19

I spent the whole day in the forest, running further and deeper into the woods than I had ever gone before. Feeling the autumn breeze and leaves beneath my paws, I had never felt this free.

Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew I should have turned back a long time ago, but I ignored that nagging voice for as long as I could.

I found a river along the way and lapped greedily at the water suddenly overcome with thirst. I then splashed into the water, enjoying the cold on my fur. And it was there in the water that I noticed something ... something familiar... a delicious mouthwatering scent and before I knew it was leading me downstream.

As I got closer, I submerged my snout under the water to hide my own scent. It was lucky I did because I soon came to clearing in a forest, leading out onto a large stretch of grassland and a ... home?

I stared up in awe at the large house. Almost the size of a mansion it was so big. It was of a modern style, with dark wood decking that led up to French doors and a black painted exterior around every large window and beams that made the structure of the roof. Outside in the backyard I spotted a group of people sitting around a large table, the doors wide open to the open plan kitchen as a women strolled out with a large plate of food and everyone around the table cheered in appreciation.

Around the table were three people. One a young women with beautifully long blonde hair that flowed behind her in curls. Another a man with a cheeky smile and light brown hair. And the other—

Mate.

Yes. It was him. Sitting there in his shorts and t-shirt so much more casual than I had ever seen him before. He was sipping at a cold beer and talking intently to the woman across from him—his mother—I realised. She had his dark hair and she was just as beautiful. And so those must be his siblings ... they didn't look much like him though, they had the mother's small frame but none of the darkness.

It's then that a man strolled outside from the kitchen, he was dressed in a suit and tie which he was already undoing as he came out to meet everyone.

The mother rose from her seat and reached to embrace him, placing a kiss on his cheek. The man then went to the young man, ruffling a hand through his hand, and then to the girl who already had her arms outstretched for a hug. He must their Dad, he had the same light hair as them.

I watched as Theo drank from his beer, not standing up to greet his dad. Hm. That's odd.

I paddled a little further, the desire mounting in my wolf as I tried to take a closer look at him. His dark hair was brushing his forehead as looked down at his plate, his biceps bulging as he moved to pick up his fork. His right arm was covered in his dark tribal tattoo, intricately woven from his wrist all the way up to his sleeve, mesmerising even though I couldn't fully make out the details. I wondered how much of his body was covered by it...

Mate. My wolf purred.

I understood how she felt. She desired every inch of him and so that meant that I did too. Her wants came first when we're in wolf form. So that meant there was little I could do when she continued down the river, readying herself to pounce—

Snap.

Suddenly a bloodcurdling howl escapes me as an excruciating pain ripped through my leg. I'm stuck, I'm stuck, I'm stuck. It's all I can think as I fight against the water. My leg clamped by something metal and hard beneath the surface.

It's okay. It's okay. I try to calm my wolf but she won't stop howling. The idea of being captured, spiking an instinctual and animal fear within her.

Suddenly I'm seeing stars, the pain too intense to handle. I feel myself slipping into the water, bubbles leaving my snout and then after a while ... my mouth.

•

Waking up the next day with sunlight streaming through the windows, I rub sleep from my eyes thinking boy, did I just have the most vivid dreams last night. I reach over for my phone on my bedside table but when my hands meet something soft instead of hard, my eyelids fling open in confusion.

I'm not in my bed or in my room, in fact I'm not even in my house.

I look around at the white comforters surrounding me, the soft white pillows beside my head filling up the space on this massive king-sized bed. My eyeballs rotate around the room, noting the neutral white walls, the large and beautiful landscape painting of a waterfall to my right, a door entering into an en-suite to my left and another door entering into a closet, where I can see clothes hanging.

I jump when I notice a girl in the room. She's lying on the couch to the side of me, flicking through a magazine while sucking on a yellow popsicle. Her blonde hair tumbles down her back and suddenly I remember.

Fuck. No, no, no. It wasn't a dream. What the hell has my wolf done? I need to get out of here, right now.

I go to move but suddenly agonising pain shoot's up my leg, "fuck" I hiss, reaching down to grab my leg. What the hell happened to me? The last thing I remember was being in the water and then ... nothing.

"Oh my god you're awake!" The girl slams her magazine down, scrambling to her feet as I'm peeling the covers away to look at my leg. My left ankle is all bandaged up.

"What happened?" I asked, going to peel the bandage away to have a look but the girl stops me with her hand.

"No, no, mom says you have to leave it." She said, her eyes wide with worry, "you were hurt pretty bad by one of the traps in the river. Dad is so so so sorry by the way, he had no idea you were coming yesterday, he would have removed it otherwise. We're all really sorry."

I shiverered, as a vague memory of being in the river and something painful clamping my foot bubble to the surface of my mind "traps?"

"Yeah. A bear trap. Dad has them dotted around the perimeter, to deter rogues. It's never been triggered before now— again we're so so sorry." She said, sitting gently beside me on the bed.

"Rogues?" I asked.

"Yeah. You know wolves without packs. Do you call them something different?" She asked but continues speaking, "Mom says you probably ought to rest for a while but you must be so hungry. Can I get you anything? We've got leftover lasagna or I can make you a sandwich? We've got ham, cheese or I can run down to store and pick you something up? Are you a vegetarian?"

"Uh, no that's okay." I look down at my bandaged foot and notice then that I'm wearing pyjama shorts and an oversized white shirt which isn't mine ...

Shit. It suddenly dawning on me that everyone saw me naked. Someone would have had to have dressed me. Embarrassed is an understatement. I suddenly feel like I'm going to throw up.

"What happened?" I said, my face on fire with mortification.

"Well, you passed out in the water of course. We all came running, we were so worried ... there was so much blood but mom says you're lucky it's only broken skin and muscle and not bone, it should heal in a couple weeks. Faster if you rest." She smiles, eyes glistening as she holds her popsicles which is already starting to melt.

"What about ..." I looked down suddenly at my clothes, unable to get the words out.

"Oh well," She ducked her head "the shorts are mine but the top is Theo's, he thought it might make you feel more comfortable wearing something of his. You know, cus of his scent ... it did seem to relax you ..."

I realise suddenly that my wolf is humming in quiet satisfaction. And that's because I'm surrounded by his scent .. it's everywhere... not just on the top but also on the sheets. Is this his room?

"Did he ...you know ...?" I say helplessly, looking at the clothes.

"What?" Her eyes widen "oh no no! I mean he's the one that carried you in of course, but no me and mum dressed you. I'm so sorry! I'm not very good at this am I? Please don't feel uncomfortable," she reaches out for my arm, "we're so happy to finally meet you."

"Finally?"

Her eyes are as stormy and intense as her brothers. What the fuck is going on? Why did she know about me?

"Yeah of course we know all about you. I mean you're my brother's mate," She said, confusion twinging her words.

Mate. She used that word. The same word my wolf won't shut up about.

"What does that mean?" It's been the burning question on my mind since the moment on the pier. I suddenly feel I have to know.

The girl suddenly looks concerned, "Are you feeling okay? Perhaps I should go get mom. You might have a slight concussion."

"No—no it's fine." I say, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable. I need to be back in my own bed in my own home surrounded by ...

Home. Grandma. Mom. Fuck.

"Where's my phone?" I say suddenly looking around the room, "I need to call my family."

"Oh you can use mine if you like? Theo's out on a run right now tracking your stuff down. He'll be back soon though." She said, hurrying over to the couch and popping her melting popsicle in an empty glass as if she's suddenly not interested in it, before grabbing her phone off the table next to it, "here."

"Thank you." I said, taking it with slight hesitation, "but I really don't think I can wait. I think I should just leave now. They're going to be really worried about me."

She gives me a strange look, "you're in no fit state to turn back into your wolf."

"It's okay I'll just walk."

She gives me another strange look, "you're in no fit state to walk to the bus stop either. I'm sure Theo will give you a lift in his car when he's back if you really must go."

My eyebrows furrowed. The bus? He'll take me in his car? "Where am I?"

"Enderside," she replies, eyes darting to the door behind her ... "look, I'm gonna go get my mom. I really think she should check you over."

Enderside? No that can't be right. That's nearly three hours from home. How did I even get here? How long was I running for yesterday?

"No that can't be right" I reply with a shake of my head, looking down at the girl's phone in my hand. I need to call grandma I know I do ... but if I call her and tell her anything close to the truth she'll be jumping in her rusty pick up truck and charging right over here. And if she finds out that I'm with a bunch of werewolves? She won't even drive us back home, she'll be here with mom and all our stuff packed in the trunk. Kiss goodbye to Bryony, Josh, college in September and everything I know and love.

No. I can't let that happen. She can't find out.

The girl pressed her hand to my shoulder, "It's going to be okay. I hope you know that you're so welcome here."

Was my panic that obvious? How much did this girl know about me? Why in the hell had Theo mentioned me to his family? And most importantly... why the fuck did my wolf have to get me into this mess?

"What is your name?" I found myself asking all of a sudden. Realising that I'm wearing the girls shorts and I don't even know.

"Well I'm frankly insulted that Theo hasn't mentioned me," her eyes lower as if she is truly hurt by that fact.

I don't know why but I find I want to reassure her, "he did mention he had a sister. I just don't know your name."

These words seem to genuinely cheer her up and she extends her hand, "I'm Felicity."

I take her hand, charmed by her sudden formality "I'm Arielle."

She grinned, likely because she already knows. She then walks away from the bed, "I'm going to go get mom and some food for you. But I'll give you some time to call your parents okay?"

I nod, mustering a smile as she leaves and I dial the number I've had memorised since I was seven years old.