Unrelenting Destiny

8. Extended Vacation

Luciana Faith Moore

Jasper had mindlinked with Alpha Ivan that night, telling him that he would need another day in Sunset Waters to settle some issues her pack had with The Claiming. He had never given his pack reason to doubt his words and the extended visit was not questioned. Luci lay awake in her bed, Jasper voting to sleep on the floor. It made her itch for his touch, his warmth next to her. But there was no way they could spin a story for him to sleep in a guest room without raising suspicions. She turned over, only to turn again to lay on her back, staring at the ceiling. Luci pulled the sheets closer under her chin, the wriggled to bring them down again.

"I can't sleep with you fidgeting like that."

Jasper's voice sent a tingle at her spine and she heaved a sigh, "Sorry...I just can't get my mind to quiet."

She saw his dark figure sit up from his makeshift bed on the floor, stretching his arms over his head. He mumbled under his breath as if he was embarrassed to admit, "I don't think I can either."

It didn't feel right to be so close but so far from him. Luci sat up, gently playing with the sheets between her fingers. They were still technically unmated, her neck still void of his mark. So their craving for each other only increased, drawing them to each other in every aspect. Their wolves scratched at the surface of their minds, begging to be let out, whining to meet each other.

"Ryzen keeps telling me to go over there," Jasper admitted. They were clearly on the same wavelength.

Luci nodded, "It feels unfair to them... they're mates too and we're keeping them from each other."

You got to have your time with him. And I haven't been allowed even a proper sniff of my mate... Eve pestered her, kneading her paws impatiently.

Luci heaved a sigh, closing her eyes to try and quell Eve's emotions. But she felt Jasper move, crouching by her side. She opened her eyes again, meeting his in the darkness. She wanted to give in, pull him on top of her, be smothered by that intoxicating scent, and crushed by all that muscle.

His eyes turned a bit dark, a storm of black mixing with his hazel, "Ryze really wants to meet her, Luciana."

Luci pursed her lips, unsure. She didn't want them to further their bond when so much of their future was uncertain. She didn't want it to hurt that much more for both them and their wolves if they were forced apart, if it didn't work out. But Eve was whining like a pup, so desperate that Luci could feel her sorrow in her soul. She sighed, "Alright...just one night."

Eve yipped in excitement, jumping up and down and begging to be let out. A look of relief washed over Jasper's face. Surely he was growing tired and weary of Ryzen's own persistence. Luci leaned over to place a soft, hesitant kiss on Jasper before getting to her feet, moving towards the door. They walked in their pajamas through the silent pack house, getting to the back door and facing the woods of Sunset Waters. Within moments, they shifted, the pair standing side by side as their wolves took over.

Eve was a shimmering gray she-wolf wit ha white underbelly and silvery streaks about her pelt. Her eyes were a milky white, bordered with a pale blue. Ryzen was dark gray, bordering on black with dark chocolate eyes. As the wolves circled each other, buried their muzzles within each other's fur, and connected physically, emotionally, spiritually. They looked like a yin and yang symbol, intertwined and meant to be together.

Unknown

The night air was a whirlwind. My chest burned as my legs took me miles away from home. My wolf thought me crazy to try this feat, to venture into stranger territory for someone I love. I finally reached the border, a solid eight hours of nonstop running that made my wolf's legs feel like jelly. But my plan was necessary - for both my happiness and for my pack. I knew the moment I saw them, it would take a good amount of intervention or our entire world would fall apart.

The pack house was easy to find even in the early morning hours. The Alpha was already out with his royalty, readying the patrols and tasks of the day. I narrowed my eyes at him, staring openly before slipping back into the woods to begin executing my plan. I only had so long before my pack realized I was gone and I had a long run back. It was a lot of work. But it would be worth it in the end. I would make sure of it.