Chapter 102: Playing with Fire

NATALIA

My heart is racing as Charlie smiles at me.

“I want to go on a run with you,” he says.

~Run?~

The last time I fully shifted was when I had just turned eighteen.

It was a pack event—a chance for people to get to know the new wolves who had just come of age.

And the night when Xavier chose me to be his mate.

~So long ago. I was so naive then.~

I’ve never really been a rough-and-tumble girl, so I’ve pushed my wolf deep down inside myself.

In truth, it was Xavier who made me push it down.

When I was with Xavier, he forbade me from going to pack events.

He wanted me to be dressed up, always wearing makeup and high heels.

He never wanted me to shift.

~Now that Charlie is here, I want to be free more than ever.~

Charlie gently strokes my cheek.

I can hear my wolf howling to be let out.

“We’re destined mates; our wolves have pined forever to meet,” Charlie says.

I’ve seen him naked, but this is the first time I’m going to be naked in front of him.

I take a big gulp of air, trying to steady my nerves, before I slowly pull my shirt over my head.

I unhitch my bra, letting it fall to the earth, and slowly pull down my pants and underwear.

I stand up in the early light of the moon, seeing Charlie gaze at me.

~I’m tense, trying to stop my knees from shaking.~

“Now you,” I whisper.

Charlie slips off his shirt and trousers.

I almost forgot how big he is.

It was a shock when I saw him naked outside his hut, but now I’m excited.

I want to explore every inch of him: his hard body, his faint tan lines, his broad back and shoulders, the V of his hips…and his…

“Show me your wolf,” Charlie whispers.

I dig deep and will my wolf to emerge.

I almost cry out in pain and pleasure as my bones crack and blonde fur prickles up my arms and legs.

I feel my ears extend and teeth elongate.

As my hands fully transform into paws, I land on all fours and give an almighty stretch.

~Oh, this is good!~

Charlie also shifts, emerging as a shaggy black wolf with a big mane of fur. His blue eyes glint in the moonlight.

We look at each other for a few moments, soaking in every muscle and difference in our wolves.

I move forward slightly, my snout lifted to the air.

I reach a little further and begin nuzzling his neck.

His smell is intoxicating.

~“Hey,”~ Charlie mind-links with me.

~“It’s been so long since I’ve mind-linked with someone,”~ I reply.

~“Me too,”~ Charlie responds. ~“I would sometimes shift for days and continue to try and find you by mind-link.”~

Charlie’s wolf nods and motions to the woods.

~“Ladies first.”~

He wants to chase me.

~“Bring it on!”~

I take a few light steps before launching forward.

The feeling is unbelievable.

It’s like finally being free once again, to run and roam wherever I want.

I hear branches and leaves crunching behind me.

Charlie is playfully leaping in between the trees.

He kicks leaves and earth at me, showering my blonde fur.

I kick some back, and he jumps at me. He knocks me down and we go rolling through the brush.

~Oh now you’ve done it!~

My ears pick up the sound of running water, and my wolf starts pulling me toward it.

I race forward, with Chuck hot on my heels.

As I run, more flecks of dirt coat my shiny blonde fur.

But I don’t care.

I don’t care about being dirty or my appearance anymore. When I’m with Charlie, everything else fades away.

I reach a small stream and skid to a stop just as Charlie leaps through the bushes.

I try to move out of the way, but he accidentally crashes into me, throwing us both in.

I yelp as I hit the cold water; Charlie lands next to me, spraying mud everywhere.

We exchange a quick glance before leaping out and shaking off.

After a moment, Charlie comes to me and nuzzles my neck.

~“Are you okay?”~ he asks.

~“I’m fine. A little cold,”~ I reply.

Charlie motions for me to join him, then lies in the roots of an old tree, and I curl into him. He flicks his tail around me, warming me with his body heat.

~“One last request,”~ he says. ~“Give me a howl.”~

I take a deep breath, tip my head to the moon, and give a deep, long howl.

“AAAAWWWWWOOOOOO!”

Charlie begins to howl, too, and our calls reverberate around the woods.

It feels so good—like finally unlocking something that I had hidden away for too long.

***

We shift back, leaving our clothes by the trees, and we walk through the palace, naked and covered in dirt.

We’re giggling like teenagers, totally over the moon about each other.

~Luckily it’s so late that everyone is already in bed.~

As we round the corner toward my room, I stop dead in my tracks.

My mother is standing by my doorway, Xavi in her arms.

“What is this?” she says, looking at my disheveled hair and mud-spattered frame.

Before I even have a chance to answer, she rounds on Charlie.

“And who are you?”

Charlie is silent, unsure of who she is.

I hesitate.

~I tried pushing this back…~

~It was gonna happen sooner or later.~

~Let’s get it over with.~

“Mom, this is Charlie. My…my destined mate.”

My mom turns bright red.

“Destined mate?! Oh no, no, no! I thought he was the gardener!” She squeals.

“Mother, I’m a grown woman. I can choose—”

“First a wanted criminal, now a homeless man!”

“Wanted criminal?” Charlie gasps.

~Perfect. Thanks Mom.~

~This isn’t the right place. I can’t deal with both at the same time.~

I sense Charlie backing away slowly. I look at him, my eyes pleading for him to stay, before turning back to my mom.

~I knew this was going to be a struggle.~

“Mom, calm down. Charlie is nothing like Xavier. Can you just…talk to him and get to know him first?”

“He looks like a lazy slob,” my mom seethes. “Look at that beard. Any man who isn’t clean-shaven has no self-respect! Not to mention, you are both NAKED!”

“I should go,” Charlie says. He bows his head before hurrying away from us.

“What the hell was that, Mom?” I say.

“I’ve been calling you nonstop for the past hour! You dropped Xavi on me and then bailed!”

I’d remind her that she ~offered~ to watch Xavi, but it’s not even worth it.

“I’m not a teenager anymore, Mom. You sound like you are scolding me!” I respond.

“No, you are too busy gallivanting around with a tramp!” she replies. “Like a stereotypical teen mom, finding a new man rather than caring for your child!”

As she stalks back down the hallway with Xavi, I slam my door.

I’m mortified.

I jump straight in the shower, partly to wash off the mud, and partly to hide my tears.

~Why does my mom have to be like that?~

Once I finally feel clean, I shut off the water and wrap a towel around myself.

I look out my window. Charlie is lying in the bed of his truck, looking despondent.

~How do I get his attention?~

Remembering the bird whistle he gave me, I go over to my nightstand and pick it up, blowing a two-tone into it as I reach the window.

I see Charlie sit up in his truck and look toward me.

I step back, and, within a minute, he’s climbing the drainpipe.

“Woah, what happened to you?” I say as he gets closer.

Charlie’s beard is completely gone.

“To make me look less of a lazy slob,” he says.

There are faint tan lines where his beard used to be, the dimples in his cheeks are more pronounced without the fur, and his strong, square jaw is more visible.

The new look is sending electricity buzzing between my legs.

Charlie’s eyes widen before he averts them from me.

I look down and realize I’m just in a towel.

“Come on, before you fall off,” I say, grabbing his hand and pulling him inside.

I take a breath before launching into a speech I half prepared in the shower.

“Sorry about my mom. She’s just a nosy old hag who sticks her snout in where it isn’t needed and judges everyone because her own life has been shitty and finds pleasure in pitting me against Ariel and—”

Charlie puts a finger to my lips to stop me.

“It’s okay, really. I’ve been called worse.”

~His finger feels so good against my lips.~

Charlie moves his hand against the back of my neck.

I tip my head toward his and press my lips against his.

In an instant, the world dissolves around us. We are the only things that matter.

~This feels so much better than with Xavier.~

When I was with Xavier, my pleasure always came second—sometimes not at all. I was only there to give ~him~ pleasure.

But being with Charlie, we’re both equal. The sensations in my body make me want to growl in satisfaction.

Charlie’s lips are soft, unlike the rest of his hard and rugged body.

His hands wrap around my waist, and I pull myself close to his chest, loving how my body fits in his.

~It’s been so long since I’ve been touched like this.~

We pull apart, and I instantly want his lips back on mine. Actually, I want them all over my body, kissing me between my legs.

Charlie starts leaving teasing kisses down my jaw and neck, from my shoulder to my collarbone. I shiver with pleasure.

I want—no, I NEED—more.

I pull him closer to the bed, wanting to feel his hard form on top of me. I can see him already tentpoling in his pants.

~He’s eager!~

I go to pull my towel off, but just as I tug at the fabric, Charlie shoots out a hand and stops me.

“No…just, no.”

He looks away. He wants to say something but hesitates.

~Oh Goddess, I’ve ruined it.~

~I pushed too hard.~

“What is it?” I whisper. “Don’t you like me?”

“More than anything in the world, Moonbeam,” he whispers back. “But I want to wait for it…for it to be perfect.”

His words are so sweet, because I know they’re genuine.

I hug him, letting his strong arms wrap around me.

“Oh Chuck…”

He laughs.

“Chuck?”

“That’s what you said your friends call you, isn’t it?”

“I think we are a bit more than friends, Moonbeam!”

We laugh together.

I love just getting to be with this man.

Suddenly he pulls away and sniffs the air. Chuck’s nose is twitching.

“Something wrong?” I ask.

Then an alarm starts wailing throughout the entire palace.

“Out there!” Chuck says.

We rush over to the window to see a blazing fire in the distance!

ARIEL

Alex and I jolt awake at the alarms wailing across the palace.

Pack Alert

Fire at 14 Scaletta Street! All pack volunteer firefighters rendezvous immediately!

~14 Scalletta Street? That’s Steve and Louisa’s house!~

Alex and I leap out of bed. Alex goes to get changed, but I’m already sprinting off.

“Ariel wait, you can’t fight a fire like that!” Alex calls after me, but I don’t listen.

I race down the stairs, barefoot and in my PJs, taking three at a time.

I have half a mind to shift, just to get there faster.

I burst out of the front doors of the palace and follow the rest of the volunteers to the blaze.

The entire house is engulfed in flames, as if it’s just spontaneously combusted.

~All the memories made in that place…all gone up in smoke!~

I hear a scream from inside.

~Steve and Louisa are trapped!~

I run forward into the blaze.

~Goddess don’t let me be too late!~