It was almost time. Zoey could feel it. As the day had progressed, she’d felt her wolf get stronger and stronger.

About mid-day, they’d had to leave the bakery because she couldn’t concentrate. The itch under her skin had been bearable but only when Rafe had been touching her, soothing her and coaxing her into relaxing. Next had come the fever, the rush of heat that had made her sweat and then chill and then sweat again. The same heat that had made her all but crawl up Rafe’s body looking for relief. And all day he’d been right there for her, with her, promising her that once the moon was up, high in the sky, that she’d feel better.

It had been a weird day and considering she was standing in the middle of the woods with her mate who had just stripped his clothes off and turned into a wolf in front of her eyes, it was strange to think it was about to get even weirder.

She was going to turn into a wolf. Her. She wasn’t human anymore. She was special, just like she’d always wanted to be, but she was also terrified.

Rafe rubbed against her leg, bringing her thoughts back to the present and she couldn’t help but smile down at him. He was a beautiful wolf. A beautiful wolf for a beautiful man. He was big but she’d expected that. He was a born Alpha. His wolf was huge and muscular and if she’d come across him alone in the woods she’d have screamed her head off. His coat was as black as midnight and his eyes shone like diamonds in the night. Considering how worried he’d been about his wolf freaking out and attacking her, she couldn’t help but smile when she reached down to pet him and he all but purred.

He’d shifted first only after a lot of discussion and she was glad that he had. Now they both knew the truth. His wolf would never hurt her. He adored her, just like she adored him. He paced around her in circles, his head going back and forth as if he was searching for threats and only when he was sure that they were still alone, did he turn back to her and bark.

She smiled when he bounced around a little. She knew what he wanted. He wanted to play, but not with her. He wanted her wolf. He wanted her to shift.

Zoey took a deep breath and let it out. She shook her hands out and tried to steady her breathing. They’d talked this through. Rafe had told her how to do it. He’d told her how to open her mind up and let the wolf come to the forefront. It’s what her wolf wanted so it would be easy. That’s what he’d said.

“Okay, baby, here goes nothing.” She whispered softly and then closed her eyes.

She focused on the feel of her wolf just beneath her skin. The power in her veins. The scent of her mate in her nose. The feel of fur and claws. She breathed deeply, evenly, and simply let go of her skin, let go of all her doubts and fears and worries. She let go of herself and let her wolf take control.

And then she screamed.

She was shifting and it hurt. Oh, holy hell it hurt. She felt every single break of her bones. She felt her muscles tear and pull as they reshaped. She screamed again as her body convulsed and she cursed Rafe for telling her this was going to be easy. This was the opposite of easy. This was killing her and never, not once in all of her dreams of becoming a wolf had she given a thought to how it would feel to shift.

She’d been human. She hadn’t been allowed on the pack land at the lodge on full moon nights. It had been for her safety. That’s what Michael had said. But she thought it might also have been because he hadn’t wanted her to know just how difficult a transition really was.

It was like being ripped apart. Inch by inch. Piece by piece. She lost a little more of herself with every heaving breath.

The world around her dimmed and turned blurry. Everything shimmered and shook. She thought she was losing her mind too. Losing her sanity. The only tether to the real world that she had was Rafe. He was there with her, just like he’d promised. His wolf paced and rubbed against her. He whined as if seeing her in pain was hurting him and she tried to reach for him. She wanted to pet him, reassure him that she was okay, but when she reached out her hand… it wasn’t there.

Zoey tried to scream again but instead all she heard was a howl.

She blinked, blinked again and her surroundings began to come into focus all around her again. She was closer to the ground now and everything looked different from down here. Sharper. Brighter. Her eyes looked through the forest around her as if it was broad daylight instead of dark. And she could smell everything. The damp grass and the rot of leaves. She could hear them crunch and crackle and her head whipped up to find what had caused the sound. When her eyes met those of Rafe’s wolf, she felt all of those broken pieces of her click back into place.

Zoey’s wolf shook herself, stretching and pawing at the ground and then bared her teeth playfully. Rafe’s wolf barked and hers yipped in return. Zoey’s heart swelled all over again. She wanted to launch herself at him. She wanted to press against him and cuddle with him. But there was something her wolf wanted more, something she needed on this night, her first night fully in the world.

She yipped again and took off running.

A long, loud howl sounded behind her but she didn’t pause and she didn’t look back. Her advanced hearing told her all she needed to know. Pounding footfalls raced after her. Rafe was chasing her. She ran, all out, as fast as she could. Her newly formed wolf leaping over logs and twining through trees but Rafe stayed right there with her. Behind her, beside her, nipping at her heels and spurring her on. She knew he could have caught her at any time. He was an Alpha. He was bigger. He was older. His wolf was more powerful and far faster. But he let her run and he… played… with her.

She swore as they darted through trees, playing hide and seek, that she heard him laugh. Even in wolf form, she knew that sound and she loved it. She loved this. She loved that she was finally a wolf. Loved that Rafe was the one that had given it to her. Loved the connection she felt to him like this and the freedom she felt under the moon. She loved that he could be like this with her. Sweet and playful and fun.

She lost all track of time as they played and ran through the forest. His wolf was always right there with her. When she got too close to the edge of their territory he herded her back the other direction. When she caught scent of another animal and went to check it out, he shooed the deer away before her wolf could do something she’d regret in the morning.

He took care of her. Looked after her. Protected her and cherish her. Just like he’d sworn that he would.

And when he’d finally had enough, when he decided that he’d let her play enough, she felt his mood switch before he ever came after her. His growl lowered, became darker, and she leaped away when he pawed at her. His wolf hissed and came at her again but her wolf wasn’t submissive. She didn’t intend to go down without a fight even if she knew that he was their mate. She hissed right back at him and then took off again at full speed, knowing that this time he wouldn’t let her get away with it and falling even more in love with him when he gave a happy yip of encouragement and gave chase again.

She headed straight for the meadow, their meadow, and the instant she hit the wide-open space he was on her. He leaped and took her down easily. They rolled as he tackled her. Paws tangling but with their claws safely sheathed. Their tongues were both lolling and they were panting by the time he pinned her beneath him.

Zoey smiled. Her wolf hummed a happy, contented sound and gave up the faux fight. She relaxed beneath her mate and when her head rolled to the side, exposing her neck, Rafe’s wolf howled a sound that couldn’t be mistaken for anything but satisfaction.

It was time. Finally. Zoey’s heart rate sped up as she stared into those glowing golden eyes. They weren’t just wolf eyes. They were Rafe’s eyes. The eyes of her mate. Her other half and the male that would complete her. He’d already given her so much and now, she was going to give him this. She gave a small nod and his wolf lowered his head.

His thick, scratchy tongue tickled as he licked at her. Caressing her. Marking her before he took her. She didn’t budge. She didn’t move. She wanted him to know that she trusted him completely. Him and his wolf. She trusted that he wouldn’t hurt her. That this was the right thing, the only thing, because they were mates.

He had to complete the circle to bond them forever.

Rafe’s wolf licked her again and she whined and snapped at him. He was taking too long and she could feel the tension coming off of him in waves. He was holding back. He was holding his wolf back. He was still scared that he would hurt her. She bared her teeth and nipped at him again, catching at his skin and hoping he would get the hint that she was ready.

She trusted him. Completely.

Rafe’s wolf growled at her. He bared his teeth when she arched her neck. He dropped his head back and howled long and loud at the full moon over their head and then, faster than she could even comprehend he snapped forward and dug his teeth into the flesh of her neck, right where her shoulder met, right where he’d marked her in human form.

It was rougher. Wilder than anything she’d ever imagined. His wolf took hers and sealed the bond in place. Forged it in fire and blood. Unbreakable. They were mates now and nothing could ever come between them.

Zoey’s wolf howled right along with him. Finally, she was whole. Finally, she was home. She was, finally, who she was always meant to be. Thanks to Rafe. Her beautiful, twisted, born Alpha wolf mate.