Chapter 19

Rachel

The barest hint of grey streaked through the shades as I slowly opened my heavy eyelids. Wolf stirred within me and I smiled widely, saying hello. She rubbed her head against me as I stretched. A tiny groan escaped as the muscles in my arms and legs felt like ropes tied too tight that refused to budge.

“Rachel?” a gravelly voice sounded from somewhere below me. Wolf perked her ears forward.

“Kyp?” I was bewildered. I remembered eating lunch at the Wolfe’s house and feeling so tired. “Where are we?”

“You fell asleep at the table yesterday at Dominic’s house. You’re in the guest room.”

“Oh.” I digested this. “Why are you here?” My voice came out all high and funny sounding as I was trying to put together all the pieces of the hours I’d obviously slept through.

“I didn’t want you to be alone. I, I’m trying to figure out how this Alpha thing works and what you need from me for your first shifts. New territory for both of us.” His voice was rough and tired sounding, but his words sent heat rippling out from my middle to my extremities.

“Have you been on the floor all night?”

“Yeah. I’ve got a pallet. I’m fine.” Guilt still had Wolf nudging against me again. She shook her fur out. She needed out. I wanted to let her out.

“I think I need to let my wolf out,” I whispered into the dark. His head popped up over the side of the bed. It was too dark to see his face well, but I could make out the faint outlines of concern flitting over his forehead.

“Should we try sneaking outside so you can have a proper run?”

Wolf danced in excitement.

“Definitely.” I grinned.

****

Under the last rays of the moon’s light, I raced on four legs across an open meadow to the fringes of the forest, Kyp right next to me. The smells, the crunch of old leaves under a layer of lacy frost, the wind as it dragged its fingers over my ruff nearly sent me into rapture.

I shook my head, letting the feeling of every new, foreign sensation bury itself into my memory. My first run as a wolf. I was a little sad that Megan wasn’t with me, but not even that could dampen the excitement coursing through me. Kyp barked beside me and I turned my attention to the faint trail he nodded toward.

We followed the old deer trail, meandered around a creek, and leaped over fallen logs. Nothing in my life had ever been so fulfilling, so thrilling, or so perfect.

As the sun hit the tops of the trees, I knew I wanted Megan to share this with me. Packs were supposed to have a mental link, but I didn’t know if Kyp and I would share one, since he’d never been able to properly use his mental link with his old pack. I tried anyway.

Let’s go get Sam and Megan, I thought to him. Kyp stopped and cocked his head at me. I tried again. He stared at me, his sides pulsing with his breathing. He scratched his paw on the ground, and as I watched, I realized he’d written an M. I bobbed my head up and down, assuming he meant Megan. Finally, he nodded and took off back the way we’d come. About fifteen minutes later we were within eyeshot of the cabin.

Just then a group of three light-colored wolves loped by in the distance. Kyp visibly bristled and took a step in front of me. My heart slammed against my ribs until I saw Kyp relax his shoulders and the fur on his back laid down. His nose was cold and wet against my muzzle as he nudged me. Instinctually, I knew he wanted me to follow, rather than get too far out ahead.

We made it up to the cabin door and I scratched my massive paw against the side of the house, not wanting to break the screen.

Sam answered the door, his hair rumpled and his eyes still tired.

“Rachel!” he smiled. “Meg, I think it’s time for a run,” he called back into the cabin.

The four of us spent a glorious hour running and exploring together. When Wolf’s belly rumbled, I knew I needed to stop to eat, though it was the last thing I wanted to do. I’d never felt so free. Thoughts of Joanie, of Lenny, of everything else troubling and painful, fell away in the face of being a wolf, wild, untamed, able to go and do without thought or care. Muscles pounding, lungs expanding, wind whipping my face.

My belly growled again and Kyp nudged me. Even without the use of words, I knew he was telling me to head back.

Back at the cabin, Megan went in first and tossed both Kyp and me spare robes that Dominic’s pack used. They were roomy enough to accommodate a wolf while spacious enough a wolf could wriggle out of them without the need for opposable thumbs. The robes she handed us were a dull grey. I giggled when she came out in a hot pink one.

“Ravishing, don’t you think?” she laughed with me.

“Without doubt.”

“Come on. I’ve got bacon and eggs in the fridge. Why don’t you make some batter for French toast while I do the meat?”

I glanced at my hands. They were covered in dirt.

“Yeah. It’ll take a while to get used to the dirt. I’m a lot less dirty after runs now than I was when I started.” Megan shrugged. I did, too. A little dirt wasn’t going to hamper my enjoyment of being a wolf.

****

“Rachel, how would you feel about moving into the neighborhood for the time being?” Kyp ventured as I popped another piece of bacon in my mouth. I was ravenous. Who knew being a wolf was such hungry work?

“Where?”

“Dominic has given our pack—meaning us and my mom—the house at the end of the street to use. With the Thornehills moving into the area, it seems like the smart place for us to be. You need to be near an Alpha.” I watched with interest as his cheeks stained the faintest shade of red. “And I need to feel like you and Mom are protected.”

“And you’d be near me,” Megan said with a smile.

“Sure. My parents aren’t going to be back for at least two weeks.” I swallowed as a sudden stab of emotion twisted my belly. Grief was weird. And it totally sucked. “So, we only need to let Grandpa in on the plan, so everyone is on the same page in case my parents call his house.”

Megan nodded sympathetically as I finished.

“Why don’t you call your dad?” Kyp suggested, accurately reading my need to check in on Joanie and my parents. I nodded.

“Here. Use my phone.” Sam passed his over. I cleared my throat then got up and moved to one of the couches in the room. I didn’t mind if everyone else overheard, I just wanted a little space.

“Hello, Ken Crumb speaking.”

“Daddy, it’s me. I’m on Sam’s phone. Forgot to charge mine.” I cringed as I improvised.

“Sweetheart!” Dad’s voice had a solid quality to it that had been missing in the past week.

“How was your flight out? Everything go okay? How is Joanie?” My words tumbled over themselves.

“It was good. We’re good. Joanie is good. Will be good.” His words came out in a rush. “We’re getting settled. Sorry we didn’t call last night. Did you get my text? I never heard back.”

“Yeah, sorry about that. Forgot to charge it,” I said again, hoping he didn’t hear the tremor in my voice at the lie. He was too preoccupied to pick up on it, and we talked a few more minutes about the facility and how the program was going to work. Some of the knot in my chest began to ease.

“I hope this works,” I whispered as I hung up the phone.

“It will,” Megan whispered back as she plopped down next to me.

****

The rest of the weekend was a blur of packing, moving, meeting new wolves, and continuing to get acquainted with my own wolf. By Sunday evening, I was confident that my fur would be fine staying tucked away at school Monday.

“I wish I’d been so lucky,” Megan said with a smile as we finished up the dinner dishes Sunday night. Kyp and I had spent the evening with Megan and Sam at their cabin, having a quiet dinner. I was still reveling in my new furry side and savoring the acceptance of becoming part of a pack. Kyp still seemed nervous and unsure of himself, struggling more with his transition into an Alpha than I was with my transition into a wolf.