A Friend To The Elements

Chapter 37

I thought I saw her head dip, but she shook it quickly and turned to bolt. Instead of a direct path to the woods she came face to face with me.

My heart skipped when I saw the specks of green that now floated in the gold. The wolf growled warning me to get out of the way. Instead, I made myself as large as I could, I puffed my chest and lifted my lips into a snarl. Her wolf would have to submit in some way for me to able to get to Lily.

I focused my eyes on hers as I walked slowly towards her.

'Submit.'

The wolf growled, but her head dipped ever so slightly. I could see the struggle as more tiny green spots appeared in her eyes. I released a small breath barely relaxing my muscles. The split second of weakness was all the wolf needed. She lunged at me teeth first. I felt the earth shake underneath me as a gust of wind pushed me away from the wolf.

I glanced at Trinity who had turned her back on the encounter. I looked back at the wolf who now had one gold eye and one green.

I began to circle the wolf growling low. It followed me making tight circles. She bared her teeth and attempted to snap in my direction, but every time she did something snapped her head back causing a whimper.

Every circle I made I moved closer while crouching my body lower. I slid into the wolf's circle putting the top of my head in the crook underneath her chin. The wolf paused. Confused. I could feel its pulse pounding against my ears.

She lifted her paw digging her claws into my shoulder. I whimpered as tiny pricks of pain spread through my front leg. I looped my head around her neck contorting like a snake. She flailed her head but couldn't make contact with my skin. I quickly lifted my body while pushing her head down. Her body instinctively went to roll out of the attack, but I used the moment to pounce on top of her.

The claws dug into my soft underbelly to force me off, but I was bigger. I used my weight to trap the wolf on her back. She growled at me taking over the green that was evident before.

I growled loudly placing my teeth on her neck. The wolf froze. My teeth pressed ever so slightly against her pulse.

'Mate. Shift.'

The wolf's body started to tremble. I removed my teeth and nuzzled her neck slightly as the wolf underneath me shrunk. I lifted my body while the claws pressing into my stomach turned into shoes and cold fingers.

Her large wolf shrunk down to a small human. Her green eyes looked up into mine. I whimpered at the girl unbelieving that she was underneath me. Her fingers made their way to my face feeling every inch of my snout and head. I closed my eyes dropping my forehead against her own.

Her wolf scent still clung to her skin, filling my nose with violets. Vanilla, and musky woods. For the first time in months my body fully relaxed. I followed her shift with my own. Her eyes widened watching in amazement as if she couldn't believe I was in front of her. Fingers tangled in my hair, and her longing seeped into my skin mixing with my own.

A strangled cry turned our attention back to the patio where her mother was full sprinting towards her daughter. I swallowed down the growl and rolled off Lily. My body screamed at the lack of contact, but her mother's arms were already pulling her up from the grass and wrapping her into a hug.

The frustration quickly turned to worry as I stared at her back. The shirt she wore barely clung to her body. The red drenched fabric hung in strips at her back. I stood pulling off my own shirt. Her mother broke away glaring at me, but I used the opportunity to slide it over Lily's head hiding the wounds.

She slowly walked to the patio glancing back at me. I could feel her relief mixed with impatience every time her eyes met my own. Her eyes would meet my eyes for a second as if she was feeding off me for strength, but then drop to my bare torso. The feeling that rushed through the link left a pit of my own desire in my stomach. As soon as the emotion seeped into me a blush creeped across her cheeks, and she adverted her eyes to the next person rushing towards her.

A tight hug sent a small tingle of pain every time they touched her back. By the time she reached Josh her energy was exhausted again.

He reached out taking her hands in his. I felt a stab in my stomach at the intimacy of their reunion. Anger flared when I looked away. I shouldn't have to look away at another man greeting my mate, but here I was.

I forced my gaze back to the pair in time to see her brush tears off his cheeks. He leaned down whispering something in her ear. Her eyes widened and a bright smile appeared on her face. The first smile I had seen in months, and it was at him. I gritted my teeth fighting the growl that rumbled in my chest. She hopped up wrapping her arms around his neck while they both laughed.

Both Leo and Dad glanced between the pair then back at me. Pity painted both their expressions until Mom stepped in.

"Lily...I understand this is a lot, but I think it's best Adam takes you to the doctor." As soon as she dropped her arms Mom grabbed her hand guiding her back to me. Her face dropped when she realized the emotions that weren't her own.

I dropped my gaze from her guiding her to the house that should be our home.