“Not really,” I said hesitantly. “It was an attack from Dark Moon when I was fifteen.” I shrugged. “I was still in training then, so they got a lot closer than they should’ve.”
“Fifteen?” she whispered softly, like she didn’t want to believe it. “That’s so young. What about the one on your leg?”
I looked down at my thigh. “An attempt on Sunny’s life a year later.”
“And the marks across your back? Are those whip marks?”
“Yeah. Training master.” I winced as the memory came rushing back.
It had been just after the Dark Moon attack when I was a teenager. I’d made a mistake letting them get too close, and my master had made sure I wouldn’t soon forget that lesson.
“What about this one?” she asked, pointing to my cheek. “I’ve been wondering about that one.”
I shifted on my feet. That particular scar had been given to me by my father the day he took my last name from me. The day he made me Shade the servant. Shade the weapon.
It wasn’t the only scar he’d given me over the years, but it was the one that had done the most damage to my soul.
“It’s nothing,” I lied. “An accident.”
I could tell Taffy didn’t believe me, but she didn’t press any further, nodding and passing me a small backpack.
“Here. Use this to carry your bikini and towel. You can just wear a T-shirt and some shorts for now.”
“Why wouldn’t I just keep the bikini on underneath?” I asked. “You can only get to the falls in wolf form,” she said. “You’ll need to carry whatever you want to bring.”
“W-wolf form?” I stuttered.
I knew Taffy was aware of my curse, but I had begged her not to tell anyone else. If I shifted, everyone would know.
“Yes.” She nodded. “Is that a problem?”
“I-I can’t go as a wolf,” I muttered, my panic starting to rise.
“It’s the only way to get there, Shade,” she reasoned. “And you are not turning down an invitation from Caelan. You have to go.”
She’s right. I’ve been invited by the alpha. I can’t turn him down.
I smiled and went to change, my hands shaking as I shoved my bikini and towel into the bag. I would have to go against my father’s orders. I would have to reveal my wolf.
Running with Wolves
SHADE
“All right everyone!” Alpha Caelan called once all the wolves had gathered out front. “Make sure anything you want to bring is in something you can easily carry. Go ahead and shift whenever you’re ready, and let’s have a nice run! See you all at the falls!”
I glanced around as everyone else started to strip, tossing their clothes to the ground as they prepared to shift into their wolf forms. I stood there, unsure of how I should handle my current predicament, when my gaze wandered across a very naked Alpha Caelan.
I tried to look away. I really did, but my eyes weren’t receiving any of the signals from my brain, which was trying to tell them we should definitely not be staring at the alpha’s very firm backside.
He turned to face the crowd, and I suddenly found myself hungrily taking in his muscular form. I tried not to drool over the sight of him as my gaze fell below his waist.
Whoa.
My cheeks burned as I abruptly remembered my manners and looked away.
Goddess, what is wrong with me?! What if he had caught me ogling him like that?
I glanced up, noticing the cocky little smirk on his lips. I ducked my head, knowing my face was as red as a tomato.
