Chapter 27: Running Wild
Vivian Grey’s POV
If I gave in now, I knew how things would go from here on out, him throwing his dominance around whenever I dared to have a different opinion. No. If I wanted any kind of equal footing with Zaliver, I had to dig my heels in and push back.
"You reckless little thing!" he snapped, his eyes glowing with fury. "Do you even realize how dangerous it is for someone like you to hold back a shift? You could’ve seriously hurt yourself. Spirits, Vivian! This is exactly why you need me to look after you!"
Wait, what?
I just stood there, mouth hanging open like a complete idiot. Of all the things I’d said, all he heard was that?
He somehow twisted this whole thing into me needing him? What kind of mind gymnastics?
"You’ve got to be kidding me," I muttered. "Let’s rewind here. It’s not like I chose to avoid shifting. In the past three days, I’ve been knocked out more times than I can count. I got yanked off a plane, drugged, kidnapped twice! And let’s not forget the blackout part. So if anyone’s to blame here, it’s you, Zaliver."
I jabbed my finger toward his chest for emphasis.
"I was literally heading out to run when Algebra, or whatever-his-name-is, swooped in and sedated me. I’d like just one freaking day where no one is putting me to sleep!"
My chest heaved with frustration, but he just crossed his arms and gave me a pointed look.
"Fine," he said calmly. "You’re going for a run. Then straight to bed."
He stepped closer, pulling a key from his pocket. Finally.
I held out my wrists, eager to be free of the chains, but instead of immediately unlocking them, he paused in front of me. His gaze locked with mine, intense, unreadable.
"Behave," he warned, his voice a low rumble.
I rolled my eyes so hard I was surprised they didn’t get stuck.
"Yeah, yeah," I muttered under my breath. My wolf was practically bouncing inside me, excited and impatient to be free. She was itching to stretch her legs, to feel the earth beneath our paws again.
Behave, mutt, I teased her silently.
Shut up, you love me, she shot back with a smug huff.
Zaliver kept watching me like he expected me to bolt or do something dramatic. When he didn’t spot any sign of rebellion, he sighed heavily and slipped the key into the lock. The chains fell with a satisfying clatter. I lifted my arms, relishing the sudden freedom.
"Come on," he said with a jerk of his chin.
He led me deep into the forest behind the house, guiding us away from the more open parts of the island. The further we walked, the wilder it felt. The scent of damp moss, bark, and soil filled my lungs and for the first time in days, I felt alive.
I hadn’t realized how much I missed this, the trees crowding close like ancient guardians, the hush of nature ready to welcome me back into its arms.
Despite living on an island that was mostly forested, this was my first real moment in the woods since arriving. And it felt like coming home.
When we finally stopped, Zaliver stepped back, giving me space.
Now, most people had this dramatic image in their heads about shifting, clothes ripping, bones cracking loud enough to echo, blood maybe. But for us, it wasn’t like that anymore.
The first shift was always a mess, bones shattering and reassembling, clothes torn to pieces, screams caught between human and wolf. But once we made it through that first painful transformation, our bodies adapted. Shifting became as natural as breathing or stretching after waking up.
Now it felt almost pleasant. Like a deep yawn after a long nap.
And the clothes? That had changed too. Somewhere down the centuries, we figured out how to keep them intact. Some ancient instinct or magic protected what we wore. Probably because getting caught naked in the woods repeatedly was a surefire way to blow our cover with humans.
So when I felt the tingle in my spine and the pull of fur beneath skin, I didn’t brace for pain or scream. I welcomed it.
I gave in to the wild within me.
I tried to ignore the weight of Zaliver’s gaze as I stood still, drawing in a long breath. My eyelids slipped shut, and I focused on the pull inside me, on the raw, primal part of myself waiting just beneath the surface.
Shifting wasn’t about brute force or speed. Not really. It wasn’t a frantic scramble to morph into something deadly, it was surrender. Trust. Letting go of control so my wolf could take over when it mattered most.
I let her rise.
The moment she accepted me, a warmth bloomed in my chest and rippled outward. My bones stretched and cracked, reshaping with familiar ease. When I opened my eyes, the world was different. Sharper. Brighter. Alive.
Zaliver stood still ahead of me, his eyes locked on mine, well, on hers now. I could feel his gaze drinking in every inch of my form. I knew what he saw. A she-wolf with a coat that started a soft caramel at my shoulders and darkened as it reached my tail, which was nearly black. A single patch of ebony fur marked the tip of my left ear.
We were bigger than wild wolves but not the towering beasts from fairy tales. I was tall for a female, and I carried myself with pride as I padded over to Zaliver. He didn’t hesitate, his hand reached out slowly and brushed the top of my head.
My wolf pressed our snout gently to his leg.
"So soft," he murmured, his fingers combing through our fur. He paused at my left ear and tugged it.
No! I shouted inside, too late.
A loud purr escaped me.
Zaliver’s eyes widened in shock at the sound.
Mortified, I could only watch as my wolf took that as an invitation and began rubbing our body along his legs.
Seriously? Stop it! I scolded. You’re not a damn cat!
I want him to wear our scent, she replied smugly.
He already smells like us. We’ve been glued to him for days!
Zaliver tilted his head down, amusement twinkling in those deep eyes.
"You’re quite the flirt, aren’t you?" he said, his voice rich and rough with laughter.
And then she winked at him.
I groaned inwardly. Perfect. Just perfect. Go ahead and flirt with our fated mate. It’s not like I have to deal with the awkward aftermath or anything.
As if to make matters worse, she darted away suddenly, paws pounding against soft earth. I felt the wind rush through our fur as we ran. Behind us, Zaliver didn’t hesitate, he followed, still in human form but easily keeping pace at my side.
We ran together, the forest blurring past in streaks of green and gold. My wolf exhaled with contentment, her instincts satisfied by the nearness of our mate.
But she wasn’t done.
Without warning, she dropped into a slide mid-stride, our body twisting through the dirt. I barely had time to panic before Zaliver appeared above me, wrapping his arms around my body. With an effortless twist, he flipped us in the air, his back hit the ground with a thud, and I landed on top of him.
Thank the moon for magic. Our clothes had already reformed.
You’re ridiculous, I muttered.
He liked it, my wolf said smugly.
You’re trying to seduce him!
Helpful bitch, she corrected with a satisfied growl.
I wanted to be mad, but I was too busy catching my breath on top of a man who made my heart pound even faster than a full sprint.
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