Toya snuggled in closer. “You are our best friend, Amy.”
“We will always be here to help you.” Their words comforted me, and I finally fell asleep.
Chapter Forty-One
Iwoke slowly. My alarm going off was probably the worst thing I had ever heard in my life. All I wanted to do was to stay in the soft, warm comfort of their arms. Their arms…what? My eyes sprang open to the soft glow of the recessed lighting in my bedroom. The room itself was familiar, but the arms wrapped around me were not. I turned my head slowly to the side, terrified to find the lost soul, the woman I thought I left behind beside me. I closed my eyes in relief when I saw it was Toya. I turned to the other side to see Wendy snuggled on my shoulder.
The rest of the night flooded back to me and I remembered that my two friends had slept over. Whether it was for them, or for me, I was grateful. Toya finally cracked an eye. “Shut it off.” She groaned as she snuggled into my side.
I started to laugh. “I would, but my phone is on the other side of you.” My voice was soft, but both girls flew off of me. Wendy fell off the side of the bed with a soft bang.
“Fuck me. I forgot.” Wendy grabbed the side of the bed and pulled herself up. She giggled as she stood. “What time is it?”
Toya rolled over and grabbed my phone, the alarm still ringing out, and handed it to me. “Too early.” She stretched on the bed, her elbows popped as she straightened her arms.
“It’s six.” I groaned as I turned off my alarm. I wanted to roll over and go back to sleep, but I had things to do. I slid out of the bed on Wendy’s side. “You guys can sleep for a little longer.”
“Where are you going?” Wendy wiped the sleep from her eyes.
“I’m going for a run before we head to breakfast.”
Both girls sat up, but it was Toya who asked. “A run, or a wolf run?”
I felt a smile break out as I heard both Nix and Megan perk up. “A wolf run. Nix hasn’t been out in too long, and Megan even longer. I think they both need a little stretch.” My two friends nodded. But slid out of the bed. “You guys can sleep.”
“And we will.” Wendy nodded. “But we are going to sleep in our own beds. That way we can get ready and be in the hall by nine. That way, if you get a little distracted, which in this case you should, we are there to handle the applications.”
I hugged her. “Thank you.”
“For what?” Her voice was warm, a small comfort I never knew I needed.
“For understanding.” I turned to Toya. “Both of you. Thank you for your help and understanding.”
“Of course. Now, let’s go. Your wolves must be stir crazy for being locked up for months.” I nodded as Toya walked around my bed. We left my apartment behind and got into the elevator. “Shit.”
“What?”
“I know you keep your clothes when you shift, but if you don’t want to explain to anyone, shift now, and we will get you out of the building. This way, you can just run and head back when you’re ready to.”
I could feel Nix’s need to shift press against my side. She was weak, but pushy.I need to reconnect with nature, to the Goddess, to the wind. It has been too long since I felt the winds whisper through my fur. Please Amy.
I felt her need pulse in my chest, but something held me back.I promise I will shift Nix, but we can’t do it here.I shook my head. “I can’t, not here. I will wait until I’m in the trees.” I felt my wolves pause, as if to consider my words.
Something feels off. Megan’s words were a balm to my soul. I missed her.I feel like Amy’s right. If we shift here, something will happen.Her words hit me in the chest. She was right. That was what I was feeling.
Fine, I will wait.Nix reluctantly agreed. She pulled her need back inside of her as much as she could, but I could feel her vibrate with the need.
I felt unsteady, but also on edge, as if someone or something was watching. My first thought was the Mara, but the Goddess, she saved that soul. And they were gone. I looked around, watching Toya and Wendy look around in confusion. “What is it?” Wendy asked but my eyes stopped on the camera in the corner, with its blinking light.
I turned away from the camera. “It’s nothing.” I forced a smile, but I knew.Nix, tell their wolves that there is someone watching us. I’m not sure how I know, but I can feel it. Tell all the girls to keep quiet in the hallways and the elevators. I will figure out a way to keep their apartments safe, but out of them, we aren’t safe anymore.
Understood.Nix disappeared and went to tell the others. I watched their eyes widen, but nothing else. Good.
After I kicked my two friends out of the elevator on their floor, I continued down to the main floor. I gave a tiny wave to Jora, who was wrapping up his shift, and I walked out the door. I am sure he called after me, but as soon as I hit the cool morning air, I was running. I ran around the building, straight into the woods, and shifted into Nix.
She paused on a hill, feeling the wind ruffle her fur, and she closed her eyes. “I have missed this feeling for far too long.”
I receded enough inside to sit next to Megan. “I promise we will make time for both of you to shift more.” I turned to look at Megan. “And I want to train in your form as well.”
