Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44561 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44561 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Daddy lifted his head, staring off into space for long moments. “Yes, Little mate,” he finally said. “Other wolf shifters can scent us.”
She furrowed her brow as he turned them both and guided her into the house.
“Would you like to go for a run today, Bella?”
She blinked at him in confusion. Something was off. There was something she didn’t know. She couldn’t put her finger on it. But when she opened her mouth to question him, he flattened her to the door, cupped her face, and kissed her.
Her Daddy didn’t play fair. He kissed her senseless until she was panting. He hadn’t chased away her thoughts or questions, but he had forced them to the back burner.
He was crowding her, his hands roaming up and down her body as he held her against the wood surface. “It’s nice out. Sunny. I think it’s a good day to try out your four-legged side.”
She’d wanted him to take her outside and let her shift for days. She’d asked many times. Why now all of the sudden was he encouraging her to do so?
“You can practice shifting fully dressed in case we come to a spot where we decide to shift back and enjoy the view.”
Her head was spinning. That sounded heavenly, even if he was distracting her.
“Come on.” He took her hand and nearly dragged her back outside. Why was he rushing her? He jumped off the front porch, landing on the natural terrain that surrounded the cabin.
When he lifted his arms up, beckoning her to join him, she couldn’t resist his playfulness. His smile was exuberant. Skipping the steps, she leaped off the porch into his arms.
Arion spun her around in a circle before he finally set her on her bare feet. He kissed her and took a step back. “Close your eyes like you did the first time and visualize your wolf form. It will come to the surface. I’ll shift after you.”
His excitement was contagious, so she giggled before she took a deep breath and shut her eyes. She needed to center herself, go into her head, picture her wolf. It was easier than she expected. In moments, she’d connected with her wolf and made the shift.
As soon as she dropped onto all fours, she lifted her head to find her mate. He smiled proudly before closing his eyes and shifting to join her.
He took her breath away in human form, but his wolf form was spectacular. He seemed larger than life. Regal in a way. Even though she’d seen other wolf shifters before, including her parents, no one held a candle to Arion.
Jezebel had to pry her gaze from him, and she pranced around the area for a few moments, getting her bearings, remembering how the gait felt.
When she had it, Arion nodded toward the trees and took off.
In her head, Jezebel was giggling. It felt so free and natural. She was far more agile than her human. She could easily leap over things. Every sense was sharper. She could scent other animals in the vicinity. Squirrels and foxes primarily. She wasn’t sure how she knew that, but she did.
After glancing back at her, Arion picked up the pace, leading her deeper into the forest and slightly down the mountain. It was exhilarating. She realized she would never be able to find her way back. She hadn’t paid close attention to where they’d gone, and he’d moved so fast.
When Arion stopped at a clearing, she pranced up next to him, breathing heavily and rubbed her snout against his neck.
He nuzzled her in return for several moments before freezing. His body stiffened next to her, and when she looked at his eyes, they were scanning the area, narrowed and menacing. He growled so loud it seemed to shake the ridge they were standing on.
Suddenly, two more wolves stepped into sight. They approached slowly and stopped.
Arion stepped in front of Jezebel, partially blocking her.
Jezebel’s heart was racing. Something was wrong. She didn’t think either of the newcomers were welcome or friendly.
Arion tipped his head back and let out a long howl. Warning? Or hoping to chase these two off?
The two wolves did not flinch at his howl. Instead, they lowered onto their back haunches.
Arion brushed against Jezebel, nudging her back a few feet before he shifted. In seconds, he was standing in front of her in his human skin, equally as imposing. Large and broad. His shoulders were back, his head high.
He glanced at Jez. “Stay in your wolf, Little one,” he whispered before looking back at the newcomers.
The two other wolves had also shifted. Two men stood in their spots. They were also large and dominant, feet planted wide, hands at their sides. They wore jeans and T-shirts like her Daddy, but they both had beards. She hadn’t seen many beards in her life. They weren’t common among her pack.