Chapter 24

Anila POV

I was startled, my legs turned to jelly as I stumbled backward.

I have never had a chance to see his wolf so closely. It was the size of a horse, with long thick fur, and curious yellow eyes that watched me fumble to the ground.

He drew closer, his paws massive as they stepped silently over the grass—growing ever closer. I swallowed a tight knot that had locked up my throat. The last time I saw his wolf form was when he nearly got into a fight with Zach and Harley in that open room yesterday. He was so angry, and everything happened at once that I didn’t get a chance to truly appreciate his wolf form.

But seeing him standing before me, massive and curious, I realized how incredible he looked. I wasn’t afraid of him like I thought I would be. In fact, it took everything I had not to reach out and touch him. To brush my fingers through his thick fur and feel him.

His head tilted to the side, ears at attention as he stopped just before me. I sat forward, my hand slowly reaching for his large snout. It wasn’t until my fingers were splayed in his fur that his eyes closed, and he released a content huff through his nose.

Warm air washed on me, and his massive head leaned into my touch, I finally caught notice of the scars hiding beneath his fur. My hands spread the hair apart, counting each one. They were everywhere.

On his nose, behind his ears. On his back, and sides, down his legs, and all along his tail. The only place that has been unscathed is his muscular neck. My fingers ran through his silky fur, and I scratched behind his ear gently.

The wolf whined in appreciation, its massive pink tongue licking up the side of my face and drew out a wild laugh from me. The sound made its tail wag, and it rose to its feet to lick me again, this time on my nose. I didn’t stop the laughter from spilling out of me, the sensation tickled, and unlike the titillating sparks that usually accompany Xaden’s touch, these were playful and fun, bringing nothing but pure happiness from me.

I rose to my feet, laughing wildly as I started to run away from him. My feet pounded, and my heart fluttered as an incredibly freeing sensation spread all over my nerves. I glanced back over my shoulder, smiling wide at the wagging of his tail, and the curious tilt of his head that reminded me so much of a small, harmless puppy.

But he was anything but small.

His front paws smacked the ground, his tail in the air as he started to bounce, allowing me to get a head start. I ran faster, my feet carried me through the grass and when I heard two sharp barks behind me, I squealed like a child.

I didn’t have to look behind me to know he was coming, I could hear all four of his feet digging into the earth as he rushed towards me, chasing me through the open forest.

I leaped over an overturned log, risking a glance behind me. His large tongue was fat and hanging out of his mouth as he bounded towards me; his eyes flashed with a playful excitement as he drew closer. He cleared the log effortlessly, landing with barely a sound before rushing towards me again, much quicker this time.

Turning forward I grabbed onto a small tree, whipping myself around and dodging his bullrush as he slid to a stop. I took off in another direction, weaving through trees as my smile spread so wide on my face, my cheeks ached.

A small playful growl came from his chest as he took off after me, his steps grew closer in mere seconds, and just as I burst from the tree line with plush grass beneath me, he tackled me to the ground. I landed on my hands, barely catching myself under his massive weight as he huffed beside me, his wet nose sniffed my hair and neck aggressively before releasing a sneeze.

I rolled back onto my heels, smiling wide as I panted with him. I laughed and I knew if he wasn’t in his wolf form, he’d be laughing too.

“That was way more fun than I expected,” I giggled, and Xaden’s wolf shook his head as if saying I can’t believe you sometimes.

I laughed again, rising to my feet a little shakily—my sudden burst of speed had drained my energy, my pounding heart questioning why I would ever do such a thing to it. Xaden’s body pressed against my side, and I laid my arm across his back as I took a deep breath.

He is warm beneath me, so warm that I could just curl up in his fur and sleep for an eternity and be perfectly content. I buried my face in his soft fur and took a deep breath, noting the faint scent of blackberries being so powerfully overwhelmed by Mahogany.

Could one be Xaden, and the other his wolf?

I chuckled to myself, propping my head up on my hand; my elbow rested gently on his massive back. Then, my lips curled with mischievous anticipation.

“Can I ride you?” I asked quickly, and his head snapped back at me, curiously with a playful glint in his eyes.

He didn’t need to speak to me for me to know exactly where his head went.

I sighed.

“Not like that. I mean like, on your back… or something,” I clarified.

I bit my lip, my fingers intertwining themselves with one another as I peered over at him. My face immediately heated.

“I’m so sorry. That was probably super disrespectful. I know you aren’t a horse or a dog or anything. I had just never been face to face with a real wolf like this before and I thought maybe—” I was rambling nervously and I knew it. I shook my head and buried my face in my hands. “I’m so sorry. Forget I asked anything…”

His snout brushed against my hands, and I lowered them to look at him. He wiggled his nose between them so that I was cupping his face. His yellow eyes watched me closely as if measuring my request very carefully. Then, he lowered himself further and brushed against me, wiggling his lower half and inviting me to climb on him.

“Really?” I asked, shocked.

He huffed in response, and I smiled, standing to my feet. I swung my leg over and settled myself in the center of his back. He is hot beneath me, almost like his body was vibrating. I could feel his muscles shift as he rose to his feet, and I grabbed onto the thick fur around his neck as he started to move.

It was slow at first, as if figuring out how to move with my added weight, and ensuring I am balanced. Once he was confident of my situation, he offered a playful growl in warning before taking off into a sprint.

My stomach somersaulted, butterflies flooded my veins as the wind beat against my face and we darted across the forest grounds. The rush of air lifted my hair and stirred such a deep excitement that I couldn’t hold back the giggles that burst from my mouth.

He weaved through trees, moving so fast that they were nothing but a blur until we came through another clearing. An open field, with tall swaying sweet grass that gave me such an elated feeling settling in my chest like an old flame. His speed quickens, as if he were restrained by the forest and we move even faster. I squeezed my thighs around him to ensure that I don’t slide off as my hands rose above my head, and I cheered.

My cheer was so loud it echoed around us, showing the world the unbridled freedom and thrill coursing through my veins. When we made it to the other side, I saw a massive lake reflecting the moonlight like a massive glowing gem. Trees surrounded all other sides and he started to slow his step.

The water gently lapped against a small beach, and the warm summer breeze whisked by my face making it all the more inviting. He lowered himself and I slid off his back, careful not to pull any of his fur. My body hummed, and my legs vibrated with the ghostly heat that was beneath me only seconds ago.

I dug my fingers in the warm sand and stared off into the horizon where the moonlight hit the water and for the first time in my life, I felt peace. I felt freedom. I felt like I truly belonged. Xaden’s wolf sat beside me, towering over me even in his wolf form.

“Can I talk to you?” I asked him, drawing his yellow gaze as he tilted his head at me curiously. I smiled at his wolf, my hand rubbing the side of his face affectionately, “Please?”

He shook his body like he was trying to rid himself of water. Chunks of fur fall from his body like he was shedding. Then flesh started to burst forth, replacing the fur as his form shrank, and he stood on his legs.

His paws and claws disappeared, replaced with fingers and toes. His legs were thick, my eyes trailing up to his thighs, and bare hips and—

“Oh my god!” I shrieked, my hands covering my eyes to avoid looking at his manhood dangling between his legs.