Page 79 of The Wolf's Prince
CHAPTER17
NIKOLAI
After a few more days of waiting for the full moon, Nikolai was more than ready to take part in another wolf-shifter tradition.
The wolf run seemed to be an important ritual, and although the entire pack was not required to join in the runevery timethe full moon lit the sky, this one was special. This time, every single member of White Water would take part and that included Nikolai.
For Soren’s first time leading the run as the pack alpha, it was a momentous occasion.
Nikolai looked out of the sweeping hills and valleys between the mountains, nerves erupting within him like little fireworks. Everything about being in White Water Pack had so far pushed him from his comfort zone and he was growing because of it. This would be no different. He could face it, head on.
“You see that ledge?” Soren asked, coming to stand next to him and pointing far off into the distance. “We will head to the spot just below it.”
Nikolai nodded.
“Yes, I understand.”
Soren had already said as much to the pack and everyone was now waiting, but Nikolai could tell he was a little bit worried. After all, Soren had to lead the run and Nikolai would not be able to keep the pace of the other wolves. He also didn't think he could even run that far, but he was going to do his best to try.
“It's not as far as it looks,” Soren added.
Nikolai nodded.
“If you need to walk, that's okay. It's not a race. You can take as much time as you need. We will all wait for you.”
A smile tugged at Nikolai's face.
“I'll be okay,” he insisted. “Don't worry about me.”
“Okay,” Soren said, frowning, “But this terrain isn't as easy on human ankles—”
“Soren!” Nikolai laughed. “Stop! I'll be fine—”
“Just promise you'll tread carefully,” Soren cut in.
“I know how to run, Soren.”
With that, he took his mate's shoulders and turned him around, pushing him gently to the front of the group again.
He could feel Soren's heavy sigh but when he turned back around, there was a grudging smile on his face.
Nikolai watched Soren avidly as he turned to face their pack. He did everything with so much care and sincerity. This moment was no different.
“Today, I run with my pack as their leader for the first time. It is a momentous occasion, a symbol of our unity, witnessed by the goddess herself.”
His gaze caught Nikolai's briefly and even in that split second, their connection was undeniable, the love in his eyes unmistakable.
“Children, stick together,” he warned, eyeing the young ones who were already skipping between everyone's legs in their wolf forms. “I don't want to have to go scouring the mountains for any stragglers, understand?”
The fact that none of them even responded made Nikolai giggle.
Around him, everyone was grinning. There was a slightly feral touch to their smiles, fangs a little bit too long, their eyes catching the light more frequently than they normally did as the sunset in the distance.
The full moon was already rising up above them, and it was so bright that Nikolai didn’t miss the sun. The entire pack seemed on the verge of unleashing their wolves, barely able to hold it in any longer. There was a static excitement in the air to let go. Even Nikolai felt it.
When Soren shifted into his large wolf form, all the shifters around him followed, fur bursting, backs hunching as they all dropped around him.
Some began to howl and a thrill ran through Nikolai as everyone face forward.
