Under the Light of the Full Moon

Into the Woods

Later, by the woods

"Jay, you know how I feel about this" the ball in my throat seems everlasting, and I struggle with it to speak. "what is it that's so important?"

He shrugs, looking at his feet as he - conveniently - unties his laces. "I don't want you to be mad but... I think... maybe... She might be my mate" he mumbles.

"who?" I ask, but I don't need an answer... Alana, my would-be suitor, is not yet 18 and would not have felt a pull regardless. Jay, on the other hand, seemed to be the only one looking at her when I walked into the room for dinner. 

"you know man, Alana. I really do think... I think she's supposed to be mine." He rubs his neck and c***s his head, he feels so bad it's almost palpable. I laugh and he looks up.

"it's fine Jay, honestly I could tell, and what's there to be mad about? I know she's not mine." I grab his hand and pull him into a hug "i'm proud of you man, maybe wait until next week when she's 18 to tell her, though"

"tell who?" Cynthia interjects, just as she and the rest of the pack walk toward us. We brush her off and beam at the rest of the group, opening the chests that will soon contain clothes not wanting to be torn to shreds.

"Evening everyone" I start, ushering them in closer. I prefer to speak than to mind link, seems more personable that way. "tonight we'll be going on a run lead by Jay, as I've been told he has a special spot in mind for our guests" I gesture to Jay, but see he's instead smiling suggestively at Alana. "right well, I guess we'll begin" The crowd starts to holler and howl, dropping pants and dresses - we know to wear easily removable clothing before a run - and change to their wolves, before running into the darkness of the woods. I give Jay a knowing look, pick up everyone's clothes and place them in the chests, then do the same for myself and run off after them.

Running free feels so good, and slowly the ball starts to loosen in my throat. Ajax, my wolf, takes control and leaps forward, quickly catching up with the pack. Oh man this feels so good! he purrs, why haven't we done this sooner? the moon is so bright I can feel the goddess leading us. I laugh to myself, and forget for a moment that I ever even had a bad feeling about going out tonight, when suddenly... Ajax stops, and I feel it... like a wave coming over me. It's her it's definitely her it Is HER he begins to howl and a deep growl echos from within, before he bolts of to the right. I mind-link Jay something's come up, i'll meet you at the cliffs soon.

Before I know it we've come to a clearing, and I see a girl sitting in the middle. That ball in my throat returning thick and fast, and my heart racing. It takes everything in me to stop Ajax from going full speed toward this poor, unsuspecting human. She CANT be human Apollo, she's most DEFINITELY our mate! he yells at me as he starts to pace the very edge of the clearing, but I can't believe it! what would she be doing out here then? surrounded by crystals and candles, she's gotta be a human. Ok Ajax I retort, We can take a closer look, but we gotta talk to her first, as far as we know she's a human, and if she even IS my mate, her being human spell BIG trouble for us, got it?

We walk closer, slower and slower, and her sweetness intensifies. She smells like lavender and molasses, like all things sweet, like a fresh pie left to cool on a window sill mid-spring. We're face to face with her now, and under the moonlight we can see her beauty. Her pale skin seems to be glowing under the soft light, peaceful and still, despite feeling her fear as she opens her eyes. f**k, ajax, we're just a big f*****g wolf to her right now. She's terrified! let me back, we gotta change!