Heart of a Wolf

“The longer you keep away from your shift out of fear, the more powerful your wolf’s control will become. It’s a hard lesson and one I hoped you wouldn’t have to learn so soon.”

“Which is your way of telling me that it’s for my own good.”

She offered me a curt nod but didn’t move from where she was. I’d only seen Fallen in her human form a handful of times, but in the short time I’d known her, she’d never looked at me like that, as though I had a purpose. As though I had a place within the pack.

Tilting her head to the side, she reminded me of her wolf, the same inquisitiveness shown on her face the longer I stood in front of her.

Dark hair framed her face, her long tresses reaching the middle of her back. I’d never thought about it before, but I couldn’t help wondering if she and Ash were related. They definitely looked alike and it would explain why Fallen acted the way she did.

Granted, everyone in the pack acted in a similar fashion, but with Fallen it was different. She was the most protective one of all.

Oblivious to my thoughts, Fallen mistook my silence for hesitation. “I’ll be right beside you the entire time,” she said gently. “I’ll be able to sense your aggression seconds before you do and promise to put a stop to any attacks before they even begin. This is why it’s so important for you to stay here until you’ve grown into your wolf. The pack can keep an eye on you.”

There was something about Fallen I couldn’t explain. All this time, I’d thought of her as the one wolf standing in my

way when it came to the pack’s acceptance. However, looking at her now, I realized she’d been watching after me the entire time. For her benefit or my own, I couldn’t be sure.

Her eyes met mine, and as they did, a warmth grew deep inside of me. It reminded me of the warmth I felt at the bonfire before my first controlled shift, and again whenever Ash was near.

Fallen explained how in tune Ash was with the rest of the pack and how she could ease their minds, so was that what I’d felt before? If it was, why did I feel the same way now?

Thinking back on what Fallen had said earlier, I finally understood why I was here. They could’ve left me in the parking garage to writhe in pain. They could’ve dumped me on the side of the road. Instead, they brought me here. The care they shared for their wolves was hard to ignore, and while Fallen may have kept her distance at first, she stayed with me when I passed out in the woods.

It wasn’t just because Ash had left me in her care but because it was what they would’ve done for anyone else inside the pack.

They were protecting me.

“Okay,” I finally said after giving Fallen’s earlier invitation some thought. “I’ll go on one condition,” I continued, following her as she made her way through the shed door.

“Oh, and what’s that?”

“Can we get something to eat first? I’m starved.”

Fallen laughed at that, then shifted into her wolf form, looking back over her shoulder until I did the same. “Wolves don’t eat at the table,” she said matter-of-factly. “We hunt. You might not be ready, but I think it’s time for you to learn how to hunt on your own. Come on. I know just the place.”

Chapter Twelve

Soft soil graced my paws, sending a thrill up my spine as Fallen ran beside me. It was the first time she’d ever kept her pace with me, never falling behind or running ahead. A part of me wondered what changed, but in the end, I knew. We were on a hunt. She had to be there to make sure my wolf senses didn’t miss something she’d picked up.

That’s what I kept telling myself, anyway.

Truth be told, everything about her had changed. Her voice was lighter, her movements more fluid, and the bitter scent I was so used to smelling on her was no longer there. Instead, a smell much like honeysuckle filled the air around her.

Considering it wasn’t spring yet, the smell must’ve been coming from her. It was the only logical explanation, and as Fallen continued to run with me, I took a moment to breathe it all in.

“What do you smell?” she asked, her voice low as she slowed her pace.

Stopping now, I lifted my nose to the air and closed my eyes, but all I smelled was her. Had she scented something I’d missed?

“Honeysuckle,” I said after a long moment, unable to pick up anything else aside from the trees surrounding us. “That’s strange, right?” I asked, finally mee

ting her gaze.

“That would depend on where it’s coming from,” she said with a hint of amusement in her voice.

“It’s…” I bowed my head, embarrassed, “It’s coming from you.”

She released a soft huff of air. Was she actually laughing at me? “And that scent is probably connected to a good memory, right?”