TWENTY

After an hour of learning how to waltz, Emric escorted me back to the castle. I was nervous about facing the packs after running off earlier when the pressure became too much. That wasn't an admirable quality, especially not for someone whose mate is the alpha of the most influential werewolf pack in Europe. Given if I was a werewolf, they'd say I'm not fit to lead a pack alongside Rheon.

And speaking of Rheon, he was waiting for us at the castle's entrance, hands shoved into his pockets with a deep frown etched on his face. Once we reached the door, Emric left me with his son to go join the other packs.

At first, I had no idea what to say to him. A part of me regretted leaving him while all he did was defend me. Another part was still pissed that I couldn't do anything to help with breaking the curse. And then there was this tiny voice in my head that told me I should be ashamed of myself for being so weak.

But my somber thoughts vanished completely when, out of the blue, he engulfed me in a hug. His arms wrapped around my shoulders, blocking my view of the world. I had no control over my body; my arms had a mind of their own as they snaked around his waist, my hands grabbing onto his blazer desperately. At that moment, I felt completely safe. Time and reality became a concept, and the curse was just a distant thought. There was only us.

"I'm sorry," I whispered against his chest.

"For what?"

"For being weak. For failing you. For giving everyone false hope -"

"Stop," he tilted my chin up to meet my eyes, "don't say that. You're anything but weak, Ash. You haven't failed anyone in any way, and you certainly didn't give anyone false hope. In fact," he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, "you managed to restore the hope in me. No matter what happens, I'll hold on to that. And for that I am eternally grateful to you."

Blood rushed to my cheeks when I felt his lips against my forehead. The kiss lasted but three seconds before he pulled back, but it was enough for my entire body to crave more. I wanted him to kiss me again, to claim my lips in white-hot passion as he pushed me up against a wall. I wanted him to kiss me until all I can say is his name.

With a sideways smile, he laced his fingers with mine and walked me into the castle. The moment we stepped into the lobby; I was greeted by an atmosphere of exhilaration.

The four packs were all getting ready for something no one informed me about. Everyone was dressed in older-looking clothes, some jeans were ripped, and some T-shirts faded. They also carried backpacks for some unexplainable reason. Was there some kind of werewolf hiking trip I wasn't aware of?

"What's going on?" I muttered to Rheon, who stripped off his blazer and dress shirt, leaving him in only a skintight T-shirt and his trousers.

"We're heading out on an evening run," he explained while loosening his belt, "Every time all the packs of Scotland reunite, it's tradition for them to shift together and run around the forest until the moon reaches its highest peak. Then they would howl in unison before ending the run and shifting back."

"Really?" I quirked a brow, "That's it? Running around and howling at the moon together?"

"It might seem pointless to you, but for us, it's a sign of unity." He dropped his trousers right in front of me, my eyes growing twice their size at the sight of him in nothing but a jockey. In a blink of an eye, he had pulled on a faded pair of jeans and said, "Seeing it is a whole other experience, though. That's why you're coming along."

"Is that a good idea? I mean, four packs of werewolves, all of them shifted, one human... see what I'm trying to imply?"

"We're all perfectly in control while shifted," he assured me, "Plus, someone has to hold my spare clothes in the meanwhile. Don't want me walking home naked, do you?"

Swallowing at the thought, I couldn't bring myself to shake my head no. I've seen him naked before and it might have just been the most appealing sight I've ever beheld.

Rheon flung his backpack over his shoulder and called towards the other packs, "Everyone ready to go?"

Ten minutes later, I found myself walking among the four pack along the shores of the Loch, heading for the forest where they could shift without any prying eyes. My fingers were intertwined with Rheon's, his warmth seeping through me and easing my rapid heartbeat. It wasn't too chilly that evening, but my cheeks were still tinted red as a cool breeze came sweeping from the front.

No one said a word as we entered the forest. The packs split up for a moment to find places to store their backpacks for when they shift back. I could already imagine the awkwardness of the situation if they all shifted back at the same location.

Rheon opened his backpack and pulled out a blanket, spreading it on the ground for me to sit on. Next, he took out one of his hoodies and pulled it over my head and down my sides after I slipped my arms through the sleeves. Lastly, he handed me a lunchbox that contained a sandwich that made my mouth water, a handful of strawberries, and chocolate chip cookies.

I was smiling like an idiot, earning a confused look from him. "What?"

"Nothing," I said, "This is usually just something a guy would do for his girlfriend."

All I received in response was a smirk and a wink before the other packs returned.

"Larkin is on his way," Colin informed Rheon, "He said we should proceed with the run, he'll catch up."

Nodding once, Rheon turned to face all the packs. In a loud, authoritative voice, he said, "We run together until the Great Hunt ends."

"Until the Great Hunt ends," they repeated after him.

That was their cue to shift.

Rheon looked me dead in the eyes as his body started morphing. I watched with complete and utter astonishment as he transformed right in front of my eyes until, finally, I was staring into the eyes of a wolf. His fur had a grease black tint to it, his ears twitched as my breath hitched, while the blue in his eyes seemed to glow in the dark of the night.

He was both breathtaking and terrifying, but I have never felt more drawn to him than I felt that moment. Reaching out my hand, I held my breath as he lowered his head to allow me to touch him. My fingers just about disappeared in his thick fur - even if I used both my hands, I wouldn't be able to cover his whole head. He growled in satisfaction as I scratched behind his ears and down his cheeks, playing with the ends of his whiskers.

With a huff, he shook his head, making me retract. "Sensitive whiskers?" I received another huff in response. "Aw, poor puppy." I'm sure if he could speak, he'd say something witty in return.

A bark from one of the others, Seren by the looks of her fur and eyes, made Rheon join the rest. He lifted his head before uttering a bone-chilling howl and just like that, the wolves took off in a run.

Every train of thought disappeared as I beheld the sight. With Rheon leading them, four packs became one, running through the forest at a speed almost too fast for the human eye to see. They were nothing but blurs among the trees and the only thing that gave them away was the vibration in the ground as they ran.

They were running around me in a wide circle before Rheon changed direction, heading for the cliff at the far end of the forest. My eyes followed them for as long as they remained in sight, until they eventually disappeared in the dark.

Alone in the forest, with only the sounds of nocturnal critters and wildlife to fill the silent atmosphere, my imagination swept me off to a future where I, too, ran with the werewolf packs until the moon reached its highest peak. A future where I've accepted the mark that will transform me into a creature of myth and lore.

At that moment, every dream I had as a photographer was replaced with a new vision: a life with Rheon, where all that mattered was us and the unique, unbreakable bond we shared.

Call it the power of our bond or fate's way of things working out, but finally, my heart made its decision. I was always going to end up in Scotland, one way or another. I was always meant to find Rheon and learn about werewolves. This was where I am meant to be...and Rheon who I am meant to be with.

I don't know how long I've been sitting on the blanket and munching on the contents of the lunchbox. It could be minutes, it could be hours, but the next thing I knew, a series of howls sounded in the distance that shook me to the very core. They blended with each other flawlessly, creating a symphony that sent goosebumps spreading across my whole body.

Rheon was right, seeing them shift and run, feeling the vibrations through the ground... never in my wildest dreams could I imagine something like that.

My head jerked up when Rheon approached me from out of the trees. The wolves at his back all spread out and continued running as he made himself comfortable on the blanket beside me, resting his head in my lap. My fingers ran through his fur, earning a series of satisfying growls from him. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he was acting more like a lapdog than a ferocious werewolf.

I scrunched my face when he nuzzled his head into my neck, nudging my cheek with his nose before licking up my face. "Seriously?" He barked in response and pressed his snout against my nose. "You're lucky you're cute."

Six other wolves joined us in the clearing. By their unique features, I recognized them as Emric and Rieka, Craig, Victor, Seren, and Clemmy, who was the smallest of the pack due to her young age. They circled Rheon and me, uttering soft barks as they moved. Seren even nipped at my hair, messing up the nearly perfect ponytail I had going on.

However, as I turned to scold her, she was staring motionlessly at something in the forest.

Following her gaze, I spotted a wolf with light brown fur emerging from the trees. It wasn't among the packs when the evening run started, but its appearance matched those of the wolves in the Bloodrose pack. I figured it must be this Larkin who finally showed up.

But something strange was happening while I was admiring the new wolf.

The other packs stopped abruptly as Seren and Larkin approached each other. Even Rheon was staring at them with eyes wide in awe.

Seren and Larkin sniffed at each other before nuzzling their heads into each other's fur. Time appeared to slow down as they shifted back to their human forms, crouching before each other as naked as the day they were born. There was a tender moment in which all they could do was admire the other's features until, finally, Larkin pulled Seren flush against him, burying his face in her neck as she held onto him desperately.

Even while human and awfully inexperienced in the world of werewolves, I understood perfectly what just happened. Rheon only confirmed my suspicion.

"By the Goddess Three," he whispered. I was so distracted by what was happening, I didn't notice him shifting back. "Seren found her mate..."