Those In The Forest

Part 97: Reagan

That tingle was more like a massive stab to the body.

          It felt like tiny little needles were pocking at my entire body. It didn't ease up until I landed back on the ground.

            Looking at my mates, my eyes adjusted to my shaky vision. "That was one hell of a tingle." I groaned through the bond.

           Strangely, talking through the bond like this felt more natural. Easier.

            My mates smiled at me. Jumping up in the air, they pumped their hands. "You did it!" Hazel screamed.

           They rushed over to me, walked around my body, assessing me. I will never know what they were looking for.

          I stood up on all fours. It was such a strange feeling. I could feel new muscles in my body flexing every time I moved.

          They looked at me in awe. "You are beautiful," Rose said, smiling at me. "Can we touch you?" she asked through the bond.

          I took a few steps, the feeling being foreign to me even though I had done this once before. "Sure."

           They all grinned and touched my body. I would not have thought it would have felt so good.

           "See," Celia said, walking over to me. Karina and my Alphas are right behind her. Lennox and Avah had a proud smile on their faces. "Just takes a little time and patience."

           I bit back a snarl. "I had very little patience," I grumbled through the bond.

           My mates laughed. "Would you like us to relay that to her?" Iris asked, chuckling.

          I glanced at her, my eyes still adjusting. "No, that was just for us."

          My ears perked up at the birds flying around us. I turned to the forest, the dirt under my paws feeling heavenly.

          My mates looked to where my eyes were locked. "You five go. She needs to enjoy this and have fun." Avah said, grabbing Lennox's hand and walking back into the cabin.

          Karina moved in front of my view of the forest. "Be sure to watch your step. Celia had many issues with trying not to fall when she first started out."

          "Hey!" Celia fussed.

          Karina laughed and placed her hand right below my ear. "You look amazing," she praised. "You look like you belong with us." Dropping her hand, she took Celia and walked into the cabin.

          My mates were grinning ear to ear in front of me. I tilted my large head, my focused eyes looking them over.

          "Are we running?" I asked, amused that they hadn't suggested starting as soon as our Elders and Alphas left us alone.

          They nodded their heads so fast I thought they might fall off. A lot faster than me, they shifted before my eyes.

           Standing in front of me, they admired me with different eyes. "Holy fuck, you're still large even when we are the size of horses," Hazel said, her yellow eyes widening.

          "Jealous?" I asked, stepping up to them. I did hover over them, and it boosted my ego more than I thought it would.

           "No, but our plans of fucking like this during a rut seems a bit harder to accomplish now." Ivy pointed out.

            If I could laugh, I would have. "You can mount me after a long, hard run," I said, moving past them. "But only if you can beat me," I said in a challenging tone.

           They followed after me. "To where?" Ivy asked, trying to match my steps.

           I turned back to them. "To the waterfall. One last swim before winter fully takes over." I said, getting ready to take off. "Ready. Set. Go!" I didn't let them any time before I shot off.

           "Cheater!" Hazel growled.

           "I've never been one to play far! You all know that?" I said, my pace quickening.

           Never has running felt this good, this free, this natural. I loved it. I loved how the dirt felt between my paws with every step, how the cool, crisp hair felt blowing past my fur, and how the tip of my ears tingled with every hard step I took.

          All of it was exhilarating.

          "I think I'm winning!" I boasted. I heard their wolves snarl with displeasure. Rose's snarl is very distinct. If any of them were going to beat me, it would be her, but I have the advantage for many reasons.

          "We have too many competitive mates!" Ivy snarled.

           I heard a loud growl from Iris. "tell me about it!"

          "Awww, I think you are both just sore losers!" I was almost at the waterfall. I could hear it, smell it.

           Fuck! I love this!

           "You're glowing, Little Fawn!" Hazel said happily. "I knew you would warm up to the new you."

           My scent—right. It tells too much, especially now since I can't fully control it, and it's stronger. That is going to be some getting used to.

            "Am I still technically Little Fawn if I'm bigger than you?" I teased.

          "You'll always be Little Fawn to us. And seeing that we still hover over you when we aren't like this, I think you should remember that." Ivy was practically panting through the bond.

           I was beating them and wasn't even that tired. They gave it their all and were exhausted—so exhausted that I could hear it through the bond.

           The crashing sound of the waterfall was getting closer, the scent of the water wafting through my nostrils.

           A few more yards, and I'll win. I could feel the human part of me smiling.

           Pushing myself, I quickened my pace. Within seconds, I made it to the waterfall. Turning, I saw my mates a few feet away. Finally, they got to me, panting. I wanted to laugh when I saw Iris's wolf crumble to the ground.

           I looked at the water and then back at them.

          "This was where I kissed you," I said, panting a little myself. "It was to mess with you all, but deep down, I really just wanted to get my lips on you," I said honestly.

           They looked to me. Those yellow eyes have found their way into my dreams. It was what I first saw when I met them. Those beautiful things made my heart flutter.

           "Thank you for finding me," I said, walking over to them. Rubbing myself against them. "Thank you for loving me."

           I heard a rumble come from their chest. I paused and looked at them. "What the hell was that?" I asked, confused. I had never heard that come from them before.

           "It's a werewolf rumble. It's similar to a cat's purr. It only happens when we are in our wolf form." Rose explained.

          I paused for a moment. The rumbling continued. "I love it." I looked at them one last time. My heart was racing. My body felt funny, and I knew exactly why. That needle-stabbing feeling returned, and I felt myself shifting back to normal.

          Looking at them now in my human form, I smiled. A few seconds went by, and they shifted back too. "What's wrong?" 

          Tears formed in my eyes. A happy smile appeared on my face. "I-" I got choked up. "I love you," I said of my own free will, on my terms.