Mathlin groaned. He kneaded Titan’s shoulder with his paws, then because Titan was so broad, he curled into a ball next to Titan’s neck, watching the world from his perch.
Titan rumbled, pressing his cheek against Mathlin. “I like having you on my shoulder.”
Mathlin flicked his tail in delight. “Someday, you will shift too, and I will have my piggyback ride. Wolfyback ride?”
“Sure. I can’t wait for that.”
Titan stopped by Jannie’s playpen, watching as she slept.
“She’s adorable,” he murmured, so quietly that Mathlin wasn’t sure if Titan had been talking to himself.
“She is,” Mathlin agreed. “She’s a handful, though.”
Titan glanced at Mathlin from the corner of his eye. “You know that I’ve had the bakery and cabin fireproofed, right? Hamilton got some spells from Uriel.”
“You did?” Mathlin’s heart swelled.
“I didn’t want you to worry.”
Titan kept surprising Mathlin with hownicehe was. Mathlin swallowed. “Do you... know what she is?”
Titan huffed. “Math, there are precious few fire-breathing species out there. And only a couple you would go out of your way to hide.”
Mathlin covered his face with his paws. “I suck at hiding.”
Titan laughed quietly. “You know I can hear her, right? Sometimes she makes these little growls. I don’t even have to be in the same building to catch that. And I know she’s not a phoenix, because I’ve heard the sounds a phoenix chick makes. One of my friends stopped by with his omega—Fang and Wren. They have a chick.”
“Oh.” Mathlin groaned. “Now I just feel silly.”
“Naw. Don’t be. You were trying to keep her safe.” Titan nuzzled him. “But I really enjoyed it when you laid Jannie on my chest. If you don’t mind... I’d love to do that again.”
Mathlin’s heart skipped. “Okay.”
Titan sat behind the checkout stand, awkwardly thumbing his phone with his left hand. “Hey, look at these cookies. They’re cat-shaped.”
“Aww!” Mathlin craned his neck for a better look. The cookies on Titan’s phone had chocolate chips for eyes, and they were all kinds of colors. “We can make that too! Different colors for different herb effects.”
Titan rumbled. “I like that idea.”
Mathlin settled back on Titan’s shoulder, content to watch his alpha scroll through pages of pictures for inspiration.
He began to feel strange. His teeth itched. He grew hungry, but for something bloody. “Titan?”
“Hmm?” Titan turned and nuzzled him.
“I feel weird.” Mathlin uncurled from his perch and hopped onto Titan’s lap, shifting back into his human shape. This left him naked; Titan raked his gaze shamelessly over Mathlin’s body. Mathlin flushed. “Hey! My eyes are up here.”
“I know.” Titan’s grin was wolfish. He met Mathlin’s gaze after a few more seconds, growing serious. “How weird are you feeling?”
“I don’t know.” Mathlin rubbed his belly. “I want... raw meat.”
“Raw meat?”
“Uh huh.”
“That’s not what you usually eat.”
Mathlin shook his head. His favorites were eggs and chicken, so this was puzzling. “I want raw meat anyway.”
