“Funny how that gives you an easy out.”
“Nothing about this has been easy.” Fell explodes.
I rock back, stunned by the abrupt shift. “I didn’t want to stay away from you. You’ve always been my heart. I had to.” His voice cracks. “I can’t.” Turning, he rushes off.
Gaping, I watch him leave, completely floored by his public emotional display.
“Well, that was interesting,” Bo whispers.
“Shut up for once,” I snap.
“Oh, Princess, you say the sweetest things.” Bo blows a kiss.
I growl.
“I think we all need to calm down, Bo. Take a break.” Cadoc nods his chin toward the sliding door.
“Gladly.” He salutes us with two fingers.
Kirk places a hand on my shoulder. “Hey. It’s just us now.”
I want to lash out at the healer, but it’d be like kicking a wounded puppy.
It’s a known fact, being unable to save the Alpha’s mate broke something in him. He turned into a recluse after he leaving his position.
“Things don’t always turn out the way we want. Rehashing them is only torturing ourselves.” He shakes his head. “It never changes the past.”
“And we just what?” I wrap an arm around my waist and grip my thigh to remain grounded.
“Forgive people who don’t deserve it or care how they’ve hurt us?”
“Yes, for ourselves, not them.” He pulls me to him and I fight against the feeling of rightness that washes over me.
“Can you look me in the eyes and tell me you’ve done that?” I say boldly.
“I never said do as I did.” Kirk’s right eye twitches.
“You’re batting a thousand with hitting people in their trigger points, aren’t you?” Cadoc asks.
“Has everyone forgotten I didn’t want to be here?” I place my hands on my hips.
“You agreed to help save this pack,” Cadoc’s voice gains more bass, and he stands taller.
“Doesn’t make the price to pay any less.”
“We will not be your punching bags. You’re pissed off and we get it. Doesn’t mean you can take the anger and frustration out on us,” Cadoc drawls, calmly.
I growl at the massive enforcer as the she-wolf drifts to the surface. Panicked, I try to push her down.
She’s been in state of slumber for most of my adolescence.
“Don’t fight her,” Cadoc insists.
Tears slip down my face as my body grows hot and she surges forward in my mind.
“She wants to take control,” I whisper.
“It’s okay, let her out. If the wild wolf wants to play. We can play. Catch me if you can, little wolf.”
Cadoc shifts into his wolf and I follow suit rushing forward.
Wrestling on the deck, we snap at each other’s flanks. It feels good to let out my aggression. Taking the back seat, I’m able to view the world through her eyes. Playfully nipping, I yip.
He’s twice my size, my nips are harmless. He bats me around with his giant paw and evades my attacks. I crouch low to the ground waiting for an opening.
Launching forward, my claws dig into his flank. He tosses me away and I slide across the wood with a yelp.
Loping over, he pins me down and places his teeth around my neck. Yielding, I relax on the ground. My fur melts away and my bones shift back. Dazed, I sit on the ground.
“When you need to work out your aggression, you come to me.” Panting I nod as I remain on my back trying to catch my breath. Limbs loose, and head clear, I’m ready to tap into my intuition.
Running, playing, and wrestling have their place in our society. I’ve lacked that during my previous four years.
“Are you okay?” Kirk asks.
“I was out of line earlier. I’m sorry.”
Kirk offers a sad smile. “There’s a reason I don’t practice healing any longer. We’re two-souled creatures in some ways. The wolf and the man must be in harmony. Treating our kind requires physical and spiritual assistance. I can’t administer that these days.”
