Wolf-Shifter

Dancing among the Stars part 15

AN: Special thanks to those should read this book for the wonderful help, and for giving me inspiration for this story.

Rakab's POV

I accompanied Namid and her pair bond to the She'ha'mehay and sat myself down near a small table in the corner. I watched Namid disappear for a moment and then, a few minutes later, reappear on the dais, dancing with Aisha's group. Her milky skin once again captivated me as the fire from the large bonfire enticed the look of the deep green skirt and shirt she wore. Her moves were sensual and I knew she was dancing for him.

I took a tankard of wine from under my vest and drank from it, the flavor sweet. I decided to watch as Namid danced, the moves and passion once meant for me.

Afterwards I heard her laughing at something the prince said. "Meet me in the garden, tonight, Salem..." she whispered, the words feeling like knives to my ears as I watched her kiss the prince. I shook my head and growled, turning away.

Someone tapped me on the shoulder and I turned back, Namid smiled slightly,

"Come, I hear the moon is beautiful tonight" she said in that sickly-sweet tone.

"No, I'll stay. You go enjoy yourselves" I replied, forcing myself to be cheerful despite her gaze.

"Suit yourself" she replied, turned and I watched her go, not bothering to admire the way she walked, how her hips seemed to sway...

"Stop it." I scowled, taking another swig of the spiced wine. "She ain't worth my time, anymore!"

Ginger then came over, "She's so heartless now."

I heard her remark, and growled deep in my throat, "That cobra prince stole her heart!" I replied, slamming down the tankard.

"That ain't true." I turned to glare at Ginger but she didn't notice, "You're still hers, no matter what!" she said slinging an arm around my shoulders in a sisterly way.

"No. The day she confesses that this was all a deception, is when I'll have lost all hope." I stood to go and looked to the sky as I walked out.

"The day I begun to really love her, Ylva...was that wrong?" I sighed, "I suppose thieves can't afford to love..."

I finished the wine and felt myself swaying and staggering slightly on my feet. I would follow them to the garden and claim what was rightfully mine.

Out of Rakab's POV

Namid stood in the middle of the path in the garden, too nervous to sit on the bench as she waited for Salem. It was hurting her neck to stare up at the stars any longer—the stars that were especially bright tonight, and sparkled in her vision so that it was hard to tear her eyes away—but she couldn't seem to tear her gaze away.

Footsteps reached her sharp ears, and she spun around, biting her lip to keep away the giddy smile. Only it wasn't Salem walking towards her.

It was Rakab. Her thief.

"Rak?" she whispered, barely daring to believe what she saw. She hadn't been alone with him in over a week, and a lump rose to lodge in her throat as if she were going to cry. But no tears came, and for that, she was grateful. She'd basically ignored him, she realized suddenly, and expected that he'd be angry...

Something was different about him. The way he walked, the way he stared at her in the glow of the sconces and starlight. He was swaying slightly, and as he came closer, her sensitive nose picked up the distinct reek of alcohol, of wine, perhaps?

"Oh, no," Namid breathed, shaking her head. Her fingers trembled, and as hard as she tried, she couldn't make herself move. She wanted desperately to run, run away from Rakab and his drunkenness, but it was like she was frozen in place.

When he was about two feet away from her, he smiled, "Good evening, my LeonNamid," Namid breathed a soft sigh of relief; he wasn't slurring badly, which meant he wasn'ttoo drunk.

"Hello, Rak," she said softly. He approached her and touched her hair, his touch warm and oddly comforting; she turned her face away from the scent of alcohol that was dizzying her senses.

Maybe if she played nice, he wouldn't do anything rash...

Somehow she was moving. He'd backed her into the garden wall. "What are you d—"

Namid began, but Rakab cut her off.

"I missed you," he told her matter-of-factly, his words only slurring together a little, "Where've you been?"

"Nowhere," she whispered, wishing he would go away. Then, realizing what she'd just thought, she closed her eyes in shame; she felt like crying. Rak was her best friend! It was just so hard to be in love twice, to throw the old affections aside...

"Please don't hurt me." Her voice was barely audible, and for a moment she wasn't even sure Rak had heard her. But then he cocked his head. "Now, why would I do that?" His hand cupped her chin and the other cupped her cheek. Bringing her head closer to his, he kissed her with all the passion he had, savoring the taste of a love cruelly denied.

Namid kept her eyes open, and saw, dimly behind Rak, someone approaching. She whimpered softly and turned her face from his, trying to push him off her. But he had his arms locked around her waist and he was strong. "Rakab, stop it!" she begged, looking back to the walking figure and willing Rak to realize they were not to be and walk away.

But Rakab only pulled her closer to him.

"I love you," he mumbled, burying his nose in her neck. His hands were traveling up her body, to her chest. Namid's eyes widened; she didn't want this, she loved Rak, but not when he was like this— he kept mumbling, his words muffled by her skin as he kissed her neck, "I don't want to let you go. Why would I? I love you. I want—"

A new pair of hands took hold of Rakab's shoulders then, ripping him none-too-gently away from Namid. She cried out, falling to her knees, and her vision blurred with tears she didn't welcome as she watched the exchange between the two men.

"Who are you?" Salem demanded of Rakab, shaking his shoulders. When the thief didn't answer, the prince turned to Namid. "Who is he?" "Are you all right?"

Namid nodded as Salem frowned, "Who is he?" he asked again.

"A friend" she answered as truthfully as she could. As Salem beleaguered Rakab for more answers, she placed a firm hand on the cobra's shoulder and tried to pull his arms away, "Stop, it Salem!" she cried, as she saw the man changing into his cobra form without warning. "Stop!" she then managed to pry Salem's hands off Rak's shoulders and step between the two men.

Salem shifted back to human form as Namid faced both of them, "I am no prize to be fought over you two, do realize I have a mind and heart too." "Whom I choose will be mydecision."

She then walked off in silence, feeling their eyes at her back and tears on her cheeks. Taking a deep breath, she forced back her emotion and shifted to her sleek wolf form, running to the deep forests for sanctuary.

A howl of grief was later heard, echoing and fading along the breeze to mourn this night. A wolf had let her own freedom cost her the love in her heart…