“It’s a special ability werewolves have more or less lost in time. Intentionally. Some of us can still use it, but we often choose not to, because it gives the others access to our mind and our most secret thoughts. It’s pretty hard to control. My guess is that the full moon has just activated it in you.”
“That’s awesome! Telepathy? Wow! Who would have thought? So, does this mean I can use it with other werewolves as well?”
“Yes. With the ones who can still use theirs, at least. But I advise you against it.”
“Oh, right… access to my deepest thoughts.”
“Exactly.” The wolf’s eyes smiled. “I haven’t used it since I was a child. It’s nice, actually. I had forgotten how… natural it feels.”
Avelyn gave him a bright smile and punched him lightly in the shoulder. “Now, don’t you go snooping around in my mind.”
“Why? Are you keeping secrets from me?”
She could “hear” the smirk in his… “tone”. “I might. I wouldn’t want you to know about all the kinky things I have in mind for us. Then, I’d have no way to surprise you anymore.”
Max stood up on all four legs and stepped by her side. “In that case, you can bet I’ll snoop around and see what your dirty mind is up to.” He lowered himself on his forelegs so she could climb on his back. “Now, how about we put some of those kinky ideas to good use by the waterfall?”
Avelyn laughed wholeheartedly and jumped on his back. She gripped the soft, black fur and prepared herself for one hell of a ride.
***
The she-wolf jumped from one roof to another, stopped on the highest one, and howled at the moon. She loved the sharp wind playing through her dark fur, the screams of surprise and fear that came from below, and the chaos of whispers and growls that echoed in her mind. That ancient link werewolves had forgotten about, that powerful, intimate connection of minds which he had always refused to use with her… It felt so good. The thoughts of her children sounded so clear between her heated temples. Their cries of attack, their moans of pleasure, their threatening growls, and the hurried plans they made right before they raided another house… “You, guard the door, I’ll go through the window…”, “Don’t let that one go!”. She looked down upon the small village and marveled at the way it had changed in just a matter of minutes. The Thunder Moon shined bright on her werewolves’ fur, on their strong, young bodies they were just learning how to use and control. Newly turned, they were half unaware of the real strength of their limbs. They would smash against a door with the intention of opening it, and the thing would explode into splinters of wood. A yelp of surprise, then a cry of enthusiasm and they were in, growling at the pathetic humans who had just gotten out of bed, jumping on the first one who dared try to run or defend himself. Yes, her children were doing great on their first full moon, their first night as real werewolves.
The she-wolf turned her head back towards the sky and released another long, undulating howl. It reverberated over the houses and hills around them, a lugubrious blessing of her children. Her pack.
END OF BOOK FOUR
CHAPTER ONE
Old Enemies
The heavy curtains filtered the hot sun rays, leaving the room enveloped in warm, red shadows. Silence embraced the Schloss. Avelyn stirred in bed, turning on her left side and finally opening her eyes. She sat up and searched for her smartphone on the nightstand. She couldn’t believe it was past noon. She didn’t usually sleep this late, but in the past few days she had become increasingly tired. No one had told her that caring a wolf baby in her belly would take such a great toll on her body. She was learning it the hard way. She felt exhausted all the time, and the cravings had also become a problem. She often found herself wanting to eat things she had never even considered trying before, or things she hadn’t tasted since childhood. Harold was more than pleased to prepare anything she wanted, and he had told her he embraced the challenge of cooking other meals and desserts than he usually had on his menu.
Avelyn stretched her arms above her head and sighed in relief when her joints popped. She got out of bed and pulled back the curtains, letting the warm light invade the room. Then, she opened the window and inhaled the fresh mountain air. She inspected the courtyard, her eyes searching for a certain someone. When she couldn’t find him, she turned away from the window and looked around the room. She touched her round belly and whispered to the small life that was growing inside her.
“Let’s find daddy, okay?”
She let her soft, white nightgown fall down her body and onto the floor, then went to the dresser to find some clothes. All the while, she tried to tap into that strange, yet comforting connection she and Max shared. Even now, after several days since the mating ritual, she couldn’t quite tell how it worked. Sometimes it was easier to reach Max, other times it was difficult, or if she did reach him, it was hard to distinguish between his thoughts ringing in her head and her own. Now, as she was rummaging through the dresser, Avelyn found their connection easily, and smiled when Max’s first thought entered her mind.
“Hello, beautiful,” he said. “You’re not really the morning bird, are you?”
“Well, it’s not easy being a mother. I feel tired all the time.”
“I know, my love. And you must get all the rest you need. I hope I didn’t wake you up this morning, when I left. I tried to make as little noise as possible.”
“I didn’t even feel when you got out of bed, so don’t worry.” Avelyn found what she was looking for and stepped inside the bathroom. “Anyway, you’re in the office, right? Have you had lunch?”
“No, as a matter of fact, I haven’t. Now that you mention it, I realize I’m quite hungry. Care to join me?”
“Sure. I’ll be down there after I take a quick shower.”
Avelyn turned on the shower and waited for the water to warm up. For a long minute, Max’s thoughts quieted down, and Avelyn was starting to think she had lost the connection. She placed her clothes somewhere near and stepped under the warm spray. She let the water run down her face, shoulders, and full curves, and tried to focus on how nice it felt.
“I can feel that you’re enjoying yourself.”
Avelyn smiled at Max’s words. She knew what they implied. “Can you?”
“Oh, yes. You know… I could come up and help you wash, what do you say?”