Chereads / Running Home To Him / Chapter 4 - The Den

Chapter 4 - The Den

~Azaria~

We kept east for a while and I wasn't sure how long it had been, but I was guessing maybe another half an hour. We ran until we couldn't hear the dogs anymore and then some, and finally, we slowed to a walk. I followed behind him in his wolf and I marveled at how beautiful he was. His fur a deep brown with hints of gold scattered across his back, his paws lightening to a light brown as they reached the forest floor.

There was something different about him before when I first saw him though, he almost seemed invisible but now he wasn't like that. My brows furrowed together as I thought about how he could have done that. It couldn't be magic, could it? Witches were nearly extinct and even if you did find one the chances of them doing any magic for someone were slim to none. The M.H.C. found a way to detect spells, I always suspected they had a witch or warlock in their ranks, but during my stay I only saw humans there, well, besides all the creatures locked away.

Suddenly I heard a movement and my head swiveled around to see where the noise was coming from. "Wait here." His deep, warm voice sounded in my head, and he nudged my hand with his snout. I smiled at hm and nodded keeping quiet as he started to creep low to the ground and disappeared before my eyes like he had before! I placed a hand over my mouth to keep from gasping to not alert his prey. I heard some shuffling and a low growl and then silence. My mate was magnificent...my mate.... I found my mate!

The adrenaline had finally worn off and as my body relaxed the mate bond thrummed in my chest. My hands trembled with need, to be complete with my other half. He must have felt it too because he whined and dropped his kill. He came up to me nudging my hand again with his snout and I let my hands move along his soft fur. His wolf rippled with strength and radiated warmth, and it calmed me some.

Then he licked the back of my hand and it felt like I had been electrocuted!

I started to tremble yet again, but it was getting worse. I had exerted myself far too much and it was catching up to me. I had not been getting good meals in over a year and I was weak. They liked to keep us that way so we couldn't fight back so much.

Even though I was on the brink of exhaustion a fire had been lit in my core and I wanted him to lick me again! I must be going crazy for sure.... I wanted to be licked by a wolf....my wolf.

"Follow me love"

My cheeks flushed as he nudged me again and he picked up his kill and lead the way. I was thankful he didn't tease me this time. We came to the side of the mountain, the understory thick with vines and trees and he slipped behind a thick covering of vines and into an opening that trailed downward like a stone hallway. We walked for about a minute and then the space opened into a cave that had revealed three passages, but we didn't take any of them. Instead, we went to a wall in the cave, He touched his snout on a stone and the wall shimmered away and revealed an opening. He trotted into the passage with his kill and after another minute of walking, the cave opened into a welcoming living area. There was furniture made from wood and deer hide, candles lit the space with a warm light, there were other openings in the space that most likely lead to rooms. The living area had been empty when we arrived, but it was noticeably clear it had been used frequently and often. A couch and two living chairs with some sort of animal rug I couldn't place adorned the room. Simple but comfortable, not what I was used to but I liked it. It was warm and welcoming and emitted a feeling that love dwelled here.

"I will be right back, don't run my little bunny."

His warm voice permeated my mind and this time I sighed. I hadn't even registered what he said because every time he spoke to me it was like his voice caressed my mind, soothed my very soul and I started to tremble again with need. I rushed to the couch and sat down staring at my trembling hands hoping that if I stared long enough I could will it to stop. My body thrummed with the energy of the forest, but I was too weak to withstand the onslaught and it overwhelmed me. Coupled with the mate bond starting to engulf me like a fire and pure exhaustion, my entire body started to tremble as if I was thrown into a frozen lake. I started to hyper ventilate, not able to regulate everything my body was going through, tears streamed down my face as I lost control of my own body, I couldn't breathe, I couldn't move, it was all too much!

"Hey, hey, hey...its ok now, I'm here."

I don't know when he changed into his human form or made it to me, nor did I even realize if he was clothed or not, but he kneeled in front of me and took my hands in his and the jolt for his touch made me gasp for air halting my hyperventilating.

I met his grey eyes and I flung myself into his arms needing to be close to him. I clung to him and sobbed, and he just picked me up with ease and shushed me and rubbed my back. I don't even know where he took me, but I knew I was safe, I was finally home. I drifted off to sleep in his arms, finally giving in to my body's sensory overload before we even got to where he was taking me.