Page 37 of Pack to the Wall

His wolf was preening inside him, its tail wagging with unbridled joy. For generations, his ancestors had protected these sacred grounds, and now his mate had honored them with her gift. The wolf recognized what Zev was only beginning to understand—she belonged here, had perhaps always been meant to find her way to these shores.

"The song just... came to me," Chrissy said, her green eyes bright with the lingering creative energy. "I can't explain it."

Zev ran his hand along the back of his neck, realizing he'd been less than forthcoming about the ruins. "I should have told you—these aren't just any shifter ruins. They belonged to myfamily. My ancestors were the first to claim this island centuries ago."

He frowned, wondering why he'd fallen into his habitual vagueness about Isle Luna's history. For so long, protecting the pack had meant guarding their secrets, even from guests who posed no threat. But Chrissy wasn't just any guest.

"I'm sorry," he continued. "Old habits. We've kept ourselves hidden for so long that sometimes I forget I don't need to hide from you."

As they followed the path back toward the resort, still shrouded by the dense jungle canopy, Zev made a silent vow. No more half-truths. She was his in every way that mattered—except for the formality of his mark upon her skin. That would come soon, if she accepted. For now, he would show her exactly who and what she'd given herself to.

He stopped abruptly in a small clearing, sunlight dappling the ground around them.

"Chrissy." His voice deepened to that commanding timbre that came naturally when his alpha instincts surfaced. "Would you like to see my wolf?"

Her breathing quickened, her pupils dilating slightly. "Your actual wolf form? Right now?"

"Right now." He nodded, already reaching for the buttons of his shirt. "Just you and me. No one else around for miles."

A flash of nervousness crossed her features, quickly replaced by excitement. "Yes," she whispered. "I'd like that very much."

Zev efficiently removed his clothing, not missing how her eyes tracked every movement, lingering on his chest, his abdomen, and lower. The admiration in her gaze fed his alpha pride. With practiced ease, he folded his clothes and set them aside, standing before her in all his glory.

"Ready?" he asked, his voice already roughening with the change.

At her nod, he allowed the shift to take him. The familiar rush of power surged through his veins as bones reshaped, muscles elongated, and fur erupted across his skin. Within moments, a massive wolf stood where the man had been—silver-gray with distinctive dark brown patches across his belly and chest.

Chrissy's hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with wonder. "Oh my god," she breathed. "You're magnificent."

His wolf's ears perked forward at the praise, his tail swishing once in satisfaction. He remained perfectly still as she took a tentative step forward, then another, until her small hand hovered just above his head.

"Can I...?" she asked.

He nudged his muzzle against her palm in answer, and a delighted laugh escaped her. Her fingers sank into his thick fur, scratching behind his ears in a way that would have been embarrassingly pleasurable if he weren't so captivated by her fearlessness.

Then, in a gesture that sent a primal surge of possessive joy through him, Chrissy knelt before him and wrapped her arms around his massive neck, pressing her face against his fur. No human had ever embraced his wolf form this way—with complete trust and open adoration.

"You're so beautiful," she murmured against him. "So powerful but gentle."

His wolf rumbled with satisfaction, nuzzling against her hair. The acceptance in her touch reached something deep and ancient within him, a part that had always wondered if a human mate could truly understand this side of him. Her wholehearted embrace answered that question definitively.

After savoring the moment, Zev gently disengaged and stepped back, shifting once more into his human form. He retrieved his clothes and put them back on as she stood there watching him, her eyes filled with a mix of disbelief and awe.

"That was truly magical," Chrissy said, her voice filled with wonder. "I've never seen anything so beautiful and perfect. Thank you for showing me."

Zev closed the distance between them, cupping her face in his large hands. "Thank you for seeing all of me," he said roughly. "Many humans fear our wolf forms. You embraced mine."

She smiled up at him. "Maybe someday, when you're feeling especially wild, you could take me for a ride through the moonlit jungle?"

The image hit him with powerful force—Chrissy astride his wolf form, racing through the island under a full moon, her laughter mingling with the night sounds of the jungle.

"Nothing would honor my wolf more," he growled, pulling her against him. "And nothing would please me more than to share that freedom with you."

He kissed her then, pouring every ounce of the emotions swirling through him into the kiss—pride, passion, gratitude, and the beginnings of something deeper that he wasn't quite ready to name. But his wolf knew. His wolf had always known. She was his.

When they broke apart, Chrissy's cheeks were flushed and her green eyes luminous with desire. Zev traced his thumb across her lower lip, savoring the softness beneath his skin.

"I should get you back to rest for a bit," he murmured, though everything in him rebelled against the idea of separation.

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