by Trina M. Lee
“Take as much time as you need. And please, let me help with any expenses involved with this whole situation.”
I thanked him for his offer and said that I’d see him next week. After hanging up the phone, I sat on the edge of my bed and hung my head in my hands. I probably would have cried if I’d had the tears left to do so.
As it was, all I wanted to do was spend time alone in my room. I couldn’t recall the last time I’d been all alone with nothing but my thoughts and quiet contemplation.
Unfortunately, life altering news had brought me to this moment of solitude.
How in the world was I going to come out the other side of this? I felt trapped in the middle of a problem with no solution. My solution had died with Raoul.
Chapter Twenty-Two
My life passed one day at a time. I fought to learn and accept my place in life. From a delusional teenage Were with hearts in my eyes to a mid-twenties power hungry wolf with vampire tendencies, I certainly am on a roll.
Arys and I discovered the balance of our weaknesses. If he went longer than two nights without appeasing the bloodlust, I was consumed by his hunger. Likewise, I shifted on a similar schedule to keep Arys comfortable in his skin. Arys said that, although the time of day doesn’t make a real difference, he enjoyed my sunrise runs.
After more than three centuries, he saw the sun through my eyes and felt no pain. While Arys and I have managed to control our conjoined power, the effort remained a challenge, to say the least.
Compared to Arys and me, Shaz hadn’t adjusted any better to the link, but he accepted that it isn’t going away. My heart belonged to Shaz like all of me that is wolf, but the root of my own personal power longed for Arys as if we’d always been a part of the same flame. I still felt complicated and very confused. The frequent dreams about Raoul didn’t help the confusion.
After postponing our date night for almost two weeks, Shaz and I had just gotten back from the classic dinner and a movie. I felt amazed at how something as mundane as a real date could mean so much to me.
Shaz and I asked Kylarai to join us in a run, but she just smiled and said that she’d agreed to help Kale nail a target. I’d asked her if “nail a target” was code for anything and received a nice open handed slap on the arm. A blade between the ribs hadn’t been so bad for Kylarai. She liked Kale, and I really couldn’t have picked a better match for her.
Outside, in one of the darkest hours of night, I saw a black wolf framed by trees in the field. A sliver of moonlight cast a soothing glow, and I was sure my keen eyes were not playing tricks on me. When I blinked, the ghostly wolf was gone.
I sensed Shaz’ welcome approach and turned to admire his form as he stripped. Upon reading the letter from Raoul, he had responded with a fury to match my own. I felt amused that he, too, wished Raoul was still alive to take the beating that he deserved. I was slowly learning to live with Raoul’s confession because I never expected to get over the betrayal.
I gently scraped my fingernails along Shaz’ firm shoulders, down his chest to his navel. He shivered in response, and I licked my lips invitingly.
With the most delicate touch, Shaz traced the line of my jaw before nibbling ever so softly on my lower lip. His white blonde hair fell across my nose, and I giggled in that girlish way that I so despise. Naked with him felt so right.
“Before or after?” His whisper tickled the inside of my ear so that I had to rub the feeling away.
“After, otherwise you’ll say you’re too tired to run. Again.” I gave him a playful shove and turned away to embrace the change to wolf.
Before I could reach for the moon, his arms snaked around my waist and jerked me to him. I gave a small squeal and fought back by reaching behind me to the ticklish spot in his side that made him come undone. He released me immediately, and I turned to continue my assault with both hands.
“Alexa!” He tried to sound mad, but it didn’t come out that way. “Ok, ok, have it your way.” The desperation that comes from being tickled made his voice high on the last two words, and he grimaced.
Unable to resist such a cute expression, I pulled him close for a heart melting lip lock that I knew would get him panting. He tasted of mint and smelled of wolf.
“You little tease,” he called as I walked toward the field beyond the back gate. “I’m going to bite your ankles so good.”
I paused long enough to give him a little “right here” tap on my bare bottom. He answered with a growl that added a spring to my step.
I ran and leaped; I arched my body, gracefully becoming wolf in midair. Though it may have had the finesse of Hollywood graphics, Shaz and I took almost three years to perfect the move. I shudder to recall the number of naked spills in the dirt that we’d both taken.
As I’d anticipated, Shaz was only a few seconds behind me. His paws scrambled to reach me, and I poured on the speed as we raced to our tree. We wrestled and played; we ran and flushed birds just for fun.
I loved him. Our lives went forward regardless of mistakes and lessons learned the hard way. Though our lives would be a lot simpler without the drama, power, and bloodshed, I have a sneaking suspicion that’s not about to end anytime soon.
The End
About the Author
Trina M. Lee always has a book as a constant companion. An avid reader, her love for writing developed during childhood when she received a provincial award for a short story written about the meaning of Christmas. Though she has dabbled in many genres, her first love remains the world of vampires and werewolves.
Trina lives in Alberta, Canada with her fiancé, daughter and three cuddly cats. She is always interested in meeting both readers and writers so feel free to drop by www.TrinaMLee.com anytime. Twitter users can find her at Twitter.com/TrinaMLee
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