Page 78 of My Fated Mate

It's a feat I've witnessed before, a testament to her growing control over her newfound powers.

With a deep breath, Elowen thrusts her hands forward, directing the moonlit orb towards a nearby dummy. It pulses for a moment, then… nothing. The dummy remains lifeless, the moonlight dispersing harmlessly into the night air.

A growl of frustration escapes her throat. She tries it again.

And again.

Seven more times before she slams her fist against the wooden practice sword resting against her hip. "Why isn't it working?"

My heart aches for her. The frustration mirrors the knot of worry tightening in my gut. The success of this alliance, the very survival of our packs, heck, the world, hinges on Elowen's newfound abilities. Seeing her struggle gnaws at me.

"Elowen," I say gently, touching her shoulder. "We'll figure it out. It's a new power. It takes time."

She whirls around, her eyes blazing with despair. "Time is a luxury we might not have, Thorne! The Dark Moon won't wait for us to perfect our moonlight cuddles!"

The barb catches me off guard, the playful reference to our night in the woods laced with a bitterness that stings. Guilt washes over me, a reminder of the wall that still stands between us despite our newfound training partnership.

"They’re not cuddles, Elowen," I counter. "It's a connection. And that connection—the bond between us, might be the key."

Elowen stares at me for a long time. Then, with a sigh, she nods. "I know. I’m sorry. I’m going a little overboard right now.”

All I want to do is hold her close and comfort her, instead, I choose my words carefully, "I know training hasn't been going smoothly. But…" I trail off, unsure how to phrase what I truly want.

What we both need.

"But?"

"Maybe we need a… change of pace," I finish, hoping it won't sound too awkward. "A chance to clear our heads."

Elowen searches my face. "What do you have in mind, Alpha Thorne?" she asks, a hint of a challenge in her voice.

A smile tugs at the corners of my lips. "A run," I suggest. "Under the open sky. Just… you and me. No training, no pressure."

The challenge in her eyes morphs into excitement. "You wish to meet my wolf, Thorne?”

Relief washes over me. She’s not telling me to fuck off. It isn’t much, but it is a start. "With my very being.”

“Well then, let’s go. I think I need a run before I go mad with frustration.”

I chuckle as we head deeper into the woods.

"Ready?" I ask.

Elowen stretches, a slick, sexy predator preparing for the hunt. "As I'll ever be, Alpha."

A playful snort escapes me. "No need for titles tonight, Elowen. Just us."

Then, it happens. A primal urge courses through both of us simultaneously. With a synchronized growl, we shift.

My wolf lunges forward, its fur the color of moonlight, eyes gleaming with primal energy. He lets out a joyous bark, circling Elowen's transformed form.

Mine!!

Her she-wolf is breathtaking—a vision of midnight fur splashed with silver markings that shimmer under the moon.

Her eyes, intelligent and fierce, lock with mine, and for a moment, we're not Alpha and rejected mate, but two wild creatures bound by an invisible thread.

We frolic in the clearing, a dance of playful nips and joyous barks. There's a freedom in being wolves, an unadulterated expression of emotions that transcends words.

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