Awakening the Wolf

by Crymsyn Hart

  Illiana let out a squeal and ran away from him, but he did not give up. They ran around the pool and the clearing until he almost had her. Illiana dodged him and hid behind a tree. She tried to catch her breath. When she peeked out from behind the tree, she could not see him. It was as though he had completely disappeared.

  “Where did you go?” she asked.

  His laughter filled the clearing. “Are you going to find me?”

  She shook her head and chuckled. This was a game she had played with Christopher when they were teenagers. Illiana had always been better at it than him. The wind moved over her fingers and across her body. It had an excitement to it that she normally did not sense. Even it was getting into the hunt. Illiana closed her eyes and listened to the air. The way it moved, she could sense things in the environment around her. Its currents gave her an image of the trees it caressed and the blades of grass it wound through, even the insects buzzing in the air. It even showed her whether something was out of place in the environment. She opened her eyes and snuck around to the back of the poplar tree, where she found Belik. Illiana wrapped her hands around his waist.

  “Gotcha!”

  He turned and smiled at her. “That was too easy. How’d you find me?”

  She put a finger to her lips. “I’m not telling. You already know too many of my secrets.”

  Belik moved the hair from her face and ran his fingers along her cheek as if trying to memorize her features. The sincerity and the longing in his eyes made her wonder how she had become so lucky. Of all the times she had yearned for Christopher to hold her and tell her that he cared for her or found her beautiful, Belik was the one doing it instead. “Well, when you’re ready to tell me, I’m sure you will.”

  Her heart swelled at the idea of what would happen between them. Maybe with him she could find a place in the flock. The wolf side of her was not happy with the idea of letting her feelings for Christopher fade away. Not having him in her life stabbed her soul. They were meant to be together. Now she had to convince Christopher of that. But she forced that thought from her mind and focused on being with Belik. His arms were warm and inviting. Illiana could envision a life with him. The raven part of her accepted him for a potential mate, and that was a good thing. Among their clan they mated for life. “You are too good to me. More than you should be. I—”

  “My, my, it looks like we’re interrupting something.”

  Illiana froze from that familiar voice. Belik’s grip tightened. He must have seen her shocked expression because he squeezed her waist. He pulled her closed to hide her from the wolf behind them. She buried her head in his shoulder, but she could not hide forever.

  “Don’t worry about it. I can make him go away if you want to stay here,” he whispered in her ear.

  She shook her head and felt her heart sink even lower when she heard a laugh next to Christopher. Jalisa. The very thought of her made her wolf growl, and she wanted to rip the other woman apart. “No, I have to face him sometime.”

  “If he says one thing that hurts your feelings, I don’t care what our relationship is with the wolves.”

  She touched Belik’s arm. “No. Don’t do anything you’ll regret. It’ll be okay.”

  “Oh, look, Christopher. It’s a couple of bird brains,” Jalisa sneered.

  Illiana cringed as she heard those words, and Belik grumbled. She clasped his arm and brushed a kiss along his cheek. He had stiffened and was going to pounce on the both of them.

  “What? Cat got your tongue?” Jalisa taunted them.

  “Leave them alone. It’s obvious they don’t want to be bothered,” Christopher added.

  “You’re correct. We weren’t looking to be bothered.” Illiana stepped out from behind Belik. The shock of it hit Christopher’s eyes first. His eyes widened, and his mouth dropped open.

  “Il-Illiana, what are you doing here?” His face paled as he tried to regain his composure. He stepped away from Jalisa and moved closer to her and Belik. Jalisa frowned at Christopher but kept her mouth shut.

  “Hello, Christopher. I’m here with Belik. We’re getting to know one another.” Illiana felt Belik slide a hand around her waist.

  He squeezed her and stepped close enough she felt his body heat blasting against her back. Christopher bared his teeth, and a low growl came from his lips. Illiana tried to hide her surprise at the territorial show. It did appear that he cared about her even if he did not want to fully admit it to himself. Jalisa glanced at her, and she saw the murderous look lingering in her eyes. If they had been alone, she figured Jalisa would be going for her throat. A surge of excitement rolled through Illiana because she knew she could take the bitch before her. With that knowledge, she drew herself up a little straighter. Christopher looked at her for a long time before he spoke. The silence was uncomfortable. So many questions swirled through her mind she did not know what to ask first or what she should ask with the others so close by.

  “Illiana, can I talk to you?” Christopher glanced at Belik and Jalisa. “Alone, please.”

  “Is that a good idea?” Belik asked her.

  She turned and saw the concern and trepidation in his eyes. She smiled, reassuringly. “It’s fine. If it’s okay with you.”

  Belik smiled. “It’s not him I’m worried about.”

  “Why do you want to talk to her alone?” Jalisa demanded.

  Christopher shot her a look. “Do as I say, and be nice.”

  Jalisa snapped her mouth shut, and Illiana suppressed a smirk. It was nice to see that someone could get her to clam up. Christopher glanced at her, waiting for Illiana to follow him. Her heart hammered in her chest, and she tried to slow it because she was sure that Christopher could hear. Having him so close and not being able to tell him that she had visited him the night before in wolf form gnawed at her. She took a deep breath and walked behind Christopher until they were out of earshot. Then he stopped and cornered her.

  “What the hell are you doing with that-that bird?” Christopher inquired, but she could hear the edge in his voice.

  “What do you mean? I’m getting to know one of my own kind.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

  “And when did you get to know another raven? I thought all of those birds shunned you.”

  “What do you expect after what you said to me? Telling me I was nothing, less than nothing, and you couldn’t stand to be around me,” she yelled and felt tears burn her eyes.

  He raked his fingers through his blond hair and glanced up at the sky, not able to meet her gaze. When he finally did, Illiana saw that his eyes were glistening with unshed tears. “I-I feel horrible about the things I said. You’ve always been my friend, but the night of your initiation . . . I don’t know . . . I saw you that night, and something clicked. I wanted you. I realized how I felt about you. I’ve always wanted you. . . . ”

  “If you’ve always wanted me, then why did you say those horrible things? I thought you were my friend. Then you shred all those years and in one swoop you tell me I’m not good enough for you. Do you know how that hurt me? You were the only person who I could trust. Who I ever cared about more than my family. You accepted me for who I was, and then . . . poof!” Her tears slipped down her cheeks, and she did not bother to wipe them away so he could see them.

  Christopher winced and cleared her tears away. His gentle touch on her cheek made her melt. Her heart slowed, but the hurt in her soul had been grated over again, and she was reliving all of what had happened to her. He hesitated and then drew her into his arms. She inhaled his masculine scent, smelled the earthly aroma of the wolf that she had never picked up on before. It made him all the more tantalizing. She did feel completely right in his arms the way she was when she was in Belik’s arms. Both parts of her, the wolf and the raven, were satisfied with the different men. He kissed the top of her forehead and lifted her chin so that she could stare into his blue-gray eyes. Christopher pressed his lips to hers in a long kiss that was slow at first. Oh, boy, does he have a s
oft mouth. It made her weak in the knees until he was holding her up. Her nerves tingled with pleasure, and she was instantly wet from the animal attraction that flared within her. Illiana pressed herself close to his body, molding hers to it, until his fingers raked along her back and grabbed her ass. She plunged her tongue into his mouth and waited for him to pull away. But he didn’t. Instead Christopher held her closer and groaned. She slid her fingers along his muscled back and felt the skin roll as if he were fighting the change. He met her tongue so that they wrestled and wrapped around one another until he broke free to nip along her jaw and neck. Christopher threaded his fingers through her hair, and each place his lips touched burned, branding into her. It fanned the fire inside of her and worked into her blood, burning her soul. The air stirred around her in an attempt to calm her until it blew so violently she could feel it trying to lift her and Christopher up. She had never had that happen before. Both elements reveled in her passion.

  Illiana moaned and tried to come back to herself, but the more she tried, the more she realized she was losing control, too. The wolf was ready for her to give over to it. Now would not be the time to do that. If he found out, how would he react?

  “Christopher, we have to stop this.”

  He nibbled on her ear. “Why? We both want this. I need you in my life.”

  “If you need me so much, then why are you mating Jalisa?”

  “The same reason you’re with the raven. We can’t be together. My father would never accept our mating. You live in the tress. I live on the ground. Your mother would never allow me. I wouldn’t know what to do among the trees.”

  “So Jalisa is your ideal mate? She’s such a bitch.”

  “She has her good moments, and her family is powerful. The mating would be a good alliance among the packs.” He sighed and brushed a piece of hair away from Illiana’s face. “I don’t expect you to forgive me for what I said. I realized once I said it, it would push you away. I prayed my feelings for you would die, but they didn’t. I’m sorry. Jalisa and your man would never truly understand how we feel about one another. We’ve always been raised to marry within our kind. Dammit! Why couldn’t this be easier?”

  She nodded. If only it could be. “What if I was a wolf?”

  “That’d be a miracle, and it would solve a lot of problems. Nevertheless, you’re not, and we can’t do this. We both have to forget how we feel for one another.”

  “I know. That is the reason I’m getting to know Belik. He’s a good man.”

  “I’m happy for you. I really hope it works out.” Christopher stepped away from her, and she felt the distance spreading between them. That thought stabbed her heart, but she knew this was how it had to be done. At least for now.

  “Oh, I wanted to tell you I’ve seen this strange black wolf in the forest. I didn’t recognize it. Anyone new come into the pack recently?” Illiana asked.

  He flashed her a questioning look. “It’s strange you say that. The other night I had a glimpse of the wolf you’re talking about. It was odd.”

  “Strange, how?”

  Christopher shrugged. “When have wolf matters ever interested you?”

  She hit him on the shoulder. “When did you stop telling me everything? Or is this the new-and-improved Christopher who’s going to be an ass to me?”

  He chuckled. “It might be best if we aren’t friends, just to keep things safe between us.”

  “I don’t think things are ever going to be safe between us, nor will my feelings for you change. If I can’t have you in my life the way I truly want you, then at least we can still be friends or at least try to be.”

  He ran his finger along the line of her collarbone and touched her necklace. “Friends will be difficult. We both have these feelings for one another that will never stop. If things go the way they are supposed to, then you’ll end up ruling your flock and I’ll rule the pack. We’ll have a working relationship, and that still won’t solve our problem. This is the best thing for us: to part ways and be mated without ever thinking back. This is the last time we can be together. I wish we could make this more. You don’t know how much I want you.” He leaned in and brushed her lips once more with a quick kiss before nibbling down her throat. He inhaled and then pulled away to look at her strangely. “Are you wearing perfume?”

  Her heart stopped. Had he recognized her scent? Illiana had discovered that after her shifts from wolf to raven form that each animal form had a different smell to it she could detect on her clothes, but in human form her scent was a mixture of both. She prayed he would not figure it out. “Just a scent my aunt gave me. Do you like it?”

  He searched her eyes, but she kept a straight face. “It’s nice, kinda musky like a wolf scent.”

  “Yeah. I think that was what she was going for.”

  “Well, it suits you.” Christopher pulled away and straightened his clothes, returning to the wolf he was. “You know this is for the best. Just being friends.”

  Illiana nodded and felt her tension drain away. He had not discovered her ruse. The way things were now, she understood what he was saying. “I know. This is for the best.”

  “We should get back, or they’ll think we’re getting a little bit too close.”

  She turned to leave, but Christopher grabbed her arm. “The next full moon the pack and the ravens are having a gathering to celebrate our continued peace. Will you be there?”

  “I’d planned on it. When are you going to be mated?”

  “I was hoping you weren’t going to bring that up. It’ll be the full moon after that. I don’t think it’d be in your best interest to come. I don’t want to see you get hurt.” Christopher cupped her cheek and brushed his lips across hers. “I’m sorry.”

  “You can’t keep apologizing for everything that’s happened or going to happen.”

  “I guess you’re right. Let’s get back.”

  Illiana nodded. “Okay.”

  They returned to the clearing. Illiana found Belik’s clothes on the ground under one of the trees. Jalisa was lounging near the bottom of the tree. She glanced up and saw a raven staring down at them. Jalisa had a devious smile on her face.

  “What did you do?” she snapped.

  Jalisa got up and stepped closer to her. “I wanted to get to know him a little bit better. And he looked so tasty.”

  “You bitch.” Before Illiana could stop herself, she slapped Jalisa across the face with all the force she could muster, turning Jalisa’s head with the hit. The other woman growled and pounced on her, which sent them both to the ground. Jalisa slashed at her face and caught her across the cheek. Illiana winced at the pain. The fire element in her burned at her mind and stirred the wolf, but she held it in check. Now was not the time to let them see who she truly was. Although it would feel good to tear Christopher’s future mate limb from limb.

  Jalisa slashed at her, but she put up her hands to protect her face. Illiana wiggled underneath her and got her leg free enough so that she brought her knee up and caught Jalisa in the stomach. Before she could fit in another blow, Jalisa was removed from on top of her. Christopher dragged Jalisa away, and Belik offered his hand to her. She smiled and took it. He touched her cheek.

  “Did she hurt you?” Belik asked.

  Illiana shook her head, feeling the sting of the scratches on her cheek. “I’m fine.”

  “What about these?” He touched her cheek.

  “They should be fine. I don’t think they’re deep.” She saw the concern in his eye—and the sincerity. Illiana raked her gaze over his naked body, and she took in the firmness of his muscles. His body might have been wiry, but he was built in all the right places. Her attraction to him flared to life. His hair hung loose to the middle of his back. She met his dark eyes and lost all sense of time, knowing that he yearned to be with her and her heart was opening to him.

  “Let me go, Chris!” Jalisa screamed.

  “I told you not to mess with Illiana.”

  “You make it so
und like she’s the one you really want to be with. What about me?”

  “It’s not like that. We’re friends. We have been since we were kids.” Christopher threw up his hands.

  Illiana sighed and walked over to the two wolves. “Christopher’s right. We’re only friends. Why would he want to be with me when we’re different species?”

  “This is none of your concern, birdy. Go fly away before I decide to eat you this time,” Jalisa growled.

  She held in her anger. “You were the one who went after my future mate. How would you feel if I tried to attack Christopher? You’d want my head, right? Next time you decide to go after Belik, I won’t just slap you.”

  Jalisa smiled, pulling her lips up into a sneer. “And next time I see you anywhere near my mate, I’ll make sure you will get more than a scratch.”

  Christopher pulled the woman away from her. “I think it’s time to go. Illiana, I’ll see you at the clan gathering.” He pushed Jalisa out of the clearing, and Illiana watched until they were gone and turned back to Belik.

  “Are you okay?” she asked him.

  “I’ll be fine. She startled me at first and then got more aggressive. I decided it was safer to be in the trees where she couldn’t get me.” He chuckled. “There was no way I could take her if I wanted, but you did a good job at clobbering her.”