The Fall Ball
Chapter 58

(Ash)

I look to Rose and smile. “Are you ready?” I ask her. She looks around and then nods at me. “Well I’m going to go over here and shift and then I will come back to you. I wont be able to communicate with you, unless you create a mind-link between us.” I tell her, she nods and I turn around to go shift.

It takes me just a few minutes to shift into Aspen. Once fully shifted I walk back up to Rose and nudge her, she smiles at me and rubs my head. I watch as the others around us go off and shift. Soon everyone is ready for the run, I can feel the excitement in the air.

I lay down next to Rose, she smiles and climbs onto my back. She rubs her hands through my fur. I stand up and I feel her tighten her grip in me, Aspen lets out a wolfy chuckle. “Jerk,” I hear Rose mutter under her breath.

I throw my head back and let out a howl, signaling that the run is going to begin. The others all let out a howl of their own. I dart off through the woods to the path going around the kingdom. I look over my shoulder and see the others following me, this feels great. I have my mate and the kingdom is at peace.

For now anyways. I know that something big is coming. But I also know that we can handle it all, as long as we have each other.

I run for about 20 minutes, then I feel Rose moving and adjusting on my back. I slow down and look to Raymond who is running next to us.

“Rose are you okay?” He asks her. “No, I need a minute,” she tells him. I come to a complete stop. I watch as the members of the kingdom all stop with us. I go behind a tree and shift back into human, I grab a pair of sweatpants from the tree I was behind and put them on. I walk out to the crowd.

“Thank you all for joining me on this run. I think Rose and I are going to sit here for a little while. So please continue to enjoy yourselves. You may continue to run, just stay on the path or you may go back to the palace.” I say to them. Soon they are all walking away and going to do their own thing.

I walk over to Raymond who looks concerned while watching Rose. She seems to be struggling to breath. I walk over to her and go to touch her, but she pulls away.

“Please don’t touch me. I feel like I am on fire. Why is it so warm tonight?” She asks me. I notice that her eyes are green. “Lilly?” I ask. But Rose shakes her head no, “I cant seem to replace her,” Rose tells me. At this I hear Raymond gasp and turn to look at him.

“She is going to shift,” He tells me. “We need to alert the guards to keep everyone away from this area. We want her to be calm and as comfortable as she can be.” He says, I nod and link the guards.

“Rose, can I do anything?” I ask her.

“No, why can’t I hear Lilly?” She says with tears in her eyes.

“Because she is working on coming through Rose. You need to be calm, and she will be here soon.” Raymond says to her.

“How do I get this feeling of being on fire to go away?” She asks. I smile at her.

“Well you can take your clothes off to give you more freedom. Or you can let me hold you. It is said that the mate bond will help to ease your pain and discomfort.” I tell her.

She instantly moves closer to me and I wrap my arms around her. She feels really warm to the touch. Soon I can feel her breathing level out and she seems to be cooler to the touch. I look down to see her smiling.

“Feeling better?” I ask her and she nods at me. “Do you want to sit down for a little while? You can sit between my legs so that we can still use the mate bond to keep you comfortable until it is time.” I say to her.

“Ya that would be nice.” She says pulling away from me so that I can sit. Then she sits between my legs and I wrap my arms around her again and k**s her neck.

“Do you want me to stay? Or do you want to do this in privacy?” Raymond asks her.

“I think I want you to stay. I don’t want to hear anyone’s thoughts while I am in that much pain.” She tells him. He nods and takes a seat not too far away from us.

We sit that way for a while watching the stars and making small talk. We must have fallen asleep, as I am awoken to Raymond shaking me. I go to speak when he puts his hand over my mouth and points.

I look over to see Rose is shaking and whimpering. She is drenched in sweat. Before we can do anything her eyes shoot open and lock on us.

Only her green eyes are slightly glowing.

I notice movement behind her and go to see what it is, but I am stopped.

“Do not fear, it is just me. I am here to be sure I can ease her pain while she shifts.” Selene says to me. I nod at her and sit close to Rose, with out touching her. Raymond nods to Selene and takes a seat next to me.

I watch Rose as she looks at Selene. Selene places her hand on to Rose’s forehead. Rose’s moth opens and she lets out a low whimper.

“It is time,” I hear a raspy voice say. The voice came from Rose, but it doesn’t sound like her at all.

“Her voice is just tired. She will be okay, but it is now time for Lilly to show herself. I am going to take the pain from Rose. Please just stay back, and let Lilly come to you when she is ready.” Selene tells me.

Selene places her hands on both sides of Rose’s head. She says a few things that I can not hear. Then she k****s Rose on the forehead and then steps back.

Rose falls limply to the ground. I go to get up and go to her, but Raymond stops me and points.

Before me I see Rose’s body tremble and right before my eyes she transitions. Now in front of me is the most beautiful wolf I have ever seen. Snow white fur that glistens in the moon’s light.

Lilly lays still for a few moments. And then her tail starts to wag, I relax a little as her eyes open. She trys to stand up, it takes her a few try’s before she gets it. But soon enough she is standing and stretching. She looks around and walks up to the goddess who pets her head.

“Yes my child I know it has been a long time. I am so happy for you. You deserve all the happiness in the world.” Selene tells her. She looks to me, “Well it is time for me to go, but I am always here if you need me.” She says while kissing Lilly’s head and turning to walk around.

I am still in shock at how fast Rose shifted for the first time. I just nod at her as she leaves. Once she os gone Lilly turns and looks at me.

She walks up to me and nuzzles her big head into my neck. I laugh as I pet her head. As I touch her I feel a mind-link connection.

“Hello, my mate, I have waited a long time for this moment.” Lilly says to me.