Healing Hearts

C H A P T E R | 12

"Where are we going?" Marley asked as the two of them left the hospital. The young she-wolf had a bounce in her step and a wide smile as she grew excited for what Layla had planned. She had been locked away for a long time, getting hurt and watching her family suffer, but today Marley got to spend the day with her mate.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Layla teased, watching Marley pout at her as they walked. Just as Marley was excited, Layla was nervous. She deeply believed that Marley enjoyed hanging around Gabby more than her, and she was desperately fighting her friend for her own mate's attention.

Layla lead them to the edge of the forest, one that was a long distance away from borders for their safety. Marley looked around confused, extremely confused— especially when Layla started to undress herself.

"Wait!" Marley yelled, coveting her eyes where she stood. Another part of her was pushing her to uncover her eyes, daring herself. She turned around, taking a deep breath as she tried to control her horny wolf.

Layla couldn't help but smile.

Marley gulped, almost looking over her shoulder till she decided against it. "What?" She swallowed, "What are you doing?" She started to rub her arms as the awkward of the situation started to pound her head with questions she wasn't able to answer.

In a duh tone, Layla answered, "Shifting."

Marley licked her lips, "And you need to shift because?"

The Doctor rolled her eyes before shoving her shirt back on as she turned Marley. She chuckled, "You can open your eyes, Marley. I'm not naked or anything."

Marley peaked her eyes opened, checking to make sure Layla was fully clothed before opening them all the way up. She shifted her body weight as she blushed at Layla's intense stare.

"I'm going to shift," Layla cupped Marley's cheeks, "because our destination is a long walk."

Marley nodded her head, slightly happy that she would be able to try to see if she could shift. The young she-wolf couldn't remember the last time she had shifted, and both her and her wolf desperately missed the breeze in their fur.

"And once I'm shifted, you can climb on to my back and ride me."

Marley pressed her lips together as she tried to explain her thoughts.

Layla noticed, tilting her head, "What are you thinking?"

Gathering her strength, Marley mumbled, "I was wondering if I could shift too."

The Doctor thought for a moment, wary of Marley's heath and the wolfsbane that was no longer in her mate's system. She would loved to see her mate in her second natural form, but she was worried that shifting my cause a reaction neither of them needed nor wanted.

Wolfsbane was an unknown substance for Layla, and she rather not have her mate acting like an experiment.

"Can you shift into your wolf?"

Marley looked to the ground, head bowed. She was embarrassed of what her answer was. She spoke as quietly as she could, "I... I haven't tried for a long time."

Layla tried not to visibly flinch. "Ok," she nodded her head, coming up with a game plan. She could tell Marley wanted to shift, but at the moment, Layla thought it would be better if Marley waited a little bit longer— when there were more people to help if something went wrong. "How about today," she started again, "we do it how I plan, and sometime in the next week, you can shift, just to be safe?"

Although Marley was disappointed by Layla's words, she knew her mate was right. Even if she has been in better heath compared to the last couple of years, Marley was still in no shape to shift into her abnormal large wolf. With a sigh, Marley nodded her head in agreement.

Layla kissed her nose.

"I know you want to shift, but I want to make sure that you're safe," Layla mumbled, pulling away. She tilted her head at Marley, noticing the freckles she enjoyed seeing in her mate's face.

Layla started turning around, stripping her clothes. She chuckled softly when she heard Marley's yelp, and she imagined her mate turning around and covering her eyes. She took her time folding her clothes— purposely baiting Marley to turn around. She was slightly disappointed, but she shook the feeling off before she shifted.

Her wolf whimpered when Marley still didn't turn around. She stomped her front legs into the ground, impatiently trying to get her mate's attention. She blew through her nose is distress, growling slightly as she grew more determined to get Marley to turn around.

Marley smirked as she heard Layla's noises— clearly playing with her as her mate's wolf was begging for her attention.

That game soon ended when Layla nipped at Marley's calf.

"Layla!" Marley turned around, shocked at what the wolf did. The small bit didn't hurt, but Marley thought it was unjustifiable. The wolf smirked back at her, Layla's folded up clothes in her mouth.

The wolf turned her side to face Marley, her head held high as she showed off her flank to her mate.

Marley slowly walked forward, gently petting her mate on the back. Her fingers traced through her fur, rubbing her mate's pelt as she smiled. "You're so pretty," Marley whispered, making Layla purr in satisfaction. The young she-wolf moved her hand, her fingers digging gently between Layla's eyes, making her wolf happily growl at the action. "You like that, don't you?" Marley cooed, giggling softly as she pulled away.

She sighed, bending down to pick up Layla's folded clothes. She pulled back up, on of her hands gripping by the scruff of the neck.

Layla yipped at the gesture.

The young she-wolf lifted her leg over the wolf, straddling the animal. Marley moved Layla clothes as she lowered her upper half towards the wolf's body. She whispered softly, "Ok, I'm ready," into Layla's ears.

Layla grunted, moving to a slow walk. Marley laid comfortably on her mate, studying the land as Layla slowly increased her speed.

At one point, Marley grabbed Layla, holding on for her dear life as they raced across the land, closer and closer towards their destination.

———— A U T H O R N O T E | 14 ————

Ok, this chapter was kinda cute, right? Right.

Basically, I'm kinda having writers block at the moment because I know where I want the story to go, but I have no idea how to get there.

So... fun times.

QQ (#16): Who do you imagine Joey as? (Remember that I said he had blond hair.)