CHAPTER 1

Katarina's Pov

The cold air flogged my face as I ran through the forest trying to meet up with my best friend, Maddie. I am tired but couldn't stop now. It would be a win for her and that was something I didn't want. Adding more energy into my sprint, I ran forward to match up with her. 

Maddy looked at me and smirked before taking off. Leaving me in her trail. I hate it when she does that but I couldn't complain. I'd do the same thing too if I could fully transform into my wolf. 

Sometimes working hard doesn't always pay, I smiled to myself while thinking about how to cheat. I had to be smart else she wins. I looked around the forest I had grown up in and quickly found a shortcut to the lake, which was the finish line. I stopped running to catch my breath which was not needed cause I was breathing fine. 

I turned left, deviating from the normal path to the lake. The ground was wet and slippery with dead grass everywhere. I tried running very fast but it was becoming difficult due to the ground being slippery. After sifting through the woods I started regretting my decision to pass this route. I had less than 2 minutes to get to the lake before Maddie but with my pace, it wasn't looking like I could make it. Unless something or rather someone was distracting her on her way. I increased my speed while trying to avoid the little thorns on the ground and some branches on the tree. 

I could see the lake from afar but there was no big brown wolf there. Great! Maddie was not yet there. I heaved a sigh of relief. A few seconds before I reached the lake I heard a howl. Shit, I lost. I couldn't believe it. I was just this close. In that few seconds of celebration, Maddy had turned the tides to herself and had won the race. I stopped in front of her with an annoyed expression. She tilts her head to look at me and brings out her tongue. She was laughing and mocking me. 

"Turn back," I tell her while breathing heavily. I walk to the lake and take a handful of water to drink. 

"You're not smart, you know? I knew you would want to cheat," Maddy brags and shifts back. 

"It has been raining throughout the week yet you couldn't try to remember the impact it has on the grasses on the ground," she continues. Now, I know I'm not the best runner in the pack but I've improved. I frowned at her. Why didn’t I remember such details? 

“You won by sheer luck. But did you notice I’ve gotten better?" I asked her. Due to my inability to turn into a full wolf I had to work on my strength and speed every second I got. I didn’t want to feel weak or be the weak link in the pack. 

“Yes, I did. You’re getting better," she replies, scanning the area to make sure there's no one around. She was stark naked and didn’t want anyone to see her. Except for me of course. We are both comfortable walking naked when it's just us. 

“Have you been training behind my back?” Maddy asks me. Maddy has deep blue eyes that could make someone reveal all their secrets. And she was staring at me with them. 

“No, I haven’t," I answered her, smiling. It was indeed true. I haven’t had the chance to train for 10 days now. I’ve been busy with a lot of things and couldn’t find a way to train.

“Okay better! Cause that would be against girl code," she said. She walks past me towards our little cave where we always kept an extra pair of clothes to change into after our run. I follow behind her. It was a little cave hidden at the end of the lake and covered with a huge rock. Normally it'll take three to five normal humans to remove it but I alone could shift it due to my werewolf strength. We usually cover the rock with some leaves from the trees so it's not detectable. There's also a fallen tree in front of the rock.

“Girls code would be not to ditch your bestie once you find your mate," I replied. She turns to look at me and shakes her head. Maddy had found her mate a few weeks ago. A strong and hot Alpha male at that. They've been spending every single second together. She always wants me with her but I feel like I'm intruding in their private moments. 

“Girl don't start whining now. I know you'll do much worse," she said laughing. “Lend me a hand will you". She is about to lift the rock and I move to help her. Together we shifted the rock a little bit and entered the cave. 

The cave is like a second home to us. Whenever we feel sad or need a break from the pack we’ll come here. We tried to make it a little bit homely by decorating it. There is a bed on the side and a sofa beside it. I brought a soft rug for the ground and made some cabinets in another corner of the cave. There's a small deep and round cut inside and that's where we turned into our closet where all our clothes are kept. It is not perfect but we like how simple it is. 

Maddie immediately went to the closet to change. There's no reason for me to change clothes after a run because I don't shred my clothes but I love changing them. I don't like how wet they become and stick to my skin. Once she picks what she wants to wear I go and choose my own. We dress up hurriedly. Maddie's mate would be looking for her by now and we've been gone for quite some time. 

“Hurry up pls, Zach is calling for me," she tells me.

“Calm down oh mated one. I'm almost done," I reply with sarcasm dripping from my words. She frowns at me and makes a move to leave the cave. “Ok I'm done let's go," and we start walking down to where I packed my car. I open the door of the car and get inside. I pick up my phone to check for messages first.

“Can you drive first?” Maddie asks me

“Okay, okay I’m driving," I reply and start the car and we’re off.