting undressed?" I sound a little shocked while looking over my shoulder.

"Turn..." he gestures again with a huge boyish grin on his face.

A minute later, I hear a soft swooshing sound, like someone was throwing a bunch of feathers into the air.

I turn and find myself staring into big green eyes looking down at me.

Max is an immaculate wolf. Radiating confidence and power. Our wolf kind evolved over the years; we can shift on demand. We don’t have to wait for a full moon like in the stories humans read.

I rub my hand through the thick fur around his neck and over his ears. So soft.

He nudges at the bag lying on the grass next to us. As I bend to pick it up, he lowers his head to let me climb on.

I fling the backpack over my shoulder and give a soft tap on the side of his neck, signaling that I'm ready.

He takes off. Running faster and faster deeper into the woods. My hair is starting to come loose from the tie with every huge step he takes. He knows I will enjoy the speed and the feeling of freedom that comes with my hair blowing in the breeze.

We stop at the hot springs. He lowers his body for me to effortlessly slide down his back.

He turns to look at me. "Just one more month, then we will meet her." I say, referring to my wolf, even though I know he can’t understand me in his wolf form.

It is so quiet here. It’s almost eerie, but I am not concerned, I have always felt safe and at peace in the woods. I turn when the sound of the river stones moving, breaking the silence as Max walks over to the small stream trickling into the pools to drink some water. His fur is glistening under the moonlight that shines through the trees. It almost looks metallic, like clean copper.

I walk towards the pools. A cold breeze blows the hot steam rising from the surface of the water into my face. I take off my clothes slowly until I am finally standing just in my underwear.

Only when I step into the warm water, Max lifts his head to look at me.

He sits down, staring at me as I slowly walk further into the water.

I stop when I am submerged up to my neck, taking in the warmth compared to the cold of the night.

"Are you coming?" I ask, looking over my shoulder with a soft and inviting smile.

I hear the swoosh sound again, then feel the ripples he is causing in the water move over my skin.

He snakes his hands around my waist, pressing himself against me, then turns me around to face him. I start breathing deeper and faster as the excitement of our closeness starts building. I suddenly become very aware that he is naked.

I swallow deep. We have never been this close.

I slightly press myself up on his strong arms and fold my legs around his waist while looking into his eyes.

I press my face to his chest. I can feel every muscle in his body relax as he rests his head on mine. We stay like this. Just standing in the warm water, holding on to each other in silence.

This is comfortable. Warm and soothing.

"Are you going to tell me about this morning?" I say, straightening my body to look at him. "What did I witness?"

He looks at me, but I can’t read the emotions flashing across his face. He tenses up again.

"You sure know how to ruin a moment kid." He finally speaks with a small smile, still looking me dead in the eyes.

"Well?" I urge.

He lets out a big sigh, then let’s go of me, turning his back. "They were here for the same reason," he says softly.

My body goes stiff again just like before, when they told me about the other attacks.

"and we still don’t know why," he continues.

"My father made contact with the High council. They are sending members to help with the investigation, training and patrol."

He turns meeting my eyes once more.

"There have been many attacks this month. About 15. By vamps and rogues. It all seemed random. But after we captured the one and he said someone is after you, we started to wonder if they are all related." he explains in a soft voice, but he fails to disguise his anger.

I swallow hard. Staring at him in silence, deciphering his words.

"I am leaving for a couple of days. One of my buddies from the Alpha Academy knows about some hidden Vamp clinic up coast. He said there is some stuff he wanted to show me. I don’t know if it is related, but maybe it’s worth checking out."

"Can I come with you?" I ask.

"No!" he protests in a roar. He sighs.

"You’ll be safer here, and you have school." he moves closer to me again. Cupping my face with his hands.

"I can’t have you there distracting me." he continues with a sly smile. His face softening slightly.

He moves his face closer to mine. Hovering his lips close to my mouth. I can feel his warm breath blowing over my face, still moving closer. He places a soft kiss on my lips. Gentle. Lingering. My eyes flutter open to find him looking at me as if asking for permission. I close my eyes again, pressing my lips to his. I open my mouth and he enters with a hungry push of his tongue. His hands rubbing up and down my back, stopping to release the clip of my bra. I move to take it off. He pulls it out from between our bodies, flinging it to the ground, freeing my breasts and pulling me tightly against him once more. Our skin now touches almost everywhere.

I comb my fingers through his hair, and I feel him grow against my stomach. I want him closer, wrapping my legs around him again. I can hear the rumble coming from his chest. Our breathing is becoming more erratic. I throw my head back, exposing my neck as he places more kisses on the spot where I will one day be marked. Kissing and sucking a trail to my collarbone. I try to concentrate, but I feel myself going under the spell he is casting over my body.

With the last bit of will, I muster some strength and suddenly pull away, letting go of him when I realize that he might not be the one to mark me.

We stand, just staring at each other. Swallowing hard, both of us trying to calm ourselves.

"What are we doing?" I ask, still trying to catch my breath.

"We should not rush this." I continue, desperately fighting the urge to move to him again. He rubs his hand over his face and into his hair.

"I’m sorry. You’re just so..." he lowers his head with a sigh.

"I'll miss you while I'm gone." He speaks after a little while.

"Me too." I say, taking his hand. He looks up at me with a boyish grin.

"Come on beautiful, we have training soon." He walks back to dry land. “Turn.” he gestures again like before.

When I hear the familiar swoosh, I turn back to look at his wolf.

He runs back to the field with me on his back. After he turns back to his human self, he quickly gets dressed.

We quietly walk back to my house. Smiling at each other every now and again.

On the porch, I turn to face him. Rubbing my hands over his shoulders.

"This will all be okay, right? The thing with the vamps, you and me?" I ask.

"I trust it will. We will find out what they want." he says looking up at me from the lower step. Taking hold of my bum, he pulls me close. "before your birthday," he adds. I give him a soft smile. Finding my breathing to become deeper and heavier again.

He kisses my hand. "Good night, Miss White," he says with a smile.

"Good night." pursing my lips together.

I walk up to the door, opening it slowly. Then looking back at him before closing it.

I linger with my head pressed against the door. Lifting my hands, I press it hard into the wood. What am I doing? We don’t know yet.

As I turn, I jump at the sight of Jenna sitting in the dark on the chair in the corner of the living room. Looking at me with curiosity all over her face.

"Nice walk?" she asks with a cheeky little smirk.

I look at her like a deer in headlights, not having any come back. Pressing my lips together and smiling with my eyes.

"See you at training." I say, slowly turning to go upstairs.

"Yeah, see you then." She whispers in my direction. I can hear her giggling softly as I walk.

I enter my room and flop my body like an old bag on the bed. Burying my head in my pillow, I feel myself drift off to sleep.