When Forrest left to retrieve me a new set of clothes, I threw myself back on the sizable bed and sighed contentedly. I could get used to this. There was no pressure to feed on a human, I wasn't being watched—to my knowledge, that is—and I didn't have to answer to the head of the pack like he was some sort of dungeon master. Zane was supremely sympathetic to my situation as well as utterly alluring. In fact, Forrest was proving to be the same.

As I waited, I reflected on the customs of the shifters. They weren't the monogamous sort, and I wondered if that applied to their women as well. The thought prompted me to sit up and cock my head to listen to the sounds of the mountain. It didn't make much of a sound. I could hear footsteps at the other end of the hall, but the stone walls seemed to block my hearing. I supposed this particular ability was still developing.

I sensed there were women in the area. As I sniffed the air, I picked up on a few young ones as well. They were likely somewhere deeper in the mountain, either hiding or even going to bed. The hour was late. They weren't likely to all be awake. Another deep breath provided me a better idea of who occupied the mountain. The bulk of shifters were male, and I presumed that I had met most of them initially in the tunnel. It smelled like dogs in here, but at least it didn't smell like rotting flesh. They kept it fairly clean for a primal home.

A knock came from the door. I stood timidly and opened it, finding Forrest on the other side. I smiled and allowed him to step inside.

“So, I couldn't find any skirts, but these leggings should do well to run in,” he announced while laying out a pile of clothes on the bed. “And this top is versatile. It's breathable cotton, so you won't sweat too hard.”

“I really appreciate it,” I said while walking over to inspect his findings.

“It's no problem.”

I lifted a few blouses and held them up to my chest. The material felt comfortable. It looked like the perfect outfit to go into stealth mode. As I held up a pair of black leggings, I noticed the same hieroglyph engravings marked in pale, silver patterns that I had seen in the halls. I studied them carefully.

“That's a protection spell,” he said while pointing. “It should help keep your location cloaked should you ever need it.”

I smiled. “It's perfect.”

“I'm glad to be of service. There's a restroom on the other side of the room that you can use to change. I'll wait here.”

I nodded and walked across the room to the white wooden door. Inside, I found a porcelain covered bathroom. Though it seemed much more lavish than the rest of the room, it was rather cozy. I timidly closed the door and began to undress, heatedly thinking about the shifter waiting for me on the other side.

My thoughts were naughty. I could admit to that much. It was difficult to contain my body now that it was in the presence of viral males. This had never been much of an issue before now. The coven was pristine, almost reserved in its sexuality, even though many of them glimmered with supernatural sexual energy. But these wolves were something else. I swear they could smell my arousal.

When I pulled on my new clothes, I came out and looked at myself in the wall-length mirror near the door. I smiled.

“You look ravishing,” he commented with a grin.

“I'm so used to those bulky skirts that I feel much lighter,” I said as I examined the leggings. “These are comfortable.”

“Those fangs can be rigid in their dress code. We don't care what you wear as long as you respect the pack,” he informed me.

While I looked myself over, Forrest sat back on the bed and watched me. I didn't look at him, but I could feel his eyes drilling into my body. It made me want him more. I took a deep breath and held it. Control yourself. There's work to be done. Work hard now, play hard later.

“Speaking of the pack, there are some things Zane would like you to know about us.”

My eyes caught his in the mirror.

“We're an intimate group and we protect our own, but many of us are not accustomed to the presence of a fang. They have been our sworn enemies since the war of 1912 when they invaded our territory,” he explained.

My brows furrowed together.

“War?” I repeated. Draven hadn't mentioned that. I recalled the conversation about the shifters and thought about what he had told me. Sirus and the head of their group, Rory, had made a peace treaty some decades ago. I frowned. “Who is Rory?”

Hurt glimmered from Forrest's eyes. I could tell I had struck a chord.

“Who told you about Rory?” he growled.

I jumped aside and clutched the edge of my blouse.

“I meant no harm. It's just that I was told the head of your group was Rory, yet I met your leader as Zane,” I quickly explained.

He frowned as he sat up, looking grimly at the ground.

“You don't need to concern yourself with Rory,” he whispered. “Your only concern is adhering to our rules. Respect the pack and respect the curfew.”

“Curfew?” I asked.

“All shifters are to be in prior to midnight to avoid dealing with the fangs. We can bring you back food if you don't feel comfortable hunting on your own, but it's encouraged you venture out eventually,” he replied.

“That might be dangerous,” I commented.

Forrest smiled.

“Well, you have us with you, so it shouldn't be too great of an issue.”

He winked and I blushed again, allowing my black hair to fall over my face.

“Don't hide, Riley. You have a gorgeous smile,” he insisted.

The statement caused me to blush even more, my lips curling into a shy smile as I turned to hide it. I watched him in the mirror as he stood and gently rested his hand on my shoulder. His touch was electric. It sparked a deep, primal desire to ravish him on the bed right here and now, but I had only just met him. Though it wouldn't be that different from when I had met Adrian. I didn't know Adrian that well, yet he had explored my most intimate places mere days after our first meeting. What was the proper time frame for that anyway?

“We have a saying here in my family,” he whispered.

I could hear him breathing. His warm hand continued to rest on my shoulder, never daring to move anywhere else. The sound of his heart increased slightly as his blood pumped just a little bit faster. This was different than the cold, empty void that was Adrian. In fact, Adrian never really made much of a sound. But Forrest? He sounded more...human.

“What's that?” I asked breathlessly.

“Our bonds are instant, but everlasting,” he replied. “I can say with certainty that the sight of you inspires me to smile.”

I smiled at the sound of his words. I had felt it, too, when I first woke up in the cave surrounded by them all. There was this strange primal energy that drew me to them that I couldn’t quite explain. It was as if my blood betrayed me, drawing me toward them like the tide to the moon. I didn’t quite understand it, but I was ready to let it change me. As if accepting this primal urge would be the key to escaping the grasp of the vampires once and for all, and allowing myself to fully integrate with this new society. Goddess knew my urges needed satiating else risk going crazy.

Forrest made me feel warm, something I hadn't felt in such a long time. I missed the sun in that regard, how its rays would fill me with content as I laid out on the grass in the park. His hand, though it remained still, inspired a similar sensation. I knew that I needed more than just the company in that moment. I was ready to change.

“You've been more than comforting,” I responded. “And I'm starting to like it here already.”

“Good.”

A silence fell over us as we stood in front of the mirror. I could see his eyes fluttering between myself and my reflection. It filled me with excitement to see him standing so close, his muscles twitching as his arm relaxed around my shoulders. My stomach growled and interrupted our intimate moment.

“I'm sorry,” I chuckled.

“If you're still hungry, I can fetch you something,” he offered.

I shook my head.

“I wish I hadn't been struck with this affliction. I lament ever being bitten,” I whispered as my head lowered.

He raised my chin with a smile and smoothed a lock of hair from my face.

“It's not your fault. You might be stuck with this affliction, but it will never define you in the same way you define yourself. You're more than this,” he stated.

That smile was contagious and my cheeks burned as his warm hands smoothed over the back of my neck. I took his hand and leaned against him. It was the first real hug I’d had since leaving the coven. And perhaps it was the first real hug I had treasured since prior to leaving. This was the warmest comfort I could ever receive. As I buried my face into his bare chest and inhaled the wonderful scent of leaves and pheromones, I cherished every second in his arms, willing it to be ceaseless.