The night air is my friend, that much I will never doubt.It never betrays me. It never turns a cold shoulder to me for it is always cool, except in the dead heat of summer. So then, the breeze from the mountains is invited to greet us for a midnight rendezvous.But tonight the air is more than cold—almost icy as winter approaches. Yet my body and wolf keep me warm. The fact I am metabolising faster for my body to heal the bruises, I can handle the cold that much better. I make my way down shadowed paths, winding through the trees and never once shudder from the tendrils of night that brush across my bare arms and legs.This is my friend.The shadows are secretive, but I feel as if I can see right through them. I see the rough tree trunks hiding camouflaged spiders, the cunning owls peering down at me from their perches; I smell the furry possums as they skitter away to hide from me. Even the bats that hiss and click don't scare me. There is nothing malicious in this forest, in the na

Pale blue eyes sparkled at her from amidst the forest shadows. Ariella pressed a hand to her chest to stop her heart from racing, and called her friend over. "Gabby! Don't sneak up on me like that!"Gabby laughed, her long blonde tresses swaying with the wind like golden willow leaves. "I wasn't sneaking. You just sensed me way before I could even get close. You're far too perceptive, Ari. So how are things? I heard your parents talking the other day, saying that Alpha Malachi had taken you to his pack," she wrapped an around Ariella's waist and plucked a lavender leaf, holding it to her nose and breathing in the relaxing scent before tucking it behind Ariella's ear."Yes, he did. During my heat. But we didn't do anything....intimate, you know. He respected me enough and we're waiting until we know each other better.""I'm surprised. Normally Alpha males are all possessive and want to claim what's theirs right away."Ariella nodded, her eyes far off, studying the distance. "I... we ..

~ Two hours earlier ~Malachi almost felt skinny next to the bulky mass of muscle.Almost, but he knew his own strengths. And they weren't in brawn like what most of the older warriors possessed. No, the young Alpha liked to think of himself as fair, unprejudiced, smart, and quick thinking. He made good decisions for the pack, having everyone in mind when deciding the courses of action. Not unlike the traits that all Alphas had, including what his father was like, Malachi was strict and determined.But in some ways, he was nothing like his father.Alpha Dennison somehow had it in his mind that males ruled supreme over the weaker gender, and not many wolves in his pack mourned his early death. Most breathed a sigh of relief, except a few of Dennison's most loyal warriors."Archie." Malachi addressed the older warrior as he came up beside him. The training field lay before them, the setting sun casting their long shadows across the short grass.The strong and well-muscled warrior turned

"Alright, guys," I clap my hands to get their attention. They stop their arguing and six pairs of eyes turn to me begrudgingly. I swallow my fear and wipe my sweaty hands on my shorts. "You could keep talking all day, getting nowhere. Or, you could follow me and we could check out—""Oh, just be quiet," one of the guys throws at me. "You've never done this before so just keep your thoughts to yourself. We know what we're doing.""Clearly," I mutter under my breath, tilting my head in annoyance while I watch them walk in circles at the edge of the lake. They still think the scent goes somewhere, but I can feel it tugging me back down the path, the way we came, deeper into the forest."Fine," I put my hands on my hips. One girl spares me a glance, but the rest have gone back to ignoring me. "I honestly don't care if you follow me or not, or even if you find the flashlight or an alligator out there in the stupid lake. But I'm heading back." I turn on my heel and start marching away, but

Malachi jolted awake with the painful scream."Noooooo!""Ariella? Ari, wake up! Ariella!!" he shook her carefully, his heart twisting at the painful expression on her face. She thrashed around, her hands pounding into his chest."No, no, no!" she sobbed, tears leaking from her eyes."Ariella, it's okay. I'm right here." After flicking on the light, he pulled her to his chest, holding her close. "It's okay, I've got you."Her eyes flew open, glazed with the nightmare, and took a moment to search his eyes. Many emotions crossed her face. Fear, terror, disbelief. But when realisation crept across, he felt her sag against his chest."You're alive. You...you're okay," she placed both of her palms over his heart, and loosened a sigh when it sped up. He wasn't sure what she had been expecting, but feeling his heartbeat seemed to wipe away the vestiges of her nightmare. She looked back up at him and smiled weakly through the tears that were still slipping from her wide brown eyes. "It's beat