Chapter 3

E ven this far away from the city, I can still hear the noise from the streets thanks to my enhanced hearing, although I don't have to walk too far into the trees before the sounds fade. I look around at the silent trees surrounding me as I make my way towards my favourite spot to shift. This land is unowned by any of the various packs, so not many shifters come here, and it's far enough away that humans rarely visit either. I walk for about half a mile before I find the right place. Striding up to a twisted old tree, I kneel down beside it, running my hand over its bark before I find the natural crevice where I store my belongings. I learned the hard way that clothing often goes missing if you leave it unattended in the middle of the forest. Unhurriedly, I strip from my clothes, as only someone who is confident in their body can. There is no room for squeamishness in shifter packs. I'm no Greek goddess, and I eat far too many doughnuts to have a truly flat stomach, but I have an athletic physique from a rigorous training regimen, so I know I look good, both naked and fully clothed. Even the scars covering my skin aren't enough to make me ashamed of my body. I stash away my clothing and other belongings and walk a little farther into the forest.

Closing my eyes, I search for the source of power that resides inside me and reach for my wolf. I open my arms wide, like I'm about to embrace a close friend, and I coax my wolf to the surface. The shift is not pleasant, pain pulsing through my body as my bones shift. This is the price I pay when I don't shift often enough to satisfy my wolf. I drop to my knees, and a cry of pain escapes my lips as I let the shift take over my body completely. The process takes a minute or two, but it feels infinite. I really shouldn't go so long between shifts. Finally, the pain recedes, and I open my eyes, my heightened sight easily allowing me to see in the dark.

I push up onto all fours, shifting my paws in the dirt and stretching my body from snout to tail. With a feeling of freedom, I race deeper into the forest, the trees becoming a blur as I zip between them. I have a bittersweet relationship with my wolf, but this feeling almost makes everything worth it.

I savour the rush of the wind through my fur, feeling invincible as time seems to melt away. After a while, I pad to a stop near a small stream, lapping at the water eagerly. As I drink, I look at my reflection. The same amber eyes stare back at me, and my brown-gold fur is thick and healthy looking. Like in my human form, I'm tall for a female wolf, and my powerful back legs make me fast and strong. I take another drink from the water, and I realise the forest has gone quiet. Sure, it's nighttime and I'm a predator, so wildlife tends to disappear, but my hearing can pick up sounds from over a mile away, and I know this silence is unnatural.

My body tenses as I hear a twig snap about ten meters behind me. I discreetly sniff the air to see if I can scent who is stalking me without tipping them off that I know they are there—wolf. Alex said Moon River would leave me alone until I responded, so unless they're defying their beta, this is a wolf from a different pack. The wind shifts, bringing the scents closer to me. Scratch that, more than one wolf. Five, if my senses aren't betraying me. I internally curse myself. I should have picked up on this earlier. If I shifted more often and my skills were not so rusty, they never would have been able to sneak up on me .

Turning to face my stalkers, I sink into a defensive stance, my hackles raising. Five male wolves of various sizes face me in a loose semicircle. I don't recognise any of them, although the one in the middle keeps grabbing my attention. He's a brute, both in size and by the power rolling off him. He has dark grey fur, but his most noticeable features are the scars that run from his mangled left ear across to his snout. While I believe I'm stronger, he has the advantage of numbers.

I think I should give them a chance and not assume they are here to attack me. I mean, sure, they snuck up on me in the dark, but they may just want to talk. The large one in the middle snarls and takes a menacing step closer, the other wolves following his lead. Okay, so they aren't here to talk.

I growl as my lips draw back over my teeth, baring my fangs, my fur standing on end as my ears flatten against my head, ready for them to attack as I wait to see what they plan to do. I need to even the numbers if I'm going to stand a chance. At a growl from the grey wolf at the front, the two wolves at the edges break off from the group to circle around behind me.

My wolf is not happy with this at all. A strong wave of power surges through me, almost knocking me off my paws. I can see when the wolves sense it, as they come to a stop. The grey wolf's gaze narrows on me as he growls a command to approach again. The wolves do as ordered, but much more hesitantly. I grab onto the alpha power running through my bloodstream and push my intent into it, commanding the wolves to stop, bow down to me, and stay.

Immediately, two of the wolves drop, whining in the process. The two wolves flanking the grey wolf stumble as my command weighs heavily on them. Though they don't possess alpha power, they are possibly beta or gamma in ranking. Grey continues to stalk towards me, my command slowing his steps and making him more cautious. I may be stronger than him, but he has more practice at this than me .

Shit.

I turn on my heels and bolt as fast as I can from my pursuers. I don't care where I'm going, I just know I need to get away. I can hear more than one set of paws behind me, and glancing over my shoulder, I see Grey and one of his betas, while in the distance the other beta is stumbling to his paws, fighting my command. I face the direction I'm running in. I need to pay attention, and I need a plan. I may be fast for a female, but there is no way I can outrun a full-grown alpha male wolf.

I have more tricks up my metaphorical sleeves, but I won't use them unless there is no other choice. I've been running from my demons for the last six years, and I swore I wouldn't use that power again unless my life depended on it.

Hot, searing pain flares in my right flank as I'm bitten. I turn and fiercely bite the closest thing to me, which turns out to be Grey's shoulder. We tumble to the ground in a tangle of claws and teeth as I slash at his belly. He growls at me, letting go of my flank. I back away from him with a limp, trying to keep the weight off my back leg. I see his shoulder is oozing blood, which fills me with a sickening sense of satisfaction. The other wolf that was chasing me stalks closer, trying to get around behind me.

Growling, I dart forward, slicing my claws across his face. While I am distracted, Grey pounces on me, pinning me to the ground and biting into my shoulder, mirroring the wound I inflicted on him. I howl in pain as he bites me, pain and blood loss making my vision dim. I can feel the other wolves begin to creep closer, and I know I have lost this fight. Realising I have no other choice, I close my eyes and will that dark little piece of my power to come forward, and I become shadow.

I stumble in my shadow form towards Garett's bar. At some point within my shadow form, I have changed back to human, although I'm not sure when. My wounds and the fizzling adrenaline in my system are making me dizzy. I'm not sure why I even came here, or when I decided that Garett was my ‘in case of emergency' person, but I know deep in my bones he will help me. I wait in the dark alley by the employee entrance, knowing he will be leaving soon. It must be about four in the morning, and thankfully, it's quiet out, just a few drunks milling around. I collapse against the wall, letting it take my weight. The dripping sound of my blood should concern me, but there are worse things out here to worry about than werewolves, and I can't find the energy to care. At the sound of a door opening, I look up. I've never been more glad to see Garett in all my life.

"Garett," I call out, surprised at how weak my voice sounds. He looks up, immediately alert, confusion clouding his features as he looks around the dark alley.

"Ari?" he asks, taking a step in my general direction.

I wonder at his confusion and realise I'm still in my shadow form. He can't see me. I close my eyes again, and with colossal effort, I focus on pulling the darkness back inside my body. I let out a small cry of pain, falling to my knees at some point during the process. I know it has worked when the pain hits me at full force and I hear Garett swear, his large form filling my vision.

"Hey, Big Bear." I smile up at him as he runs his hand gently through my tangled locks.

He swears again at my affectionate tone, and glances at my very naked body covered in blood. I hear a menacing growl coming from him, and I glance at his face, seeing his eyes are glowing, indicating that his bear is close to the surface as he looks around the alley for my assailant. I should probably be worried that I am inches from a shifter who is close to losing control, but I know he won't hurt me. I gently place my hand on his chest to gain his attention and frown when I see blood caking my skin, transferring to his shirt with my sluggish movements .

"Oops, I've stained your shirt. I'll have to get you a new one," I tell him. Or he could just take his shirt off, I wouldn't mind.

I giggle at this thought, then I let my head rest against his chest in exhaustion, the events of the evening catching up with me. I should probably be worried. I never giggle, but the giddy feeling of being safe and protected is making me act strange. Or it could be the blood loss.

"Ari, forget the fucking shirt. I need to get you somewhere safe, but this is going to hurt like a bitch. Are you ready?" My bear has a potty mouth tonight. I should get him a swear jar for Christmas.

Fighting another giggle, I nod, reaching up and running my hand through his messy hair. He shifts his arms around me, picking me up and cradling me against his chest. I cry out, I was not prepared for the jarring movement. My vision dims as I feel Garett pick up his pace, trusting that he will take me somewhere safe.

"I've got you, Ari, you're safe."

I think I can hear Garett talking to me, saying sweet things that no one has ever said to me before. It's nice. Shame it's probably just a hallucination. As unconsciousness comes to claim me, something keeps repeating in my mind, an uneasiness I can't seem to shake. The satisfaction in the grey wolf's stare chases me into the darkness. It was almost like me shifting into my shadow form was what he wanted all along.