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Justice’s wolf whimpered and hurried over to his mate.
“Something’s happening.” Wick rasped and fell to both knees, digging long sharp claws into the soft earth.
“My Lord. What’s happening?” His captain tried to push Justice’s large body out of the way and got a harsh warning growl for it.
Justice didn’t want to hurt Wick’s third, but the man was going to have to know his place, and that was to stay the hell out of Justice’s way when his animal was with its mate. His hurting mate. Justice sniffed and nuzzled at Wick’s neck while he sat crouched on one knee, breathing harshly, his eyes wide with shock.
Justice heard his brother yelling at everyone to back off and give them room, as more gathered around. Wick was fighting against a force Justice couldn’t see and it was driving his animal into a fever. He had to help his mate, the feeling was that natural. Looking into Wick’s changed eyes, he saw him. Saw his extraordinary beast. And that’s when he realized Wick was about to shift.
“I don’t know if—,” Wick groaned, cutting himself off. Without warning, he stood and took off into the trees, racing at lighting speed.
He saw his mate fleeing from him. Away from his comfort and protection. His wolf was not having it. Justice reared back and bellowed a long, sorrowful howl, calling out to Wick. He didn’t wait for his mate to respond. Justice bounded into the darkness of the trees, his mate’s scent strong in his nose. The smell of fear was there, too. Justice whined and picked up his speed, his large paws barely making contact with the soft earth before they left it again. After another couple minutes of running up the mountain at almost his max speed, Justice heard Wick’s rapid footsteps, then his breathing.
“Stop running,” Justice sent to his mate, hot on his heels.
Wick was moving fluidly through the mountainous terrain. Leaping up onto towering branches and going airborne for several feet before landing back on the ground, never missing a step. His messy black hair was windswept, straight back, his face set in a determined scowl. Justice ached for him. He knew what was wrong. Wick was a hybrid of some sort and didn’t know how to control it. There was an animal inside of him that Justice believed wanted out… especially now that Wick had found his mate. An animal that confusedly didn’t smell like wolf. It must’ve been quiet all this time. No wonder Wick was scared. Justice had butterflies for his first shift, but there was an enormous difference. Justice always knew he would shift and was prepared for it. Justice also had his father and his pack to see him through it. Wick had no one. Not even a clue. Vampires were not shifters.
Justice ran up next to Wick, his tongue lolling out one side of his mouth as he tried to catch his breath at that speed. He didn’t want to hurt his mate, but at the speed they were running, if he bumped Wick with his flank, it’d send him flying.
“You wanted space, didn’t you?”
That’s the last thing Justice wanted. He huffed and leapt into the air, wrapping his huge body around Wick and flipping so they slammed down to the ground, landing on his own back. They slid for several feet, the debris along the forest floor cutting into Justice’s back, the cuts and scrapes healing almost immediately. He grunted and clung on to his mate even tighter when his thick hind hit a large Spruce, spinning them around a few times before slamming them into another one, his ribcage absorbing the brunt of the pain.
Wick was nestled against the soft white fur along Justice’s belly. So thick and warm. Wick didn’t want to move. He’d give anything in his world to stay like this the rest of his life. His heart beat at a staccato tempo. His Justice not only smelled amazing, his animal felt like the powerful being it was. Wick could feel the strength radiating from him and he needed that more than anything right now.
“Easy.”
“Justice,” Wick groaned.
“Just breathe.”
A sense of peace came over Wick, making him go limp and pliant against the most amazing blanket he’d ever felt. “I’m sorry I ran. I’m not a coward.”
“I know that. I’m sorry, too.”
Justice huffed underneath him and Wick couldn’t help burying his nose in the bushy, stark white fur surrounding Justice’s throat. Wick could smell his other half’s sweet blood, blood that he dreamed was warm and rich. Organic, pure Siberian descendant would taste like nothing he’d ever had. The Mother had truly blessed him. Wick moaned. He hadn’t forgotten he was on top of a large animal and not the man, but all that fur didn’t stop Wick from smelling what was making him crazy. Justice’s blood smelled so robust, like it was mixed with nature’s elements. Wick inhaled pine, cedar, and a type of berry he couldn’t place. All combined to stimulate him. His throat began to heat. Goodness, he was so hungry. It’d been two days. He heard the wolf whine under him, cutting through Wick’s euphoria and stabbing him in the heart. Justice shifted back to human, breathing hard and heavy. His Beloved wasn’t interested in letting Wick put his fangs anywhere near him. The wolf might’ve let Wick feed, but the man would not.
