I slowly made my way to the edge of the lake and crawled out of it to stand. I kept my eyes on Asra, his face sober and lacking emotion. He held his hand out towards me, and I took it with a tight grip.

If he expected me to strip in front of all these people...

Already in my mind, Arsa quirked an eyebrow before shaking his head. I happily accepted his gesture with a soft smile and nod. When he gestured me forward, I turned to face the entire pack. Some were still on the sidelines, and I hesitantly spoke.

"Please, can everyone join us in the lake?" I announced. "I am aware some people lack confidence in the water, but as long as you are deep enough that your ribs are covered, it will include you and will respect your privacy."

Nobody spoke, all of those on the outer edges creeping into the lake. Most of the humans I noticed stayed in the shallows, and it made me wonder. Perhaps I could teach them to swim? It was a basic life skill that they deserved to know.

Once everybody was in the water, I couldn't help but notice the pressure descend on my chest. So many faces looking this way, so many people expecting things from me. I inhaled sharply, squeezing Asra's hand.

"We are a family. A pack that sticks together, stays together." I began. "Although we have been through so much lately, we are here right now to fix it. And that's what counts. People may drag us down and harm us, but we can always guarantee that somebody is there for us."

Silence. Tired, hopeful and even sceptical eyes. So many mixed emotions.

"Tonight, under the full moon, we are going to embrace it. Embrace the changes that are to come. We are all equal, and with the help of the Moon Goddess, we hope to heal." I continued. "Heal from pain. Heal from scars. Heal from a past that haunts us in the night... We may all have the same things to heal from, we may all have different things, but if we can come together, we can heal."

The silence did not unnerve me, and after running out of things to say, Asra squeezed my hand back. I looked at him, and his face filled with questions. Nodding softly, he bowed his head once before looking at the sky. The moon glowed in the clear sky, and my eyes travelled, watching it reflect off the lake's surface.

Slowly, Asra led me closer to the lake until my ankles were submerged. The water lapped softly, gentle and undisturbing. It was waiting, a heavy tenseness in the air, full of anticipation. Warmth wrapped around my legs and up my calves, but nothing was out of the ordinary. We continued on, and I kept my eyes locked on the lake as we slowly descended until only my head was left.

Asra turned to me, gesturing down to my bikini. Warmth wrapped around me as we held eye contact, and with complete trust in him, I removed my clothing. The fabric sank to the bottom, waiting for me to retrieve it later. I heard faint splashes in the background and glanced to see others doing the same.

Now we were all one big nudist party.

I turned back to Asra and held his gaze. The consciousness of my scars seemed to vanish as the lake warmed my body, and ever so slowly, I felt my worries slip away. Asra's eyes softened, and without thinking, I opened my mind. The bond blossomed, the ties holding us together rippling.

My eyes fluttered closed as ever so slowly I relaxed my entire mind. I felt each thread, each piece of the puzzle springing to life. Every single soul in this lake... I could feel them all. Without even opening my eyes, I knew where everybody was. As bizarre as it was, it felt comforting. Each of them responding, opening their mind back to me, until the entire puzzle was complete.

Heat wrapped around me. From the tips of my toes, it travelled up my body. I inhaled sharply; the feeling catching me off guard. My muscles tightened, unaware of what was happening, before I forced them to calm. Exhaling slowly, I fell vulnerable to the feelings.

Just like the first time, my heart began to race. My stomach churned, heart twisting as my skin erupted with goosebumps. I felt vulnerable and exposed, but I also felt oddly calm.

Opening my eyes, I found Asra staring right back at me. Electricity travelled between us, and I knew next would be our submersion. Keeping our hands tied, we swam further and slipped simultaneously into the water.

It was strange.

The warmth of the lake turned into what felt like a hug. The lake's powerful arms encased my entire body, lifting me up, stroking my skin, wrapping around my limbs. Dozens of others whispered touches on my skin, supportive. I felt honoured. I felt accepted. I felt at home. Somehow, I knew these hands would support me and accept whatever happened in the past.

I felt like I could be myself. That, despite being bare and covered with scars, these people did not care. And I knew that whatever burden they carried, I would carry too. Sharing the load makes it easier to carry for everyone.

The hands slowly slipped away, leaving me bare once more. But then I felt Asra. I felt his warmth through my skin, felt the bond in my chest. My body burned more now, burning at the centre. My core tightened, my heart raced. Desire, want, need. No more confusion, no more judgement. It was strange how I could feel everything he did. I could feel his heart in my chest as though it were my own. I could feel the rush of his blood through his veins.

Was I him, and he I?

I opened my eyes, my lungs aching, proving how long we had been down here. The moon glinted back down at me, starts lighting up the sky. It was beautiful. Everything was. Nature, humanity and all the creatures beneath the sky. The stars reminded me of Asra, and as my entire body burned for him, my lips curled into a smile. If I looked up, I would always see him. It was sweet, a sentimentality I had once yearned for.

He was always there for me. He was my sky watching over me.

Asra was the one thing I never realised I needed. He changed my perspective, my opinions... He changed my soul.

What would I do without him?

Asra's grip tightened, and my head turned just as he pulled me to him. Our bodies collided, and like a thunderbolt, electricity zapped at my skin. I gasped, unwillingly taking in some water. As the energy sizzled between us, Asra floated us back to the surface.

Breathing in the fresh air, I felt lighter. I felt comforted. Asra's arms were secure around me, not letting go. My hands fell to the back of his head, and in the heat of the moment, I pulled his lips to mine. We moulded perfectly, fitting together like pieces of a puzzle. It took us some tries to get here. A few misplaced pieces turned the wrong way, but we made it.

And now we were one.

Pulling away from him, the warmth no longer disturbed me, and instead, wrapped around us like a bubble. It was supporting and comforting. I felt light, like nothing could ever disturb me and ruin this.

"It worked." Asra breathed.

It did?

I blinked, and Asra laughed softly. His fingers came to hold my cheeks, thumbs wiping the water from my eyes. I eyed him curiously, swiping his hair from his face. His lashes were longer when damp, brushing the skin of his cheek as he gazed down at me. This man was beautiful.

"It worked?" I wondered.

Shaking my head in disbelief, my other senses all came back to me. My nostrils flared as so many emotions hit me at once. The pack bonds were clear as day. So many people and voices, so much happiness and joy.

Did they feel this airy too?

Like I was in a bubble. I laughed aloud. It had worked!

"What does this mean?" I gasped.

"Our worries are lessened because we share them. The Goddess has heard us and helped us."

"How is that even possible?" I wondered.

Asra had never looked so carefree, and I gazed at him with awe. "Because we are a unit, we all seek the same thing."

"What's that?"

"Love. Kindness. Hope." He shrugged. "They have accepted us as their leaders, and in turn, we have accepted them. You did it, Tulip."

My lips curled into a grin, and I kissed him again. "We did it."

He chuckled, pecking my lips back. "We sure did. But I couldn't do it without you."

"You'll never have to." I rolled my eyes. "That's the whole point of being soulmates, Butterscotch."

Asra grinned, squeezing me. "I'm lucky to have you."

I shook my head. "No, I'm lucky to have you."

"How are you the lucky one?" He mused. "I have never felt this way before."

"I would be nobody without you, Asra. You have supported me in so many ways, and don't look down at me for how I behave."

"Behave? Tulip, you are not a pet. You are a human, well, part-wolf, with emotions that you deserve to explore."

"See!" I laughed. "That's what I mean! Simple things, really, but I have never had such freedom before."

"Oh, Tulip. I am so lucky to have you." Asra murmured. "You make me feel like I am walking on air. Like all of my worries just vanish."

"Butterscotch..." I muttered.

"It's true." He admitted. "Before you, I never realised how lonely I felt. The world seemed very dull until you came into it. My instincts screamed at me to come to you, and I felt drawn to you. No matter what I did, you always had this effect on me. But now... I'm whipped."

"Like meringue?"

"Yes." His lips quirked. "You scrambled my brain and made me see everything in a whole new perspective. I have been selfish, but now I recognise my emotions and I know I have not been the easiest. You mean everything to me, and I cannot express myself anymore than I already am. The words escape me, and I am left breathless every time I think about you."

I interrupted him, tugging his hair. "I love you."

"I love you too." He smiled.

His eyes glinted in the moonlight, the man so ethereal he left me breathless.

Licking his lips, Asra inhaled deeply, rising me up, so I sat wrapped around his hips. He wrapped his hand around the back of my neck and pulled me to him. Lips moulding together, I felt every strain of worry slip away. It was like nothing even mattered anymore, nothing. I could feel him, taste him, be him.

As our kiss turned passionate, with nothing in the way. Every piece of Asra felt like mine when we were so close. His breaths were heavy, but his hands were gentle as they explore the scars on my skin. I chose to enjoy this, to inhale his being with every slow movement of his mouth. I did not even care for the surrounding people, lost in his touch until I misplaced my breath. Only then did I pull away and thank the Goddess for bringing us closer.

Because he was mine, and I was his, and that was how it was going to be.Through thick and thin, the highs and lows, we created a bond. It was wild,odd, and primal, but it was us.

THE END

of book two

******

ahhhh end of book two already?

Good job this series is a trilogy ;D