Chapter 8: Forest Run

Leo dragged me to the edge of the forest just down the street from the pavilion and let my hand go. I could feel the pleasure fade away from my body, and heard my wolf whine at the loss of contact. It was cooler up here, and the wind passed through us, playing with the ends of Leo's coat, only highlighting his fitted form.

I shoved my hands into the pockets of my jacket and pulled it tighter around my body. "Do you want to tell me what we're doing here? Literally back where we started…"

"We're going for a run," Leo beamed.

"We're…what?"

"Going for a run," he repeated, stripping off his jacket and setting it on a nearby rock.

"I–It's like 40 degrees out, are you mad?"

"Are you?" he teased, kicking off his shoes. "By the time we get to the clearing, we'll be warm enough. Come on, you can't tell me a run away from all of the politics management doesn't sound good."

It did. Nothing sounded better. I could almost smell the sweet grass and crisp, cool morning air, and sighed. This wasn't going to get Leo any closer to the pack, but it might get me a bit closer to the truth of why he was really here.

"Okay," I finally gave in. "Okay."

Leo smiled and took off his socks while I removed my jacket and footwear. The breeze quickly touched my arm, prompting a shiver. I lifted my gaze as I shimmied out of my jeans, and caught Leo lifting his shirt over his head.

I stopped, midway down, and stared. His torso was just as sculpted as I thought, each oblique and ab counting for each year he trained. No wonder he was considered the best—I could only imagine how strong he truly was and how terrifying of an opponent.

"Like what you see, princess?" Leo taunted, a sinful smirk appearing.

I swallowed and shook my head, rattling my obnoxious sneer back into place. "You wish," I muttered. "Now turn around."

Leo rolled his eyes. "Nia, we're both adults now. Is it really necessary?"

There it was again—my name sounding like velvet on his tongue.

I didn't answer, all I did was shoot a glare in his direction, causing him to sigh.

"Alright, alright."

Leo faced the other direction and we both undressed. I closed my eyes and focused on the sounds around me, using them to dull my mind and the fact that we were both standing naked, only a few feet apart.

Before I knew it, I felt the gravel press into my now paws, and heard the shaking of fur telling me Leo had also finished shifting.

I slowly turned back around and my gaze instantly fixed on his eyes. Their golden colour stood out against his entirely pitch black coat; the scar on his face still prominent even in wolf form.

His coat had changed since I last saw him this way. It was deeper, and richer, and it shimmered in the day's light. He was beyond beautiful. He was magnificent and the picture of a true Alpha.

He looked at me with a specific curiosity. I had grown into my wolf also over time, but not to his extent. Only as soon as the moment came, it passed when Leo quickly tossed his clothes onto his back and raced off into the woods.

Oh, so that's how it was.

I grabbed my own clothes and took off after him, following his lead. My paws pressed deeper into the soil with each landing. Goddess, he was fast. We zipped in and around tree trunks, letting the tall grass brush against our legs as we bounded deeper into the woods.

I could hear our ragged breathing in connection with one another.

Suddenly, I wasn't 25 anymore. Rather, I was a kid, chasing Leo through the underbrush with fervent intent on winning bragging rights. It was only fair when he was a giant d*ck about never losing.

I heard Leo's laugh ring out in my head; it was melodic and resonated in my soul. I internally smiled at the sound and couldn't help but let my own laughter spill out.

"You're slacking," his voice reverberated off the walls of my mind. "Try and keep up, yeah?"

Slacking? Psh, he knew I was the reigning champion. Except, I had to admit that training was doing him good.

"You're dead," I called out. "I am clearly superior."

I pushed off the ground and used all of my force to race ahead, quickly gaining speed and closing the distance between us. I looked to my left and saw Leo's wolf running parallel to me; we were neck and neck and his full concentration was on the forest ahead.

I looked in front of me and saw the clearing come into view. Only a few clicks more. I pressed harder into the ground and before I knew it, my head was poking out just past his. I was going to win this and then rub it in his face.

In just three…two…one.

The tip of my paw touched the base of the clearing mere seconds before Leo's.

I dropped my outfit, shifting and throwing the clothes back on. Leo already knew to avert his gaze.

Once we were both dressed, we turned to face one another, still breathing heavily from our race. I couldn't help but grin at my victory.

"Told you…" I began, rather breathlessly. "I'm still…victorious."

Leo shook his head and chuckled. "By a claw…don't be so full of yourself, princess…"

I audibly groaned. "I'm not your princess."

He smiled and walked toward me, still out of breath. "Keep telling yourself that," he said as he pushed past me.

My body automatically reacted, and I'd like to say the shiver I felt was from the autumn air, but I'd be lying to myself.

I spun around to see Leo taking a seat on the slope of the hill, and followed suit.

Then it dawned on me. This was the same clearing we used to go to as kids to get away from our parents and any responsibility. We'd sit on this very hill and just talk for hours.

I didn't need to look to know Leo was also admiring the view.

"Been a while, huh?" he said softly.

A while? More like a decade or more.

"Why didn't you ever come back?" I asked abruptly.

It was quiet. I turned to Leo, expecting a snarky reply. What I didn't expect was him staring down, playing with his hands.

"It's complicated."

"It's really not," I scoffed, somewhat triggered by his answer. "My father was crushed when Ronan stopped coming around. They had their differences but that was his best friend. That fight they had…the last time we saw either of you…he never got over it."

"Yeah? Well, he will," Leo snarled.

He then stood up and paced on the spot. It was the first time since his arrival that I saw him like this. He was usually cocky and self-confident, but the Leo I saw now looked guilt-ridden.

"Leo…" I started. The use of his name snapped his attention back to me, like he hadn't heard me say it for a very long time. "Why are you really here?"

"You overheard my conversation with your father. You know why I'm here."

He paused and lifted his hand to the same spot on his eye where I felt a pulsing pain. When it subsided, he looked at me, and I stared back in utter disbelief.

"You're telling the truth…" I said.

The pain I was feeling, the nerves leading up to the ceremony, all of it was his emotions. And if he was telling the truth, that meant that the scar…it was going to kill him. Just as he said it would.

My wolf cried at the thought and I fell silent as I listened to its wounded whine.

I opened my mouth to speak twice and found myself closing it each time. I didn't know what to say. For once, Leo had left me speechless.

"My turn," he stated suddenly. "Why do you hate me so much?"

His question took me by surprise. I tilted my head.

"What do you mean?" Leo lifted an eyebrow and I sighed. "I don't hate you, Leo. I hate how you act."

"And how do I act?" he asked as he took his seat beside me once again, lifting his knees to use them as an armrest.

"Arrogant, self-diluted, self-aware, narcissistic…should I go on?"

"Jesus, tell me how you really feel," Leo mocked, shoving his shoulder into mine, causing my cheeks to flush.

I turned my head to hide it.

"Is it really bad to be those things?" he continued, staring directly into my eyes. Man, they really were beautiful, and I found myself quickly tongue tied.

He leaned in slowly and I could feel the heat rising in my body. Since when did Leo have this effect on me? I knew I'd regret it the second it happened, but my wolf didn't care. She urged me on, and the connection we formed when I first saw him the day before forced me to stay.

"Whatever reason I came…I'm glad I did," he whispered, closing in the gap.

And all I could do was watch.