Swiveled Dreams

Epilogue - Full Circle

Author's note: I've removed most of this book from Wattpad and Inkitt due to one of my other books, Siren Deep, being plagiarized. It was a hard choice for me to make, but I didn't want to leave my readers hanging. Your support is what got me this far. So here it is, the end... I'll be taking it down again in a few days as my books are going to be edited and published on amazon soon. Hopefully, I'll see you guys there. XOXO 

Happiness was like a green vine spreading through her, stretching fine tendrils, bearing flowers through her flesh.

- Patricia Highsmith

The wolf crouched, front legs stretched out, hind quarters raised in the air. Wagging his tail, he pounced. The adult male smashed into his young, taking them entirely by surprise as they tumbled through the soft grass. The pups – of which the eldest shimmered waveringly in and out of focus – wrinkled their snouts, revealing their tiny teeth in a series of yips and growls as they squirmed and rolled over each other in game of casual jaw sparring. They nipped at their father's tough skin, chewing on his face and ears before trying futilely to drag him across the ground by his thick fur.

The larger wolf growled, dislodging the pups with a warning snap of his jaws. They moved off quickly, scattering in opposite directions before slowly circling back. Crouching low in ambush positions, the pups jumped up again to charge their father.

Future me settled on the porch steps and pulled her knees to her chest, resting her chin in the crook of my elbow. My dress moved around my legs, a soft breeze ruffling the hem where it pooled at my bare feet. I knew what I was seeing wasn't real, not yet, but I did nothing to block it. It wasn't the first time this vision came to me. The young exuberance and uninhibited wolf play were always a delight to watch. It was a beautiful glimpse of our future – of Marcus in his fur, of our precious Shakul, and of the pup still tucked safely in my belly.

Tired from romping around our wooded back yard, the energetic role-reversal saw its end when Marc's wolf collapsed to the ground. The pups whined. Pulling at their father's ears and licking at his muzzle to entice him into more play. The wolf huffed and shook them off. Future me laughed at his throaty grunts as he sluggishly fended off our young's trying attacks.

His intense pale-yellow gaze turned to me then, glimmering with heat and purpose – almost human.

I blinked. A burst of wind had another bout of laughter die in my throat. That and the slow burn in the wolf's eyes. Spluttering, I finger-combed the tangled curls back from my mouth, clenching the floral fabric of my maxi dress between my knees to keep it from puffing up around me.

The wolf lifted its nose to the air, sniffing. I clenched my thighs tighter together, but it was too late. My male had already caught onto the scent of my arousal. He got up and stretched his front legs, watching me as he slowly rose to his full height. Every step he took closer was like a calculated attack on my senses. Swallowing hard against the throbbing lump in my throat, I reached up to grab the smooth dark wood of the banister. I was in so much goddamn trouble.

"There you are, baby."

I started, taking a deep breath as my vision abruptly cleared before leaning back against the center porch post. Marc's gravelly voice held an aspirate tone, a breathy delay that had goosebumps set forth like a flurry of air down my neck. It did nothing to lessen the ache that sat like a hot stone in my stomach – an ache that seemed to have followed me from my vision.

He slipped his thick arms around my waist, his muscles straining against his shirt when her drew me closer against him. I sighed and melted into his embrace, his warm chest at my back. Nuzzling my neck, his hand went to rest over mine on my belly, where our son grew. "How's my boy?"