Chapter 12: Make Me

The months leading up to the Mating Moon slowly changed the males. I could feel it in the air and the way their gazes lingered.

Sleep was elusive. If it wasn’t my nightmares robbing me of sleep, it was the frequent grunting and moaning coming from Katy and Alanna’s huts.

I could hear the growling of males and the subsequent squeals of the girls. Though I wasn’t knowledgeable enough to know if they were pleasured or pained cries, the vigorous sounds only added to my fears. But despite myself, between my legs melted with heat. My she-wolf, so long smothered, was writhing with need and hunger to run.

She was responding to the lust of the males in ways that I had never expected.

I’d bumped into several other ravenous males in the last few days. And though they all looked at me lasciviously, none of them inspired in me the same level of primal sexual response as those three miserable, enigmatic males did.

~Damn them.~

Eventually, I managed to curl up next to the fire and fall asleep. My exhausted body surrendered to the weariness.

But thoughts of another fire haunted my dreams. Of pups running playfully before it. Chasing and bounding on each other.

Of a man with fire in his palm. One that stared at me beyond the flame with laughing eyes. Someone whom I sensed that I adored.

~A part of my family. ~

There was another one like him but darker.

And a girl with sunlit blonde hair that made me laugh whenever she was close.

My chest tightened as I saw them in my mind’s eye.

It wasn’t the first time.

I saw them often, even heard their voices. My brain seemed transfixed by them.

~They’re the ones that died in that house.~

Though I couldn’t remember it, it was easy to deduce.

~If they’re gone, why do I miss them so much?~ I remembered thinking it. Even in my dreams.

Then that one drop of blood, flying across a dark room. My gaze locked on it as it moved in slow motion.

Then people and seasons moved forward like a lightning strike. Bringing me sensual stroking hands running over my stomach and through my hair. Soft lips trailing over my legs while I sweated by firelight. Deep male moans and pants and the sheer sense of hunger.

I felt fur pushing at my pores and my eyes compressing and knew that even in my sleep, I was trying to change.

~No.~ ~No wolf.~

***

I blinked blearily. Sitting up as I gained control of my body. It was only a few days until the Mating Moon.

I was so restless now that I had to go do something or I was going to go crazy. I swept up the basket and I put on my oversized cloak. Though I no longer had any fabric to hide my shape and wouldn’t have dared, if I did. I bit my bottom lip feeling as terribly naked as I had when I went to get the basket.

I dared to swing open the door, protruding my head out to look around.

~Nothing.~

It was quiet. Apparently late enough in the evening that most of the pack had retired to their huts to take quick naps before they had a busy evening of hunting and staking claims on their mates.

I scanned carefully, only emerging once I was sure.

It was almost too quiet, but there was nothing to indicate anything was wrong.

I scurried to the river and found my favorite berry bushes. Ripping berries free, I tossed them in the basket. I wanted to get these and get back.

Just as I grabbed the last handful, satisfied that I had enough, my time ran out.

“Hello, Rabbit.”

That cool, husky voice from behind me sent my fur crawling against my pores.

My she-wolf wanted to emerge. But I sensed it wasn’t in a threatening way. She didn’t want to fight. This was something more… Urgent.

~She’s responding to Victor.~

I could already feel the heat of his body at my back. He was likely shirtless.

“You were right, Vic. Basket is for berries.”

I blanched at Chase’s voice.

“Valerie!” Huntley greeted. “We were hoping to see you today.”

“I was hoping not to,” I said as I reluctantly turned around.

“A shame.” Victor clucked in his cheek. “That you’d want to duck us like that.”

“Admit it, Valerie,” Huntley said. “Without us, you’d be terribly bored.”

“Peace. Peaceful. Is what I think you mean.” I tightened my grip on the basket.

“Not a chance.” Chase pushed past Huntley to say. “Definitely bored.”

“We were just coming in for a cool-off,” Victor said.

“Care to join us?” Huntley said hopefully.

“Might actually enjoy it,” Victor drawled, gesturing to my body. “Since you no longer have all those clothes sinking you like a rock.”

I grimaced. “My berries… Can’t I just go back to my hut?”

“You know the answer to that,” Victor gave me a reprimanding look. Taking my basket off my arm, he brought it closer to the river. “We’ll keep an eye on it here.”

“I’m just going to go back,” I edged sideways.

Victor turned leveling, cold green eyes on me. “Rabbit, when are you going to learn to obey us?”

“Sabar and Alpha just got back in,” Chase explained more patiently. “With a boar.”

“The camp will be crawling with males,” Huntley elaborated. “All wound up from fresh blood and with evening descending soon.”

Victor’s gaze was locked on me. “You’re staying with us.”

“Am I?”

Victor’s expression was reprimanding. “Don’t make me make you, Rabbit.”

But I wanted to.