Imogen is her pack's runt. She was a surprise to her family, and a disgrace. Her father is the gamma of her pack so her existence as the runt is a disappointment and disgusting.
Her family wait for the moment when she can find her mate, leave the pa...
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As soon as I open my eyes, I want to find Tobias. I carefully shift Inky off my stomach and scramble out of bed. After dressing in a pair of leggings and a hoody that Tobias had brought for me, I pad into the bathroom to go to the toilet and to clean my teeth. I know Tobias has said he doesn't care what my breath smells like, but I do.
The cabin is silent as I walk down the stairs and listen out for Tobias. I can tell he isn't in the house so I pull on my shoes and head outside.
"Tobias?" I call out quietly into the forest as I stand on the porch and wrap my arms around my body. It's really bloody cold out here, it's almost December and I wish I could stay curled up inside.
Saying that, I desperately want to mark Tobias so I need to train. I find it weird that I can't remember having claws but honestly I was so spaced out from pain that it probably isn't that surprising.
"Tobias?" I call out again as my fingers trace over the mark on my neck, "where are you."
I take another step down from the porch and already the nerves have descended into a pit in my stomach. I feel exposed to the forest without Tobias standing beside me. As I stare out into the trees I suddenly freeze. It looks like there are a pair of eyes staring at me from a distance, I feel like I'm being watched.
A chill slams down my spine and my breath catches in my throat. I can't take my eyes off the place where the eyes are, squinting at the bush I try to work out if I'm imagining it or not. Hesitantly, I lift my eyes upwards towards the tops of the trees and then back down to the dark forest floor.
The eyes are gone, whether they were truly there or not, I don't know. All I do know is that there is a sinking feeling in my stomach and a terror in my chest.
"Immy, you ok?" I jump in surprise at Tobias' voice behind me. Quickly, I turn around and find him looking down at me with worry in his eyes.
"Yes, I uh..." I take one last glance at the place where the eyes were before turning back to Tobias, "I thought that I saw... it doesn't matter."
I look up at him and force a smile onto my lips, I don't want Tobias to know that I'm being crazy and paranoid so I shake it off. I hadn't heard or smelt anything so in all honesty what I thought I had seen, I couldn't have.
"Can you teach me about fangs please?" I beg with big pleading puppy eyes. He chuckles at me and wraps an arm around my waist in a claiming way.
"Sure baby, let's go."
Tobias begins to gently lead me by the waist towards the forest, luckily not where those fake eyes were because that would have freaked me out too much.
"Where are we going." I question as I lean my head on his chest and take in a deep inhale of Tobias' scent, of my mate's scent.
"Some place special, it will help. Trust me."
As we walk over bracken and moss, with Tobias occasionally lifting me over fallen trees, we talk. Tobias talks to me about his first shift, he explains to me that his first shift wasn't typical for any wolf. He became a rogue because of an attack on his pack and his family, it meant he shifted early and alone.
"Did it hurt?" I murmur into the dappled light of the woodland, "when you first shifted I mean." I stumble over my words slightly because we are walking along the edge of a very painful part of Tobias' life and I don't want to add salt to the wound.
"Yes, my first shift did hurt, but only because I was alone and frightened."
"Will it hurt when you teach me?" I ask, nibbling on my thumbnail with nerves as I trip over a loose root on the forest floor. Tobias quickly reaches out and grabs me against him to help me stabilise myself.
"I can't say that it won't sting, but it won't hurt. I won't let it hurt."
"Ok. I trust you." I nod and smile up at him, he doesn't see as his eyes are firmly fixed in the pathway ahead of us but it doesn't matter. I know he can feel it.
"How much further." I whine as my lungs begin to burn with exertion, I am not proud to admit just how unfit I truly but needs must.
Instead of answering, Tobias quickly spins around to stand in front of me, totally obscuring my vision of the path ahead.
"We're here, close your eyes for me baby."
Grinning up at him, I shut my eyes obediently and feel the sunlight hit my face again as Tobias moves out of the way.
I'm a little nervous about walking on such uneven ground with my eyes shut but as always, I don't need to worry around Tobias. He lifts me up into the air and holds me tightly against his chest.
Instinctively, I curl into his warmth and keep my eyes squeezed shut. I know Tobias obviously wants this to be a surprise for me so I don't want to ruin that for him.
Tobias gently sets me down on my feet and peppers kisses up my neck making me giggle and arch into his lips.
"You can open your eyes now, baby." Tobias whispers into my ear huskily as his stubble tickles against the sensitive shell of my ear.
Excitedly, I throw my eyes open and gasp in awe at the beauty laying before me. I can completely understand why Tobias wanted this to be a surprise, the scenery is beyond stunning. Tobias bends down without a word and removes his shoes and socks, I follow him without a word.
Once we are both barefoot, Tobias reaches his hand out for me to take and then he gently leads me towards the water. He helps me to clamber onto a large rock and then follows after me.
Sitting down, I curl my feet up under my body so they are not dipping in the freezing water. I watch in shock as Tobias plunges his feet into the water, I gasp and cling onto his arm in worry.
"It's a hot spring, baby. This water is warm."
I nod nervously and let my feet fall into the water, just like Tobias said, it's warm.
"Wow, this is amazing." I say to Tobias with a smile as I look up into the sky which is spiked with the tops of the trees.
"So, Immy." I want you to close your eyes for me again but leave your hands on your lap."
I nod and follow my instructions, just from his tone, I can tell that my training has begun. My mate is serious and focussed about me starting to learn to shift.
"Now, Immy, I want you to picture claws appearing in your finger tips."
Nodding, I squeeze my eyes tightly shut and push the image of claws in my brain.
"No, no," Tobias says softly, "you need to relax. This is not something you can force, you have to trust yourself, ok."
Swallowing hard, I take in a deep, calming breath and relax my face. I slowly imagine claws appearing at my fingertips, I make them feel real, I truly believe they are there.
After a few moments of intense imagination I hear Tobias let out a triumphant sound and I let my eyes fly open. When I look down I see that there are claws bursting from my fingers.
I squeal in excitement and proudly look over at Tobias who had an expression of pride mirroring mine.
"I did it! Tobias look!"
"I can see that baby, I'm so proud of you."
Excitedly I go to throw my arms around Tobias' neck to express my pride and delight but Tobias quickly draws back from my open arms.
"Woah baby, claws."
"Oops." I giggle as I draw back and decide to simply beam over at my mate.
