by J. L. Wilder
Tristan nodded, pulling back. “Then that’s what you shall do.”
It was hard to concentrate in my sessions that day. Though the men all nurtured and supported me through the classes, as per usual, my mind kept coming back to the moon. She had plans for me, I could just feel it. She wanted me to run.
When night fell, we gathered around the table, carbo-loading for what promised to be a long run.
“Where should we go?” Caine asked Tristan. “You thinking south?”
The alpha shook his head. “No, east.”
“You mean deep woods? Dang, that’s a big haul.”
Tristan’s eyes shot to me. “Emma requested that we run, and run hard. Her wish is my command.”
“And I wish to be commanded by you,” I finished slyly.
Suddenly, everyone at the table was looking at me. Fair enough—that was a far more provocative thing than I’d normally say. But then, the moon was in my blood. I was glad, however, to see that none of the shifters looked jealous that I’d addressed the words to Tristan. In fact, they seem more amused than anything else.
Was the envy abating? Or was I just seeing what I wanted to see?
Daniel broke the silence. “Okay, in that case—” He slurped a long string of pasta. “Let’s get ready to run.”
We finished our meals, put the dishes in the sink, then stripped from our clothes, neatly placing them in piles on the countertop. I could feel the men’s energy surging around me, each of them orienting their bodies toward mine. Perhaps I wasn’t the only one feeling an especially strong urging from the moon that night.
One by one, Tristan in the lead, we exited through the back door.
“Any questions?” he asked.
I gazed up to the sky. The full moon was out, thick, a distinct purple and yellow. I had no questions. The more I looked at her, the more I realized I no longer wanted to be verbal, or to use my words; I wanted to let the Wolf speak for me.
“None,” I replied aloud. “I’m ready. Are you guys?”
Tristan, Caine and Daniel nodded together, as one. As a pack. My pack.
“All right, good,” Tristan said, checking to make sure we were all on board. “Let’s shift.”
Without another word, the men’s human bodies seemed to tear apart. No, not ‘tear’, because it wasn’t harsh. They rippled. The change roiled through them, like a snack on the surface of water, making its way from the tail to the tooth. In moments, standing before me, were three enormous Wolves, their fur different hues and textures, but all united by the hungry expressions on their faces.
Tristan barked, and I knew he was telling me to change.
As much as I wanted to, I had to hold off for a moment. There was one last thing to do.
Naked, body bathed in moonlight, I moved toward each one, and in turn, ran my right hand down their spines, causing a shiver of pleasure. My human hands matted in their Wolf fur, turning it over in my fingers, delighting in knowing the men beneath the Wolf. I loved them all in both their forms.
After completing that ritual, one I hadn’t even known I’d desired so deeply until it was finished, I transformed into Wolf.
I was at their eye level now, and all were looking at me as though they could really see me, see all of me, the good and the bad.
I raised my head to the moon, and howled. The three chorused along with me, until we were all howling desperately at the moon, as though asking her for something. Forgiveness? Tolerance? Love? I didn’t know. Perhaps the answer lay in the woods.
We took off.
Bolting over the fence with ease—I really had gotten stronger—my paws landed back on the ground, the men following behind me. As soon as we were all on the earth, they flanked my sides like bodyguards, keeping me safe as we ran with the moon.
Following Tristan’s instructions, we headed due east, their fur bristling against mine the entire time. Before long, we had moved into deep woods. I suspected we were in the Pacific Northwest, but I’d never bothered to look at a map. I got the distinct sense that, while no one was exactly withholding the location from me, it was universally thought better if I didn’t know the precise placement of every Hell’s Wolves sanctuary.
That was fair—I imagined that, if I were ever captured (yeah, right), that I’d be awful under torture. Like I’d just admit things willy-nilly, things they hadn’t even asked for. I was becoming less of a coward every day, but years of trauma aren’t undone in mere weeks. That is, I was used to giving terrifying men what they wanted, knowing it’d be easier for me in the end.
The woods around us grew thicker, and I could feel sweat particles between my fur. We had to split up, breaking our line formation, as the trees grew too dense. I sniffed at the air, loving the oak scent. It reminded me of Caine, who always smelled a bit like he’d just tussled in the forest.
We must have run for 100 miles, maybe more. As I galloped through the woods, I recollected that, not long ago, I’d passed out for three days after a 50-mile run. You’re getting stronger, I thought with pride. With these incredible Wolves at my side, there was no end to my progress in site.
At around the 100 mile mark, I realized that we would, at some point, have to turn back around. Luckily, we’d just hit a patch of lightly wooded earth, with not many trees in sight. Sort of a small meadow, overhung by thick branches and surrounded by mossy vines.
Without preamble, I skidded to a halt, and shifted into human form. Caine, Tristan and Daniel heard me stop in my tracks, and doubled back to link up with me in the clearing.
“What happened?” Tristan asked as he morphed into his human form.
Caine joined him, quickly returning to his ripped human physique. “Somethin’ wrong?”
Daniel shifted last, but said nothing, instead just staring at me intently.
“Nothing’s wrong,” I said through pretty even breaths as I sat down on the ground, pushing my sweaty hair back from my eyes. “Just realized we’d have to turn around eventually.”
“Fair point,” Caine conceded, before dropping to the ground next to me. It felt a little strange, being this close while we were both naked and human. But strange isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Daniel moved to my other side, taking a seat, his black strands brushing against my shoulder in the wind. Tristan, as if reluctant to rest, at last met us on the packed dirt, sitting directly across from me, his legs crossed, his whole body on display for me to drink in. The moon filled the meadow with a splendid silver light, so captivating it moved me to tears.
“You’re crying,” Daniel noted, placing a finger beneath my tear duct and catching a droplet.
“Only because everything is so perfect,” I murmured. “Because of you three.”
The men smiled but stayed silent. It was as if the run, and the shift, had left a little bit of the Wolves in us, closer to the surface than usual. I wondered what was playing out in the link between the men’s minds. What were they feeling?
And then, I realized with a start that I had to tell them. On this night, in the full moon, it was time. It wouldn’t be easy, but God willing, they’d understand.
I cleared my throat, preparing to finally speak my truth, one that I’d kept inside for a long while, possibly since the very first moment I met them all.
Inching my butt back a little so I could see Daniel, Caine and Tristan at the same time, I gazed around, before at last saying, “So, we agreed that I would date for a few weeks, and see if I had stronger feelings for one person than another. Yeah?”
The men all stiffened, nervous, but nodded nevertheless. I could see their pupils dilating with anxiety. I wondered what those pupils would do when they heard what I had to say.
Swallowing my fear, I continued, “And I’ve done that. I’ve dated you all, so to speak. Or at least, we haven’t left the house, haven’t gone to the movies or anything, but we’ve been open and honest about our mutual attractions. I’ve thought long and hard about this, and I hope, more than anything, that you guys can
understand the conclusion I’ve come to.”
“Please, Emma,” Caine murmured, voice soft. “Just say it.”
He was scared, of that, I was certain. Glancing to Daniel and Tristan, I could see much of the same expression mirrored on their faces, as if the telekinetic link had now become physical, the pack moving as one entity.
“Okay,” I breathed. “Here it is. I want to be with all of you.”
There was silence but I pressed on. “All of you. I want—need—each of you to be my mate. And I hope that means we can live together, as a pack. Because I’m not willing to give up on a single one of you.”
First, I turned to Daniel, and said, “Daniel, you are quiet but strong, outwardly neutral but inwardly full of emotion. You teach me how to stay true to myself, how to maintain my individuality in a group. You show me it’s possible to survive even in impossible situations.”
He gave me a smile, which I returned.
Then, I moved on to Caine. “Caine, you are the funniest guy I know. You’re loud, you’re brash, you are so naughty. But beneath all that flash and pizazz, you’re also caring, deeply caring. You look after this pack, and your alpha, with a compassion you don’t see in a lot of guys. You teach me to be vulnerable, even though being closed off is easier. You show me, every day, how to connect with people on their level.”
Lastly, I shifted to face Tristan. I took another breath, and continued, “Tristan. Our alpha. You are a leader. You’re tough, smart, motivated. You think ahead and you model how to be a good shifter to the Hell’s Wolves. And, most importantly, you take responsibility for your actions, a mark of a true leader. You teach me how to believe in myself, how to become the best person I can be, how to find my own leadership, which has been buried for a long time. You show me my true omega.
“So,” I continued, “I want you all as my mate. That’s it. I am selfish. But it’s hardly my fault that you are each so, so wonderful that I can’t survive without you.”
That was it. I’d said what I needed to say. I leaned back, and surveyed the circle, terrified they might reject me, exile me, do their worst. What I was asking for was everything, it was the whole world. It flew in the face of our laws, our shifter natures. But I’d followed my heart, a thing I’d been forced to ignore for years. Even if I was cast out now, at least I’d gotten that off my chest.
The men remained silent.
Okay, I’d wanted to give them a chance to speak, without prodding them, but seriously?! This was too much tension to bear.
“If you’re gonna kick me out, please just tell me now,” I begged, feeling like I’d made maybe the biggest error in the history of errors.
It was Tristan who spoke.
“Emma, that’s not it. That’s not it at all.” He tilted his chin up, and then continued, “We’ve been talking about you, amongst ourselves.”
“Uh, really?”
He sighed. “Yes, really. Of course. And then, there are certain feelings we can’t keep hidden from one another, due to our link.”
“Especially powerful feelings,” Caine chimed in. “Like love.”
Tristan nodded. “And the truth is … we feel the same way. We’ve all been feeling the same way. We work together, not separately. We are a pack, and you’re part of that now.”
I gasped, hands flying to my mouth. “What?” I managed to whisper.
Daniel hopped in. “We want to be with you, too, Emma. In every way possible.”
“Join our pack,” Tristan said. “And be our omega.”
The circle seemed to be surging closer, as if our bodies were all drawing in to one common center.
“Are you sure this is what you want?” I murmured. “I don’t want to force you into something that makes you unhappy.”
Daniel cut me off. “This is exactly what we want. It’s easy to move past jealousy when you’re in love.”
My heart exploded. I imagined tiny confetti strands whirling inside my chest cavity. The shifters, my shifters—and my pack—closed around me in unison, their flesh against mine, all three hugging me at once. I was safe. I was home.
“I love you,” I said, and each knew it was meant for him and for his brothers.
The moon traveled overhead, and the force that had been bubbling inside me all day, demanding release, suddenly grew exponentially. My hand brushed against someone’s arm, maybe Caine’s. I felt the sturdy muscles beneath. My other hand went to a shoulder. Probably Tristan’s, because even in this hug, I could feel its perfect posture.
“I want something else,” I whispered.
“Name it,” Caine murmured into my neck.
Could I even speak this desire?
I had to.
“I want to … to be with all of you,” I admitted. “Here, in this forest, under the full moon. I want to mate with this pack.”
The men removed themselves from my body, untangling their limbs. Oh shit, I thought. That’s it, I’ve done it, I’ve crossed the real line in the sand.
Instead, I saw that they were smiling, grinning even.
I didn’t have time to think before Daniel’s face moved to mine, bestowing a kiss on my lips. I gasped, heart pounding, both thrilled and terrified of this great unknown we’d just embarked on. No more questions were able to escape my lips, because I was kissing him, and then, Caine’s lips were at my neck, tracing the pearlescent flesh there, his breath coming hot and fast.
Somehow, Tristan made his way behind me, because his surprisingly smooth hands began to knead the muscles in my shoulder. I groaned with pleasure, breaking free of Daniel’s lips to tilt back and lean against Tristan’s broad chest. He smiled down upon me from above, rubbing his thumb across my pink, plump lips.
“Is this what you wanted?” he asked, his voice low and authoritative.
“Yes,” I moaned. “Oh God, yes.”
Lips were moving. Across my body, past my neck, onto my breasts. My nipples were suckled at, and then, in the same breath, I felt another set of lips on my maidenhood, kissing me down there with an equal tenderness and ferocity. I threw my hand back, and howled with pleasure. The Wolf was out, and she was powerful.
“Emma,” one of the pairs of lips whispered in my ear. “Can we make you our omega?”
“Please,” I begged.
No sooner had the words left my mouth, then I felt the men surging around me. Tristan gently pushed me forward, Daniel slid his body beneath mine to cushion the landing, and Caine found my lips, biting them hungrily.
“Make me your omega,” I pleaded, my voice hoarse with desire. I arched my back, sticking my ass in the air, willing them to take me.
Tristan whispered, “I shall.”
Then I felt his long, hard cock press against my opening. I was sopping wet, my lust turning to liquid. Only the Wolves could sate my thirst.
Tristan pushed inside of me, and all outside noise ceased; my body was consumed by delight. Daniel began to stroke my clit, thrumming his slim fingers across it with the brilliance of an artist. In front of me, Caine was stroking his throbbing dick, preparing himself for pleasure to come. We were in complete sensual harmony; we were a pack.
Tristan groaned, and plunged deeper within me. Only moments later, spurred on by too long a wait and the urgency of the moon, Tristan orgasmed. His thighs shook against mine, his body going limp. My body surged with pleasure and power as I felt his seed fill me, only a little spilling out and onto my thigh.
“My turn,” Caine chortled.
In a flash, I was on my back, and Caine was atop me, meeting my kiss with his own, pressing his member between my legs. I squealed, anxious for his touch.
He laughed at my guileless desire before thrusting his cock into my core. Oh my god. He was somehow even bigger than Tristan, and when he came, it felt like an explosion.
Last of all was Daniel. The other Wolves, spent but not finished, were stroking me, urging me on, enjoying the sight of my pleasure. Daniel flipped me off the ground and in the same move, onto his dick.
&n
bsp; I was riding him, riding the Wolf. Tristan was at my breast, Caine at my clit. My every sense was on fire, my every need tended to.
And this time, when Daniel ejaculated inside me, I came too, roaring in the night.
Chapter 19
The following morning, I was awakened by a bird’s cry.
Man, this dirt isn’t all that bad, I thought, nestling my head into the ground. Kinda soft.
I opened my eyes, and realized I wasn’t on dirt at all—it was Daniel’s chest, hairless and ivory, like that of a statue, save for some well-placed tattoos, including a butterfly on his sternum. I remembered running my tongue over that butterfly last night…
The events of the previous evening flooded back into my mind. The endless caresses, touches, grazes, on and on and on into the wee hours, our human howls filling the forest. We’d become one, become the pack we were always destined to be. I cried with happiness and ecstasy more times than I can recount.
I attempted to stir from Daniel’s chest, to take in my surroundings, but I found that my legs were pinned by Caine’s head, which nestled on my calf. There was a sensation of heat and light, scratchy hairs at my back, running up and down my spine. Craning my neck over my shoulder, I saw that Tristan was half-spooning me, his chest against my back, his legs tucked up between us.
So, this is what bliss felt like, huh? Being surrounded by the three men who loved me. My mates. Hadn’t expected bliss to be the bottom of a forest floor, but hey, life is full of surprises.
My leg shifted, just a bit, and then, everyone began to move. There were groans and sighs around our tight-knit circle. Eyes began to crack open, mouths yawning. I smiled. They were so adorable when they were waking up.
“Boys,” I whispered. “It’s morning.”
“Morning?” Caine murmured through half-open lips. “Already?”
“Yup.”
“Where are we?” Daniel asked, unable to lift his head from the weight of mine.
“Still in the forest,” I replied.
Tristan was last awake. Surprising—I would’ve taken him for the earliest riser. Then again, he had tuckered himself out last night.
