The Wild Moon by Riley Storm

Chapter Forty-Two

We stared in shock, our snout mere inches from the snarling, yellowed teeth of Johnathan’s muzzle. Yet, for all his might, he and his midnight-furred beast could not break through. The barrier separated us, with him on one side and us on the other.

But there was still a chance he could come through. We would have to take advantage of our head start.

Turning slowly, we limped our way up the tunnel, flanks still rising and falling quickly. It was a short walk, leading us out onto a ledge underneath the starry sky. Turning back, we could still see Johnathan pacing along the edge of the invisible barrier. His eyes stared at us with helpless fury, promising more pain if he made it through.

We looked up at the sky, a feeling of ease washing over us as we sat weakly, nearly falling over again. There was a beauty in the sparkling skyscape, the stars twinkling against the unknown darkness beyond. A vastness that was incomprehensible.

“How did you do that?”

We turned to see Johnathan standing on two legs, naked, his chest still heaving from the exertion of our fight.

Shaking our head at him, we looked back up at the sky. There was no moon in sight here. Was that why we felt so at ease? The Wild Moon had somehow passed by us during the flight through the underground tunnels and our fight. How much time had passed? It seemed like a lot. Too much, even.

“Get back here, Dani,” Johnathan snapped. “We have a lot to talk about.”

We sneezed at him, expressing our disdain for that statement. Talking was the last thing he wanted to do, and we weren’t stupid enough to fall for it. Even now, naked and walking around so ungainly on his two legs, we could see he was prepared for more violence. A predator’s body language was unmistakable to another’s.

“How did you get through this? Let me through.”

Staring at him, we huffed a breath. The truth was, we had no idea. We’d simply been leaning against it one moment and falling through it the next. Like it wasn’t there. It had vanished for us, but we couldn’t explain why.

Nor were we going to shift back to explain that to him. Firstly, he didn’t deserve that from us, not after what he’d tried. Secondly, we felt comfortable in this form. Safer, in a place we didn’t know.

“This won’t last,” Johnathan threatened. “I will find you again.”

We looked at Johnathan, our head tilting to the side as we searched for him in our core. For the bond that would let him track us anywhere we went.

Our eyes went wide. It was gone! Somehow, the barrier had cut the connection between us, relieving us of that horrible, horrid drumming that had filled our mind and soul with its incessant whispering to accept him as our mate.

That was the peace we felt. The sense of calm and relief that had washed over us mere seconds after falling through the barrier. It was the blocking of our Soulbond.

Blocking? Or elimination?

We didn’t know. But this, we knew, this was what we wanted now. And forever. No more calling from within, no more pushing us to be with someone else. We desired freedom most of all. Choice.

“If you come back now, peacefully,” Johnathan said from his side of the barrier, “I might be able to help you. To protect you from my father. But you have to come back through now. I’ll make sure my father lets us be together.”

Looking around, we surveyed our little tunnel exit. There didn’t seem to be anyone else there. We couldn’t sense anything. It felt safe…

I pulled away from the meld, taking control once more, forcing my body through the shift. Gritting my teeth, I held back any pained sounds. Normal shifting was hard enough, but the wounds on my body carried from one form to the other, and now I had my mind alone to block the pain instead of the two of us working together.

It hurt.

The rest of Johnathan’s pack chose that moment to come trotting around the corner. Several of them made appreciative noises at seeing my nude form. I opened my mouth to say something, but to my utter surprise, Johnathan beat them to it.

He whirled on his pack and kicked the nearest one in the snout before grabbing the next by the scruff and slamming him hard to the ground. It was the most Alpha, dominant thing I’d ever seen him do, and a part of me wished he could have been like that from the start.

It was too late for such gestures now.

“I’m not going back with you,” I said once his attention returned to me. “I’m sorry I stole the Idol of Amunlea, but I needed the money, and that was the only way to get it in time. It wasn’t anything personal.”

Johnathan nodded. “My father did not take it well.”

“What does your father take well except for complete and utter obedience?”

His eyes narrowed defensively. “My father expects his pack to respect him.”

I laughed. “Your father demands loyalty. A good leader works hard to earn it. Your father is a cowardly tyrant. There’s no other way to describe him. Respect is earned, Johnathan, not demanded. I’m sorry to hear you say that.”

“Regardless, if you come back through and go to him with me, I can soothe him over,” Johnathan said, declining to respond to my points about his father.

I eyed the other wolves, none of whom looked very inclined to permit me to come through peacefully. They all had violence about them. Even if I knew how to cross over, if I did, they would go for the kill before letting me go back to Seguin.

In fact, I can probably never go home again after what I’ve done. Never see Jo or my old boss, Frannie. That life is gone now, torn away from me, like my parents.

“Listen carefully, Johnathan,” I said, trying to sound tougher than I felt, given I was naked and half covered in my own blood. “I am not going with you. I am not coming back. Not now, not ever. I need you to understand that.”

“In that case,” Johnathan said. “I have orders to kill you.”

I laughed, the sound sending stabbing pains through my side. “No shit.”

He growled at me.

“I’m pretty sure you had those orders no matter what. Or, if you didn’t, one of them did,” I accused, pointing at his little pack of enforcers.

Johnathan looked surprised, glancing at the other wolves, none of whom would meet his eye.

I laughed. Take that, you asshole. Enjoy knowing I was right, that dear old Dad was plotting and conspiring behind your back because he didn’t think you were good enough. Didn’t think you were strong enough to carry out his orders. I’m sure that lack of trust won’t hurt your relationship.

Johnathan snarled wordlessly at his pack, demanding answers, but none of them responded. All of them stared at me, unmoving.

No, I realized as Johnathan turned back around, letting me read the expression on his face. They were staring past me.

Because I wasn’t alone anymore.