If there was a way to get it back, she vowed, she would.
An hour after Jolene dropped them off at Colton’s place, the urge to change nearly brought Jewel to her knees. Tired of confinement, her wolf alter ego wanted freedom. Jewel couldn’t say she blamed it.
She had to try to change. With Colton settled in his bed, dozing, and the pending dawn’s rosy glow quickly chasing away the shadows and darkness, she knew she’d not have a better opportunity.
Slipping from the house into the backyard, she stood still, fully human, and sniffed the air like an animal. Her nostrils flared as she took in the myriad scents—lake and fish and damp grass.
No men, no other humans. Thanks to Colton’s tree-shaded lakeside acreage, she was safe, for now. With anticipation coiled low in her belly, she strode to the little copse of trees at the water’s edge and, leaving her sundress on this time, dropped to the ground. On all fours, she crouched, letting the feel of the earth seep into her. Inhaling through her mouth, she tried to slow her racing heartbeat, wanting calm before the utter chaos of change overtook her.
Relaxing in increments, her confidence soared. Unlike the other times when she’d attempted this, something felt…right. Clicked. Now, maybe she could—
“Jewel?”
Colton’s voice. She jerked her head up. Inside, her wolf-self bared her teeth and snarled.
Damn it. A quick glance at the ever-lightening sky showed dawn was imminent.
“Jewel? Where are you?”
“Right here.” Jumping to her feet and hurrying barefoot across the grass toward the house, she quickly brushed leaves and dirt from her dress. “What are you doing out of bed? You should be resting.” Though she tried, she couldn’t manage to keep the edge from her voice.
“I was.” He ran a hand through his hair, his gaze searching her face in the glow from his porch light. “But something woke me, I’m not sure what. Are you all right?”
She had to get him back to bed. Her body still hummed with the need—no, thecompulsion—to change. “I’m fine. Just getting a little air.” Reaching for his arm, she drew back, not daring to touch him while she was in this state. “Come on, let’s get you back to bed.”
“What’s wrong?” He didn’t move. “You sound…different.”
Shifting her weight from foot to foot, she inhaled deeply. Any minute now, her fragile control would shatter. “Nothing’s wrong.” Swallowing past the lie, she forced a smile, shaking her head when she saw the disbelief in his shadowed eyes. “I don’t feel well,” she admitted. “I thought a bite of air might help.”
“Awhat?”
“Bit. A bit of air.”
“Did it?”
She started to reply, then a sharp pain stabbed her abdomen. Gasping, she doubled over.
“Jewel? Are you all right?” He reached for her arm. She dodged him before he could touch her. As she did, the wolf broke free.
“Get back,” she gasped. Dropping, she belly-crawled out of the porch light, hoping to reach the edge of the trees, where darkness was deeper. “Go inside the house.”
“Jewel?” He wasn’t listening. Instead, she heard his footsteps as he moved toward her.
Crap. Her body stretched, convulsing her. Her bones began to lengthen, sending pain shooting through her. Pain wasn’t good, though this felt…better. Closer.
Feeling her wolf’s rage, she writhed on the ground. Letting a human see this was against the most basic of Pack laws.
Convulsing again, she clawed at the ground. Her paws raked at the grass, tearing through to damp earth. This time, the changewascoming, she could feel it. No time to worry about him or Pack law, not now. She knew she must only concentrate on changing, if she wanted to stay alive.
Confined far too long, her wolf-self broke free with a vengeance. Rejoicing, she let the beast come, hoping, praying nothing would go wrong.
Then Colton touched her.
“Noooooo!” she screamed, part howl. “Get back.”
But he wouldn’t listen. No doubt he thought she was dying. “Jewel, hang on. Let me carry you into the house and I’ll call 911. I left my cell there.”
He scooped her up close, pinning her arms to her sides.
