Quiver

28

Roman

Sweat dripped from my brown curls and into my eyes, making them sting and causing me to close my eyes. I regretted the action of closing my eyes the second it happened. The air was knocked from me as my father hit me in the stomach and swiped my feet out from under me, causing me to land flat on my back. A pained groan escaped my mouth and I held up my hands as pressure was applied on my chest -- probably Luke's foot or hand.

"I'm... done!" I gasped out, eyes stinging, breathing painful and body an aching, sweaty mass.

"Aw, c'mon Roman. That's it?" My father teased, gripping one of my hands and yanking me up.

I staggered, leaning against him. "That's it? We've been at this for three hours!"

"Even your mate lasts longer at this than you!" He scoffed, slapping my back and making me groan again. "Sissy."

"I'll show you 'sissy'," I growled, wiping the sweat out of my eyes and glaring over at my father who looked just as worn as I was, but with a shít-eating grin across his face.

"I'd like to see you try," he grinned wider, the age lines on his face growing.

I shifted then, shredding the clothes I wore and snarled at my father. I'd make him regret his own words this round.

**

Fur surrounded us in matts while our tongues lolled out of our mouths. A few gashes were added to our skin from our tussel, but it was nothing that wouldn't heal. My tail waved in the air triumphantly as my father curled below me. My lips were pulled back with my teeth on display and I knew I'd won this round.

My father shook me off after a few seconds and I allowed it, calling a quit to our long training session. It had been another two hours of sparring and I was well beyond tired out. Even my Lupus form was exhausted which wasn't often so I knew it was time to be done.

I trotted off into the trees where a spare pair of shorts laid and quickly shifted, pulling them on. I came back into view, spotting my father from across the clearing. He wore a grin across his face even though I knew he was just as tired as myself.

"Great job, Roman. Now if we can just get you up to par in human form," he chuckled, running a hand through his silver-gray hair.

I laughed, waving away his teasing. "Yeah, okay."

I trotted off, heading back to the main house with Rori circling my mind. We'd been apart for most of the day aside from breakfast this morning. After that she had training with Luke, I was busy helping out with pack members like Annalise who needed to set out plates for lunch. Once Rori was done with training, I had set out to do the same thing after allowing Luke a generous break since he was training all of us in the pack, with a little bit of help from Yorik though that was rare.

I was dying to be with Rori after the hours of training and being apart. It seemed a bit ridiculous to miss someone so much after only a few hours, but that's how Lupus were.

As the house neared my line of sight, my excitement to see Rori increased and I was at the door in seconds. I crossed through and was smacked with the excited energy of the pack. I didn't even need to question anyone what was going on, I'd been in the pack long enough to know that excitement brewing meant a run was going to happen tonight.

My own excitement peaked then knowing that Rori would finally be with the whole pack then since we'd eat raw.

I wove through the pack members lingering in the living room that were waiting for one of them to get the okay to sound the howl for the hunt. I reached the end of the living room and found her, standing with Cole. They seemed to be talking animatedly about something, but I couldn't pay attention as to what it was. I was too sucked into looking at Rori and all her beauty.

A bright smile was on her face, her sea green eyes alive with happiness and her ashy blonde hair hung in slight waves down her back, moving as she moved. She was utterly gorgeous and it had been awhile since I'd seen her so happy within the pack. My lips curved into a smile and all I could do is stare openly. I wanted nothing more than to move forward, but I didn't want to interrupt the conversation that was making her so happy.

Abruptly Rori's mouth ceased moving and her smile slipped a little as she glanced around, probably feeling my eyes on her. When her gaze met mine, I sucked in a breath as her smile got even brighter and bigger than before. She rushed towards me then and I didn't hesitate to meet her halfway.

Her body bumped into mine a bit roughly, but I didn't care as I squeezed her to me. My arms engulfed her while my nose found it's way into her hair, inhaling her scent deep into my lungs as if I just inhaled enough she would remain there forever.

Her body fit so well with my own and I couldn't help, but revel in the feeling of being so close to her again. The tingles had erupted between us the minute we touched and the longer we remained touching, the stronger it seemed to get. I shuddered slightly felt Rori do the same before I stepped back a bit, only to capture her lips with my own. A low growl was heard from Rori and I pulled back to grin down at her as she blushed slightly.

"Must be ready for that hunt, huh?" I asked, grinning widely.

"Mmm," she murmured, rolling her eyes, but smiling. "Something like that."