Heart of a Wolf

I took on my wolf form the same moment she did, and once she was a few feet in front of me, I followed after her, making sure to keep my distance just enough to keep any suspicion at bay. Hiding in the shadows wouldn’t work for very long, but once Fallen talked to Ash, I knew we’d be able to share our bond with the pack.

Until then, I was more than willing to keep it between us.

Chapter Thirteen

The morning sun greeted me as soon as I crested the hill outside the manor. A thick mist lay close to the ground, distorting my surroundings as I made my way toward the trees.

As promised, Fallen visited whenever she could, which wasn’t nearly as often as my wolf would’ve liked. I could feel her pacing in the back of my mind, impatiently waiting to run with Fallen again. Restless and not wanting to bring more attention to myself, I slipped out of the shed and decided to take a long run before stopping by the manor to check on Ash and my sister.

The other wolves kept a wary eye, always watching me from afar and never willing to get close enough to ask me about my day.

In the days following my wolf’s attack, Ash reinstated my place within the pack. She even invited me inside the house as well, but I quickly declined. Considering how restless my wolf was staying on the same property as Fallen, I had a good idea what she’d do if Fallen and I ever happened to walk into the same room together.

The thought of sharing the same living space with her sent a thrill down my spine, one of which had my wolf howling for joy even though it wasn’t our reality.

Not yet, but soon, I could almost hear my wolf say, her claws digging at the back of my mind until I finally let her out.

Away from the other wolves, I could come and go as I pleased. No one would ask why I was on my fifth run of the morning, and I’m sure no one would care. Still, the less suspicion I caused, the better. So I ran.

I ran as though my life depended on it, every beat of my heart mimicking my paws as soon as they hit the ground.

Under the trees and out of their line of sight, the other wolves back at the manor became a distant memory. Surrounded by pine and the smell of rain, I let my mind wander, returning to the time I’d spent with Fallen days prior.

A sadness tightened in my chest, a deep longing for the one wolf I wanted at my side but may never have. She’d never say as much, but considering her standing within the pack, getting her alone now that I’d made my first kill was more difficult than ever before.

Aside from the rest of the pack and their uneasy glares, I didn’t need a mentor anymore. No guards stood by to accompany me and no one watched my cell. Ash’s word was law, so once she invited me back inside the house, the other wolves didn’t challenge me. At this point, I wasn’t even sure if they ever did.

Fallen did. She tested me along with my feelings toward her, and as much as I knew the admission pleased her, she hadn’t spoken a word of it since. I rarely saw her, and when I did, it was in passing with no more than a gentle nod thrown in my direction.

Knowing she had to keep appearances, I assured myself it was just until things quieted down. However, as the days went on, even I was starting to question it.

Even thoughts of my sister and her own place within the pack couldn’t compare to Fallen’s whereabouts or whatever challenges were still ahead. According to her, Ash’s kindness toward me wasn’t just because she was Alpha but because of the heart beating in my chest. It was a borrowed heart, and one I could never return.

If Fallen were any other wolf, I might’ve asked her to run with me and leave the pack behind. However, knowing how close she and Ash were, our time away from the pack would only cause her more pain.

So I waited. I ran and hoped against hope that someday we’d get to share our bond with everyone else. Especially Ash.

It didn’t matter where my heart came from, but deep down, a part of me wanted to thank her. I wanted to thank her for letting me in, for watching over me during my first shift and again with my second one.

I wanted to thank her for her trust, and most importantly, for allowing me to stay after everything I’d put her through.

What I’m still putting her through.

At the edge of the stream, I stopped to cat

ch my breath.

Ash was walking, albeit more carefully than usual, but she was walking. The rest of the pack didn’t challenge her, but considering what Fallen had said, it was only a matter of time until her right to lead came into question.

All because I had to go back into the city to see my sister.

“You’re chasing your tail again,” I chided myself.

It was the same thing I did day in and day out. I loved having my sister inside the boundary, but at some point, she’d have to go back to the city. The boundary was no place for her, and it honestly didn’t feel right for me, either.

The ranks and jobs within the pack were complicated at best, but then I suppose they wouldn’t be too confusing to a pureblood wolf. Wolves entered and left the manor at all hours of the day. Some of them went into the city, but most of them found their work here, serving the rest of the pack by keeping them safe.

After hearing how short-staffed they were in a medical ward, I hoped Ash might give that job to me, one where I could do some good and really support the pack I’d slowly become a part of.