Chapter 0425

Hannah

The air buzzed with excitement as we gathered on the field. Wolves of all shapes and sizes milled about, their fur gleaming in the moonlight. I felt my own wolf stirring beneath my skin, eager to be unleashed after far too long in human form.

“Alright, everyone!” the referee called, blowing his whistle. “Men on one team, women on the other. You know the rules—Ultimate Frisbee, but in wolf form. First team to score ten points wins!”

I glanced at Noah, the competitive glint in my eye unmistakable. “I hope you’re ready to lose.”

He grinned, already shifting. “In your dreams, Hannah.”

As my bones cracked and reshaped, I felt the familiar rush of power accompanying the transformation. It had been far too long, and shifting felt like scratching an itch I hadn’t reached in months.

In moments, I stood on four paws, my chestnut fur ruffling in the cool night breeze. My senses sharpened, my muscles taut, my ears perked.

The referee tossed the frisbee high, and the game began.

I darted across the field, weaving between larger wolves with ease. My agility had always been my strong suit, and now, as an Alpha, it seemed even more pronounced. I could hear the crowd’s gasps and cheers as I made impossible leaps and lightning-fast turns.

With a graceful leap, I spotted Viona near the end zone and sent the frisbee flying her way with a flick of my muzzle.

But Noah intercepted, his silver fur a blur as he raced toward the opposite end of the field. I growled playfully and gave chase, my paws barely touching the ground as I pushed to catch up.

The game continued well into overtime, both teams neck and neck the entire time, scoring point after point.

It was exhilarating, feeling the wind in my fur, the earth beneath my paws, the camaraderie with my teammates. For a while, I forgot about being an Alpha, about all the responsibilities and worries. I was just a wolf, playing a game under the moonlight.

As the score reached 10-10, tensions mounted. This was the tie-breaker round; the next point would decide the game. Noah had the frisbee, dodging and weaving through our defense.

I saw my chance and took it, charging straight for him.

At the last second, I leaped. Time seemed to slow as I soared over Noah, my jaws snapping shut around the frisbee. We collided and tumbled to the ground, a tangle of fur and limbs. Just before we hit the ground, I threw my head back and hurled the frisbee in an elegant arc into the goal.

When we came to a stop, I found myself pinning Noah down, the frisbee floating down into the point zone behind us. But I hardly saw the frisbee, hardly cared that the buzzer had gone off.

In that moment, something shifted between us. It was like a string attached to our hearts, one that had once been broken but was now slowly reforming. I could feel Noah’s rapid heartbeat as if it were my own; I could smell everything he smelled, feel everything he felt. Like we were… one.

It was unlike anything I’d ever felt before. Noah had told me our mate bond had been cut before I even knew we had one. Because of that, I had never felt my fated mate's soul intertwined with mine. I just thought I was one of the unlucky ones who’d never experience that.

Was this what it was like? To feel the bond reforming?

“Goal!” the referee’s voice suddenly broke through the haze. “Women win!”

Cheers erupted from the crowd, but I barely heard them. As I shifted back to my human form, I realized I was still on top of Noah, our faces inches apart. His green eyes were dark with an emotion I knew only as desire, his breath warm against my cheek.