Their Omega's Heat

Eight: My Inner Wolf

Jace guided me through my Shifting, his voice a beacon of comfort and protection as my body contorted and bent at unnatural angles for a human.

But, it felt like a breath of fresh air after being underground for years. It took time, longer than it probably should have and I struggled halfway, a fear clenching my heart as I felt my Wolf rise, a noise leaving my throat.

"It's okay," Jace soothed, his hand running my half-formed spine. "Your Wolf is just excited, she's been dormant for a while." Something inside me agreed, like knowing the answer to a problem.

A word flitted across my mind. Hello.

A gasp left me, recoiling. Jace caught me, pressing himself behind me to stop me.

"It's alright, you can communicate with your Wolf... she's probably just happy to talk to you. Try thinking back a greeting."

I settled into his arms and thought of the same word. Hello.

More words formed in response. I am Zena.

I hesitated for a moment. Hi, Zena. I'm Melody.

I know. She breathed, the words forming into a woman's voice that was deep but melodic. I have waited years to hear you, little warrior. Something settled inside of me at the name, and my body contorted, the last of my Shift taking hold, and Jace released me.

I shook my body, my muscles stretching and I sat, facing Jace, feeling somewhat shy.

He stared at me, his eyes slightly wide and he took a hesitant step forward.

"You're white." He breathed in awe, taking another step and his hand reached out, patting the fur on the side of my muzzle.

I whined, moving my hand against him.

He smirked, taking a soft breath and his eyes glazed.

Can you hear me, Sweetheart? His voice pushed against my mind like a hug.

I whined at the noise, finding it comforting and peaceful. My Jace.

He smiled at me, seeming to hear me. His smile turned to chuckling. I can hear you. Your thoughts are open while we share a mind-link. It's easier if we're touching while you're learning. He explained, patting my ears.

That feels good. I purred at him, his smile crinkling the corners of his eyes as he scratched the back of my ear and I grumbled a noise of enjoyment.

Come on, I want to see you in the sun. He stood then, striding to the door.

I followed quickly, my head reaching his forearm and I was able to stay beside him easily as we climbed the stairs to the ground floor.

I sniffed the air, Zena picking up Jaxon's scent but unable to feel him close. I looked up at Jace, my ears flattening on my head and I whined.

He glanced down at me, noticing why I was upset and gave me a small scratch in comfort. "Jaxon's finishing training, he should be home soon, Sweetheart." He promised.

I nuzzled into his hand, Zena seeming to accept that and followed him to the front door.

He smiled down at me, grabbed a coat from the coat rack beside the door and held it up to me.

It was fur-lined on the inside with a greyish-white fluff that smelt unfamiliar, but the knitted colourful pattern on the other side made me know where it came from.

Jace stepped beside me and threw it over my back. "Elara had it made for you," he explained, fitting it to my back and then crouched in front of me to clasp the buttons down the neck. "It'll fit both forms and will dampen your scent so it's safe for you to be outside." He patted the side of my face and stood, turning to the door.

I pressed my nose to his wrist, pushing on the mental connection. What's the lining? I asked, padding after him as he opened the door, the air and sunlight beaming in invitingly.

It was chilly enough the coat kept me warm as I followed Jace, seeing a bench seat swing on a large tree that was beside the den entrance, overlooking a small meadow of wildflowers and small birds, dipping to the mountain slope that overlooked the Pack town.

I saw people moving around the dirt streets and buildings, seeing a small area that looked like a shopping centre.

Jace chuckled, drawing my attention to see him on the swing. "It's a special rabbit fur. It helps diffuse your scent." He said, not having to raise his voice for me to hear.

I jogged back to him, excited to see him patting the spot beside him on the swing.

He smiled. "You're so beautiful." I'd have blushed if I could have, but I nudged him with my nose, rolling my eyes and climbed up on the seat carefully, moving to lay my head on Jace's lap.

"Has she spoken to you?" He asked curiously.

I huffed a yes. Her name is Zena.

Jace smiled down at me, scratching between my ears. "Hello, Zena." He greeted, leaning forward and nuzzling my nose. "You're very pretty,"

Zena rose, like going from driver to passenger in a car, and she spoke back.

Hello, handsome mate. You smell wonderful.

Jace chuckled a hint of pride in his smile. "Thanks, I think Melody is a fan too," he teased, Zena switching control so I could lean up and lick Jace's face, making him recoil and sputter for a moment as he wiped the slobber from his face. He scowled at me when he was clean.

You deserved that. I gave him a Wolfy grin, resting back on his lap.

He laughed and patted my neck. "I probably did," he agreed, shuffling to get comfortable and continued to pat me as we started to doze from the peacefulness.

Zena spoke quietly to me, a comfort to my soul I didn't know I was missing.

You found our mates. She smiled blissfully, snoozing with me in my mind.

It was an accident. I giggled lazily. I thought they were going to kill me.

Zena snarled at first, offended I'd think my mates were capable of harming me, but I showed her our meeting and she calmed, understanding I didn't know the call of a mate and without my connection to her, she couldn't feel them to tell me.

I'm sorry I denied you. I said sincerely, filled with a deep regret.

Don't be. She soothed. I have watched when I could, I have seen the world you grew in. It was not kind to Wolves. She showed me the Pack town below, where we napped, a feeling of happiness and contentment filling me at the sight as she drifted her thoughts to my twin mates. Here, with them, we can thrive.

I agreed, nuzzling into Jace's lap further, feeling his strong fingers curl in my fur to scratch me lovingly while he slept, Zena keeping my senses alert enough to feel or smell Jaxon when he got home.