Releasing Red

Chapter Fifteen

Free.

That's all I feel as the wind flows between my wolfs fur, the ground solid as my wolf pumps her legs forward, running through the forest with our mate at our side.

I chuckle as I feel the relief floods throughout my wolfs body. When I had first shifted, Hazel spoke to me, not so much through actual words, more with feelings and an unspoken communication. She guided me through shifting back, telling me about our bond, about what she felt through the entire time. She shared her pride for being with me, and her love for our mate, without mine or Lucas knowledge Isaac and Hazel had been getting to know each other, since wolves have a psychic connection to their mates.

I feel bad that she had to suffer through me dating Austin, knowing that one of two things would happen, I would fall too deep, and I would reject our mate, her forever trapped. Or I would have an unnecessary scar on my heart from a heartbreak.

We came to a stop at the waterfall that Isaac had shown me, shifting back.

"Our wolves seem to like each other." Luca says amusedly

"Correction, they love each other." I laugh

He smiles "Not as much as I love you though." he lunges and grips me by my waist and thighs, walking us into the water.

"So what did you want to show me?"

I brought Luca here to show him my powers. After I shifted, my grandma and Ace helped me control and develop my gifts. Evidently I'm a quick learner.

I lift my hands toward the vines and moss growing them rapidly, then simultaneously I close my eyes and move the air around us in a calming wind. I hear him laugh as the water bubbles in soft warmth around us.

I take a breath and release my hold on the elements, our surroundings settling back into their natural pattern.

I open my eyes to see Luca looking at me in admiration and wonder. "You can control the element."

"Along with certain other aspects."

" How did I get this damn lucky?" Luca thought

"You sure you're the lucky one?" I ask

Luca gave me a questioning look "You can read my mind?"

I nod.

"Well I am Red, unbelievably lucky."

Recently, everything's been amazing, I know my wolf, I'm marked, and I'm developing my power.

The only problem is that my family wants to kill me and my mate.

After me and Luca put some clothes on, we walk down to the kitchen to get some food.

"Nice mark Miah." I say glancing at her and Ace as I go to open the fridge.

"You too." Miah states casually.

I turn to see Ace and Luca go for a high five.

Me and Miah look at each other, shaking our heads "Boys."

I take the time to sit back and enjoy a peaceful memory, because in my new world peace is usually followed up by chaos.

While we waited for Luca's dad to return with information we were at a stand-still. So we decided to go to a safe house further into the woods with Miah, grandma, Ace, Cammie, Hunter, Sebastian, Abby, and Grace. This way we could keep an eye on each other and have a sort of trip together.

We all sat around the dwindling fire holding sticks with marshmallows, indulging in the classic camping cliche of smores.

"I'm going to get more fire wood." I announce.

"I'll do it." Luca offers, getting up when I do.

I gently push him back down.

"I'm a big girl Luca."

He reluctantly sits back down with a pout.

I walk deeper into the woods, picking up thick branches and sticks in the woods. I pause at the sound of rustling. The faint beat of a heart could be heard, along with the faint passing of air in their lungs, slowing down to be silent once more.

A can smell a light trace of their scent and follow in their direction. It led me back to the safe house before the scent faded.

Luca turns around, and upon seeing my face of confusion, automatically stands and says "What's wrong? What happened?"

"Someone was following me, I followed their scent here. The thing is I didn't notice them until they made a noise, as if they had some kind of mask that was broken by fear."

Luca's face falls coldly blank, he douses the fire, and herds all of us inside. He goes around, locking everything, the doors, the windows, and draws the shades.

"From now on no one leaves without someone with them. No opening the windows or drawing the shades. From now on we are on lockdown, the spy could be in the woods or..." he trails off.

"In here." Ace finishes in a tight voice.

Luca nods harshly, his entire body tense with anger. I walk up to him, cupping his head in my hands, his body begins to relax under my touch.

"Hey, It'll be okay love."

From then on, no one could leave unless it was to go into town for supplies, even then they had to go with someone. We spent all day inside, just waiting for The Hunter's next move, or Luca's dad.

Nothing.

It was as if they were waiting for us.

I couldn't help but suspect someone in the house, someone that kept conspicuously disappearing and reappearing.

Their scent faint of the woods, of fear.

I couldn't help but suspect Sebastian.