by Arwen Rich
But none of it could be put into words. I just opened my arms and fell into another embrace with him. He laughed, a joyful ringing out that bubbled up beside my ear as I held my head against his chest. And then he wrapped his arms around me again, and held me close. My eyes welled up with tears – of joy, or sadness, I wasn't sure.
I don't know how long we stood there for, with him holding me. The world fell away. I closed my eyes and sank into him, and he into me. But at some point, the sound of drumming died away, and a chattering developed amongst the crowd. Heath slowly unfolded me from his grasp, and looked into my face.
“Time for the ceremony,” he said. Excitement danced with the flickering firelight in his eyes. “I'll see you on the run.”
“I can't wait,” I said. I felt drunk with the relaxation of his embrace. He left me there, at the front of the crowd, and went to the area before it, where the old pack alpha Tyrael stood – a grizzled, middle-aged man who was ready to relinquish his leadership. Beside him stood his wife, Jala. It was said that she was a seer – that she could see into the future.
The crowd was quieting down, gathering closer. Tyrael raised his hand, and a hush came over the throng.
“The time has come,” Tyrael said, “for a new leader to rise. Someone young and strong and capable. That someone I have chosen is this man. Heath.” He clasped Heath on the shoulder, and Heath smiled, looking with confidence into the crowd. In his face, I could see his willingness to protect and lead the pack.
“I know that I've made the right decision,” Tyrael continued. He turned to his wife, Jala, and she began to speak.
“And I,” she said. “I have seen the future, and know that, under Heath's guidance, the pack will thrive.” Like Tyrael, Jala was middle aged. She was still beautiful. Her cheekbones were high, and her eyes clear and bright as she addressed the crowd. Her gaze roamed across the sea of faces.
When they reached me, they stopped. A contemplative expression came over her face.
“You,” she said. My face began to burn as the crowd turned to look at me.
“Me?” I squeaked.
“Yes, you,” she said, her eyes boring intently into my own. “You are like me. You have the vision as well.”
“I don't understand,” I stuttered. I was burning with the agony of embarrassment, weighted down by the hundreds of eyes upon me.
“Look into your dreams,” she said. “They tell of the future.” And then her gaze left mine, and she fell silent. My skin prickled.
The dream that I'd had in the motel came to me. Heath, settling his hot body over me, his cock brushing at my dripping sex ...
But surely that was just a dream. Jala must be mistaken, I decided, as Tyrael began to address the crowd again.
“It's time for me to step down,” he said. “It's time for your new leader to speak to you. And after the run, he is to choose a mate.”
The crowd clapped and cheered as Tyrael and Jala joined the throng, leaving Heath alone. A rush of adrenaline shot through me at Tyrael's words. Heath was to choose a mate tonight. I had forgotten that part of the crowning ceremony. I thought of the blonde woman who had been hanging off him – the Barbie doll who had shot me that expression of distaste, and I was filled with dread. Would he take her as his mate?
Before the congregation, Heath cleared his throat.
“I am privileged,” he said, “to take this position.” His voice echoed out, strong and deep. “I will do all that's in my power to ensure that our pack continues to thrive.” The passionate way he spoke was riveting. He was a natural speaker. A natural leader.
“And now,” he continued, “It's time for us to run as one. Through this ancient custom, we celebrate new beginnings.”
The crowd cheered, and, caught up in the tumultuous sound, I found myself joining in. My chest swelled with pride as I looked at Heath, golden in the firelight, before the crowd.
Suddenly, a sharp pain in my ribs brought me back to where I was. Someone had elbowed me. I turned to see the Barbie lookalike who had given me that evil stare. She had sidled up beside me in the crowd, and was glaring into my face, her fists clenched. I looked at her, confused. My ribs throbbed.
“Don't even think about it,” Barbie hissed at me, beneath the rumble of the crowd. I could smell her scent – a stench of plastic, and chemical perfume. It made me feel nauseated.
“What are you talking about?” I said.
“Heath,” she said, a petulant smirk on her face. “I've seen the way you've been looking at him. He's mine.”
This bitch was starting to get on my nerves.
“Are you his girlfriend?” I asked.
“Pretty much,” she said, evasively. “Anyway, he's going to choose me to be his mate tonight. That's what everybody is saying. I just thought I'd let you know, so you don't end up disappointed.”
She was doing this for my benefit. Sure.
She eyed me down for a moment, taking in my figure with an exaggerated expression of disgust.
“Not that he would go after you anyway,” she said, sniffing. “He's out of your league.”
I stood there dumbfounded for a moment, seething with anger. The wolf inside me was struggling to surface, to tear this woman to pieces.
But I had learned to control the animal's instincts. I just gave her a steely smile and nodded.
“Thanks for the message, Cupid,” I said. “Run along now.”
A veil of hatred descended over her face, twisting her pretty features, and she spluttered for a moment, trying to formulate a comeback. She clearly wasn't used to people talking back to her.
“I may not be perfect,” I said. “But nothing is quite as ugly as jealousy.” And then I shooed her away with my hand.
She was lost for words. With one last glare, she turned and disappeared into the crowd. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. In front of the crowd, Heath was just finishing his speech. It was time for him to transform and lead us in the run.
We all watched on as he pulled his clothes off. First he dragged his shirt off over his head, revealing his sweaty, gleaming torso in the firelight. His abdomen rippled with muscles, and power emanated from his thick arms and broad shoulders. I grew flushed as I watched him. My legs grew weak as he began to undo his jeans.
I knew that I should look away, stop staring, but I was transfixed.
Without a hint of self-consciousness, he unbuttoned his jeans and let them fall to the ground. He was naked now, bathed in firelight. The hair on my neck stood up as I saw his large dick, hanging between his legs. It was so thick and long. A ripple of desire stirred deep inside me; a deep hunger unfurled, hot and wet, between my legs.
One side of Heath's beautiful body was lit by the cool light of the full moon, and the other by the warm glow of the fire. And as he began to transform, he emitted a light of his own.
The white glow encapsulated his body, and his skin began to change. The tiny hairs on his body lengthened, thickened, grew gray. His limbs stretched, and as his legs reconfigured, he fell forwards. In a smooth motion, he put his arms out in front of himself and broke the fall. But as his hands hit the ground, they were already giant, shaggy paws. His face was sleek and canine. His eyes glowed golden, as bright as the firelight. The white glow began to dissipate. Heath's transformation from man to wolf was complete.
He raised his huge, powerful head and howled at the moon. A long, powerful howl that echoed through the forest.
As the sound of his howl died away, people in the crowd began to transform. I always hated this part of the ceremonies. Having to take my clothes off.
But the animal inside me was beginning to take over already. My self-consciousness was fading in the overwhelming desire to transform and become one with the pack. To merge with the night.
White orbs of light glowed in the crowd around me as more and more people transformed to wolf. I pulled off my shirt and unclipped my bra, letting my curvaceous breasts bounce free. The air was cool, and my nipples instantly
hardened. The lust that Heath's body had awakened inside me mixed with the excitement of the coming run. The cool caress of the air on my nipples heightened the sensation, and I felt myself growing hotter between my thighs. I pulled off my jeans and panties quickly as the crowd rapidly shrank around me.
And then, finally, I let the wolf within me have its freedom. I began to emit a white glow as I gave myself to the aching delight of shape-shifting.
I felt my bones lengthening, my muscle fibers expanding and contracting. My nerves burst to life, buzzing with power. I closed my eyes, relaxing into the pleasure and the pain. I felt the fur growing on my body, felt my senses tingling, as if awakening after a long slumber. I fell to my hands, which rapidly became feet.
My senses burst to life then, overwhelming me for a moment. I could see in the darkness, every movement eliciting my attention. The intermingling scents of the people and wolves around me were intoxicating. I could smell each unique identity, and from their scents I could feel their emotions – a joy and excitement that I shared.
My muscles were bursting with power and vitality. I was afire with the instincts and sensations of life – the night called to me, throbbing and teeming with possibilities. Now wolf, I put back my head and howled at the moon. Her silver, refreshing light flowed down onto me, washing away any remnants of my humanity.
There were no people left now. The whole pack were wolves – sniffing, pawing, biting playfully, much closer than they had been as humans moments earlier. They were awaiting Heath's command.
He still stood before the pack, a huge and majestic creature. He howled again at the moon, and then turned and began to run through the forest. And behind him, the pack followed as one.
I was caught up in the tumultuous, twisting crowd; pressed flank-to flank, I could barely tell where I ended and the other wolves began. We were burning with joy, pounding the earth with our feet, running between the freshly-scented pine trees.
The pack began to fan out as we left the clearing behind. We flowed like a river through the woods, dodging and weaving between trees, leaping through the night.
Up ahead, I could see Heath bounding at the front of the pack, full of grace and power. I could smell him, his scent masculine and wild. I increased my pace, trying to catch up with him. I knew these woods intimately; hundreds of times Heath and I had run them together, just as the entire pack ran now. I overtook wolf after wolf, rapidly gaining ground.
But as I approached him, a familiar and disconcerting scent distracted me. A sickening smell of plastic, and overly-sweet perfume. My hackles raised, adrenaline began to pump through my blood. Barbie.
As I registered her scent, it was too late. I turned to see her, a light-colored blur on a collision course. She body-slammed into me, and for a moment I was airborne, twisting and turning, trying to maintain my balance.
I hit the ground, rolling through the dirt, snapping at the air, my teeth bared. I quickly corrected my course and was back on my feet, roaring with rage. We faced each other, circling and growling. Her golden eyes burned brightly in the darkness, and like me, her hackles were raised. Saliva dripped from her razor-sharp teeth.
We were alone now. The rest of the pack had kept running. There was nothing for me to do but fight. And I could see, from the glint in her eyes, that she was prepared to kill.
I spent another moment circling and watching her, preparing myself for whatever might come. And then I stood still, waiting for her to strike. I had spotted her too late the first time, but now I was prepared.
She lunged for my throat.
With adrenaline rushing through my veins, enhancing my already superhuman reflexes, time seemed to slow. I saw the bunching muscles of her hind legs, saw her jaw open as she leaped towards me.
But by the time she landed, I was already gone. I jumped back, up onto my hind legs, and as her jaw snapped in the empty air, I came down onto the back of her neck and sank my teeth into the scruff of her neck.
She yelped, but my bite was only superficial, and she tore herself free. And from her position below me, she now had a clear opening to my throat. I tried to leap up and away again, but it was too late. A flash of pain burst in my neck as her jaw closed on my flesh. With my front paw, I tried to push her away. But her bite was solid, and sinking deeper by the moment. My windpipe was being constricted; I was struggling for air. Flooded with a desperate horror I tried to shake myself free, as a veil of darkness descended over my eyes.
I fell backwards, kicking weakly, and Barbie came down on top of me, crushing my chest along with my throat. My heart pounded in my ears ...
But as my consciousness began to fade, another pounding sound mixed with my heartbeat. The pounding of approaching feet, crashing through the forest. Faintly I heard a yelp, and suddenly the weight on my chest was gone. Air was flooding into my lungs again – no longer was the she-wolf holding my throat.
The world came back into focus, and I rolled back onto my feet.
I looked up to see Heath, in his huge, imposing wolf-form, holding the she-wolf by the scruff of her neck. She yelped again, her tail between her legs, and he tossed her to the side and growled at her – a vicious growl as deep and dangerous as an earthquake. She quickly got to her feet, turned tail, and ran away into the darkness.
Heath approached me as I gasped for sweet air. He came close, his golden wolf eyes looking into mine with concern. He sniffed at my neck for a moment, and then licked my face protectively.
I could feel my tail wagging. Despite the pain still lingering in my neck, I knew there was no permanent damage. And I was rapidly forgetting the pain, as Heath sidled up to me comfortingly. He was huge, and covered in gray shaggy fur, which was lit by the silver moonlight. The muscles of his chest were bulging and powerful.
Heath turned and trotted a few feet away, and then turned to wait for me. I tested my steps, feeling my strength and power already returning. My rage at that woman was already diminishing, being replaced with the joy of the run. Wolf emotions never linger any longer than necessary.
I trotted up beside Heath, and together we took off into the woods.
The past and the present seemed to converge as we ran, neck to neck, through the fog and the towering pine trees, drenched in the light of the moon. It was exactly how it had been when we were younger – the earth pounding beneath our feet, our breaths panting in unison. I caught a glimpse of mischief in Heath's eye, and he turned and nudged me, throwing me off course. I caught up with him and nipped him in return, and he grinned and growled good-naturedly as we ran together.
There had always been a playful sense of competition when we used to run together. We had always raced then, and we began to race now.
The trees became a blur as we dodged and weaved, picking up speed. Sometimes he was ahead, and sometimes I was, but mostly our paces were evenly matched.
The rest of the pack was nowhere to be seen. Heath and I had diverged from the run that the rest of us had taken. We had naturally and unconsciously taken the course that we used to take, which was comprised of more difficult terrain. Together we weaved between twisted tree branches, and leaped over fallen logs.
And then suddenly, as we came into a grassy clearing, a strange sense of familiarity came over me. I stopped and sniffed at the air. Where had I seen this place before?
Heath stopped too, and we stood together in the little grove, our hearts thumping with the thrill of the run. I looked back and forth, trying to figure out what it was about this place ...
Finally it came to me.
The dream.
This was the place that I had dreamed about in the hotel room earlier that day. Where Heath and I had been together. Where we had ...
“Serena,” I heard a deep, warm voice say behind me. I turned to see that Heath had transformed back into his sleek, muscular human form. His body was lit by the moon; light washed over the hard ridges of his abdominal muscles, and revealed his cock, hanging heavy and thick between his legs. He was still pantin
g slightly from the run, and the broad swell of his chest rose and fell rhythmically. I could smell him, sweaty and masculine; I could almost feel the heat emanating from his body.
I quickly transformed to human form, trying to cover my naked body as much as I could with the white, pulsing light that accompanied my transformation. But it quickly faded, and I was left bared, my curvaceous body slick with sweat. My nipples hardened in the cool air; I felt a moment of embarrassment, and considered covering myself up, but beneath the burning embarrassment of being revealed, a thrill stirred inside me. An aching longing thrummed between my legs as I looked at Heath.
I was still breathing quickly, but no longer because of the run. My face was hot, and I could feel the flush creeping down my neck, onto my chest. I knew that Heath must be able to smell my arousal, and the thought served only to turn me on further ...
Heath displayed no trace of the self-consciousness that I felt. His nakedness seemed entirely natural, as if he was part of the landscape. His hard, muscular body was as at home as the thick trees that encircled us.
“You're getting slow,” I joked, smiling shyly. The truth was, he was even more dextrous and powerful than ever.
“I haven't had anyone to push me,” he said, smiling. He came close and looked into my face, and I felt my eyes growing wide as my heartbeat pattered in my chest. His scent was intoxicating; I could feel it flooding into me, reeling up a burning hunger from deep inside. Heath lifted his hand, brought it to my face, and I nearly whimpered at the emotion that rose up inside me – a weakness at the knees, an electric flush between my thighs ...
“Shouldn't you be at the front of the pack?” I asked him, trying to retain a calm demeanor.
“Probably,” Heath said. “But when I saw that you weren't running beside me, I knew there was something wrong.” His hand was still on my face as his golden eyes bore into mine. “You belong beside me.”
I felt a delicious thrill as Heath's free hand slid across my waist, and rested on my hip. There was an immense strength in his grip as he drew me towards him. Finally, our bodies were touching. His hard abdomen was impossibly hot. That aching longing surged up again, just like in the old days, but this time it was mixed with a hot, sensual anticipation.
