As Jeremy's wolf drew dangerously close to Celeste, its powerful muscles coiled like springs before launching him straight toward her.
Celeste was caught off guard. As the wolf's sharp claws grazed against her skin, Celeste's mind raced with doubt. Had she been too naive, too trusting of Jeremy? She guessed she could only blame herself for getting under the wolf's skin.
Her body went backward. She braced herself for the impact of a fall. She expected the air to get knocked out of her lungs. But the impact or the pain never came. As she hit the ground, she was met with an unexpected softness that cushioned her. The wolf's supple tail had swooped in at the last moment to break her fall.
Unlike that night, the wolf had exercised great restraint and didn't land his entire weight on Celeste's body. Instead, with remarkable finesse, the wolf landed beside her, his powerful tail sandwiched between Celeste and the unforgiving ground.
Celeste slowly opened her eyes, and her vision was immediately consumed by the sharp, unwavering gaze of the wolf. His eyes were fixed on her, large and intense, radiating fierce, unyielding energy. Celeste could feel the weight of the stare, and it was as if the wolf was peering deep into her soul. Or rather, her inner wolf.
Despite the intimidating presence of the wolf, Celeste noticed that the creature's eyes lacked the same ferocious intensity as before. Given how carefully he had buffered her falling, Celeste realized that Jeremy's wolf must have sensed her recent recovery, and as a result, refrained from knocking her to the ground to prevent any further harm. She couldn't help but admire the creature's intelligence and self-restraint, despite his animalistic nature.
A smile slowly crept onto her face. Her hand trembled with anticipation and a hint of uncertainty as she reached out to stroke the wolf. When her fingers landed on the wolf's fur, the warmth surprised her. The fur was soft and gentle to the touch. It was like running her hand through a field of wheat.
The wolf leaned into her touch. He communicated with her, nuzzling his snout into her palm with a tender affection that surprised her. Celeste was hit with a sense of intimacy that she couldn't quite explain.
Celeste's mind wandered back to Jeremy's first shift in the kitchen where she had reached out to touch him. The memory flooded her mind like a warm embrace. She remembered the way his fur had felt beneath her fingertips, the way his body had tensed up before quickly recoiling away.
Perhaps that had been the very moment he became aware of their mate bond?
"I can hardly believe we could ever be this close, especially after…" Celeste mumbled in a hushed voice. The voice was so low that she was sure it was not audible.
The wolf seemed to want to turn around and move closer to her, but his tail was still tucked between Celeste's back and the floor. He shook his tail a little, trying to pull it free without disturbing her.
Celeste couldn't help but laugh softly. Jeremy's soft fur rubbed against her skin, sending shivers down her spine. She lifted her back up slightly, allowing the wolf's tail to slip out from beneath her.
As the tail was about to pull away completely, Celeste couldn't help but stroked it tenderly and touched the soft, velvety fur beneath her fingers.
The wolf let out a plaintive whine of protest. And Celeste chuckled at that.
The room was dim, and the wolf's eyes seemed to shimmer like precious jewels. He appeared to yearn to step forward and draw closer to Celeste, but he hesitated, unsure if he was permitted to close the gap between them.
She nodded at him, a subtle gesture that conveyed her understanding. It was as if she and the wolf shared an unspoken language, communicating with each other on a deeper, instinctual level.
She knew the wolf could easily give in to his most primal urges, but he restrained himself in her presence. She couldn't shake off the memory of that night when Jeremy's desires had burned through his rationality. But even then, his wolf had kept himself at bay and respected her boundaries.
She raised her palm and watched as the wolf leaned into it like a magnet. She placed her hand on his head and felt the softness of his fur against her skin. The wolf responded to her touch, moving his head in sync with her palm and nuzzling against her shoulder. The warmth of his breath rested upon her skin.
Tentatively, Celeste placed her arm on the wolf's body. The wolf tensed for a moment but then relaxed. His powerful muscles ripple beneath his fur, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of awe.
For a short moment, she stopped thinking about their relationship as twins. She opened her arms and embraced the wolf. She felt his warmth and softness against her. She felt a sense of comfort. She continued to stroke his fur, feeling the texture of it between her fingers. She marveled at the bond that had formed between them, one that transcended language and was rooted in something deeper and more profound.
The wolf snuggled in her arms, emitting a contented rumbling sound. They sat silently, absorbing the peaceful atmosphere. The moonlight outside was shimmering, and Celeste suddenly noticed the clouds encircling the moon had thinned out, intensifying the brightness of the light.
She looked down and saw the wolf fixated on the window as if captivated by the moon's allure. She wondered if the brighter moonlight would unleash his primal instincts, but the wolf remained peaceful and quiet.
"Do you want to run outside?" she couldn't help asking, knowing that wolves were eager to take off and hunt under the alluring moonlight.
The wolf in her arms shifted his gaze from the window to her face, then moved his head lightly. Although the motion was barely perceptible, Celeste could tell he was shaking his head.
They remained where they were, under the shimmering moonlight, cherishing the tranquility of the night.
After a long while, Celeste took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
"Jeremy, I think I'm ready to talk about our mate bond."