The Wolf Within Me
Chapter 8:

Rocco: “Kiani is a healer. As you know, we don't have a healer in our pack. Now we have one. I want you all to start bonding with her.”

River: “Has Kiani agreed to this?”

Rocco: “She will.”

Aspen: “We don't even know who she is and where she came from. From what I've been hearing, she doesn't even know herself.”

Rocco: “Kiani is putting the pieces together. I've also got Maia to do a background check on her. How's that going, Maia?”

Maia: “I'm still looking into that. I'll let you know soon. Let's wait before we start bonding. Until we know more about her, she’s come out of nowhere.”

Asher: “I agree with Maia. Even though she's a healer and that's rare. We never needed a healer in this pack. We've coped fine without one. Kiani could be a danger to the pack for all we know. I say this as your beta Rocco.”

Rocco: “I understand, Asher. We can't let this opportunity of having a healer in our pack pass. Besides, when Maia gets us the information about her, we'll know for sure. I’d rather have her close by so we can keep an eye on her. Her first shift is due soon.”

Nova: “What if she doesn't fit in? We've done this before with a stray wolf. Our wolves are already a close pack.”

River: “She will Nova. You need to spend time with her. She's pretty great. A warm, carefree soul but Kiani can also bite your head off.”

Tao: “Yeah, like she did to Winter.”

Aspen: “Dude, the sidewall still needs fixing. (they laugh - Winter yells)”

Rocco: “Calm down Winter. You healed.”

Winter: “CALM DOWN?! She injured your pack’s mate.”

Rocco: “You're not my mate.”

Rocco’s Wolf: “Grr!”

Rocco: “You should’ve been able to defend yourself.”

Winter: “You were gonna mate with me before she came along. How could you mark her? This Kiani knows nothing of our way of life and you want her to lead our pack now, with you? Kiani to be an alpha female. What a joke.”

In Kiani’s head: Winter’s wolf snarls in disgust.

Winter: “Can she even hunt?”

Asher: “She has a point. Is she even strong enough?”

Aspen: “But she took Winter down.”

Winter: “ONE TIME!”

Tao: “It helps that Kiani fucking gorgeous. All the right curves in all the right places.”

Rocco: “BACK OFF TAO!”

Tao: “But she's all yours!”

Winter: “You're gonna let her mark you back? Are you even putting the pack first?”

In Kiani’s head: Tension hits the pack.

Rocco: “All I think about is what's best for our pack. If I want Kiani to be my mate, that's my choice and my choice alone.”

Winter: “She hasn't even marked you back. I bet she doesn't even know how.”

Nova: “Shut up, Winter.”

Asher: “You need to know when to stop talking. in the living room)”

In Kiani’s head: Sounds heated. But Rocco doesn’t want me to mark him back. Does he? But he wants me to join the pack. Just because I have some freaky healing skills. That hurts, by the way. It feels like I take on their pain when I heal someone.

Sierra: “I must’ve missed the pack meeting as well.”

Kiani: “I’m just waiting for Rocco.”

Sierra: “Does your wolf want my son?”

Kiani: “Your s-son?!”

Sierra: “I’m Sierra Darkwood.”

Kiani: “Nice to meet you.”

Sierra: “Does she?”

Kiani: “I'm not sure, really.”

Kiani’s Wolf: “I WANT TO MATE ROCCO!”

In Kiani’s head: Gulp.

Sierra: “I heard you live with your aunt. Also, your parents died. What were your parents’ names? Maybe I've met them. They must’ve been wolf shifters, after all.”

Kiani: “I don't know anything about my parents.”

Sierra: “Truly, nothing at all.”

Kiani: “I've seen pictures, that's about it. Maybe you can help me replace out more about them? My aunt won't tell me.”

Sierra: “I guess if you were a part of this pack…you don't have any other family like a brother or sister?”

Kiani: “No, it's just me.”

In Sierra’s head: Kiani doesn’t know she has a brother. So where is Kylo? I would know if he was involved in the wolf shifter community. I think we need to keep Kiani close.

Sierra: “You should be here for your first shift. It can be harrowing. If it gets too much, you might even reject your inner wolf. You'll replace comfort being here with Rocco. After all, he might be your future mate. Nice to meet you, Kiani.”

In Kiani’s head: Rocco’s mom. She makes me feel nervous in an awkward way. It's like she lost all emotion. I wonder what happened to her. Maybe I'm just overthinking.

River: “You’ve turned things upside down but life was getting boring anyway. Are you staying the night?”

Kiani: “I should get going.”

River: “Oh come on, stay. We can have a girl's night.”

Kiani: “I don't have my things.”

River: “I’ll get Maia to drive you. She's training to be an enforcer.”

Kiani: “Enforcer…”

River: “Security. Can you take Kiani home to get her stuff? She’ll be staying the night.”

Maia: “Oh really?”

River: “Cya in a bit. (River leaves)”

Maia: “Let me just get changed, and we'll get going. If you hurt any of my pack. I won’t hesitate to kill you. (Maia walks away)”

In Kiani’s head: Rocco’s presence always hits me hard. I feel goosebumps around my body. That familiar heat burns through me.

Rocco: “Since you're staying the night, you can join us on our morning run.”

Kiani: “Good thing I like jogging.”

Rocco: “This will be very different. I hope you can keep up. Thank you for healing me.”

Kiani: “You're welcome. I didn't know what I was doing. It's like I took on your pain.”

Rocco: “You did claw my chest.”

Kiani: “You deserved it. I should get my stuff. (next morning River’s bedroom - Kiani dreams of her and Rocco’s wolf and shift back to their human form and kiss)”

Rocco: “I love you.”

Kiani: “You're mine, Rocco, forever.”

In Kiani’s head: What the fuck was that? My heart doesn't stop racing and beating frantically as my body craves one thing…(Rocco wakes up from the same dream)

In Rocco’s head: The need for her to mark me is getting stronger. Very strong. Thank God it isn't heat season. I’d be screwed. Kiani would be screwed. Deeply.

Kiani: “What now?”

River: “You groan in your sleep. What were you dreaming about? It must’ve been hot.”

Kiani: “Well, if you stayed on your side of the bed.”

River: “I'm sorry, wolves like to cuddle.”

Kiani: “Wolves have never heard of personal space.”

River: “My wolf is bonding with yours. She feels like you're joining the pack and wants to be closer to you.”

Kiani: “Okay, that's cute. (both laugh). I don't know if I'm even joining River.”

River: “We’ll see. So, what are you wearing?”

Kiani: “I bought all my gym stuff.”

River: “Damn, look at you.”

Kiani: “This is my favorite. They hug me and all the right places.”

River: “Rocco won't be able to resist you. (River laughs)”

Kiani: “That's funny.”

River: “Are you gonna mark him back?”

Kiani: “No. We're both waiting for my mark to fade.”

River: “If you're meant to be mated, you can't run from it. A wolf wants what a wolf wants. (outside in the garden)”

Winter: “I'm sorry about last night. I didn't mean to challenge your authority. I trust you, alpha. I was just upset.”

Rocco: “You'll have to accept Kiani into the pack. Regardless if she'll be my mate or not. We need a healer.”

Winter: “We have a history. I just don't want you to throw that away. I've been training my whole life to be an alpha female. You'll see today on our run how much my wolf wants you.”

In Kiani’s head: I see the pack is altogether. They look close and united. Like a really big family. When you look at the pack you can tell there's something different about them. Something mythical. To their physique and beautiful glowing eyes. Anyone would feel intimidated by them all together like this. Would I fit in? They look at me like an outsider. My inner wolf doesn't feel calm. She feels restless. All she scents is a bunch of stranger wolves. Are they a threat to her? I start feeling overwhelmed. River’s wolf submits to my wolf. As if accepting her into the pack. Respecting my wolves.

River: “You'll feel at ease soon. But don't freak out when we all shift.”

Kiani: “You're all gonna shift?”

River: “It's how we bond as a pack.”

Kiani: “Here's to me thinking we were going for a regular human morning jog.”

River: “The morning sprint with a twist.”

Kiani: “But I can't shift yet.”

River: “But you'll be able to catch up and trust your instincts.”

In Kiani’s head: My instincts tell me to claim Rocco in front of Winter. Does she have to stand that damn close to him? (running in the forest). Can you tell I’m the runt of the pack? I might be smiling on the outside but inside everywhere hurts. I thought I was fit but these guys are on a whole nother level. I could pass out with the speed that they're going. Then they leap and their bone structure breaks then change quickly. As they run in they’re giant wolf form. I slowed down as I watched the different colored wolves play. The site was beyond this ordinary world. Like they didn't belong here but they did. The wolves guide me to a beautiful place by the river. I can tell immediately which wolf is Tao. He acts like a little pup with his long tongue hanging out and his eyes vibrant. He keeps causing havoc as the other wolves try to relax. Nipping and playfully pouncing, the wolves paw him away like a little little brother. River tumbles with Tao sometimes. I've never spoken to this new guy. I think his name is Aspen keeps tugging at Rivers’ tale, wanting to get the attention on him. I think River has two wolves vying for her attention which I'll be asking her about later. Maia seems to be on high alert and Asher with they're wolves sitting tall ears back, ready for anything. Nova is rubbed up against Asher. You can tell that their mates. She snuggles into him and looks at him like she's taking care of him. It's quite adorable. I swear I could hear Asher purring from where I'm sitting. Lucky boy. Sierra seems skittish and timid, like she's always on edge. She has a few scars on her wolf as she sits near the alpha. Looking at Rocco as if reassurance for her safety. What happened to Sierra Darkwood? Of course, Winter keeps treading in plainview of Rocco, trying to get closer to him but not to close. I don't think anyone can get close to him. He's very independent. Like the presence of the other wolves but has boundaries. I guess he’s an alpha. Not forgetting the size of Rocco in wolf form. He's more significant than all the others. Who would even think or dare to attack Rocco Darkwood? But he has the scars to prove it. I dare to stroke Rocco’s magnificent wolf. I’d love to draw this secret moment of these fantastic creatures they've allowed me to see. I just sit on my rock and take it all in. I thought I’d be scared, but I feel protected. How can anything hurt me with these giant beasts? Do humans have no idea what's in their woods? Any idea what I am? I feel eyes on me. Rocco’s wolf eyes stared at me. His head tilts at an angle like he's curious about me. It's cute. If you ignore his massive size and sharp teeth. Cute. Rocco begins to rise from sitting posture still looking at me. I tensed as I realized his wolf was coming towards me. I still wear his mark. Could that be the reason? Do I want to replace out? Suddenly Tao comes running towards me, giving me a big old lick on the cheek. Rocco doesn't hesitate and attacks Tao. The rest of the pack move out as they don't wanna get involved. Rocco and Tao growl and claw at each other aggressively. Rocco’s wolf draws first blood. Their fight leads them into the trees.

Winter: “You should be happy that Rocco’s inner wolf is fighting for you.”

Kiani: “Not if they kill each other.”