CHAPTER 1: LIFE IS PERFECT

Kayla’s POV

(Three months later…)

I bounded through the forest; the greenery rushing around me as I focused on my destination. Running in wolf form was such a liberating feeling and every time I run through the forest now, I couldn’t help but regret all the years I had missed out on this. The feel of the wind brushing against my fur as if nature itself was caressing me, the soft grass against my paws, the enhanced vision as well as the amplified sense of smell and hearing… 

Even as I was lost in my thoughts, I continued running, nimbly avoiding any protruding branches and stones as if on autopilot. But still, I must have slowed down unknowingly because I felt a flash of black brush past me. My eyes narrowed when I spotted the big black wolf bounding ahead of me. And then he had the audacity to turn back and throw a smug wolfy grin at me. The nerve!

Hell no! No one is defeating Kayla Xanders in a race. Not even you, Mr. Alpha! You think you won? The game is not over yet, my darling mate!

I knew that it may count as cheating, but that didn’t mean that I cared. Not a bit. I let out a bit of my power that I have caged within me. Like an obedient puppy rushing to its master, it swirled all over my body, as if caressing me lovingly. I had suppressed the power for so long, but with my mate’s encouragement; I had learned to embrace myself, including my dark parts. And now, after using it now and then, during our time alone in the forest like this instant, I had gotten so much better in controlling my powers. The power now responded to me like an extension of my body, like an extra limb…

I felt a smug grin form on my face as I watched Zane bound towards the big neem tree that we had declared as our finishing spot. Just about hundred meters away from it, he seemed so confident of his victory that he was almost dancing rather than running towards it. One… two… three…

He was about fifty meters away from his destination when I let the power fill my body. I let my paws fill with the energy and with a renewed burst of energy; I zoomed past my mate. As I brushed past him, I saw his amber eyes glinting with triumph, as if in slow motion. And then, before he could even realize what happened, I was already standing in front of the tree.

I stood there coolly as if I had been waiting for him for ages and the 7black wolf halted abruptly, looking at me with his eyes wide and ears cocked to the sides. He looked absolutely comical, and I stifled the urge to laugh out loud. And to add insult to his injury, he was panting like a dog, pun intended, while I wasn’t even out of breath yet, thanks to my Feral powers. 

He blinked at me in disbelief before turning towards his back, as if expecting me to be running behind him. Then he looked back at me and blinked dazedly. It took him a moment to realize that I had cheated, and as his eyes narrowed in indignation; I let out a huff of laughter, unable to hold it in anymore. 

I continued laughing when he changed to his human form and stalked towards me in all his naked glory. I stopped laughing and gaped at him with my tongue hanging out of my mouth. Maybe I even drooled a bit as I watched his muscles rippling with his confident strides and as my eyes went down there, yum… It had been three months since our mating but each time I gaze at him, I still feel like a blushing schoolgirl watching her crush. I wanted to run my hands over his abs and…

I heard the sound of a throat clearing and startled awake from my daydreams. My eyes found a certain amber eyed Alpha gazing at me with his eyes full of mischief and lips crooked up in a teasing smirk. Uh huh. I should have run while I still had the chance, instead of ogling him like a pervert. From the gleam in his eyes, he certainly had planned something for me and I didn’t have to be a fortune seer to know I wouldn’t like it. Maybe I still have time left to run? I can always call my Feral powers again, right?

“Don’t even think of it, my darling mate,” he warned me as his eyes narrowed dangerously. Damn it! This man! How does he always read my mind?

But that didn’t mean that I would have to listen to him, right? I listen to no one but myself! Like the good obedient mate I was, I ignored his command promptly before turning and running off like a coward. Oops! Warrior! I meant running like a warrior. ‘Right…’ My conscience mocked me, but I silenced it with a mental glare before speeding up and running for my life. Well, not exactly, but with the murderous aura that my mate was radiating right now while chasing me, it felt close…

I turned back to check the gap between us; big mistake, since it slowed me down enough to make him gain on me. Before I could rectify my mistake and speed up again, the big bad Alpha had jumped on top of me and pinned me with his weight. Damn! Now what? I guess there was only one way out of this. Try to be cute and hope for his mercy…

I looked at him with wide eyes, trying to make puppy eyes like I had seen the girls at the pack do; no pun intended. But from the way he raised his brows and looked at me with a puzzled expression, I didn’t think I was pulling it up quite rightly. With my luck, I must be looking more like a retarded monkey and that would be a feat considering I am in wolf form. Shit!

I looked up at my mate and seeing him still frowning while examining my face; I realized that though my puppy eyes didn’t have the effect I was going for; it had succeeded in distracting him, at least. Not one to waste opportunities; I slid off his hold and started running again. I couldn’t go back to the pack house in my wolf form because I hadn’t yet revealed it to anyone else than Zane. Hence, running deeper into the forest was my only option. Maybe he would forget his frustration after chasing me for a while?

Just as I thought about it, I felt a heavyweight drop on top of me, making me kiss the forest grounds yet again. Just wonderful! Now, I was pissed off and the stupid Alpha better run if he values his life!

Letting out a huff of annoyance, I used my powers and flipped him off my back. Seeing him getting back up and raising his brows at me in amusement, I growled at him in warning. 

“Oh, so now you are pissed off? Weren’t you laughing at me just a while ago?” He asked with a smug grin.

‘Don’t poke me any more. Even I don’t know when I am going to lose it,’ I growled out through the mind link.

“Oh! I am scared now!” He replied in a singsong voice and I felt my fur stand aggressively at his blatant disregard of my threat. The audacity!

I let out a fierce growl, making the birds from nearby trees fly away in a frenzy. Still, the arrogant Alpha in front of me stood without a care in the world.

“Seems like you are really pissed off now, my darling mate. This much anger is not good for your health. You really need a little laugh now. Don’t worry, I can help you,” he said with a smirk. Huh?

And then, before I could realise what happened, he stepped over to me and pushed me down to the ground before tickling the sensitive underside of my belly. Even when I wanted to push him off, all I could do was let out helpless wolfish chuffs of laughter. I changed back into my human form to escape his attacks. When the attacks stopped suddenly, I laid on the floor, trying to catch my breath, my belly aching from all the laughter. 

Wait! Why was my mate suddenly silent? That didn’t sound right…

I froze when I felt his hot breath fanning my neck, and it was then I realized that we were both naked. Uh, huh. Maybe I can change back before he realizes? 

I guess it was too late for that, because I could feel him peppering kisses down my neck to my shoulders where his mark laid. And when he kissed the mate mark, I felt my limbs slacken in defeat as I surrendered to him. Just like always, but only to him…

My heart thundered against my chest as if it was the first time I was being intimate with my mate when in truth, we had been one of those touchy feely couples whom I used to look with disgust before finding Zane. But now I know the touches are not just because of lust but reassurance that your other half is always there for you, comfort that you are not alone and promise that you are loved…

I looked up at him, and as my gaze locked on his amber eyes filled with love, I smiled contentedly. My mate, my love…

He leaned towards me slowly and his heart beat mirrored mine as he pressed his body against mine. Then he claimed my lips with his hot moist ones and I kissed him back just as hungrily. We were in the forest, where it was just the two of us, as usual, when I changed to my wolf form. With the certainty that no one will dare to venture into the forest until we go back to the pack house, I relaxed into the kiss before my hands wandered over my man’s delicious body. Hmm. I am a lucky girl! 

I could feel him getting excited above me and felt an answering tightening in my belly as my insides quivered with anticipation. I pulled back from the kiss before pushing him down to the ground and climbing on top of him. My need for him was a palpable entity that didn’t allow me to even think coherently, and from his intense gaze that was riveted on me like a hunter stalking his prey, he was on the same boat. I didn’t mind being the prey to this hunter. Not a bit…

As nature witnessed us becoming one, I felt all my anxieties vanish, as if they never existed. I had once rejected this man, but now I couldn’t imagine a life without him. We were opposites, but we completed each other like no one else could. We had difficulties just like everyone else, but regardless of that, we loved each other, and everything else seemed mundane compared to that. Life is perfect…