Page 14 of Feuding with My Shifter Werewolf

As I run, Kristen's words from earlier echo in my mind. Her openness, her curiosity, her determination to find her place in the world. It stirs something in me, a longing I thought I'd long since buried.

She's your mate,my wolf whispers.You know it, even if you won't admit it.

I growl, pushing the thought aside. I can't afford to dwell on such notions, not when her safety is at stake.

The cabin comes into view, and I put on a burst of speed. I need to shift back, to grab some clothes and supplies before returning for Kristen.

The change overtakes me as I reach the porch, my bones and sinews twisting and reshaping themselves.

It's agony, every cell in my body screaming as I'm unmade and remade. But I embrace the pain, letting it fuel my urgency.

I collapse onto the rough wood, gasping for breath as the last tremors wrack my newly human form.

Hurry,my wolf barks.She needs you.

I stagger to my feet, wrenching open the door and stumbling inside. I make a beeline for the bedroom, grabbing the first clothes I lay my hands on.

Jeans, a flannel shirt, boots. It'll have to do.

As I dress with hurried, jerky movements, my mind races. What will I say to her? How can I explain my presence without revealing too much?

But there's no time to overthink it. The first fat drops of rain are already pelting the roof, the storm gathering strength.

I snatch a spare coat from the hook by the door and an old oil lantern. Then I'm back out into the night, the door slamming shut behind me.

The descent is treacherous, the trail turned slick and muddy by the driving rain. But I barely feel the cold or the wet, my focus laser-sharp.

Find her. Protect her. Claim her.The words beat a rhythm in my head, urging me on.

I reach her campsite in record time, my breath coming hard and fast. Her tent is barely visible through the sheets of rain, but I zero in on it like a beacon.

"Kristen!" I shout over the howl of the wind. "Kristen, it's Zakir! We need to get you out of here!"

For a moment, there's no response. Fear claws at my throat, irrational scenarios flashing through my mind.

What if she's hurt? What if she's already?—

But then the tent flap opens, and she's there. Blinking up at me with those wide, green eyes, confusion and alarm warring on her face.

"Zakir? What are you?—"

I don't let her finish. I'm already reaching for her, wrapping the spare coat around her shoulders and pulling her close. She fits against my body like she was made for it, and for a heartbeat, I forget how to breathe.

Mine,my wolf growls.Protect. Cherish.

I shake my head, trying to clear it.

"The storm," I manage. "It's not safe out here. We need to get you back to the cabin."

She hesitates, her gaze searching mine. I can see the questions burning in her eyes, the wariness battling with something that looks achingly like trust.

"Okay," she says finally. "Lead the way."

I take her hand in mine, marveling at how small and delicate it feels in my rough grip. But there's strength there too.

Together, we forge back to my cabin, the lantern I brought barely piercing the gloom. The trail has turned into a treacherous river of mud, and more than once, I have to catch Kristen as she slips.

Each time, the feel of her in my arms sends a jolt through me, a visceral reminder of how much I want her. How much Ineedher.

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