Chapter 7

Ryker slipped his arm around my waist and pulled me to my feet. He was speaking soft words of encouragement to me as he helped me to stand by myself once more.

“There is nobody for miles around, we are safe.” Christian said as he emerged from the treeline fully dressed. 

That was quick, or did I lose time? My head felt fuzzy and I was having trouble concentrating on anything other than the painful static electric sensation on my skin. 

Kerry told everyone else to stay put and walked me over to the treeline. She told me to strip before she turned her back on me and started walking back towards the cottage. I did as she said, trying my best to ignore how even the feel of the fabric against my skin was causing me pain. 

I had just slipped off the last of my clothes when the first jolt of pure pain passed through me. It felt as though an electric current had passed through all the bones in my body simultaneously. I fell to the floor and cried out in pain.

“No, she is fine. The first time is always painful.” Christian said. 

Oh now they tell me I thought as I felt another current pass through my body. It hurt so much that I couldn’t move, I just laid on the floor whimpering in agony. 

The currents started coming more quickly until they started to coalesce. I could feel my bones starting to snap and change position bringing a whole new dimension of pain along with it. 

I tried to breathe deeply and ignore the pain but it was useless, there was nothing I could do other than endure it until it was gone. 

The end of the pain wasn’t gradual but instantaneous. One second I was in more pain than I could deal with and the next second I felt great. Better than I have ever felt before.

I stood up and looked down at myself. My paws are black, it wasn’t really a surprise because most werewolves had fur that matched their hair colour. I shook myself to get rid of any leaves that might be stuck to me then headed back towards the cottage. 

I thought that I might struggle to walk on four paws for the first time but I didn’t, it felt natural. Everything about my wolf form felt natural and perfect.

‘That is because I am perfect.’ said a voice in my head, making me jump. What the heck?

‘I am your wolf silly, my name is Onyx.’ She said.

As I approached the cottage I could feel the presence of Christian and Kerry’s wolves before I could see either of them. I could also sense Ryker’s wolf even though his wolf was currently dormant. 

It was a strange feeling, I wondered why nobody had mentioned it to me before. It was almost as though I was connected to them by an invisible force. I wondered what else there was that I didn’t know about yet. 

“Wow, your wolf is huge.” Ryker said. 

He was right. The only way I could judge my height was from where my eyeline was but from that I could tell I was much bigger than Christian’s wolf. I was much bigger than any of the alpha wolves I have met too. As the size of your wolf was a physical representation of their power I guessed I was quite a powerful wolf. 

“Her mom was the same, it is in her genes.” Kelly said. She looked sad. 

So, it looks as though her fears were confirmed. I was the same as my mom although I am still not exactly sure what that meant. Other than danger and pain, that part had been made abundantly clear to me already.

I stayed with them for a short while before going back into the forest and behind the tree where I had left my clothes. The transformation back into my human form was a lot faster and easier than my original transformation. There was no pain either even though I could hear my bones cracking and changing position. Once I was dressed I walked back to the cottage and we all went back inside. 

“It feels strange being connected to your wolves. Does it take a long time to get used to it?” I said. 

Even though I was in my human form now I could still feel the connection. It almost felt as though my mind could reach out and touch their minds. Perhaps that is how the mind link thing works. 

“I don’t know. That is something only your mother could tell you. Most werewolves don’t have a connection to others of our kind the way you do.” Kerry said.

“We should all get some rest.” Christian said. 

He looked visibly shaken and I could feel his unease coming through whatever connection I had with his wolf. I could understand where he was coming from. He was responsible for protecting me and the pack and yet I was in danger in a way he couldn’t understand and he couldn’t prevent. This must be very difficult for him.

Christian and Kerry walked down the corridor which led to their room but Ryker stayed behind. He took hold of my hand and looked at me hopefully. He wanted me to tell him that I was his mate. I wished that it was true but I couldn’t lie to him.

“I am sorry.” I said. My voice was so quiet that it was almost a whisper.

“Don’t worry, I am not going to give up that easily.” He said. 

He pulled me into a warm hug, I could feel my wolf’s discomfort at his closeness. He held me for a few moments longer then was comfortable before kissing my cheek and walking down the corridor to his room.

‘You shouldn’t let anyone but our mate touch you like that.’ Onyx growled.

Elijah’s POV

My emotions had been all over the place today. For some reason I have been feeling really anxious and unsettled since around lunchtime and there was nothing that seemed to relax me. Leaning on the desk in front of me I rubbed my temples, trying to relieve some of my tension. The words on the screen in front of me were nothing but a blurred mess. I was just about to close my laptop and head to bed when my phone started ringing. 

“Alpha Vaughn, long time, no speak.” Alpha Fuller said once I picked up the phone. 

His tone was bright and his words seemed innocuous, it was such a shame that both of them were a lie. Alpha Fuller was the alpha of one of our neighbouring packs who had been trying to get me to take his daughter as my chosen mate for years. I had told him many times that I would not accept anyone other than my fated mate but he wasn’t willing to accept that. 

“How can I help you?” I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral. 

“Have you put any more thought into my offer?” He asked. 

“I’m sorry, I can’t accept anyone other than my true mate.” I rolled my eyes, how many times did I need to have this same conversation with him? 

“I’m so sorry you feel that way but you leave me with no other option than to report you to the council. You are in your mid twenties and still mateless. I have tried to be understanding because of the respect I have for your father but we can’t ignore your mateless status anymore.” 

That fucking asshole, I could almost hear him smirking at me down the phone line. He probably thought that I would cave instantly and accept his daughter as my mate, but he didn’t know me as well as he thought he did. I wasn’t going to give up on my true mate or my pack. His attitude made me even more determined to find my mate and make her mine before anyone could come between us. 

I hung up the call and slammed the phone down on my desk. I needed to come up with a plan. I probably only had a couple of weeks before the council showed up at my pack and tried to force me to take a chosen mate. I couldn’t let that happen, I had to stop it.