A Cold Wind Blows (Forgotten series, #3)

Chapter 8: Part 3

I scrambled up a particularly steep slope that had slate stone that made running up it virtually impossible. I used my hands as well as my feet to reach the top. I turned to watched Lace, she had stopped at the bottom and was in the process of stripping off her clothes.

"What are you doing?" I couldn't help how snappish my voice was but she ignored me. Her pale skin was slowly coming into view and I couldn't help how my eyes traced every inch that was exposed, pink lines swirled around her skin, branching out from larger, darker scars. Her form was exquisite and lush in its softly rounded curves that held a strong musculature. Despite the scars she had, as I looked at her, I could only think the scars had enhanced her beauty in a way.

She shoved the clothes into her backpack and shifted. Her wolf shook out its golden fur, the scars that covered her skin became more apparent in wolf form. She had patches of hair missing to the point where she looked like a warrior who had survived hundreds of battles and in a way she had.

The wolf paced the bottom of the twenty foot, steep incline, her black eyes staring intently at it. She paused, her eyes on the left side of the slope. She picked up the backpack in her jaws and with three strong bounds she ascended the slope with ease. Her powerful claws gripping into crevices I hadn't even known existed. She had inspected the slope and had used what she had seen to climb up it efficiently. Once at the top her wolf dropped the backpack and stretched, her jaws opening in a wide yawn that showed off her large and sharp teeth. She closed her mouth with a snap and shook out her patchy fur.

I had to admit that despite her size, she was an impressive looking wolf. I could see her muscles moving under her skin and could see the power behind her as she moved. Her dark eyes assessed us and she curled up her lip, showing several of her sharp teeth before she turned away, unconcerned with us. I shook my head before turning away and starting up the path again.

My wolf demanded to be let out, he wanted to meet his potential mate. He scratched at the insides of my mind and I couldn't block him out. I sighed before pulling off my jacket and my shirt. The cold air nipped at my skin as I pulled my boots and my pants off. Her wolf glanced at us, her eyes sweeping over our form before she lifted her nose, looking away as if unimpressed. My wolf gave a low growl of displeasure at the thought she didn't think us worthy.

There was a cache nearby and I moved over to it stuffing my clothes into it. As soon as it was done I let my skin fall to fur, allowing my wolf to take control. He shook out his fur and stretched much like she had but he was eyeing her as he did so. She paid him no attention as she sniffed the air.

He lifted his tail, moving over to her cautiously. He was showing his dominance but she ignored him completely as she snuffed around the ground. He came closer, sniffing towards her hind end. Her warning snap missed his nose by a mere inch. He backed off and I rolled my eyes, shaking my head slightly. He sniffed around the ground, pretending to ignore her before he moved closer. A deep warning growl rumbled her throat as she walked away.

He followed her, his tail still held high in the air but she continued to ignore him and his posturing. She sniffed around the small area before she stared towards the north. He moved closer to her, his steps more confident but she simply gave him another warning growl as she turned away. He moved closer despite the warning and she actually managed to take out a tuft of fur from his cheek with her snapping jaws.

Her tail was held out stiffly behind her, level with her spine as she growled at him menacingly. There was no dominance to her stature, just an intent to attack. Her raised hackles showed she was not agreeable to anything he wanted to do with her. He bared his teeth as well before he lowered his front end, his stiff tail relaxing to wag back and forth in the air, showing her he was relaxed and willing to engage in friendly play if she wanted. Her stiff legged gate and her licking her bared teeth as a deep growl rumbled from her small form let me and him know she wanted no part in friendly anything.