Page 30 of Violet Moon
“The world may get dressed in different outfits over the ages, but it’s still the same at its core.I honestly don’t know why you’re fighting me on this.”
“I’m not.”Sera pulled a face, wondering why Parisa was so defensive.
Parisa huffed, crossing her arms.Sera’s skin felt warm under the intensity of her stare.“Then you will?”
“Yes.”
“Good.Finish your coffee and I’ll meet you in the woods.”
“Right now?”
Parisa threw back the rest of her tea and stood.“Yes, right now.”She left out the back door without another word.
Her Alpha was right where Sera knew she’d be.It’d been ages since they sparred but it wasn’t so long ago that she’d forgotten everything.The small clearing in the forest was more than enough space for two humans or two wolves to try and stand their ground.
With her back turned to Sera, Parisa began to strip.She unzipped the back of her dress and Sera covered her eyes when the soft fabric rolled off her shoulder.
“I take it we’re doing this as wolves, then?”
“God, yes.I need out of this skin,” Parisa said.
Sera grinned.That she could understand.Relaxing, she put her hand down, only to have it quickly snap back into place over her eyes.Parisa’s tan skin in the moonlight was a lot to take in.Heat rushed to her cheeks.Sera had seen Parisa naked before, but usually the rest of the pack was around, all of them preparing for the full moon run.She couldn’t recall the last time it was just the two of them like this.
Sera worked herself free of her clothing with her back turned to her Alpha.She heard rustling in the grass behind her and prayed Parisa wasn’t watching.Sera had let herself grow more docile over time.Perhaps that’s all Parisa saw now — a weak Beta.Sera finished undressing and dropped her clothes in a messy pile near a tree, eager to trade her human self for her wolf.
She sighed with relief as her bones cracked and took on a different form.She welcomed the pain of transformation, breathed in the night air, and begged the wolf to come faster.She needed to trade her weaker form for the one that made her feel strong and worthy of being at Parisa’s side.
She hit the ground with four feet and growled, loving the way the sound rumbled through her chest.Finally, she turned to face her Alpha.
Gorgeous in her thick, chestnut fur, Parisa stood along the edge of the clearing, teeth bared in a slanted, wolfish grin.She would never make the first move.Sera knew that.Her heart hammered in her chest.She was nervous but, more than anything, she’d missed this.If eating together outside of the house was its own sort of thrill, then this was something else entirely, and more wonderful than she remembered.A rush of power surged through her, making the fur on the back of her neck stand on end.
She circled the outer edge of the clearing.
Parisa did the same.
Sera feigned a jump like she was about to strike, but Parisa didn’t flinch.Her Alpha kept her eyes trained on her, large frame imposing and ready whenever Sera decided to make her move.Anticipation simmered in Sera’s stomach.She took one slow step, another, and another.She waited for her opening and, when it never came, she lunged anyway, growling with excitement.
Parisa was ready, her feet firm.At the last second, she dodged Sera’s attack, swiftly switching their positions.Sera had half a second to react before Parisa flipped her onto her side, shoved her down, and rolled her onto her back, pinning her to the forest floor.Parisa playfully bit into the scruff around her neck.Sera squirmed under her hold with a high-pitched whine.Parisa pulled away and loomed over her, tongue darting out to lick across razor sharp teeth.She backed off and gave Sera enough room to stand.
Sera had gotten rusty.It was time to remember what she could do even without the immense power of the full moon transformation.She stood firm and stared down her Alpha.Motionless, they both waited for the other to move first.
Parisa flicked her tail and Sera charged, mouth open and ready to grab fur between her teeth.She stopped short, feinted to the side, and lunged in a new direction, aiming to catch Parisa off guard.It didn’t happen.Her Alpha was ready for her, rearing up on her hind legs to come crashing down on Sera’s back.She shook Parisa off and dashed to the side, surging forward again.She tasted victory as her tongue passed over chestnut fur for a second before Parisa leapt away.
As she dove in again, Sera could feel her instincts taking over and her mind fading away.She knew it was next to impossible to land a strike on Parisa, but it didn’t keep her from trying.Her senses sharpened.She dodged more of Parisa’s attacks and got as far as scraping her teeth along her shoulder before Parisa sprinted past.When Parisa grabbed hold of her scruff or pinned her to the ground, she didn’t taste defeat.She’d look into Parisa’s eyes flashing in the darkness and feel joy and a sort of pride rushing through her veins.
She dodged too late and Parisa’s teeth sunk into the loose fur around her neck, one front leg across her back pushing her down towards the ground.Sera submitted, panting for breath, and waited for Parisa to back away so they could go again.
When it didn’t happen, she gave a grumble of warning.Parisa’s teeth pressed in harder.Sera growled and thrashed beneath her, trying to break free.Parisa let go just enough to let Sera think she’d been freed before Parisa knocked her prone and stood above her.
Parisa licked her teeth in the moonlight and pressed her paw into Sera’s chest.She lay there, staring up at her Alpha, unable to see anything but those teeth and amber eyes.Parisa leaned in closer until their panting breaths mingled in the scant space between them.Seconds stretched into minutes.Sera squirmed beneath Parisa’s grasp, but her Alpha held her there, eyes locked.
Parisa licked Sera’s nose then leapt backwards.Sera rushed to her feet.They stared at each other, neither moving until Parisa flicked her head towards her pile of clothing and ran off, leaving Sera stunned with a shiver running down her spine.
They shifted back and dressed in silence.Sera didn’t dare peek over her shoulder and she dressed faster than she ought to, ripping a few stitches along the way.
“Thank you,” Parisa said to Sera’s back.
Sera swallowed hard as she handled the last few buttons on her shirt.“Of course,” she replied, voice shaky.
