Everything was getting to be too much.
Ayla couldn't help herself.
The need to run was just too overbearing as she sat on the couch, processing everything.
She knew it was only a matter of time.
All she had to do was wait for the right moment.
As she ran, she quickly realized she wasn't alone.
Her hearing was heightened as she quietly, stealthily bolted through the trees.
Eavesdropping, she overheard that some Alpha was about to use Julius as bait.
That didn't sit well in her gut, not at all.
The only thing she could think of was to find a way to make it clear that Dominic was still on his mission.
That way, if he were on their side, she would be helping Julius, and if he wasn't, she would be helping Julius.
If she were running through the woods, then Domonic had all the reason in the world to be there still.
Hoping that she did more good than harm, she bolted as fast as she could.
She knew that if the boys found out, they would kill her themselves, but she had a partial plan, and she knew how to take care of herself.
Her destination was much safer anyway.
Ayla hoped anyway.
The goal was to get away from the boys to save them.
Seeing the female wolf zoom past them lowered any suspicions, just as planned.
Lucas assumed Dominic was doing his job instantly.
He was disappointed that he wouldn't be able to stay longer, though.
In the end, he was happy to be able to stretch his legs the way he had.
Maybe next time he would be able to do more.
Even though his lips showed delight, his eyes showed sorrow that his mission was over as he looked back to meet his superior's eyes.
"I'm glad to see you, sir. Good luck catching that one. I won't say a word" he smiled.
"Thank you, Lucas. Your loyalty isn't lost on me. I hope I can count on you" Dominic winked.
Lucas knew how much loyalty meant to him.
Did he just earn a promotion by being honest?
That didn't mean that Dominic didn't have concerns about what the young man would say.
"Alpha Theo will want proof that I'm on my mission. What will you do? You can't tell him that you saw her wolf. I don't think he can know that she is aware of that yet. What will you tell him without saying that I'm here" Dominic explained.
Lucas started thinking.
"You are the one who sent the bogus intel. That was so that the other packs would stay away from her! You planted that so you could trap her. Now it's just you and her, and you nearly have her! How do I sound" Lucas winked.
"Pretty spot on if you ask me. I always knew you were a smart wolf" he smirked.
"And the other wolf" Lucas wondered.
"What other wolf" Dominic asked.
"The one that you, Phoenix, and Raphael were spotted with in the woods" Lucas asked.
Dominic was suddenly worried.
Julius wasn't safe.
"He is a wolf that lives in town. I found out that he is close to her. I'm using him to get close to the girl. I almost have his trust. Just a few more days and we will have her, and maybe another wolf or two" he winked back.
"Sir, I knew you were good, but that is masterful. I commend you. See you soon, sir" he said as he shifted and started toward their home territory without delay.
Dominic stood, watching Lucas disappear into the woods until he knew he was a good distance away.
It was time for him to shift and run his stress away.
The last thing he expected was more pack members to show up.
Julius being found was a surprise, but now his alpha new about him.
How was he supposed to protect him?
Dominic shifted, but something told him not to run yet.
Just about that time, he turned to realize the light blonde colored wolf was sitting behind him.
He didn't understand how he couldn't sense, smell, or hear her.
It was like stealth was her middle name.
'I think it's time for us to talk' her wolf said to his wolf as she started walking away.
Ayla was done running.
This man was toying with someone, and it wasn't going to be her.
Julius and Alexander had begun to mean too much to her.
That being said, it wouldn't be either of them he played any longer.
They were almost starting to feel like family, and no one would hurt her family.
It was time for her to stand up and fight.
No more running, at least for the moment.
Speaking of the two men she now cared for, they had just come back down to the apartment.
Alexander's anxiety instantly maxed out.
He entered the living room to see it empty.
Their bedroom was empty.
There was no sign of Ayla.
She had left.
Ayla left him.
The most amazing girl ever was gone.
She had promised him she wouldn't run!
Yet she did.
Neither man knew what to do, or where to look.
Alexander was totally helpless, and Julius felt bad for him as he sat on the couch trying to think.
Back in the woods, Ayla was leading Dominic to a place she felt safe to talk.
It was out of the way and held cover all around.
Once they reached it, she knew she would be able to talk to him openly.
There it was, the entrance to the cave of wonders.
She started shifting as she went through the opening, managing to grab a few large leaves as she went.
The words heard next left her lips controlled, calm, and oddly powerful at the same time.
"What was that about" not waiting for him to say anything.
She was clear to show him who was in charge from the jump.
"I can promise you I had no idea that Lucas was going to be sent here" he said.
He was waving his hands along with his words in an effort to seem believable.
"Are you, or are you not, Julius's dad"?
"Can you not see the similarities. I'm his dad. He was stolen from me. I would never harm him" he reassured her.
She wasn't reassured.
It was clear that he wasn't trying to deceive her, but it didn't make what she heard earlier go away.
Was he Julius's dad?
Probably.
Would he harm him?
Undecided.
Wolves aren't known for their soft, caring personas.
Dominic knew he had to explain.
"We were seen somehow, on our run. It got back to my Alpha that I lied about being here still. I had to cover for my stay. Either way, it's going to be messy soon. Still yet, it will be my fight, not any of you" he said sternly.
She knew that was what the men had discussed, but she wasn't sure it was true.
Ayla wanted answers.
"That's something we can see eye to eye on. When something is our fight. This is my fight. Men keep trying to step in for me, but this is MY fight. What do you want with me" she asked.
For the first time, she was putting her life in her own hands.
It felt good, empowering.
With him not answering, she spoke again.
"I'm done letting everyone control every move I make. So, tell me, now's your chance. What...do...you...want...from...me"?
He didn't expect such a bold move, but now he understood his son's desire to protect her.
Yes, she was absolutely worth protecting.
Ayla was strong and stubborn, but she was also courageous.
From the sounds of it, she was done letting others suffer for her, which made her caring.
"Nothing. I don't want anything from you" he said.
She went to leave the cave.
"But others do. They won't stop coming. I sent them away for now, but they will all be back. Actually, several are still here. I advise you to be careful" he told her.
Ayla turned her head back, a smirk playing in her lips, and a cocky expression matching in her eyes.
"I know they are. Every time anything changes, I get the update" she smiled.
"Julius"?
She nodded holding the cocky look on her face.
Everything suddenly clicked into place.
"You and Alexander live with him".
Ayla smiled brighter.
"Do you think I would tell you anything about my current status"?
Dominic looked at her, puzzled.
"Lived. I lived with them. I'm surprised you haven't figured me out by now, General. I'm a free spirit. Staying too long in one place will only get me caught. Now that I have a tail at will, my options are limitless. Please tell them how thankful I am for everything. I'll miss them. They don't deserve the curse I bring".
Before he could reply, she was gone.
It was like she was never there to begin with.
Unsure of what just happened or what to do, Dominic hustled to get to Julius.
He knew that if they didn't know, they needed to know Ayla's plan.
When he got to the building, he realized he didn't know which apartment belonged to the boys.
More than that, he didn't even know how to get into the building.
One lingering fact he was unaware of was that he had eyes on him.
With haste, he started buzzing all of the apartments, but there were no answers.
It was impossible that out of all the apartments, not one person answered until he reached the one on the top that they inhabited.
"What is the point of a buzz system if no one answers it" he grumbled.
"Sorry about that. We don't really have anyone else..." Julius started as Alexander swatted him.
Blowing off the broken words, he quickly responded.
Dominic was almost rushed in his speech when he spoke, "Can you let me up"?
"We have a situation we are trying to take care of, so if you can tell us your emergency, I would appreciate it" Julius said.
"I really need you to let me up" Dominic urged them.
Julius could sense the concern in his voice and let him, against Alexander's objections.
It was obvious there was a somber mood in the room.
"You know already" he stated as more of a question than a fact.
Alexander was moving to stand beside his friend, "Know what exactly"?
Dominic knew they didn't have time for games.
Ayla was out in the woods, with goddess only knew who running around.
"She doesn't plan on coming back".
Alexander's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"WHAT"?
"It's not like that" Dominic explained.
"She is used to running and being in danger. Now, she sees you two as being in the same predicament. She thinks her curse has spread to you. In reality, we are all cursed. She plans to disappear in hopes of taking the heat off of you. She said it's her fight".
Dominic put his head down in shame.
"The last time I saw her, she was in the woods".
Alexander thought maybe now he had a chance of finding her as he bolted out of the apartment, headed straight for the woods.
He no longer cared what the two men had to talk about.
If he knew it was about another imminent threat, he might have taken a moment to listen.
Then again, he needed to find Ayla, so maybe not.
Ayla was in her full wolf glory as she allowed her paws to mash into the firm ground with every step she took.
The pads of her paws almost sent shots of pleasure through her with each step they took as she ran, the winds pulling her angst from her fur.
A run through the woods was everything she needed.
For a moment, she wondered if it was worth it to ever change back.
Before she knew it, she had circled back, and she was sitting at the entrance of the cave.
It was as if nature was giving her a solution to her current predicament.
She might not have any clothes, but the temperature was actually perfect at the moment.
More than that, the cave felt amazing inside, so she didn't need clothes.
Ayla was not willing to head into the solitude of the cave just yet.
Deep inside the cave was too quiet and isolated.
So, instead, she turned to place her head facing out of the entrance.
Relaxing with her head on her paws, she soaked in the nature around her.
Nighttime was slowly attempting to roll in, and the moon was making itself known before she realized it.
The stars never seemed more beautiful than they did that night.
A sound that almost came out as a huff left her body as she lay there.
Once again, she was alone.
In her mind, it was for the best.
For once, she had actually started to get used to the idea of being with others and hadn't realized how much she liked it.
Her wolf was craving closeness the whole time, but she had fought it; only now she knew it.
Now, she just had to tell her heart and body that.
It was finally hitting that time of day that was perfect.
The sun and moon were fighting over who belonged in the sky.
To Ayla's delight, the effects of it were magical.
Everything around her appeared an unnatural color as the two forces meshed.
There almost appeared to be a blue hue before her eyes, as the sun struggled to hang on.
Ayla loved it when she was able to capture this just before the moon would win.
Moonlight was finally beginning to illuminate everything around her, making it look new as her thoughts began to consume her again.
Nature's marvels were no longer distracting her.
She knew this was her fight, as the words, "MY fight" echoed in her head.
Another thought attached itself to it.
Why did she have to fight it alone?
There was no rule book that she had to follow.
She knew the answer to that, though.
It was because she had to keep the others safe.
Deciding she was ready to call it a day, she headed into the cave.
Ayla decided it was probably safest and smartest to stay in her wolf form while there.
Especially while sleeping.
Her wolf had more heightened senses than she did.
There was an added bonus to it.
People might know her human face, but they wouldn't know her wolf.
Without realizing it, she had drifted off to sleep.
Going nearly twenty-four hours without sleep is draining.
A few hours later, she stirred a little, still lying on the bed that had been made the last time she was in the cave.
Her mind started thinking back to the last time she was there.
Alexander made the time there fly by.
His body was so warm and inviting.
She started to wish she hadn't left him, but she reminded herself that this was her fight.
Realizing she needed to readjust herself on the leaves, she stood up to start circling the area.
"YELP"!
'What...who...really' she thought to herself.
It took her a minute, but she figured it out.
Alexander had found her and curled up in a ball next to her.
Afraid more than anything that if he woke her up, she would run, he didn't do anything but lie there.
Sleeping quietly next to her was perfect in his book.
He hadn't counted on her waking up at all.
Her yelp from being startled woke him up, but he wouldn't dare show it.
As long as her presence didn't move away from him, he would pretend to stay asleep.
All he wanted was for her to lie back down next to him.
She knew he wasn't sleeping.
Ayla knew that, as loud as her yelp had been, and how light a sleeper he was, he had to be awake.
To test his resolve, she decided to shift to see if there was a reaction.
At first, he managed to fight fairly well.
Ayla was impressed with how well he fought his temptation.
Then, knowing she was on full display next to him was too much.
His head popped up to see if he was right about the shift.
Seeing her naked body lying next to him, he couldn't resist.
Alexander seamlessly morphed into the matching form.
"What are you doing here, Alexander" she asked as soon as he shifted.
"You know what I'm doing here" he responded, "I asked you not to run".
"This is my fight. You and Julius are being sucked in. It's not fair. I won't let it happen" she said sternly.
"It isn't like you have a choice. Whether you stay or not, we are involved. The alphas will come for all of us. You know that, right? The first one on the list just happens to be you" he said, running his finger down her chin.
"That's not true. If you understood, then you wouldn't say that. It's my fight, and trying to protect me brought heat on you. I'm removing you from the fire. Don't try and argue with me" she told him.
"I thought you were smart" he chuckled.
"I am. Stop arguing with me" she said.
"Is that an order. Even if it was, I wouldn't listen. I may let you think that I listen to you. Ultimately, I do what is best for myself, Julius, and now you. Being alone. Fighting alone is not what is best for anyone" he told her.
He meant every word, too.
Ayla wanted to make sure he knew what he was facing.
"Alpha Theo knows about Julius, and potentially you. I won't let him get you or him. I don't know how to stop it".
Alexander looked at her with furrowed brows.
"How do you know that"?
She thought for a moment before she told him.
"While I was running, I heard one of Alpha Theo's guards approach that Dominic guy. He told him".
Alexander thought for a moment before he responded.
"Crap. Well, then we need to all get together and come up with some kind of a strategy. Looks like your fight is coming. Please, stop saying 'MY' fight, when it's 'OUR' fight" he smiled, looking at her expression soften.
"Like 'OUR' room" she smiled.
Maybe, just maybe, he got somewhere that time.
He had a knowing look on his face that matched a smirk forming.
If anything, she might be nice enough not to abandon him in the woods alone.
She was moved by what he said, though, as she moved to lean into his body.
"Okay".
He had no clue what the okay meant, but she said OKAY.
Alexander would take it.
Next thing he knew, she was pulling his face down toward hers and pressing her lips to his.
The leftover hint of blood on her lips told him that she had successfully hunted earlier that day.
He was slightly jealous.
Ayla seemed better than him at everything.
Was it right to be jealous, or should he be proud of her resilience?
His thoughts were quickly clouded with lust as her kisses deepened.
She was planning on making more cave memories, and he was on board.
Following her cues, he rolled over and lay on top of her between her legs.
It didn't take much for him to realize she was ready for him.
Ayla was hot, wet, and horny.
Putting a hand down to help Alexander along, she realized he didn't need any help.
He was hard as a rock and ready to go.
With a small bit of guidance from her hand, Alexander slowly pushed himself inside her as Ayla let out a pleasurable moan.
Immediately, their mouths found each others, their tongues dancing a dance only they knew.
She was more than ready for a release, as he made sure that he pressed himself as deep as her body would allow, pausing slightly before he started rocking his hips back and forth.
He wanted nothing more than to give her just what she was asking for with every moan that slipped from between their lips.
Outside world be damned.
They were in the cave, and nothing else mattered outside the cave.
There was one problem.
The outside world was closer than they realized.
A lonely black wolf wasn't far and heard their conversation.