The warm body underneath me shifts, making me groan as my sleep is interrupted. A deep chuckle rumbled underneath me, disturbing me even more and making me open my eyes in frustration. Glaring at Tate for waking me, I notice the soft morning light illuminating my mate as his soft lips press against my temple. My body is sore and a slight tinge of pain coming from my neck brings the memories of last night to mind and I blush, feeling a little embarrassed. Tate and I have mated and marked each other. A grin spreads across my face as I nuzzle against Tate’s neck, catching sight of the mark I left on him and the feeling of being whole fills me with Tate being completely mine and me being completely his.
“Good morning, beautiful.” Tate whispers, his hand running through my hair gently. I close my eyes, relishing in his pampering as a yawn escapes my lips. I could use a few more hours of sleep.
“Good morning, handsome.” I reply, my voice laced with sleep as I mumble out my greeting. For a few minutes we just lay in bed enjoying each other’s silent company and taking in the first morning as a mated pair. I missed lying in our bed together away from the sounds of a hospital room and being home alone with Tate is just the perfect thing we needed after nearly losing him. Home is the best place to be with no one to bother us and no nurses to walk in and disturb our rest every so often throughout the day. It’s a place I feel safe and secured, a place I call my own without any fear.
“Hey, Laina.” Tate whispers, his fingers drawing slow circles on my shoulder.
“Yes, baby?” I ask, tilting my head to look into his dark green eyes. I love his eyes.
“When was the last time you shifted?” I could hear the concern in his voice. Wolves have an urge to shift and release their primal side; it keeps us healthy and sane. The only exception for this is if we are pregnant or seriously wounded.
“Two weeks after I found out I was pregnant. Sam and his Warriors were hunting me down and if I hadn’t shifted, I would have been caught.” I answer honestly, shuddering as I think about that day. I remember how terrified I felt that day. I thought I had found a nice town to hide in, renting out a small one-bedroom cottage while I figured out what to do. At first I kept my guard up, waking every night at the slightest sound fearing that it was Pine Paw coming to get me. But soon I began to relax, thinking that I could settle down raise what I thought to be just one pup in.
After a couple of days of feeling safe away from Pine Paw, I grown accustomed to a routine until Sam and his Warriors barged into town looking for me. My landlady called the cottage phone and informed me about these men looking for me, and the best excuse I could give to the nice elderly human is that he was an abusive ex trying to drag me back home. She bought me some time to pack and leave. That day, I shifted once again and ran for my life, with only my bags on me. I decided to stay in wolf form for a week until I made good time and was days away from Sam. It took a few for the Pine Paw wolves to find me after that. At the time I was heavily pregnant and shifting could have killed us. But I got smart. I had a warned the people I met that I had an abusive ex after me and when a friend from the diner I had found work at came into contact with Sam, She called the house we shared and warned me about him. I took off once again to find myself in Bloodsvain territory.
“If Rex gave you the okay to shift, we could go outside in the backyard, and you can let loose.” Tate suggests, and I grin. This would be the first time my mate would see my wolf form, and I can’t wait to show him.
“Actually, he gave me the a-okay last week!” I answer instantly. Bouncing off the bed, I rush into the closet, hearing Tate chuckle behind me and take one of his shirts that covers me like a dress before bringing him a set of clothes as well.
“Excited to shift?” Tate asks with a laugh as I help him dress into a pair of baggy track pants and a V-neck t-shirt. I sigh when I spy the extent of his still-healing wounds, my heart clenching as I think about how long it might take for him to heal. I had a feeling last night took a toll on his body, but the need to mate with each other and be linked together forever was too intense to fight any longer. I’m proud our primal instincts took over but made a small vow to not do anything else until Tate is healed completely.
“Yes, I miss running so much and really need to stretch my legs, especially in wolf form.” I answer as Tate stands. He takes my hand, and the two of us make our way slowly down the stairs and into the kitchen where we slip out the back door. Tate takes a seat on one of the padded lounge chairs while I run back inside to grab a blanket to wrap around him. Once I am satisfied that Tate is warm and comfortable, I quickly remove the shirt from my body, hearing a lustful growl from my mate, feeling the heat of his gaze skimming down my back and ass, causing a blush to crawl on my cheeks. Rolling my eyes, I stretch my body and prepare myself mentally to shift. With a leap off the deck, I shift midair landing gracefully on my paws and shaking out my fur. Stretching my limbs, I turn my blue-white fur with black-tipped paws body to look at Tate, his eyes in awe.
“You’re a beautiful wolf.” Tate whispers while I pad up the deck stairs to come site beside him, my tail thumping against the wooden deck happily. His hand reaches out to run his fingers through my fur, and I let out a soft whimper of pleasure, closing my eyes happily.
“Why don’t you run for a bit around the area? I’ll be fine.” My ears perk up with this suggestion, and I look to Tate with a wolfish grin.
[You sure, baby?] I ask into our link with uncertainty. Part of me wants to stay close to Tate, but another part of me needs a good run.
“Positive. Link me where you are ever so often.” Tate assures, poking my nose playfully. I agree, licking his fingertips before taking off. I know that I will be safe on pack land and with reassurance that Tate will be fine, I decide to focus on enjoying being in wolf form for the time being.