28. Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Bri

M y first thought that filters through is how cold I am. The second is how good it smells.

My stomach growls.

Opening my eyes, I realize I'm naked on the porch.

What the fuck?

Covering my lady bits, I stand up and lose my footing immediately.

Ouch.

My legs are killing me.

In fact, every part of me hurts.

Going in for my second try, I place my foot carefully before putting my weight on it and find that I can focus enough to make it to the door.

Which is locked.

Son of a bitch!

I knock hard, nearly SWAT team pounding by the time Cain opens it, allowing the room's heat to float out.

Dear lord, I need inside.

"How could you leave me out here?!?" I shout, pushing him to the side as I tenderly move to the couch with the largest blanket. Once I'm burrito'd , I turn back glaring at him waiting for an answer.

"Oh, I tried to get you to come inside. I asked nicely. I was reasonable. I used command. Your wolf found it very entertaining to defy anything I ask of her," he says, frustration showing on his expression.

"Oh," I say, not understanding why she wouldn't listen.

He's not our boss.

He's our Mate.

True, but he doesn't control us.

My eyes grow wide at her attitude.

Well, shit.

"Sorry," I say realizing what he's been dealing with.

"It's fine. Dinner is ready if you want some," he says, nodding to the pot on the stove.

Yes!

My stomach growls in answer before my words can catch up and concern etches itself on Cain's face.

"Yes, please," I say, watching him walk to the stove and scoop what smells like heaven into a bowl.

He sprinkles cheese and onions on top before grabbing a spoon and walking it over to me.

"Aren't you having any?" I ask, taking the bowl from him.

"I ate. An hour ago," he says before grabbing a pile of clothes that are sitting on the table by the door. "I tried to get you these so that you wouldn't be cold, but you wouldn't shift."

"Thank you," I say, spooning the chili into my mouth.

Good.

It's not as tasty as Ghost's, but it's still satisfying.

I eat the entire bowl in under five minutes and lift it back toward him in silent question.

He returns to the stove, doles out another serving, and then returns it to me. He moves my legs off the couch and sits himself down in their place before draping them back over him.

His body heat adds to the warmth under the covers, and I moan at the comfort it provides.

"Do you remember any of it, Firefly?" he asks, his hands slowly rubbing my feet in a way that makes me melt.

"The ceremony, yes. Waking up from it, yes, but after that, it was like taking a nap and coming back from a coma with every one of my muscles screaming at me," I say, trying to put into words the empty darkness.

"It will get easier. Each time you shift, it will become more natural," he says, a smile lifting one side of his face. "Your wolf is quite the force. She's big."

"Just what every girl wants to hear," I say, swatting him.

"She beautiful, Firefly. Fast, agile, her instincts are spot on, and she has your fiery eyes," he finishes.

He looks at me, and the rest of the world falls away. I can see the love in his stare, and it makes me feel worthy.

"Thank you," I choke out. Not sure where all of the emotion is coming from.

"You had me worried when you woke up so fast. I thought for sure I'd messed something up, but when you finally let go and shifted. Your wolf knew exactly what she was doing," he says, a smile on his face.

"How long was I down for? An hour?" I ask, genuinely curious because it certainly felt short on my end, but I had nothing to compare it to other than the stories he'd told me.

"Eight minutes, Firefly. You were only out for eight minutes. I've never heard of anyone waking up that fast. Ever. It shows how strong your wolf is and how ready she is to be released. It made me wonder if it was because you were Awakened so late that your transition was faster, but Jake took just under two hours to wake up from his, and he was eighteen, so it can't be that," he says, his voice trailing off in thought.

My wolf is strong.

We're strong.

Her voice startles me, and I ask the question I'd been avoiding since he told me he couldn't get me to shift.

"How strong are we? Am I an Alpha?" I ask, looking away from him to brace myself for the answer.

"Stronger than me, Firefly. Your wolf can refuse my command. So yeah, you're an Alpha and a damn strong one at that," he says, and I chance a look at him, relieved when all I see is pride emanating from his stare.

"Is that okay?" I ask, holding his gaze. "Me being an Alpha? Does it change anything for you?"

"More than okay, Firefly. I've always told you how strong I think you are. Even without your wolf, it's one of the things I love about you. Having a badass wolf only makes me feel better about how stubborn you are and your tendency to get yourself into trouble," he says, his smile back as he picks fun at me.

I'm an Alpha.

I'm strong.

I'd like to think I have something to do with both of those things, but feel free to take all the credit.

My wolf says, and I can hear her rolling her eyes.

Sorry. You know what I mean. I'm strong because of you.

That's more like it.

"Is she sassing you, too?" he asks me, a chuckle in his voice.

"Yep, but honestly, would you expect anything less? You said it yourself: she's a part of me. I'd be giving me shit, too," I say, relaxed for the first time.

"Let's get you showered and off to sleep. You've had a long day," he says, kissing my forehead and scooping me into his arms. Snuggling into his embrace, I inhale his scent, relishing the way it always brings me peace.

Our shower is efficient. Cain takes his time soaping and massaging my sore body before washing my hair while I stand under the warm stream, half in a daze. When I'm deemed clean, he wraps me in an oversized fluffy towel and escorts me into the bedroom. I pull on some underwear and one of his t-shirts and crawl into the bed.

Sleep takes me before my head even hits the pillow, and I spend the night dreaming about the woods, lying in the sun's rays, and chasing a particular black-furred wolf with metallic silver eyes.