FENRIR

We were miles away from our cabin, which wasn't uncommon when we were in our wolf form. Ness and I like to run and don't usually pay attention to how far we go. I don't mind walking in human form either, so we casually stroll back to our cabin. 

My senses are just as heightened in human form as they were as a wolf. I can smell, hear, see, and feel everything to such specificity, it makes me wonder what it would be like if we were to evolve again. 

Once we get to the cabin I shower and change into some jean shorts and a white t-shirt with a small V for the neckline. My human form is nothing extraordinary, not like I am as a wolf. I 'm 5'3, with small features. I'm thin but not fragile. I wanted my human body to be just as strong, so I spend a lot of time running, and eating well. 

Nessa tends to be quieter while I'm in my human state. She likes to rest, and just go along for the ride. I throw on my slip ons before heading out the door to head into town. It's Sunday and after last night I am completely famished and thankful the full moon rose on a Saturday, giving me time to recover.  

Before Earl and May died, they taught me how to drive, thankful for that and them I took the pick-up truck instead of walking, knowing I’d have a big grocery load with me. 

One thing people wouldn't guess is that Earl and May had been loaded. They liked the simple life, but earl and May had made bank during their working years. They saved and invested almost everything, living as minimalists in the forest, just enjoying each other. The love they had for each other made my heart ache. But now was not the time to think about that. 

I head into the small town of Winchester, located about 30 miles from the forest. I didn't really enjoy driving to be honest. I loved the feel of running and the dirt beneath my feet and paws, but sometimes human activities call for human things, like cars. 

I turn the entertainment center on, and my Bluetooth connects automatically, pulling up my Spotify playlist. I put it to a low volume since it doesn't take much for me to hear the music right now. I roll the windows down and open the sunroof, my long sandy blonde hair wrestles with the wind as I train my abilities just as I did in the forest. 

This time it's just me. Ness is still quiet; she lets me take the reins on this one. I focus on all the things that have changed, and so far not much feels different than it did last night. I know this will get easier with time, trying to home in on all the new things I can sense now, but by the time I get to the local grocery store I have a headache and feel tired. 

Normally I would stop for a coffee but I don't think I can handle that right now. I grab my Bluetooth headphones and pop them in before heading inside, hoping that if I can focus enough on the music I won't be overwhelmed by all the chaos inside the store. 

An hour later I am checking out and so ready to head back, wanting to eat until I pass out, but something causes me to halt. My heart rate picks up, my skin feels like its floating off my bones, and the smell.... god its divine, like warm bread, a hit of cinnamon and… all male. 

"Mate." I hear Nessa blare. 

I pop my headphones out thinking I must have heard her wrong. "I'm sorry, what was that?" I reach in to ask Nessa, who seems very much awake now. 

"Mate. He's here. He's close. Roo he's here." 

I try not to look too on edge as I walk to the car, using my new abilities to try and figure out who it is. I get about 20 ft away from my car when I see him and halt to an immediate stop. fuck. me. 

"NO. No fucking way Ness. Pick someone else."  I blare at her. 

"Dude we don't have a fucking choice. It's him and you're just going to have to deal with it. " She understands that I loathe this guy, but I can already tell our wolf wants to be near him. 

"Does he know?" I cling onto the hope that he won't, can't know, not yet.

"Actually, I don't think he does...I can't sense his wolf responding to us. He hasn't spotted us..."

"Good, cloak it. Now." I interrupted her. 

Another ability I have, cloaking my wolf side, my feelings, anything about me.

"But Roo" she tries. "NO." I yell at her. She quiets but I can feel her urging us closer.

I take a deep breath. "Please Ness. Please, not yet. I'm not ready." I'm begging her.

She takes a deep breath, and we cloak. My heart rate slows, and my aura no longer holds my wolf. I take another breath and walk over to the truck, currently holding the one person in the world I detest, and who I am apparently destined to love. 

"Princess." I internally cringe but note how I can hear the differences in his tone, the inflection of his voice.... and there is more. Holy shit, I can feel his emotions. 

"Fenrir." I called him. Fenrir is the son of Loki and a wolf in Norse Mythology so the nickname I have given him seems fitting. I can feel his amusement of my little nickname for him along with the sly smile he lets loose. 

"Well, someone is in a glorious mood today." His baritone voice is completely fitting, unfortunately. I don't particularly care for the actual concern I feel coming from him. What the fuck?

I can't ask Ness because I have her cloaked to ensure that the Mate bond isn't detected, so I am totally on my own here. "I didn't see you for the run last night, it was a full moon."

I open the side door and pull my cart up next to the seat and he gently pushes me to the side and starts putting my groceries in the back seat of the truck. I am too tired to protest so I take the moment to look at him. 

Nathaniel Beowulf. 6'5 and built like a god damn god. He keeps his ashy brown hair short with a little length at the top, enough that he can run his fingers through, but never so long that it falls to his eyes. He's wearing athletic shorts and a black cut-off Winchester Warriors shirt. I can see his muscles clench and tighten as he continues to load the groceries, trying to not focus on his gorgeous tan skin and his stupidly large strong hands as they close the door. 

I see his piercing blue eyes meet mine and feel.... oh shit I don't know what I feel from him but I got to get the fuck out of here. I don't say anything as I turn to get into my truck, when I feel him step towards me and I whip around. 

"Don't." Comes from my mouth so fast I can do nothing to stop it. He peers at me with curiosity, and I am doing everything I can to push down my senses. He is starting to overwhelm me, and I can't take much more. 

I clear my throat, "Thank you for your help.'' I try to say dismissively but he doesn't move.

"You weren't at the pack run last night." He says again, pointedly. 

"I am not in your pack, and I don't run with others. You know this. How many times do I have to tell you before you will leave it alone?” My anger is under control but just barely. I am trying to seem passive, like his unrelenting tries to get me to join the pack aren't pissing me off. 

I can sense his own anger and irritation now, but that has always been evident. Nathaniel has been trying to get me to join the pack since he became alpha. Fuck. An alpha. Of course my mate had to be an alpha. 

Before he speaks again, I open my door and slam it shut. I start the truck and right before I pull out Nathaniel appears at my window. He’s tall enough that the height of the truck does nothing to shield me and because I had the windows down he's inches from my face. 

"You will join my pack Princess. So stop trying to fight it." There is a gravely tone to his voice. He brims with the power of an alpha and even I can admit that the power is a little addicting. But I won't give in. Lost for a moment in his wolf aura Nathaniel senses something of his own. 

“Why can't I sense your wolf?" He fills with curiosity and the spell is broken. I hightail it out of there before anything more happens.