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“Someone got drowned.” Chad teased as I walked into Dad’s office.

“Actually, I went surfing,” I corrected him and sat in the chair beside him. Dad looked at me frowning, as I slouched in the chair.

“You don’t surf.” Chad was amused by the idea.

“I got a lesson.” I shot him a wink and turned to face Dad. “So, dear old Dad, what are you chasing me down for?”

“Whom did you get the lesson from?” Chad asked, clearly not dropping the subject.

“Alec.” I brushed it off like it was nothing, and it was nothing. We were just friends. Just friends. I bit my lip. “So, Dad, what did you want?”

“Xavier called,” Dad answered with a raised eyebrow.

“Of course he did.” I rolled my eyes. “So? What do I have to do?” I gave in to defeat before bothering to defend myself. A blind man could see I did it.

“I bet Alec helped you.” Chad smirked from his chair and I narrowed my eyes at him.

“Do you have a point, Chad?”

“Nothing.” He leaned back in his chair, amused by something, but I sure as hell didn’t know what it was.

“Nothing,” Dad cut in, stopping our pointless conversation. “I told Xavier that I would deal with you directly.”

“And this is you dealing with me?”

“Yes. I don’t think you deserve any more punishment.” He smiled warmly. “After all, I saw the video. I think that’s enough punishment in itself.”

“Video?” I frowned, not getting what dad was implying. “What video?” I glanced at Chad who was shaking slightly with laughter.

“Let me guess. I’m surfing?” I bitterly shook my head. Damn Alec! He had actually given up on me by that point and was sitting on the beach. I thought he was playing on his phone, not filming me!

“I’m going to kill him!” I snarled. Chad however couldn’t contain his laughter any longer.

“Aw, Sis, I think nearly all of Facebook has seen it by now.”

“Oh, that boy knows how to push the limits.” I gritted my teeth and started plotting my revenge by the second.

***

The wind blew around my naked body, swirling my hair freely around my face. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath in of the fresh night area, smelling the loose soil, the animals’ scents that lingered in the forest.

I stood still for a few moments, draining the moment for all it was worth. Then once peace filled me, I launched. Running along the open forest floor and then jumping in the air, I changed into the beautiful wolf that was always within side of me.

My paws landed on the dirt and my pace quickened. If I could run from every problem I had ever had, this was me doing it. It fuelled my legs, imagining that every step I took carried me further away from my problems.

I was losing myself in the nature that surrounded me. For too long I hadn’t let myself run.

To be free.

The grass and forest were flashing past me, and I wasn’t even focusing on where I was heading. I was alone and free. Well, that was what I thought until something launched from the side of me, tackling me and bringing me to a stop on the forest floor.

I snapped my teeth, growling. I wasn’t sure if I was being threatened or attacked.

The smell wasn’t unfamiliar. Who in their right mind would launch themselves at someone?

As I focused on the large solid tanned wolf in front of me, I realized immediately who it was. He was never in his right mind to begin with.

“I’m not talking to you,” I communicated to Alec through the pack’s mind link. I eyed him up and down as he stood a few feet away with a cheeky grin on his face. I got up on my paws, and turned away from him, flicking my tail as I took off in the opposite direction at a slower pace.