Seconds ticked by, every one of them seeming to last a lifetime, until finally the air around the wolf shimmered and she shifted.
Oh.
Sara stared. She couldn’t help it.
As a shifter, she’d seen more than her fair share of nakedness, and normally she paid it no mind, but…wow.
Fiery-red hair tumbled over slender shoulders, her skin pale in the moonlight. She was slim, about the same height as Sara, but as she shook out her arms and legs, Sara caught the movement of muscle hinting at the strength within.
“You’re on private property,” the woman said, her voice soft like velvet. To Sara’s ears anyway. She ran a hand through her hair, curious green eyes fixed on Sara. “Are you from the Pentarren pack?”
Electricity crackled in the air, or it should have. The tension between them was so thick, Sara could almost taste it. Her wolfwanted. Shewanted. The words finally registered, and she swallowed, mouth dry. “Yes. I didn’t realise, I…” Glancing around, Sara noted that she’d crossed the border of their properties and now stood about ten feet into Penwith pack territory.
Shit.
“I’m sorry,” Sara muttered. She should start to retreat, cross back into her own territory, but her feet refused to move.
The woman cocked her head to one side and inhaled loudly.
Sara tensed.
“You are Pentarren pack, but I…” She took a cautious step forward, hands fisted at her sides. “I don’t recognise you.”
Heart now in her throat, it was all Sara could do to stay rooted to the spot. That scent still called to her, still set every nerve ending on fire, and she wanted nothing more than to rush forward and bury her nose in the crook of the woman’s neck and just breathe. The full moon heightened all their senses, and Sara had never felt so alive.
“I’ve been away a long time,” she replied eventually and dug her toes into the earth to stay grounded. “But I was born into the Pentarren pack.”
The woman followed her movements but said nothing, hands still tightly clenched. “Who are you?” she whispered, gaze running the length of Sara’s body. The look in her eyes was full of longing, and Sara shivered under the scrutiny.
“Sara,” she said, voice equally as hushed. “Alpha Gallen’s daughter.”
“Hello, Sara.” Her smile turned mischievous. “I’m Rachel. Alpha Tregarrak’s daughter.”
Rachel.
The name rang a bell. Their paths must have crossed at some point when they were younger, but Sara didn’t recognise her scent. “Should I go?” Sara glanced over her shoulder in the direction of her pack house—well out of sight and hearing range.
“Go?” Rachel frowned and took a step forward. “Why?”
Sara eyed her curiously, studying her body language—shoulders relaxed, palms facing forward, eyes dark and slightly hooded. Nothing about it gave the impression she wanted Sara to leave. Not daring to let her gaze drop any further than that, Sara said, “Because like you stated before, I’m trespassing.”
“Hmm, that’s true.” Rachel took another step forward, then another. If either of them reached out a hand, they’d touch. A soft smile curved her lips, and she glanced up at the moon with a sigh. “You feel it too, don’t you?”
Following her gaze, Sara looked up. “The moon?”
“Yes, but not just that.” She lifted her hand and touched her fingertips to Sara’s shoulder. It felt like fire on her skin, burning a path as Rachel traced the curve of Sara’s biceps, then down her arm, featherlight, until their hands met.
Sara immediately clasped their fingers, not ready to risk her moving away. “I feel it,” she murmured.
Rachel smiled, big and bright, and Sara’s heart stuttered at the sight. A gentle tug on Rachel’s hand coaxed her closer still until their bodies were almost flush.
The night had a chill to it now, sea air chasing away the September warmth, but Sara barely felt it. The heat between them was more than enough to chase away the cold. She put a hand on Rachel’s jaw and kissed her. Andoh fuck, it felt like lightning and fireworks andhomeall at once.
Rachel clung to her, hands gripping her shoulders and claw tips digging in, but the pain only added to the myriad of sensations coursing through Sara’s body.
She’d always thought people exaggerated when they spoke of finding their mate. Had assumed it couldn’t possibly be as all-consuming as they made it out to be. Maybe the full moon intensified everything, but…
Sara’s hand shook as she trailed her fingers up Rachel’s side Firm muscle and taut skin met her explorations, and she stopped when her thumb grazed the side of Rachel’s breast, skin soft to the touch. “Can I?” she whispered, her voice sounding far too loud in the stillness of the night.
