Untamed - Book 1
Chapter 17

“Sure, because a giant white beast running through the woods would help to hide my identity SO well. No, I can’t let her free without risking being caught. The incident with the rogues my first day here, that shouldn’t have happened. That was when I realized my control was beginning to slip.” He chuckles at my sarcasm and shakes his head before his face becomes more serious.

“Suppressing your wolf can cause you to lose control. Follow me.” He grabs my hand and pulls me along behind him. He leads us further into the forest until we reach a small lake. He stops and pulls me in front of him, holding my hand in his and I quickly pull my hand free when he reaches for my ring.

“What are you doing?!” He smiles and holds his hand out to me.

“Trust me, please. No one here is going to hurt you.” I don’t trust people, but my body moves of its own volition and places my hand in his. He carefully slides my ring off and places it in my bag before sliding it off my shoulder and setting it on the ground beside a tree. I can feel my beast pushing to the surface, begging to break free.

“Stop fighting her. Just let go. I will be with you the whole time. Just let her go.” His voice is soothing and calms my nerves. It is like his voice calls to my beast, a siren song that she can’t refuse. She pushes forward, taking control and I willingly let her. He stands beside me as my body shifts, breaks and reshapes, petting my hair and whispering calmly into my ear until my beast has fully emerged.

“You are amazing.” He announces in a heated breath as he takes a step back. I watch through my beast’s eyes as the alpha strips down and shifts into a large black wolf, nearly as large as my own beast. His wolf steps forward and runs his nose along the neck of my beast before crouching down, his chest low as if preparing to pounce. I watch curiously as his tail wags and he bolts past us, into the trees. My beast immediately gives chase, leaping, ducking and dodging every obstacle in our path. We run for several miles, the tension and conflict between my beast and I diminishes more with every step. In my whole life, I have never felt as free as I do at this very moment. He takes a sharp turn and doubles back toward the small lake, finally coming to a stop at the shore. The sun is quickly dropping below the tops of the trees, leaving the sky brightly lit with orange and pink hues. I hear the sound of bones breaking beside me and turn just in time to catch the alpha’s bare back, his tan skin stretched tightly over his toned muscles. I turn away, not wanting to risk being caught staring, and push forward until my beast releases control. I suppose one thing I can be grateful for is that my lycan shifts without destroying my clothes. Once my shift is complete, I am left standing in my black dress, looking out at the shimmering water of the lake in front of me. I feel the warmth and crackling energy spread through me as he takes my hand and gently slides the ring back on my finger.

“Do you feel any better?” I pull my arm free and wrap both arms tightly around myself.

“Actually, yes, I do. Is that what it is like for you every time?” He chuckles as he steps up beside me.

“Not all the time, but most of it. How did it make you feel?” I think for a moment before a smile pulls at my lips.

“Free.” The breeze blows my hair, making it dance gracefully across my shoulders and face. Free is the only word that can describe what I feel and yet, it still isn’t enough. My entire life has been filled with restraint, strain and forced perfection. I have had to hide a part of myself from the world, from myself. Being able to let go is a new feeling that I worry I may become addicted to.

“You may replace your wolf easier to control if you give her control once in a while. It is not in their nature to be caged and locked away.” His words make it sound so simple, but unlike him, my existence is anything but. In our world, people like me are hunted, exterminated. Our existence is considered unholy by most. Hybrids are not common and the few I have read about were deemed too powerful a creature to allow to exist. I know this is why my mother did what she did, to protect me, save me. She kept many of my abilities secret, including the one that would turn the council on its head. I release a sigh, letting my mind clear and expelling my current of surging emotions into the universe on a single breath as I slowly step forward into the water.

“What are you doing?” I turn toward the alpha, continuing further into the lake as I smile at the alpha’s confused expression.

“Going for a swim.” He raises a brow, a small smile causing his lips to curl up.

“In that?” He gestures to my dress and I shrug my shoulders.

“It is this or nothing or nothing at all.” His smile grows wide as he runs a hand through his hair. I stop when the water reaches my waist, slowly lowering myself until I am fully submerged. The feel of the cool water against my heated skin is heavenly, a kind of relief that I did not realize I needed. The muffled sound of something splashing into the water near me forces me to the surface, looking for the cause when the alpha emerges from the water a few feet away from me.

“Damn, jumping into a cold lake has never felt so good.” He chuckles as he runs his hand through his hair, slicking it back, away from his face as his hazel eyes meet mine and for a moment, it feels as if time stands still.