“Whyevernot?”
Rolfe sighed and bowed his head. “I fear that there are things you could witness that might change yourthinking.”
Annelise shook her head as he knew she would. “No! Love is true and good. Love is unchanging and steady. A heart once surrendered is lostforever.”
“But what if it is not fully surrendered orcaptured?”
“How can you suggest that my love is notenough?”
He bent and brushed his lips across hers. “I feel the change coming, my Annelise. The curse is not broken, so therefore, love has not brokenit.”
“Because you do not loveme.”
“Because your love is notcomplete.”
Annelise’s lips tightened, even as she took two fistfuls of Rolfe’s shirt and tried to shake him. “Oh, if ever I meet this Rosalinde, I will have words for her!” she said withferocity.
“What has she to do with thematter?”
“She taught you that women could not be relied upon.” Annelise poked a finger in his chest. “I will teach you that she alone could not be relied upon and that you can trustme.”
“I do trustyou...”
“Not completely, Rolfe. I will wager that love must be reciprocal to break the curse. Because you do not believe, it is not broken.” A determined glint claimed her eye. “Tell me what I could do to dismiss the last of yourdoubt.”
Rolfe knew the only reply there could be, but he was reluctant to utter italoud.
What if his worst fear came true? What if she was revolted by his change and then by him? What if she spurned him and he lost all that he hadgained?
At the same time, he felt the dawn’s approach just as he always did. Something began to change within him, shifting in preparation for his transformation. Within moments, the sky would lighten and he would have a tail. Then the fur would sprout and his ears would lengthen, even while he was pushed to the gates by some unseenforce.
“You must watch,” he whispered, knowing that this lady would have the strength to do asmuch.
What Rolfe could not guess, though, was how she might respond to thesight.
* * *
Watch.
Annelise understood precisely what Rolfe meant. She knew from his expression that the transformation must be horrific and saw in his eyes that he feared the sight of it would destroy every shred of love in herheart.
“Does ithurt?”
He nodded once, making no issue of the matter. “It is done soon enough, I suppose, although it feelsendless.”
She glanced at the sky. “Soon?” she asked, then saw that he had a tail. It was long and graced with silver fur, the tip of a paler hue than therest.
The first light of the dawn had stolen over thehorizon.
The gates groaned as theyopened.
Annelise caught her breath as Rolfe’s shape altered. As horrible as it was to watch his nose darken and his ears sprout, it was equally fascinating to witness thechange.
She stared in amazement as his limbs shortened and his body transformed. She could see the anguish in his expression, then he moved suddenly to the gates as if he was to be flung through them. She ran after him, even as he dropped to all fours and was forced from thepalace.
The rising sun painted the palace and the snow beyond the gates with rosy gold light. The stars disappeared, and the wind nudged the barren trees as it, too, seemed toawaken.
Then the wolf turned to fix her with a steadylook.
