Chapter 30 - Running

Zelena.

So, today we're going running, like in our wolf bodies. Running as a wolf. I'm excited and honestly a little scared, my last change seems like such a blur now. It happened so quickly, and I don't even know how I initiated it. I remember the heat and the pain of my breaking bones, but that's all. I mean I didn't even know I was changing into a wolf back then. Wow, it feels like a lifetime ago. Gunner thinks he can help me trigger it, though I'm not sure how he'll do it yet. I just hope that I don't disappoint him. I hate the idea of letting him down and not being the kind of wolf that he deserves.

We headed out to the flower field, silently walking hand in hand as I thought about last night. It was the most amazing night that I've ever had. We danced, we kissed, we laughed, and I finally felt like I belonged somewhere. Meeting Gunner's parents and the senior pack members, and then getting accepted into the pack, it has been the highlight of my life so far.

I loved the story that Roe told, about Selene and her lover. It was magical. That's where werewolves came from, that's where I came from. I'm a little envious that Gunner has grown up hearing these stories all his life. He has known who and what he is from the moment he was born. This world is still so new to me. Once the story ended, things got very interesting. The weird heat and desire I felt as the pack chanted for the Goddess, seeing them all attack each other with so much hunger and desire. Not to mention the passionate attack from Gunner. Phew, it was enough to blow my panties off. But seeing the pack so raw and sexual, it excited me, more than I thought it would. Not Gunner though apparently, well at least not enough to warrant more than a steamy make out before going to sleep. The fact that I am dying for him to touch me, yet he is so resistant to do so, it's really making me question if Roe was right about us.

I got to talk with Nat some more, and I really like her, she is so sweet and always seems happy. I think we could become the best of friends, or at least I hope so. She convinced me to go shopping with her in the city, and even though he wasn't exactly thrilled about it, Gunner finally gave in and said yes, only when Nat agreed to let him come along.

The weird actions from the tall girl by the fire were still playing on my mind a little, I want to ask him about her again, but later, I don't want to think about all that right now.

We finally got to the field and I saw Smith and Cole sitting in the grass, of course they would be here too. I waved and smiled at them, they stood up as they saw us.

"Hey fellas" Gunner beamed,

"Hey boss man, boss lady" Smith said with a smile and a wiggle of his fingers at me.

"You ready for this?" Cole asked looking at me with a slight frown,

"She's ready" Gunner answered looking down at me.

His confidence in me made me feel warm and happy, but what if I can't trigger a change, will he be angry with me, or even disappointed?

"What if I can't do it?" I asked Gunner,

"You'll be fine, it just takes time" he said with a calm tone.

"You boys can hang back, we're just going to get in the right head space".

Cole and Smith sat back down in the grass a few paces away from us, but they could still see what was going on.

"Okay, so now what, what am I meant to do?" I asked looking from side to side and shrugging my shoulders.

"Well, anger is the best way to start for most wolves. So, think of something that makes you mad".

Gunner stood in front of me and crouched down a little to be more at my eye level. Mm he is sexy. Nope, that's not anger. Shit, I've got to focus. He is too distracting, I closed my eyes and tried to concentrate. Okay, something that makes me mad. A lot of things make me angry, but they make me sad as well. My dad makes me mad, the fact that he never showed that he loved me, or even liked me. A small tingle ran through my arms. Why couldn't he love me? A parent's love is meant to be unconditional, why was I not worth loving? Tears began to well in my eyes and the tingle disappeared. I shook my head clear. I don't want sadness, I want anger.

"You can do it babe, concentrate on something that really infuriates you" Gunner said softly.

What infuriates me? Demi. She infuriates me. Demi and her little pack of imbeciles. I had never done anything to them and yet they made my life at school a living hell. The tingle came back, and pins and needles ran through my arms and up my legs. Why was she such a bitch to me? What did I do to her to deserve that kind of torment? I always kept to myself and tried to stay out of her way, but she made the time to bully me regardless. She went out of her way to make me miserable. My skin prickled with a heat waving over me.

"That's it, Zee" Gunner cheered.

She is the worst, she needs to be taught a lesson. No one should be subjected to endless torture and harassment like I was. Demi needs to be stopped. I could feel my legs shaking from underneath me, my wrists and fingers tensed and tightened. I clenched my teeth together as the pain intensified. I should be the one to teach her a lesson. I should be the one to stop her. I want to make her hurt and scared like I was, I want to taste her blood. My knees gave out and I fell to the ground. My back curved and twisted through the breaking of my bones. My skin felt like it was on fire, ripping and burning off in giant pieces.

"Yes, Zelena, YES!".

I will show her, I will show Demi what pain really is when I tear her throat out. I cracked my neck to the side, and then to the back, and let out a harrowing scream. My scream echoed through the field but melted slowly into a howl. Then the pain stopped, the burning sensation was gone. I looked down at my hands, but they are now midnight black furry paws with long black claws. I looked behind me down my back and waved my tail through the air. I looked over at Gunner and he was now sitting on the ground with his legs crossed, staring at me.

I walked over to him and stood in front of his face. He didn't try to touch me and didn't say anything, in fact he barely moved. I looked over his shoulder and saw Cole and Smith were now standing, watching us closely. I looked back at Gunner and sniffed at his face, he had bacon for breakfast, I could still smell it on his breath. I sniffed at his hair, he smells like sunshine. There was another smell though, a funny sour like scent, it's like he was nervous or something. He slowly started to lift his hand to the side of my face, he was acting weird, and it was freaking me out a little. I think he's scared of my wolf. I pushed my head into his hand, and he gently stroked my fur from my ear down my right shoulder. I leaned forward and pressed my head against his and he relaxed. I felt him ease, and the weird smell went away. I nuzzled my nose into his neck and licked his face.

"Ah, my little wolf" he laughed grabbing me and falling onto his back. I laid on his chest and continued to lick his face as he laughed and ruffled his hands through my fur. He even tastes like sunshine.

"You are magnificent, your wolf is the most beautiful color I've ever seen" he smiled. His eyes were full and happy and there was this sweet smell coming from him, like happiness or love. I heard a soft crunch and looked up to see Smith and Cole had come closer to us. Smith was smiling and had his hands out in front of him, Cole was still a step behind him. Gunner sat up as he noticed them come closer.

"Easy guys" he said looking at me cautiously.

I didn't understand why he was being so weird, like he thought I was going to attack them or something. I walked over to Smith's feet and he froze. I looked up at him and he just stared at me. I was about to rub my head against his leg to let him know it's okay, but Cole growled quietly from behind him. I looked up at Cole and cocked my head to the side. What the fuck Cole, was he growling at me?