The beach

"Does the girl from the market know we are wolves?" I ask.

Ajay chuckles. "She informed you that I told her? It was our secret; I advised her of the

truth a few shopping visits ago."

"No, she didn't breathe a word. she said she has a feeling I helped people, so I had a

feeling she knew."

He smiles. "She is a sweet girl. I will pay her for the treats on the next shopping trip, but I

doubt she'll take the money." He wraps his arms around me, pulling me into his body. "Maybe next trip to the store, you can come with me."

"Really?"

"I could use extra hands carrying things."

"I would love that."

"We should get back to camp."

"Did you come because you didn't trust me?" "

"No, there is a new beast showing up, and I lost my scent on you at the campsite."

"New beast?" Oh Lord, what is he talking about?

"They have pale skin that has cracks through it, pure red eyes, and have speed and

strength," he informs me.

"The night growlers!" I yell without thinking

Ajay looks at me, shocked.

"My grandpa used to talk of creatures; he called them night growlers, but they sounded

like vampires to me."

"That would explain the teeth marks, and it looked like they were sucking blood from

Kiara.".

"Kiara! Is she okay?" Anxiety runs through me.

"She's fine Cricket got to her in time,"

"Cricket? not Chetan?"

"He is devastated, but Kiara can't fight the pull, and she shouldn't."

"Damn, I was gone for a day and missed so much."

Ajay appears to be struggling with his next statement, he looks off into the distance to for

a moment.

"If you want to be with Chetan now, I understand."

"Not a chance." My lips met his, and I kiss him.

"Let's get dressed and get back to camp," he speaks.

My hands hurry, putting on my clothes. More beasts to fight, will we have enough

wolves? Vampires and zombies, too. Are they teaming up together?"

Let's go," Ajay says once we were both dressed.

Panic fills my head, my arms and hands feel numb.

"Adagyudi, everything will be fine. Just like the zombies, we will handle the vampires,

too," he assures me.

Ajay is so headstrong and brave; he leads the pack, not showing any fear. He is

responsible for our lives, and yet he still keeps everyone safe.

"Let's go."

Placing his hand in mine, I feel like we can do anything. Vaulting from the cave, we rush

towards camp. The world seems quieter this morning. Something was going on with Sandy's Shores, but I couldn't put my finger on it. I sense eyes on me, like something is watching me, lurking in the shadows. Maybe it is the anxiety playing tricks on me, or is it?

Feeling more comfortable making it to camp, my body starts to relax. I change back into

my human form. Chetan rushes up to me and embraces me in a hug. I didn't fight it, wrapping my arms around him. My inner beast goes deranged at his touch, and I am ashamed to admit the wolf inside me wanted more.

"Break it up," Ajay orders.

My eyes land on Kiara, who is making out with Cricket under a tree. Aanya, Smoke, and

Dev are sitting by a fire.

"So, the new pack is sticking around?" I ask.

"Unfortunately." Chetan sighs.

"The one thing I forgot to mention is our packs are going to work alongside each other

permanently," Ajay says.

"Do we call Cricket Alpha, too?" I asked, somewhat sarcastically.

"Nope, he is in charge of his cubs, and I mine. We could have merged into one pack, but

none wanted to step down as Alpha," he replies.

"Okay." More wolves to share camp with, how lovely? "Can I go for a cemetery check,

Alpha?"

"You just got back, Zare," Ajay objects.

"How about bathing on the beach, please?"

"Fine, but please be quick, there are many enemies to worry about now," he states.

"I will be back in minutes."

Heading inside the camper, I grab a change of clothes from the back room. We have a

dresser and each drawer belongs to one of us. Yeah, it sucks not having a lot of stuff; I mean I am girl. How many clothes do I need when over half the time I am a wolf?

Ajay enters the room. "Please, Zare be careful.".

"I will be fine." Planting a kiss on his soft sweet lips, my feet dash to the front door.

Freedom. Running into the woods, I still feel strange, like somebody's watching me. I should have stayed at camp. My feet pick up speed; soon, everything is racing by.

Finally, making it to the beach, I feel soothed. Taking off my clothes piece by piece, I am

completely nude. The sand oozes between my toes. Stepping into the water, my feet and legs are enveloped by the liquid warmed by the evening sun.

Swimming deeper and deeper into the water is so refreshing. I let the water touch every

part of my body, even my hair.

"The sunset is beautiful," I hear Chetan's voice behind me.

I gasp. "How long have you been there?"

"Long enough."

I am surprised to see Chetan naked in the water too.

Feeling my cheeks turned red, realizing he saw me naked. "Why did you follow me?"

"I need to get away from Kiara and Cricket," he claims.

That's how I felt with him and Kiara, too. So I understand. "Does Ajay know you're

here?"

"No, he was laughing with the others." He walks closer to me, his body setting of all the

hormones inside of me.

He finally gets close enough for me to feel his warm breath on my face. I crave his lips so

desperately. As his hands glide around my body, I look into his eyes and my wolf screams inside of me like a twenty-one-year-old drinking for the first time. I suddenly feel intoxicated and loopy. Chetan is like an addictive drug to me; the closer he came, the more I wanted. Even though I know it is terrible news and should stay away.

My body is stimulated as his lips go up and down my neck. He grabs my ass with his

hands, yanking my body closer to him.

"I want you so badly, Zare," he says.

My lips find their way to his. He kisses me softly, moving his fingers through my wet

hair. He sits down in the water, pulling me on the top of him, his lips never leaving mine. He

rubs his hands up my back and wrap my arms around his neck. The warm sun shines on my

body. On the beach with Chetan, it just feels perfect, so right, and I wanted it.

"You sure this is what you want, baby girl?" he asks.

Nodding, I feel Chetan inside, and he makes love to me.