Chapter Twenty One.

Chapter Twenty One.

A feather like tickle on the exposed skin of the back of my thigh woke me from my dream like state. It slowly made its way upwards, over the underwear I wore and to the band of skin visible between my top and underwear. The motion was being repeated over and over again at a slow pace. I squirmed uncomfortably, not opening my eyes and pressed my body closer to the hard surface I was laying on trying to get away from it.

A quiet, husky chuckle filled the room, "good morning."

I groaned loudly, not wanting to wake up from my sleepy state as I buried my head in Logan's bare chest while mumbling an incoherent, "go away."

After I had finally managed to shift back into my human form last night and we'd made it back to the pack house it was already late at night and most of the pack members had gone to bed leaving me and Logan to walk through the pack territory in peace. I hadn't realised how much the shift had tired me out until Logan had made us food and I found my eyelids dropping before a steaming hot plate of pasta had been placed in front of me.

Logan has explained to me that it was normal for those who had just shifted to feel both emotionally and physically drained after the first shift and so when he had carried me to bed I hadn't complained nor did I complain when he helped me get ready for bed. I was just thankful that I hadn't fallen asleep half way through our dinner and gotten a face full of pasta.

"Come on Emse," Logan cooed softly in my ear causing both me and my wolf to stir from our deep sleep. She was more than happy to be awoken by the sound of her mates husky voice in the morning, "you've been asleep for almost two days now sweetheart."

My eyelids fluttered open at hearing how long I had spent asleep as it had only seemed like a couple of hours. I was well rested and my body felt stronger than it ever had before. It felt like an electric current of energy was buzzing around my body from whenever my skin came into Logan's and I knew that the already strong bond between me and Logan had gotten stronger due to my shift.

I looked up to see Logan's smouldering gaze fixed on my face as a lazy smile made its way onto his face, "two days?"

"Two days," he confirmed before continuing, "Your mum and my family were worried that you would never wake up."

Logan chuckled deeply but I could see in his eyes the relief he felt that I actually had woken up after such a long time. Two days was a long time, especially to spend it sleeping but I knew that it had been for the best as my body felt alive once again.

My stomach growling loudly stopped my train of thought and I blushed at how loud it sounded with my now sensitive hearing. Everything was more defined and sharp, my eye sight had improved dramatically and I wondered how I had ever been able to see before. My touch was sensitive but I didn't know if that was from the recent pain my body had been through or if it was another effect of being half a wolf.

"Hungry?" Logan teased.

I felt his arms wrap around me and he slowly sat us both up and positioned me with ease so that I was now straddling his lap. I blushed a deeper shade of red at our compromising position as my hands had darted upwards and wrapped themselves around the back of his neck when he had moved us all of a sudden.

"You're so beautiful." Logan murmured as he ran the tips of his fingers over my glowing red cheeks. His brown eyes shining with an emotion that I wasn't familiar with but I could only describe it as adoration or something similar.

My wolf was fighting against my self-control that came as a second nature to me. She wanted to push me forward so that my lips would be touching Logan's and we could continue from where we had left it at the woods with a brief kiss that held a promise of so much more. My wolf was going wild as I closed my eyes and concentrated on calming her down as all she wanted to do was be one with Logan and his wolf in the purest of ways.

"Having trouble?" Logan asked gently whilst I opened my eyes to see that he was looking down at me. I could see amusement dancing in his chocolate pools and I knew that he knew the struggle I was having with my wolf and the reason why.

"Is it always like this for you?" I wondered. I blushed realising that I had basically asked him if he ever had trouble with his wolf in regards to wanting to rip my clothes off as I was having the issue with my own wolf.

I had never really seen Logan battle with his wolf unless he was angry to which his wolf would take over in a fit of rage. Logan always seemed to calm and collected and I doubted he even had the same issues with his wolf as I was experiencing with mine. It was frustrating to a point but I could understand the urge to some extent.

Wolves were naturally wild animals and so it was only natural for them to mate with there chosen mate as soon as possible but it was different and those wolves weren't also human as well. I wasn't ready to mate with Logan yet even if my wolf was. A part of me felt selfish for not giving into my wolfs desires but I just wasn't ready even though I knew that Logan and I would most likely be together till we died and that we would mate eventually.

"You have no idea." Logan murmured as he dropped his head to the base of my shoulder where he began to plant small, open mouthed kisses along my collar bone.

I angled my head towards the side so that Logan could continue his assault on my neck with eas. A moan escaped my lips and I blushed. Logan laughed quietly causing him to breathe on my neck and a shudder to run through my body. My wolf was going wild, wanting to come forward and take over so that she could tease Logan and his wolf in the same way.

A kiss was planted on my now healed mark and a jolt of electricity ran through my entire body making my toes curl. My breathing began to come out in short bursts as I was basically left panting under Logan with an untameable hunger beginning inside of me.

Logan was quick to place his lips onto my own where he began to kiss me gently. My wolf and I responded the same, wanting nothing more than to savour the feeling of having Logan's soft lips upon my own. I memorised every touch, smell and feeling that Logan ignited within me with such a simple act of placing his lips upon my own.

A knock at the door had Logan stilling bellow me whilst I pulled away and buried my face within his shirtless chest. My checks burned red with embarrassment at how we were almost caught in such a compromising position. A growl rumbled through Logan's chest once he realised that we had been interrupted in one of the rare moments that we were truly alone.

"What?" Logan called out, a short huff following afterwards as he looked down at me.

"I know that you are awake, both of you," Logan's mum called from the other side of the door, "lunch is ready in five minutes so don't be late."

I could hear her footsteps walking away from the door and I relaxed into Logan's hold once again. My fingers gently grazing up and down the back of Logan's neck while his brown eyes starred deeply into my own. His lips were a darker shade of pink than they had been moments ago and I found myself feeling oddly proud to be the reason for it. I knew that it was part of wolves being naturally territorial over what was theres and my wolf was no different as it showed that Logan was taken.

"We should get ready." I muttered.

"I know," Logan sighed whilst a small pout formed on his lips as if he were a little kid.

I sat myself up straighter and quickly pecked his lips before wiggling off of his lap and heading towards the draws where all my clothes were. I grabbed a simple pair of underwear, skinny jeans and an oversized jumper that I was sure was Logan's before making my way to the bathroom. I quickly freshened up by jumping into the shower and washing my hair and body quickly before stepping out and changing into the clothes I had brought with me.

I towel dried my hair as I stepped out of the bathroom to see that Logan had already showered and changed into a pair of jeans and a jumper similar to the one I was wearing. Logan smiled as he saw me and reached me within a couple of steps where he took the towel from my hand and gentle ruffled the towel on my head.

"Hey!" I protested as the towel fell in my face and everything went dark.

Logan laughed loudly before taking the towel away and throwing it in to one of the empty corners in the room. He brushed the stray bits of damp hair from my face and tucked into behind my ear before speaking, "am I not allowed to help my mate dry her hair?"

"I can do it myself." I told him as I leaned into his hand that was now caressing my face in a tenderly manner.

"I know but I want to look after you at every given moment." He told me softly, his brown eyes glimmering in the dim light of the bedroom.

"You have one minute to get down here before your lunch goes to the hungry pack of wolves!" Logan's mum voice sounded in both of our heads as I jumped from the sudden intrusion while Logan just rolled his eyes and I guessed that he was used to it.

"We should go." Logan told me dropping his hand and lacing his fingers with my own where he began to gently tug me out of the bedroom.

"She's not joking is she?" I wondered with a small smile on my face.

"Nope." He chuckled with a small shake of his head.

We made our way through the house and out the front door. The walk to the pack house was short and the sky was grey with clouds hiding the sun away. Winter was approaching and although the weather wasn't so bad now I knew that it was only going to get worse and fast. We passed as few members on our walk to the pack house and every one would bow there head with smiles on their faces.

The door to the pack house closed behind us with ease and the sound of light chatter and laughing could be heard from where I knew the kitchen was. I smiled hearing my mums giggle standing out against the laughter of others and I picked up my pace to reach her sooner.

The large table in the dining room was covered in food whilst many people surrounded the wooden oak table. I recognised the majority of those at the table including Jason and Oliver who both beamed at me as soon as I came into view. I spotted my mum who excitedly patted the empty seat next to her and I hurried to her side where I sat down and found myself engulfed in a hug.

The smell of my mum surrounded me and I relaxed into her embrace with a smile on my face, "I'm glad you're awake."

"Me to." I smiled as she leant forwards and placed a kiss on my forehead.

The empty chair on my other side was pulled out and I turned to see that Logan was already seated and smiling at everyone around the table. I scanned those that surrounded us and saw that it was mainly made up of Logan's family and who I guessed was Sam's family as well judging from the similarity of their features and the fact that Sam was sat in between them. I eyed another family who I had not meet yet, a boy sat proudly around the age of Logan and Sam I guessed that he had an important place within the pack, his parents sat to one side and a girl at his other. I could see that there were mates from the way that they kept stealing glances at each other.

"It's good to see you again Esme," Alpha Paul said from the head of the table and Gemma nodded her head in agreement from his side with a soft smile, "meet John and Lisa, Sam's parents."

I turned to Sam and his parents with a small, shy smile on my face as I waved gently at them. "It's nice to meet your both."

"The same to you," Lisa replied happily whilst they both returned my wave and smile excitedly while Sam rolled his eyes at his parents.

"Over there is Aaron, my third in command and his mate, Katie," Logan introduced the two I had never met before, they both smiled and nodded their heads politely, "and Aaron's parents Gary and Pam."

Before I could say anything Oliver was quick to speak, "can we eat now?"

A number of laughs sounded around the table and I couldn't help the small giggle that escaped my lips much to everyone's delight as they all turned and smiled brightly at me. My mum quickly took my hand in hers and squeezed it before letting it go.

"Oliver!" Gemma scolded him but the smile on her face told us all that she wasn't really angry, "but everyone dig in."

It was like nothing I had ever experience as all at once everyone reached for their desired food. I sat back in my seat as I openly starred at everyone who were all too busy on focusing on getting all the food that they wanted. I watched as everyone pilled there plates up high with food and Oliver and Jason were currently glaring at each other with them both having a hand on the last chicken sandwich.

Logan gently nudged my side and nodded towards my plate that was piled high with food that I knew I wouldn't eat all of it as I made a face, "I can't eat all of that."

"Just eat what you can." Logan said with a knowing smile.

I remembered my hunger from earlier and hurriedly dug into the food that Logan had kindly piled high on my plate without me knowing. I was surprised when I found myself with an empty plate in front of me minutes later and I put it down to the fact that I was now part wolf and so I needed to eat more in order to keep up my energy.

I sat back in my seat once again and gently ran my hands over my now full stomach. Everyone around me had easily eaten the food on their plates and they to sat back in their seats, their hunger fully satisfied. The table that had once had plates piled high with mountains of food had all disappeared apart from a few crumbs that littered the plates.

"That was lovely," I told Gemma once the chatter had died down, "thank you."

"You're welcome dear." Gemma smiled kindly as she stood with two plates in her arms to begin clearing away the table.

I began to help by grabbing Logan's and my mum's plate to stack on top of my own plate. Gemma must have noticed my intentions as she shook her head, "The boys will tidy up dear you just rest."

True to her words the boys began to stand from the table and tidy away all the plates to the kitchen where a few of them disappeared to stay and wash up. The ladies left at the table began to chatter lightly amongst themselves whilst I sat back and fidgeted in my seat. Now that my hunger was gone my skin itched and my wolf became restless with the need to shift.

Logan entered the room and immediately his eyes zeroed in on me where I sat uncomfortably, his eyes shined with understanding, "do you want to go for a run?"

I knew my eyes lit up at the prospect of going for a run as I stood up without hesitation and made my way towards Logan who was smiling and shaking his head.

"You kids have fun!" Gemma called from where she sat.

"Lunch was lovely and it was nice to meet you all!" I called as Logan dragged me out of the dining room and through the kitchen where Oliver and Jason stepped in our way with their arms folded across their chest.

"Where are you going?" Jason asked suspiciously with a dark eyebrow raised.

"For a run." Logan told them with his eyes slightly narrowing.

"Great," Jason spoke with a sly smile while Oliver quickly added, "we will come with you."

Logan was about to protest but his twin brothers were already running out of the open back door and stripping off their clothes that now littered the ground before shifting into their wolves. Logan growled at my side whilst I laughed and tugged him by the hand outside.

I let go of Logan's hand and quickly skipped behind a tree where I stripped of my clothes when I knew that no one was around to watch me shift. I closed my eyes and focused on my wolf and what she looked like, in less than a second I felt heat rush through my body before by body morphed into my wolf form. The shift was nothing like my first shift as I hadn't felt any pain only a little discomfort nor had it taken hours to shift.

I took Logan's jumper in my mouth and began to trot through the forest. My wolf was enjoying herself as she easily moved through the trees, her powerful paws digging into the earth and the wind ruffling my fur. I once again felt free and at one with not only myself but nature as well, the feeling was both exhilarating and addictive.

Logan appeared in front of me in his wolf form with his clothes tied to one of his back legs. My wolf and I quickly turned to the left and began to run through the forest with Logan following quickly behind us. My wolf and I were both enjoying the chase especially as it was our mate who was chasing us. I picked up my pace and turned in another direction as Logan's footsteps got quieter with each step I took.

I slowed down when I came to the edge of a clearing where I quickly shifted into my human form and covered my naked body with Logan's jumper that had dropped to the floor during my shift. The smell of wet dog hung heavily in the air and my wolf instantly became alert at the smell that was unfamilar to us both.

I debated on whether or not to turn around and find Logan who was no doubt close by but I was curious as to what the smell was. I inhaled deeply and followed them smell into the clearing in front of me, my footsteps slow and hesitant as another smell assaulted my sense of smell. It smelt like cooper and dirt causing my nose to scrunch up at the smell.

My eyes squinted as I looked in the distance to see two black dots on the ground; even with my advanced eye sight I was having difficulty seeing what it was. I stepped forward with a new found purpose as I hurried towards the two spots. The smell of copper and wet dogs getting stronger with each step I took until I only stood a few feet away.

A scream tore it was through my throat, loud and piercing the air like a knife as I covered my mouth with my now shaking hand.

"Esme!" My name was shouted from all around me but all I could focus on was the sight in front of me and not those who were desperately calling my name.

My eyes watered at the sight of the two bodies before me, their heads turned towards me and their eyes open wide but there was no life behind the clouds of fear. The metallic smell that hung in the air had been blood, the crimson liquid covering the two naked bodies coating most of their creamy skin and I knew that the two people had suffered horribly before there life had finally been taken with their throat being mauled by what looked like a wild animal.

I had never met the two people in front of me but I knew that they belonged to the pack due to the familiar smell that was faint due to the smell of blood but I could still detect it as it clung to all of the pack members. My wolf howled at the sight of the two mauled bodies as she began to grieve for the loss of two of her pack members as she was now a Luna.

I couldn't take my eyes off of the two bodies in front of me as a piece of paper tucked under one of their arms caught my eyes. I fell to my knees as I read what was written in the blood of the two victims. A strangle cry escaped my lips whilst tears streamed down my face.

I felt arms wrap around me and a body shield my view from the sight it front of me but it was too late as I had already seen the bodies and the note that was written in their blood. I couldn't believe that I had almost forgotten and allowed myself to be happy. It was stupid and now two innocent people had been killed and it was all my fault.

I closed my eyes and sagged against the person holding me tightly. The letter appearing behind my closed eyes as if it was taunting me.

'I'm coming for you.'

AN:// Hi! So I'm back! My exams went well (or so I think they did) Thank you for the support and your understanding and hope those of you who had/have exams did/do well! Thanks for the votes,comments and fanning!

P.S. I'm in two minds with how the next chapter should go and I'd really like someone's opinion, so if any of you don't mind a possible spoiler could you please inbox me? It would be greatly appreciated.