Because of Them

Chapter 18

Winnie added the noodles to the pot of boiling water. She swung her feet, watching Christian cut the bell peppers with expertise. He was so handsome.

"I can feel you staring," he smiled, offering her a piece of the pepper. It crunched in her mouth, and she wiggled happily. She had grown them herself, and now Christian was using them to make their dinner with.

"Should you be sitting up there?" Lex teased, walking between her legs. She was sitting on the counter. She fed him the rest of the pepper slice.

Wilder gave a gentle sigh from where he was doing something on the laptop. Everyone turned to look at him.

"What's wrong?" Christian asked. "I can feel your wolf."

"He's antsy today. I'll probably go on a run after dinner."

"I want to go," Winnie said, moving to get down. Lex eased her down by her hips.

Christian wiped his hands on a dish towel he had thrown over his shoulder. "We all could go, if you don't mind, Wilder."

"Of course not." Wilder shut the lid to his laptop, standing up and stretching. "I'm excited to meet your wolf."

Winnie frowned, "I don't even know the last time I shifted."

"It's probably going to hurt," Lex mumbled.

Christian shrugged, "It just depends. Do you feel like your wolf has gotten stronger lately?"

She nodded. "I use to not be able to feel her, but now she's always there."

"Some find it easier to shift when their Alpha is present," Wilder said. It drew the wolf closer to the surface.

He pulled Winnie close and she snuggled into his chest. He kissed her forehead.

"I'll be okay if it hurts," she said. "I need to do this." She was slowly regaining control of her life and becoming her own person, and this was huge piece to her puzzle. Her wolf saved her life. Winnie wouldn't have survived years of torture without her strength, and she was determined to no longer ignore that.

They ate a hearty, delicious meal, and took their time cleaning up their mess to let their food settle.

Winnie went out to check on her plants. The sun had been brutal today, and she wanted to make sure no one had dried out too much.

The sun was getting low, and she was excited.

"Come on," Christian called, and she followed him to the front yard.

She stood for a moment, focusing on the cool breeze that brushed her fingertips and her breath leaving her lips.

She tried to imagine the sensation, and she called out to her wolf.

She gasped as she was forced to twist in an unnatural position that made her whole body ache. It felt like every bone in her body was breaking and she squeezed her eyes shut, wishing for it to be over.  Everything went black.

---

Someone was tickling her, and her eyes fluttered. She reached to swat whatever it was and realized she had a paw. The sensation was from one of her mates grooming her gently. She knew it was Christian.

She stood up. It felt amazing to be on four paws, to feel apart of their little pack.

Wilder's wolf took off like a black shadow that weaved in and out of the trees. It was fun to chase him. He'd purposely slow down so she could get close enough to nip at him before he would take off again.

She grew tired of their game, finding a nice pile of leaves to roll in. She felt free.

Lex's wolf jumped on top of hers and she growled at him for interrupting her moment.

They were outside for a long time, not even caring about the darkness.

Once Christian noticed her getting tired, they headed back towards the house.

The three men shifted back first, naked as the day they were born. Winnie turned her wolf away as they dressed.

Wilder threw his shirt over her back, going into the house.

It was way easier to shift back, and she shrugged on the huge t-shirt.

Her legs felt numb and she was exhausted, and hungry. She wanted to eat the leftovers from that amazing dinner Christian had made.

That's where she found her three guys. They were also eating, and Wilder slid her a bowl of the pasta she was thinking about. It seemed like they were all on the same page.

"Drink water too," Christian said, offering her a large glass.

She tried to ignore the fact that she had nothing on but the shirt, but it seemed like everyone knew. Of course they knew. She came right in from outside.

She stood from her seat, the shirt riding up a bit high on her thigh. She pulled it down nonchalantly, taking her bowl to the sink.

She was surprised to find Wilder so close behind her when she turned around.

He bent his head, mashing their lips together in an impatient kiss. Her heart thudded gently, and she gripped the front of his shirt with her fists.

"You look so damn pretty in my shirt," he said, his baritone voice extra thick with lust. "Don't act like we didn't catch a glimpse of your ass just now. You're a tease."

She blushed, biting back a smile. It turned her on even further to know she could effect them like they did her.

"Play nice," Lex said, a smirk tainting his cheery features into something darker, more mischievous.

Wilder bared his teeth at him playfully.

"She's just our baby," Christian cooed extra honey sweet, stepping up behind her. Winnie knew she was in trouble now.