A Shifter Among Wolves

Chapter 23

---Paige's POV---

It took the guys a while to let go of the guinea pig jokes but they managed. I had to hand it to Alexis; they had their upsides. My bond with family had become slightly stronger and a caution had sneaked in my steps, almost as if I was waiting for something. Plus, my scent-marking abilities had become a lot stronger too.

I was now lying across a thick branch, high up the tree that was standing in our yard. The rough bark against my back and the scent of freshly fallen rain was tickling my senses while I watched the leaves sway in the gentle breeze.

A sad sigh escaped my throat while I was thinking about the past. Anna had explained to me that father was a Pure soul shifter but mother was a Gifted one. It was unheard of that the different groups would interbreed but as far as Anna knew, mom and dad were mates.

So, as far as we know, I could be a Pure, a Gifted or a mixed soul shifter. I stared over the pine forest, wondering why they never told me what they really were.

A soft scrunching noise sounded below me, making me jolt upright before I slightly cursed the effect of the change. Stupid instincts, they made me as jumpy as a cat that found its way in the doghouse. I felt the change in my eyes when my body adapted to my needs, changing my eyes to ones with sharper eyesight.

I blinked, feeling the nictitating membrane of my hawk-form sliding over my eye, before my vision dramatically sharpened, revealing Jacob's awe filled face. He had craned his neck to look up where I was, squinting his eyes against the sun.

A smile lightened his face while he waved me down. I cocked my head slightly, wondering what he wanted before I stretched my limbs and fazed back to my cat-form. Flexing my shoulders, I positioned myself at the edge of the branch, looking down at the path I had used to get up.

Shards of wood fell from between my claws when I pawed at the wood underneath my pads, edging closer to the branch. And then I leapt forwards. I skidded down the bark, landing on the branch below before I gracefully made my way towards the next in line.

My plan was to jump the last bit and land on the ground on all fours but then again, Jacob had other ideas. I ran the last bit on the tree whilst facing the ground before I jumped, spinning around to lose some momentum. But Jacob ran forwards, making me land right in his waiting arms.

I retracted my claws when I made contact with Jacob's skin, fearing I would harm him. A soft meow escaped my throat before Jacob's hands secured around me. He scowled slightly before he looked back up again.

"Damn Paige, don't do that! You almost gave me a heart attack!" he growled, making me roll my eyes at him. It was strange to see Jacob being worried about me. Nick had tried to reason with me, saying Jacob was a changed man, but I needed him to say it out loud. If he wanted me, he had to work for it.

While I was thinking, I allowed myself to take Jacob's appearance in. He was wearing a dark blue, almost black jeans, a white shirt, topped off with a stylish black jacket over it, accentuating his defined muscles. Yum! All in all, he looked good enough to eat.

Something cold fell on my nose. I shook it off, looking up just to receive another raindrop, straight in my eye. I shook myself again, a hiss running out of my mouth when my instincts kicked in.

Jacob groaned lightly when I leapt out of his hands, claws extended in an attempt to move faster while I moved towards the neckline of his jacket, which was slightly opened. I squirmed my way underneath his jacket, placing myself over his shoulders, my head popping out at his neck.

"Why did you do that?" Jacob asked, his voice slightly off while I enjoyed the cover of his jacket and the comfort of his body warmth. I was purring loudly, content that I was warm, dry and most of all, surrounded with Jacob's amazing scent. My paws started to kneed his shoulder, gaining a shiver from Jacob while I answered, "It's raining. I'm dry now."