The Secrets of the Panther
Chapter 23

IZZY

Running was the best way to relieve everything, but the build-up of emotions I had was causing havoc on my power; it wanted to be released, but I couldn’t let it out.

It will send trouble my way, and I couldn’t let them replace me.

We reached a clearing in the forest; the power was still surging through me like blades on metal, grinding together for the next battle.

It needed to be released.

With an almighty growl, Puna released it into the air letting the power of the anger, rage, and everything that came through me.

She let it all out; the energy and power evaporated but let a gust of the harshest of winds through the trees, warning people not to go into the forest.

After the power was released, Puna carried on running, leaving me in our head with all my thoughts.

I scared my family.

I missed Allie.

Blake’s face crept into my thoughts, his handsome face staring back at me. Pleading for me to take him as my mate, he wanted to prove to me that we were mates and that I could trust him.

After a while of being stuck inside Puna’s head for what seemed like hours, the evening was turning dark. We had been running for hours. I could tell she was getting tired.

“We should stop,” I said to her suddenly as she slows down the pace of her run.

I could hear her heartbeat, beating faster than ever. She goes into a walk and heads over to another clearing.

“I’m sorry Puna, I shouldn’t have let her get to me like that,” I said through the mind link.

Puna found a little stream running through some covered trees and started to drink from it.

“The things that woman said, it all got to me,” I said.

I was still angry.

Puna was tired; she wanted back inside but said nothing.

Puna pushed me forward, making me shift back into my human form. All I wanted to do was scream, and that was what I did.

I screamed as loud as I possibly could as I let my own frustration out and I fell onto my knees by the side of the stream and stared out.

Puna retreated back into my head, stretching out her paws with a big yawn. She’s tired, but she looks at me, purring.

“Feel better now,” she said softly

I don’t answer her as I stared out.

Puna sighed.

“That woman had a death wish; she shouldn’t have said all those things,” she grunted.

I could feel her looking at me, which made me look back at her. Her eyes were full of wonder, she can feel my emotions.

I started to calm down, but a flashback comes flowing in, and my mum appears.

My mum was playing her violin while trying to get me off to sleep. She played the sweetest music; she was always making something up.

My mum created a lullaby for me when I was six not long after my father left us. She sang it every night. But after a few minutes, she would have to stop as the excruciating pain of what my father was doing with that horrible woman would get to her.

It was hard to witness. She never complained, but it was horrible for a six-year-old to watch as your mother rolls around in pain, but her voice came flooding back to me.

“My little angel, it’s time for bed. Close your eyes and dream for a brighter day, for you deserve one with all the hopes and dreams to come true,” I said out loud in a whisper.

It is the only part of the verse I could remember of the song that my mother sang to me every night.

I sing it to Allie too.

Her eyes would fall asleep when she heard my voice, singing the verse over and over. I wasn’t much of a singer, but it was something that my mother passed down to me.

A tear slides down my face, landing on the bare skin of my arm.

I can feel Puna staring at me.

“Your mum would be so proud of you Izzy,” she said softly to me. “She would definitely be proud of how you handled yourself with the hunters and everything you have been through.”

Suddenly, I could sense someone behind me.

I closed my eyes as his scent hits me like a tidal wave, making me want to reach out.

He followed me.

Why would he follow me?

I turn around to see a huge black wolf looking back at me. The wolf sits back and stares at me.

After a few seconds, the wolf shifts, and there standing in front of me was a very naked Blake.

Blake looks down at me but doesn’t say anything.

He stares at me with worry in his eyes.

“Izzy,” Blake says softly.

I turn around to look at the stream.

I could hear him walk closer but only a few steps.

“Izzy, please,” he said in a whisper. “I need to know you are alright”

“His wolf is worried too,” Puna said, looking on at the stream.

I get up suddenly.

“You shouldn’t have stopped me,” I said, turning to him, but not realizing how close he is to me. “I wanted to kill her.”

I stare at him.

“I know, but I couldn’t let you go through with it,” he whispered. “Also I couldn’t let you do that to Dale and Kacey’s mum even if she deserved it.”

I look up at him. Damn, he’s tall.

His eye pierced mine as he reaches out to me. His hand lands on my arm sending tingles through me.

He is definitely my mate; my mother told me all the signs to look for.

I don't know how I should feel.

I took a step back.

“Um... How did you replace me?” I asked.

Blake looked down at me with an unreadable face.

“I couldn’t at first, but all of a sudden a big gust of wind came towards me out of nowhere with your scent. It drove my wolf nuts, but he knew where to replace you,” he said. “What was that?”

I sighed.

“That was the pent-up power I had, I needed to release it, or it would have consumed me into something darker,” I said as I watched him.

Blake's eyes scan my face; I can tell he was trying not to look down at my naked body.

But that didn't stop me from taking a sneaky look. Wow, something to like about him, he has a nice set of abs.

Wow, where did that come from?

I could hear Puna laugh in my head.

“Izzy, he’s our mate. You are going to like him; you will want to do more with him. Have you seen how big he is?” she said purring.

I blushed hard; I need to advert my eyes from him.

Blake looks at me with a smirk.

“Something you want to share with me,” he said with a mischievous grin.

“No, just trying to get my feelings in check,” I said way too quickly.

I looked to the side to watch the water in the stream flow down. I can’t keep looking at him.

Blake moves closer to me, closing the gap, and leans in, sniffing me, a growl slips through.

“Izzy, I…..” he said, moving his hands to my arms, running them up and down them.

I gulped.

“You don’t know how you make me feel,” he said.

I glanced down but should have not looked where my eyes had landed.

Oh, I know how he feels, I can see something between his legs come to life. God, I’m trying not to look. He is big.

I couldn’t speak.

Blake leans his head into me, sniffing my neck. His nose is close to my skin which makes my skin tingle all over, I’m even getting wet down there.

“Blake…” I said in a whisper as his nose comes along my jawline. He moves his face right in front and stares at me, moving slowly.

He leans his forehead on mine.

“I really want to kiss you,” he whispered as he leans closer, placing his lips on mine.

I feel warm.

I move back, breaking the kiss to look at him.

He looks at me, hurt in his eyes.

I feel guilty.

I couldn’t take much more.

I jump on him and place my lips back on his.

I am all over the place as his lips move with mine and his tongue slips in. He tastes so good. We move in sync with each other as his hands are holding my waist while my arms go around his neck.

Blake deepens the kiss, and I respond more.

I can feel Puna in my head as she purrs inside my head, the touch of our mate fills her.

I am consumed by him.

I don’t want it to end.