Cole licked his lips, unable to look away.
Logan was perfection.
“Come on.” Logan moved closer, tipping Cole’s chin up so their eyes met. “There’s time for that later. Let’s run.”
“Okay.”
Logan waited for Cole to take the rest of his clothes off and held out his hand.
Cole took it.
“Can you feel the pull?” Logan put his free hand on his chest, over his heart. “Here?”
“Yes,” Cole whispered.
“Close your eyes.”
Cole did as he was told.
“Concentrate on that spot behind your ribs, let it flow out until you feel it fill you up from the inside.”
Warmth flooded Cole’s body as he gave in and let the feeling expand until his whole body was alive with it.
“Now imagine yourself as a wolf... and let go.” Logan’s voice sounded far away, and Cole had no idea what “let go” actually meant. But he pictured himself as a light grey wolf and kind of relaxed into it...
And then pain.
Sharp, visceral, indescribable pain, that he hadn’t been prepared for. Which in retrospect was ridiculous because his body was literally changing shape.
Cole gasped, convince the pain would never end, but as quick as it began, it was over.
His eyes were still clenched shut, but he didn’t need to see to know that everything was different. Sounds and scents bombarded him from all sides. The smell of the sea, the sound of the waves crashing onto the beach, far stronger and louder than they had been before.
But Logan’s scent... that was the strongest of all.
He opened his eyes, expecting to see Logan standing there in all his naked glory, but instead came face-to-face with his silver wolf, coat gleaming in the moonlight.
Is that what I look like?
Cole hesitated but forced himself to look down at his paws, splayed out on the sand. His fur was a light grey on his legs, darkening at his paws. Just like he’d pictured in his mind.
He looked up, the moon big and bright and wonderful, and without thinking, Cole tipped his head back and howled up at it. Logan joined him, the two of them calling out in joyous harmony.
Energy filled every part of him, so full of it he felt like a coiled spring waiting to be let loose.
He wanted to run. Run and never stop.
Logan padded over to him and nudged him with his muzzle. Then before Cole could react, he turned and bolted off down the beach, spraying sand in Cole’s face.
Oh, it’s on.
Cole chased after him, catching Logan the only thing on his mind. His limbs worked so beautifully together, it seemed like he’d been born to move like this. If he could’ve, he’d have laughed aloud at the sheer exhilaration of it. Wind whipped through his fur as he sped after Logan, paws barely sinking into the sand as he raced across it.
They chased each along the beach, darting in and out of the shallow water as the waves broke.
If being a shifter meant doing this and only this, then Cole would be thankful that he got the chance to experience it. He’d never known freedom like this. In the back of his mind he knew that everything was still shit and painful decisions had to made, but in this form, it didn’t seem to matter as much.
It wasn’t important.
