Arella's POV
I stepped further into the cabin, my heart heavy as I glanced around. The old chair was still by the fireplace and my unfinished book lay on top of the mantle. The wool blanket was still haphazardly thrown over the couch in the middle of the room, and the table was still set for two. Everything was the same, but nothing felt like it anymore.
Nothing would ever be the same again…
My wolf let out a soft sound, and mentally, I let my hand sink into her soft fur, stroking her and giving her comfort. Strangely, it also alleviated some of the aches I’d felt as if her comfort was my own. It made a small smile tug at the edges of my lips, but nothing else really happened. I turned around and---
Then I saw him!
“Tiny!” I exclaimed and bolted towards my chameleon. He was perched on the windowsill, his scales shifting in and out of shades of blue and purple as if he were trying to blend with the moss outs
Zane's POV“Now you try,” I encouraged, knowing it could be daunting for new werewolves. Her bows drew together, but after only a few seconds, I felt her link touch mine.Testing, testing, her tentative voice brushed against my mind, making my wolf purr with glee. Can you hear me?Loud and clear, Angel, I smirked--- and then pulled her into me, kissing her deeply and letting the connection between us calm the storm still coursing through my veins. My whole body still buzzed with adrenaline from the night before. The fear and rage I’d felt just thinking about her being hurt.Or worse!My wolf let out a feral howl, pushing against my skin until it physically hurt. He wanted to shift and hunt down anyone who would want to hurt her--- but for now, he found solace in the fact that she was here.Safe!“I’ll be back as soon as I can,” I promised
Zane’s POVThe first rays of dawn filtered through the castle windows, bathing the room in a pale, cold light. I gently stroked Arella’s dark, curly hair, taking comfort in having her close and, more importantly, safe! After she’d healed the rest of the warriors, she’d been exhausted and had barely reached home on her own two feet. She crashed the second we were indoors and I had to carry her to our bed.Not that it was a hassle…My wolf quite enjoyed the close contact, having her nuzzled close to our chest. She was so petite, yet one of the strongest people I’d ever encountered.I loved her so much!I lay next to her until the sun came up, my body too anxious and hyped to find any rest. Instead, I found everything I needed to stay by her side, making sure she got the rest she needed to recover. I didn’t know much about Runt's magic, but I didn’t like how pale she&r
Arella's POVResting my head against his chest, I closed my eyes and let the steady thrum of his heartbeat calm me. He barked some orders that went over my head, but a moment later, I felt the cold touch of fresh water brush against my lips."Drink," he urged, crouching in front of me, his eyes searching mine with worry. I took the cup and sipped, the cool water soothing my dry throat. Zane had sat us both down in front of the fireplace, cuddling me close. From the corner of my eyes, I saw a male figure shifting back into his wolf form, and I realized that it must have been Rick.“How are you?” Zane asked, his gaze full of concern, as his dark eyes found mine. I reached up and caressed his cheek, wanting to reassure him."I may need therapy," I joked weakly. "Considering I just killed someone, and I don’t feel bad about it.""It was your life or theirs. You made the right choice," he replied glumly, with his usual
Arella’s POVI let Zane hold me, for what felt like an eternity. And still, it didn’t feel like it was long enough. Holding him again felt like a miracle I didn’t know I deserved. Relief washed over me, a wave so strong it nearly knocked me off my feet. Suddenly all the terrifying scenarios of losing him ran rampant in my mind and I held him tighter. Hell, images I hadn’t let myself linger on until now flashed in my mind, raw and unbidden. I could barely breathe thinking about him hurt, let alone--- No! I couldn't go there!The thought of never seeing him again was so painful it frightened me. I’d never felt this strongly about anyone before – most certainly not about any of my previous boyfriends and not in this short time.Fuck, this shit was intense!"Are you sure you’re alright?" He asked, his voice low and tender, as we finally broke away from each other. Hi
Arella's POVI let out a vicious growl, frustrated with how slow the process was going. The primal part of me felt good to voice all the pent-up anger that bubbled beneath my skin and my wolf snarled, displeased to be kept out of the fight. I swung my ax, finding my target easily, but I didn’t dig it deep enough. The wolf got back up, shaking his head as if confused about what had happened.And then charged again.Mother fuc---!Suddenly, Rick’s wolf let out a howl, and my head snapped in his direction. Two rogues had ganged up on him, and while he had been holding them off for now, one of them had gotten lucky.He was bleeding…Badly!“Rick!” I shouted, just as two rogues tackled him. He snarled and threw one off, but the other latched onto his side, tearing into him. I swung my ax again, knocking the wolf off him and sending him flying into a nearby tree. But my relie
Arella’s POVI hated this part!First, the deafening silence had settled over the cabin when Zane left. It wrapped around the cabin like a suffocating blanket, every creak of the wood or rustle of the trees outside setting my nerves on edge. My grip on the ax tightened, the cold metal grounding me as I paced the room. It was worse than any horror movie suspense and I hated it.But then came the howls!The night was filled with haunting growls and the distant sound of fighting sent shivers down my spine. My pulse quickened and my wolf stirred restlessly beneath my skin. My body ached as if I was about to shift. But as much as I would love to be in my wolf form right now, Zane was right about one thing:I didn’t know how to fight in my other form!Damn, that stubborn, sexy beast…A noise outside the cabin pulled me from my spiraling thoughts. My heart leaped into my throat a