Kacie
“As much as I’d love to take you right here in the middle of these woods, I brought you out here for a reason,” Viktor murmured against my lips.
“Forget the reason,” I murmured breathlessly. “Tell me more about what you want to do to me in these woods.”
Viktor chuckled and looked down at me. The lust was clear in his eyes but as his eyes flashed, he strained against Flash. I could feel his need against my belly but he was fighting me.
“I’d love to play out one of your fantasies out here,” I whisper quietly. “Against the tree? In the dirt?” I suggested.
“The Goddess tempts me,” he murmured. “I brought you out here so you can try calling on your power.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I said and tried to move back. Viktor reached out and grabbed my arm.
“I trust in you,” he said.
“Viktor… I think we should wait until after you reach out to the elders. When we know what we’re dealing with… when we have an inkling of what this is,” I said.
“It’s been hard for me. Do you think I couldn’t tell you were struggling? You’re my mate and I can feel you, I can see that you’re conflicted. I can see you’re troubled and I want to help. Seeing you struggle the way you have the past weeks has been painful for me.”
“Viktor… you don’t understand. I’m sorry I haven’t noticed that I was affecting you. We’ve both been busy with life and I’ve been trying to fulfill my duties as Luna,” I choke.
“I’m not angry with you, Kacie,” He said firmly. “I didn’t say those things to make you feel bad.”
I sigh.
“I know, Viktor. You’re just worried about me but it’s not just calling on the flames.”
“What else is there?” He asked. “I don’t know because you haven’t told me. I’m here, I’m listening.”
“That day, the flames took over, it burned me inside and out. I felt the heat, I felt the anger, I felt the power. I wanted them dead, I wanted them to die slowly but because there were a lot of them, I made most of them quick. When I shifted…,” I trailed off.
“What?” He asked.
“When I shifted, Athena was engulfed in flames. Fire came out from her fur and lit up the darkness that covered the woods. I was unstoppable and I never want to feel powerful like that again,” I said.
“I see fear when you should be proud,” Viktor said. “You saved yourself and your people by taking those men out. They would have followed you here. The state I was in when you were gone… I don’t know if I would have been able to protect the pack. My mind was wrapped around you and finding you. Day in and day out, I’d exhausted our warriors by sending them to search for you. You did what you needed and you protected the pack against a danger we weren’t prepared for.”
He pulled me into his arms for a bear hug and I melted against him. I let out a breath and relaxed into him.
“You don’t need to do the max. I just want you to become comfortable with calling on “the flames” as you called them. I don’t want you to be afraid of your power. I know coming to the woods to play with fire isn’t the best idea but I wanted to make sure you were comfortable. We are most comfortable when surrounded by nature and life. Next time, we can go out to a clear field,” he said. “If you’re not comfortable you don’t need to do anything.”
I let my eyes glide around the woods, to the trees, to the grass, and to the sky. I am comfortable here and I’ve called the flames a few times before without it going crazy. I took a few steps back from Viktor and started taking deep breaths in and out.
“For a while now, I’ve been able to fee it within me,” I said.
“How can you feel it? What does it feel like?” Viktor asked.
“I didn’t understand what it was, I thought it was emotion, anger, frustration, fear. The flames mix with my emotions. When I’m scared or angry it comes out of my body,” I say aloud. I don’t know if it’s to him or to myself.
“And how does it come out?” He asked. He doesn’t move to come closer and his distance reassures me.
I lift my right hand in front of me, “I call it,” I whisper. As I say the words, something flickers in my palm and slowly comes to life until my hand is covered by a foot of fire. Viktor’s eyes widen before finding my gaze.
“It’s impressive and you are a fucking badass,” he said with awe. I laugh and the flame flickers.
“I’ve thrown myself into training and strengthening my body. I want to be strong and be able to protect my people. I don’t want to need their protection, I want to be able to provide protection,” I whisper. “I’ve been weak and under someone before. I want my people to feel safe, I want our people to feel safe.”
I look over at him. My eyes find him and he smiles at me.
“That’s why you’re perfect. My Queen is strong and brave, you look at your dark past and want better for your people. I’ve watched you over the past two weeks and I’m proud of your improvement.”
I sigh.
“You’re not someone to shy away from a challenge. You aren’t the girl who wouldn’t look me in the eyes. You’re not someone who will hide or cower in fear. This power? Yes, it’ll be hard but I know with hard work you’ll have it controlled,” he said as he took a step closer to me.
I nod.
He’s right. I’m no longer that girl who would hide and fall to my feet. I have my mate and my pack. This power, if controlled, could protect them.