Chapter 139: Chapter 139 His Wolf
Aria’s POV
I woke up with my throat absolutely parched. The room was pitch black.
Damian’s arm was still wrapped around my waist, his breathing deep and even against my neck. I could feel the steady rise and fall of his chest pressed against my back.
Carefully, I tried to slip out from under his arm without waking him. His grip loosened immediately, like even in sleep he was aware of me, giving me space the moment I needed it.
I slid out of bed as quietly as possible, my bare feet touching the plush carpet. The room was unfamiliar in the darkness.
I squinted, trying to make out shapes in the moonlight filtering through the curtains. There—I was pretty sure I remembered seeing a mini fridge near the sitting area by the window.
I took a few cautious steps forward, my hand reaching out to feel for furniture.
Then my foot caught on something—the edge of the area rug. I pitched forward with a startled gasp, my hands flailing uselessly as I fell toward what I knew was a sharp-edged side table.
*This is going to hurt—*
But the impact never came.
Instead, something massive and warm caught me mid-fall. My hands sank into thick, soft fur. The scent of cedar and earth overwhelmed my senses.
I froze.
Beneath my palms, I felt muscle and heat and the unmistakable texture of an animal’s coat. My heart hammered against my ribs as my eyes adjusted to the darkness.
A wolf. A massive black wolf was beneath me, having somehow positioned itself to break my fall.
Its body was easily the size of a small car—far larger than any wolf I’d ever seen in documentaries or books.
Oh God. *Oh God.*
I’d read about this. Werewolves could shift. But I’d never actually seen one. Not like this. Not this close.
My breath came in short, panicked gasps. Every instinct screamed at me to run, to get away from the predator mere inches from my face.
But then the wolf moved. It shifted carefully beneath me, adjusting so I wouldn’t slide off, and then it lowered itself completely to the ground in a smooth, controlled movement.
Gentle. Deliberate. Like it was trying not to scare me.
I was still gripping its fur—my fingers had clenched involuntarily when I’d fallen. Slowly, carefully, I loosened my hold.
The wolf didn’t move. It just lay there, massive head turned slightly toward me, watching me with eyes that glowed faintly in the darkness.
Silver-gray eyes.
*Damian’s eyes.*
"Damian?" I whispered, my voice shaking.
The wolf made a soft sound—not quite a growl, not quite a whine.
More like a rumble of acknowledgment. My heart was still racing, but the fear was starting to fade. This wasn’t some random wild animal. This was him. Part of him, anyway.
The wolf shifted slightly, moving its head closer to me. Its nose—wet and cold—brushed against my hand. I jerked back instinctively.
The wolf froze immediately, then made that soft rumbling sound again, almost apologetic.
Then it very slowly, very carefully, nuzzled my hand again. This time I didn’t pull away. Its fur was impossibly soft under my trembling fingers.
"You’re really gentle, aren’t you?" I murmured.
The wolf’s tail gave a single, tentative wag. Oh my God. It understood me.
Cautiously, I ran my fingers along its head. The fur there was thick and plush, warming quickly under my touch.
The wolf’s eyes closed, its entire massive body seeming to relax, and then it pushed its head into my hand with more confidence, clearly wanting more attention.
I couldn’t help it. I laughed—a slightly hysterical sound, but genuine. "You’re like a giant puppy."
The wolf made a pleased rumbling sound deep in its chest and suddenly stood, circling me, brushing its massive body against my side like a cat seeking affection.
I stumbled slightly, caught off guard by its sheer size and strength, but it was deliberately gentle, almost comical given how enormous it was.
"Okay, okay," I laughed breathlessly, steadying myself against its shoulder. "I get it, you want pets."
The wolf immediately stopped circling and positioned itself in front of me, lowering its head to the perfect height.
Its tail was wagging now—actually wagging—in clear, unmistakable happiness. It was absurd: this apex predator acting like an overgrown dog desperate for affection.
I ran both hands through its fur. "You’re beautiful," I admitted quietly. "Terrifying, but beautiful."
Then the wolf went completely still.
Its eyes shifted, the glow in them flickering like a candle flame. When it looked at me again, there was something distinctly human in its gaze.
"Damian?" I whispered.
The wolf’s head tilted, and I saw him looking at me through those gray eyes. Exasperated. Amused.
Then his voice broke the silence. "He really likes you."
I jerked back slightly. "Wait, *he?* You mean—there are two of you?"
"Sort of." His voice was warm, tinged with embarrassment.
"My wolf has his own personality, his own wants. Right now, he’s very happy you’re petting him, and he’s not planning to let me shift back anytime soon."
As if to prove the point, the wolf pushed his head back under my hand, demanding I continue.
I laughed again, shaky but genuine. "So you’re both in there? At the same time?"
"Most of the time, we’re one entity. But when he surfaces like this, he’s in control, and I’m just along for the ride."
There was a pause. "He’s never done this before. Shifted without my permission. But when you fell—"
"He protected me," I finished softly.
"He’d do anything for you."
The wolf suddenly stood and padded toward the balcony, his massive paws silent on the floor.
He paused there, looking back at me expectantly, then walked back, nudging my shoulder with his nose. Back to the balcony. Back to me.
"What does he want?" I asked.
Damian’s voice sounded almost sheepish. "He wants to take you to the forest."
"The forest? Now? In the middle of the night?"
"It’s a wolf thing. When we find our mate—when we find someone who matters to us—we want to bring them to our territory. Show them the places that are important to us. It’s instinct."
The wolf was watching me intently, his tail swishing slowly behind him. I should have been nervous. Scared, even. But looking into those gray eyes—Damian’s eyes—I only felt safe.
"Okay," I said softly. "Let’s go."
The wolf’s entire demeanor changed. His tail started wagging so hard his whole back end moved with it. He bounded over, circling me twice before dropping down onto his belly right at my feet.
"He wants you to ride on his back," Damian explained.
"Ride him? Are you serious?"
"Completely serious. He’ll be careful with you. I promise."
I stared down at him, sprawled at my feet like an oversized puppy waiting for a walk. This was insane. Completely insane. But I’d already married him. What was one more leap of faith?
Carefully, I climbed onto his back, my fingers gripping the thick fur at his shoulders. The moment I was settled, he rose smoothly to his feet, his movements careful and controlled.
"Ready?" Damian’s voice was warm and soft.
I tightened my hold on his fur, my heart pounding with a mixture of nervousness and exhilaration.
"Ready."
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