Rosie

It had been a week since I discovered there was a world beyond what I knew and grew up in, a world where werewolves were real and I was now intertwined with them and their lives, and everything that came with it.

I was mated to a werewolf.

After being discharged from the hospital, I’d cooped myself up for some days battling with the loss of my sister because even though Sophia had tried to kill me, she was still my twin, and mourning her was complicated and painful.

But I later got over it enough to function, and Jude told me more about his world, and even Elena came by to congratulate me and told me welcome, “Welcome to the pack,” with a warm smile that made me feel accepted.

Jude and I had been cooped up in my cottage for days, just the two of us existing together before we came out for the festival today, and I was nervous and excited all at once.

And here I am now, grinning cheek to cheek, nervousness forgotten, with my hand engulfed by Jude’s warm, large hand, and the spark continued to rumble through me from where our skin touched, and I beamed happily, enjoying the feeling of being with him.

I couldn’t believe I was among werewolves now, even though Jude had introduced me to his world and explained everything, but I was still new to it all, and people were staring at me and him as we walked through the streets hand in hand.

Today was the Moon Festival, and Jude used the opportunity to tour me around the pack territory so I could see where he grew up, and as we walked, people were bowing to Jude with respect, and I was fascinated by the courtesy they showed him as their future alpha.

What surprised me most was when I saw some of his teammates from the hockey team, and they greeted me warmly as if they had been waiting for me to catch on.

“Finally there’s no need to be on edge around you now that you know about us,” they joked, and I laughed.

Even more surprising was seeing Coach, and my eyes nearly bugged out in shock because he was a werewolf too, and he winked at me like he knew exactly how mind-blown I was.

The night was beautiful, with decorated lanterns floating in the air and some kids running around laughing and screaming while everywhere was boisterous and alive with celebration. Even some people had crouched down and shifted into their wolf forms, and two women danced in a circle around them, while at the side the drummers were drumming a rhythmic beat that thrummed through my chest.

We stood and watched while clapping our hands to the beat, and Jude leaned down to tell me it was their traditional festival dance and gave me a brief history about it and how it was a mating dance performed during the Moon Festival to honor the goddess and celebrate bonded pairs.

When the people saw us standing there watching, they parted to make space, and some kids grabbed Jude’s hand excitedly. “Join us, young alpha.” They dragged him to the middle of the circle and automatically dragged me too since our hands were still linked together.

“Dance!” they chanted while staring at us with anticipated excitement, and I blushed bashfully because everyone was watching and waiting. I couldn’t believe these people would be so accepting of me as a human among their midst, but there was no judgment in their eyes, only warmth and welcome.

I mimicked what I’d seen the girls dance earlier and tried to follow the rhythm even though I had no idea what I was doing.

During the dance I could feel the heated gaze of Jude on me like he wanted to devour me whole, and I felt a thrum building in my body as I danced and moved to the flow of the music, and when he twirled me in the air, my body flushed against his, and heat pooled in my stomach from the contact.

We danced together, moving as one, until the melody ended, and I was laughing loudly and smiling so wide my cheeks hurt from happiness.

Before the kids could drag him into another dance, Jude lifted me up in a scoop without warning, and I yelped at the sudden action, and he strode away from the crowd while I buried my head in the crook of his neck in embarrassment because everyone was watching us leave together.

I noticed his breathing getting ragged and uneven with his chest heaving, and I removed my head from where I’d hidden it to look at him properly and noticed his eyes flashed gold for just a moment.

I murmured against his ear, “What happened?”

He groaned low in his throat and bit his lower lip like he was in pain or struggling with something internal.

“Are you okay?” I tapped his shoulder, wanting to get down to check on him, and he groaned again and grimaced like my touch hurt him.

My brow furrowed in concern. “Jude...” I trailed when he trudged away from the crowd to a lower place where fewer people were gathered and then to the outskirts of the bush.

He dropped me gently on my feet and clenched his hands by his sides with his shoulders tense and rigid, and he moved forward to a big tree, and before I knew what was happening, he punched it hard. The tree rattled from the impact, and I squeaked in surprise and worry.

I took a tentative step toward him, wanting to comfort him or help somehow, but he stopped me with how animalistic his voice sounded when he spoke.

“Don’t come closer,” he said through gritted teeth as his shoulders trembled, “I won’t be able to control myself if you...”

But I knew he wouldn’t hurt me. I knew it in my bones, and I walked closer to him anyway because he needed me. He stared at me and snarled under his breath as if it was taking everything in him not to pounce, and his body was shaking.

As soon as I touched his arm, he snapped and grabbed my hand hard, and I stared at him, taking in how his eyes were completely golden now, his teeth had fanged out, and hair had sprouted on his arms.

Jude pulled me closer against his body so tight and buried his nose against my jugular, breathing too hard. My chest thumped with excitement and anticipation for something I didn’t fully understand but wanted desperately.

He lapped at my neck with his tongue, tasting my skin, and I tilted my neck to give him more access because it felt good and right. As soon as I felt his fangs prickle against the sensitive skin of my neck, I felt a pool of heat between my legs, and my body arched into his, wanting more, wanting everything.

But suddenly he moved away quickly like I’d burnt him and pushed me away gently but firmly, putting distance between us.

I wanted to speak and ask what was wrong but stopped when I saw Jude had taken a chomp on his own arm, biting down hard enough to draw blood, and I gasped in shock and confusion... and disappointment because I’d thought that bite was meant for me.

On my neck, not his own skin.

What the heck was that, and why did I feel so empty now that he’d pulled away?