Page 42 of Wolf Reborn

Miles had no sooner opened his mouth to say something than Dez laid a firm hand on his shoulder. His eyes were kind, but knowing, as he shook his head. Without a word, he dropped the hand and followed Sawyer onto the deck.

Miles didn’t know a damn thing about the pack dynamic on full moon nights. They’d said they went on a run, but last full moon, Gavin had been in the house when the others were out. Why was that? But also, why would this one be different?

So instead of pressing on a possibly sore point—yet—Miles nodded and followed after the others.

He was practically hopping in anticipation by the time everyone stripped down and started to shift. The nakedness was taking some getting used to, but the complete lack of fucks given by the born wolves helped a lot with that. If they didn’t care who saw their bodies, why should he?

Of course, they were all muscular and scar free, unlike the human-born Miles. His appendix scar hadn’t magically disappeared when Gavin bit him, unfortunately. Even if not for the touch of body-consciousness, Miles would have shifted as soon as possible because it was darn cold outside. He took a deep breath, and as he let it out he followed Dez’s instructions.

It still startled him, how easy it was to simply shed his human skin, slide down onto four paws, and feel the wind ruffling his fur.

Unlike the others, when Gavin came out, he didn’t strip. He was wearing his sweats, a pair of warm socks, and carrying a blanket. “You guys be careful out there,” he told them softly as he sat down.

Miles couldn’t help it. He whimpered and nudged his newly furry head against Gavin’s hand. Gavin obliged by petting him, scratching behind his ears, and then motioned to the also-shifted Dez. “Follow Dez and be good, huh? No more burglars.”

At that jab, Miles gave him an annoyed bark—it wasn’t as though he’d made the burglar choose their house—and joined Dez.

The run was incredible, despite the lack of Gavin. The wind ruffling his fur, the feeling of his packmates running beside him, and the moon in the sky; it was all exhilarating in a way he’d never felt before. Gavin’s absence was something he keenly felt, though, and he was sure the rest of the pack did too. Every now and then, one of them would turn back to look toward the house.

Even Paige, the clumsiest, most adorable puppy of all time, whimpered and tried to go back for their missing alpha.

They ran together, howled together, chased each other around the snowbanks and play-fought for dominance that meant not a damn thing to any of them. Dez let Sawyer take him down and pretended to be dead until Sawyer nipped at his ear, and he hopped up and went right back to chasing his boyfriend. Or was it mate?

Oh, who knew. They were all making it up as they went along. Even the born wolves were in uncharted territory, in this pack of people who had met as strangers and built their family from the ground up.

It had been more work than a born family, but it was that much better for it. He would die for any of these people. Paige, winding between everyone’s legs and barking at nothing. Hannah, watching but not interfering. Ash, huge and sweet and goofy. Graham, his perfect match. Sawyer, snarky and fun. Even huge, eternally bitch-faced Dez.

And especially Gavin.

He barked to get their attention, then threw his head back in the direction of Gavin on the porch. Dez gave him a sharp nod, acknowledgement more than permission, and went back to the others.

Without another thought, Miles went to Gavin.

Gavin, who still sat on the porch, reading from his e-reader despite the enormous number of paperbacks and hardcovers he had on the shelves in his room.

Or was it their room now? Gavin had cleared space in the closet and on the shelves, in addition to what Sawyer had forced on him.

Still, it all felt so tenuous despite that, despite the bond that held them together, despite the bite that would forever link them. Miles couldn’t define it, but he knew something was still holding them apart.

Gavin looked up as he neared, a soft smile on his full lips. “Hey. You should be out running with the pack.”

Without so much as a chuff, Miles hopped up on top of Gavin and shifted back, naked and straddling his lap. “Done running. Now it’s time for chasing.”

“And what is it you intend to chase?” Gavin asked as he set his e-reader aside, staring at Miles.

Miles leaned in until his face was a scant handful of inches from Gavin’s. He could feel the man’s breath ghosting over his face. “Not me chasing,” he whispered. “Me being chased. Come get me, alpha.”

And he turned and ran into the house, not bothering to wait and see if Gavin would follow.

He would.

He’d barely made it in the door when he heard Gavin tearing after him, and his instincts howled to move faster. He had to give the alpha a proper chase, even if it was just as far as the bedroom. He had to prove his skill, his value.

It seemed like something that would have confused him a month ago, and yet, he didn’t feel as though becoming a wolf had made him a different person. Just different.

As they reached the stairs, Gavin was right behind him—close enough to reach out and touch his ankle as they ran up the stairs. He didn’t grab him, though, only followed.

When they reached the top, Miles threw himself at Gavin’s bed, determined to reach it first. He had to—

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