they learn what it is to be a wolf.
I realize as my paws fly through the forest, that this is what taking a wolf spirit should be like. This is what being a Totemic shifter is all about. As we run together as a pack, protecting the pups and letting them smell and pounce and pant and wag, I see just how beautiful it all is.
This pack doesn’t sexualize shifting like Twin Rivers did, doesn’t force the females to experience the Flux at the same time so the stronger males can choose them. This pack doesn’t make their members wait until they’re adults so the claiming can happen. This pack has it right. It’s sacred, it’s about a true joining with your wolf, and just letting two innocent spirits connect.
I have no idea how long we run together, but it’s so incredibly freeing. For the first time since I got my wolf spirit, she’s shifted because it’s fun. Not to attack, not for survival, not even for the baser instincts driving her. She just...gets to be a wolf playing in the woods with the pack.
With our new pack.
After a while, when the pups have become used to their new spirits and the wolves have gotten to run to their heart’s content, Tyran starts teaching them how to hunt. The pups break off into groupings with the adults. Tyran’s wolf goes around to all of them, watching over, helping to teach.
I take the opportunity to let my wolf get better at it too. The mountain goat was our only experience so far, and that was about a lot more than just the thrill of a hard hunt.
Tyran’s wolf watches me as I dart off to chase the scent trail of a bunny, and I can sense the amused pride in him. My wolf plays around for a bit, not hunting too seriously, more just enjoying the chase. The sun warms our fur as we lope to catch up with the scattered rabbit.
It’s so bright and beautiful all around us, and my wolf comes up with big plans that involve lying around and sunning ourselves for the rest of the afternoon. We’ve never been able to do that, and I can’t deny it sounds like heaven. That is, after Tyran and I sneak off to a cave or two so I can ride that dick and sink a few more marks into his skin first. I’ll really give him a reason to strut around the pack shirtless.
Giddy glee fills our paws at the thought of our mate, and we pick up the pace, ready to catch our prey, but my wolf skids to a stop when a distinct and familiar smell fills our nose.
Presley.
Chapter Twenty
The trail of Presley’s scent tells me exactly where to find her, but I’m not sure what I want to do about it. I didn’t realize she was here running with us, but now that I know, it feels ordained, like this is the perfect time to set some things straight.
Strawberry doesn’t like us. I get that, and honestly, the feeling is pretty fucking mutual.
But...after what my wolf and I have experienced the past few days with the pack, and with witnessing the Flux today, it’s changed me. All of this bonding and running with the pups brings everything into perspective. It makes what’s happened between me and Presley feel petty and pointless.
I want to solidify my place here in Ruin Falls, and to do that, I need to confront every piece that feels like it’s keeping me from doing that. And one of those major pieces comes in a boobalicious, Presley-shaped package.
It’s time to talk to her one-on-one, female to female.
At my urging, my wolf abandons the trail of her rabbit and redirects her focus on Presley’s scent instead.
This probably won’t be a very easy talk, but it needs to happen. Now that I’ve claimed Tyran and am Ruin Falls’ official luna, I have to sort things out, regardless of the fact that she sat on my male’s lap. My wolf growls at the memory, but I tell her to knock it off. We’re not approaching Presley to start shit, I remind her, hoping she’ll keep her rabid feelings in check.
I mean, if Presley comes for us, we’ll do what we’ve gotta do…
I shake away that thought and side-eye my wolf who’s almost hoping that will happen. But I’m genuinely not wanting to cause trouble. I want to clear some things up so we can move on.