The Wolf In Me novel Chapter 35

Jake's pov

I was walking quietly at the newly made cemetery, listening to the beautiful music of the forest around our now safe territory. It was so good to feel free and relaxed outside and not worry that you might end up dead. I looked at each memorial stone thinking of how many of us were lost in the process.

"Kent" I read. "I remember you," I said kneeling in front of his memorial stone.

We met when I was going around in search of the packs. He was the beta of the blood pearl pack.

"Gone, but never forgotten," I continued to read.

He helped me convince the alpha to join in. I sighed and stood up, "I'm so sorry," I mumbled.

Leaving the cemetery grounds I decided to take the opportunity to run into the woods in wolf form. I removed my clothes as my brown fur emerged from beneath my skin and Codiac was free to make his first run of the day. Now that the sun rose completely, he could see the beautiful light coming through the trees, hitting the soil.

"Run Codi, run," I told him clasping my top and shorts in his mouth.

We raced further in and reached the ocean. My wolf halted and sniffed the air, inhaling the freshness. The sand beneath us was still a bit cold from last night's wind and it felt good. Suddenly I could faintly breathe in a mesmerising fragrance. I looked around from afar. I could see a group of girls approaching.

"Mate," I mumbled, resting my eyes on a red-headed, tall and slim young lady.

I wasn't sure if she was a wolf or possibly human so I didn't want to approach her in wolf form. I hid and shifted into human form, then realised I was naked. I couldn't lose my opportunity to get to her so I hid my clothes somewhere safe and jumped into the ocean to hide my lower body and swam to her direction. As I got closer I could see her more clearly. She was smiling at the other girls and giggling. She didn't wear any makeup and now I could see that her hair was dyed as it looked like little mermaid's red colour tone. I think I must have been breathing way too loudly as she turned her attention on me. We both fixed our eyes on each other for a moment, feeling my heart beat fast in my chest. Her mouth formed a smile like she recognised who I was to her.

I watched her take off her light blue dress, exposing her matching bikini and jumped into the sea.

"Hey," she said, as she emerged from under the ocean.

"Oh, hey," I said noticing how close she was to me.

Her sweet scent sent shivers down my spine now that she was closer.

"My name is Melody," she said glowingly.

"Jake," I said shyly smiling back.

Mei's Pov

Luka and I were getting ready, packing to return to the moonshine packhouse. The wedding was to be held in a few weeks and nothing was yet prepared. I heard a faint knock at the door as I was trying to tuck my last shirt in the luggage.

"Yeah?" I yelled.

Sweat was running down my face, trying to close the zip. I inhaled and sat down on the chair of my dressing table as I watched the doorknob being pushed down slowly.

"Ah Nelly," I grinned trying to hide my frustration.

"Sorry to interrupt but I could hear a lot of commotion coming from this room and something told me that help was needed here."

I chuckled as I stared at her for a while, trying to catch my breath back whilst remembering our school days.

"Do you still remember Pippa the chubby?" I asked her still smiling.

"Yeah, the friendly old cat. She was super pregnant at that time, but she disappeared and was never seen again," Nelly remembered.

"And Cindy. Carol took her as her pet," I continued.

"She was super black with beautiful green eyes. I swear if she didn't take her, I would have taken her for myself. She was such a beauty". She smiled at me and pointed at my belly.

"How is your muffin in the oven doing? Would you like me to check you up?" She asked.

I looked down at my small baby bump cackling and nodded at her whilst moving to the messy bed. Lylah came in through the wide-open door just in time.

"Hey you two. Don't start without me. I want to join in."

Both witches placed a hand on my belly, closing their eyes and the room got quiet for a moment.

"Oh. Guess what! We can tell the gender if you like," Lylah said grinning from ear to ear.

"I know it's a boy," I replied glancing at both of them.

They looked at each other smiling.

"Well.... your feeling was right all the while," Nelly said chuckling.

I smiled as I sat up on the bed.

"Well, I must finish off this mess before WE head off to the smaller packhouse," I said raising my eyebrows at them.

"We?" Lylah asked exchanging looks with Nelly.

"For real?!" They said together like they have practised it a dozen times before.

"For real!" I cracked up as I watched them jump around and dance like young girls.

I knew they had nowhere else to go. They explained to me that they were living amongst the human civilization, renting out a small apartment after both of their covers were diminished.

Luka's pov

My eyes were gazing at the new picture that was placed on the wall of the long staircase amongst the older pictures. I couldn't help myself not to weep, feeling a sudden sting in my throat.

"Oh. How I miss you dad," I whispered to myself.

The new portrait was painted by the best painter in our pack. Isabella Murphy, Malakai's wife and mate. She drew us so perfectly, with dad standing on my left side and Mei on my right all smiling and looking happy.

"King alpha," someone from behind me called, shaking me off my thoughts.

I wiped off the few tears that were rolling down my face and turned as I cleared my throat. It was Steph looking up at me from the third step.

"You can call everyone for breakfast," she announced.

"We finished earlier since we have fewer people around," she continued.

"Thanks, Steph," I said smiling down at her.

Most of the packs left early in the morning and our grounds were now calmer. She started at me for a while longer and I knew that she realized I was having a moment. She looked down at the floor for a split second then looked back up at me.

"You know what? He gave me a recipe he knew you would like. He used to cook it for you as a child and I promised I would do it for you. It's the least I can do to make you feel better," she said smiling.

I smiled back at her and nodded but I couldn't form any words.

"Where is my Beta?" I asked knowing that she might know.

She shook her head and raised her eyebrows.

"I'll go check on him before I announce that breakfast is ready."

Rushing down the stairs I exited the door and hurried to the closed gate. From the distance, I could see two figures walking towards me. I sniffed the air, noticing that one of the scents was familiar.

"Who is that girl by Jake's side?" I chuckled and waited for them to approach as I asked the guards to open the gate.

"Alpha Luka, I found her at last!" Jake beamed as he raided his hand around her neck.

"Melody, this is the alpha of the moonshine pack and King of all wolves," he announced.

She bowed down and smiled politely.

"Ah, no formalities here Melody. You are most welcome! Finally, at your 100th birthday you found her," I teased, chuckling at my own joke.

"He waited patiently this long for you," I declared placing a hand on Jake's shoulder as I cackled.

"She is a good witch just like Nelly and Lylah," he explained looking at her with twinkling eyes.

She smiled at him for a second, then turned to look at me.

"I am part of the coven of the unseen moon. The last to survive. Only a few of us remained loyal to our high priestess since she was selected as one at a very young age. Some were against the decision to keep her as one due to her lack of experience, but the few that supported her stayed by her side whilst the others left," She said.

"Well. I have my mind put at rest then since you made the right choice, I'm confident that you will be loyal also to him and us," I said back.

"Luckily you found each other on time. This was our last day on these grounds. We are moving back to our territory this afternoon. Please, do come in."