Page 78 of Wild Wolves

The lunar goddess has blessed me, giving me more power than I could ever imagine. I will prove my worth. I just might have to bide my time.

My life starts here and now.

I will get the guys back and create my own pack. I won’t be this omega forever. Ravi hasn’t proven anything. He hasn’t proved his worth as my alpha.

But I have proved it to myself.

I will lead.

I will rise like the morning sun, banishing the moon and the night.

My wolf will break free.

Chapter twenty-six

Eliana

Epilogue

PAINRADIATESTHROUGHme,and I roll to my side and stare at the empty meadow in front of me. I’m nearly certain this is what it would feel like getting hit by a bus. Every inch of me feels bruised though my skin remains smooth and even in tone. My muscles burn as if I’ve been working out. I’m also completely naked. Fuck. Where is everyone? The last thing I remember is the moon setting. I remember Ravi circling me and encouraging me as my body shifted and transformed back into a human.

I remember swearing at him and sending him away. I remember watching him leave, thinking that it must’ve been a joke, but he listened to me. And I guess I fell asleep.

“Eliana...” the familiar voice whispers my name, and I peer around the meadow to see Chase sitting on the ground a couple feet away.

He’s dressed in clean clothes, looking hotter than ever. If I hadn’t known any better, I’d think he was never a part of this. I’d think maybe we were in some sort of weird-ass dream.

Chase combs his fingers through his soft hair, the strands sparkling in the sunlight bursting through the thinning trees. Colorful flowers bloom in bunches around the green grass, and I spy the turquoise ocean, sprawling into the horizon.

“Here, let me help you. I’ve been tasked with watching you while our pack handles a couple things. I would have covered you, but Ravi didn’t want me touching you while you slept.” Chase clears his throat and grabs the folded blanket from beside him. He crawls closer as if he’s already used to being on his hands and knees from his wolf form, and he wraps a blanket over me, covering me up.

I shiver at his closeness, a strange scent wafting through the air like an intoxicating cologne. Notes of citrus and sugar mingle with the freshness of the sea, and I inhale a deep breath.

“You smell incredible,” I murmur.

Chase chuckles and touches my cheek. “So do you.”

I tip my head back and laugh. “Yeah, right. I’m filthy.”

“A little dirt never bothered me.” Chase helps me up, smiling at me.

It feels as if last night never happened. If I close my eyes, I can forget the night happened and that I’m naked because of something else, not that I transformed into a wolf. Holy fuck. I’m a wolf.

“And the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” Chase thinks to me, his voice mingling in my mind. “If only I hadn’t let you down. I’m sorry, Eliana. I tried to resist. It was as if I couldn’t do anything by my own freewill.”

Tears burn my eyes, but I don’t let them fall. Instead, I throw my arms around Chase and bury my face into the crook of his neck. I can’t help myself from kissing his throat, needing desperately to distract myself. Fear crashes through me, and there’s nothing I can do about it. I can’t just go running into the forest without a plan in search of the others. Fuck. Evander, Davian, and Tristan are out there somewhere. They could be experiencing complete and utter torture.

“Stop. They are strong, and they will be okay, just as we are. We will find them. We just need to figure shit out here. Adam is currently with Ravi. He is going to learn everything he can for us. Anything we can use.” Chase groans next to my ear, tilting his head to meet my eyes.

I dart my gaze to his lips, the sudden intensity flowing between us igniting more than just relief inside me. I’ve never wanted to be so close to him. I can’t stop my rising desire, bursting because of his certainty in getting through this.

He lifts me off my feet, keeping the blanket snug around me, and I press my lips to his, kissing him softly and sensually, just reminding myself that I’m human and my life isn’t over. I remind myself that I’m not alone.

“Never. I would never abandon you. I don’t care what I have to do, but you’re important to me, Eliana. You have no idea how much it kills me to know that Ravi put a claim on you. I always imagined that you would be mine.” Chase swallows with his words, his soft breath tickling my skin.

I meet his gaze, staring into his beautiful caramel eyes. “He doesn’t own me or control me. I might have bowed to him, but you’re my real packmate. My mate. You, Adam, Evander, Davian, and Tristan. I know that it’s been weird and complicated, but I—”

“You don’t have to explain yourself, Eliana. I don’t care if you feel connected to the others. All I care about is that you so amazingly share yourself with me.” Chase kisses me again with his words, carrying me inside a small cabin, the open floor plan like a studio apartment. A dozen unfamiliar scents wrap around me, and I can tell the other wolves have been here. It’s the strangest thing. I have so many questions, but Chase’s sudden desperation to distract me tosses everything away along with the blanket covering my body.

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