The moon hung low in the sky, silver light shimmering across the ancient forest trail. Jax shifted into wolf form before Nova even blinked. His body changed on autopilot, muscles lengthening, senses sharpening.
She stood at the edge of the clearing, human form for now.
She was tired but there was that spark in her eyes. The one he saw that morning, and the one he had seen when she shot arrows like she was born for it.
He leapt forward in wolf form, the air rushing past him, paws thudding in soft moss. She chuckled—a soft, surprised sound that filled him with a fierce warmth. She shifted with white silver light that took his breath away.
Fin was correct about her still needing help shifting. It was not quite as quick as his shift, and he could feel through the mate bond that it hurt. She didn't show it though.
She turned, springing into motion herself. She was fast. Damn fast. But he was faster. They raced through the forest, two wolves playing chase under the pale moon.
He caught her, gently nudging her with his nose. She stopped and twisted back in him, nuzzling into his neck.
His heart melted. Everything she did made his heart melt.
She ran again and that's when he saw it. A faint flicker of sadness in her eyes. He felt her emotions through their matebond like they were his own.
This reminded her of someone. Jax knew that person had to be Fin. She was worried about him. Something steeled inside him at that.
Because he wanted to protect her in a way no one else could.
He slowed, stopped beside a rock, his wolf form nose pressed gently against hers. She paused too, ears turning back, catching his scent. For a second their wolves locked eyes—wild, bright, knowing.
Mate. Mine.
His wolf growled softly, and he didn't stop it. Her coat glowed faintly under the moonlight, white as fresh snow with a shimmer he'd never seen before. He nuzzled her again to rub his scent on her.
Jax: Run again.
Nothing but a breath, and then she bolted—faster this time. He chased, not letting her get out of sight. Her speed dotted the trees ahead of him. When he caught up, he tackled her gently, paws gripping moss, her laugh echoing in his mind. He licked her face in wolf form and nibbled at her playfully.
Her wolf made a whining sound, surprised. He could feel that she was happy he did that. He lifted his head and let his wolf pad backward, giving her space to stand up and run again. He wanted to chase her—the wind whispering, leaves dancing overhead, the forest alive with their chase.
When she slowed and they stopped, and shifted back to human form. She leaned against him and he wrapped his arm around her.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
She nodded, but her gaze drifted. "Better than okay."
He didn't like it. Didn't like that she missed someone else, but he knew that was irrational. So he kept silent.
"Thank you for coming with me," she whispered.
"Always," he replied, pulling her closer.
He could feel the ache in her chest.
"Let's go back," he said gently. "Before the night gets too cold."
She nodded, trusting in her glance.
They shifted back to their wolves, running—human worries fading. For the moment, nothing else mattered except the beat of their paws, the scent of the forest, and the warmth of her body next to his.
He vowed he would do this with her every time. She would not face anything alone ever again.