Mosavi stopped laughing before falling into quiet contemplation for only a moment. “I did.”
I grabbed the crystal bottle and filled both of our glasses. “You may not be a part of our pack, but maybe you’d consider being less distant and mean.”
“Hmph,” he grunted as our glasses met with a soft clink. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
Chapter 40
The Stars
Ten Months Later
I’d been sitting on the couch in the living room staring at a huge black television screen, my reflection barely visible. The person staring back at me was almost unrecognizable, the silver glow of his eyes like two tiny moons. Everything had gotten bigger, from my muscles to my height, but I hadn’t shifted yet. The thick hair I once had turned to fur, nearly covering my lower body, and a little tail hung lower behind me.
My face was different, too. There wasn’t any more hair than usual, but the surge of testosterone sharpened my features. My brows were thick, and my jaw had broadened. There was a different magic behind my eyes, beyond the physical, andbeyond the vironoct. It had been locked away for so long in a prison of my own making.
With one realization, the chains inside of me shattered. The terrible memories of my old human life lightened until they floated away, leaving only contentment. Living in the past only limited me, but letting it go set me free.
I looked around at the much larger living room, the expensive leather couches and cherry wood tables freshly polished to a shine with beautiful lamps and elaborate sculptures of different animals. The walls were clean and painted an off-white color that captured and reflected the sunlight that beamed in through the huge bay windows.
In all my life, I’d never lived in such a beautiful place. Everything had either been added to or completely remodeled. Even the kitchen had brand new appliances, much to Roscoe’s joy. That was his domain, and he kept it as clean as he could. I think all we needed was something nice to be proud of, which made our home worth maintaining.
Adam started his own landscaping business, and he spent most of his time transforming our yard from an unruly jungle of weeds and trash to an enchanted forest with beautiful flowers, maple and poplar saplings surrounded by the greenest sod. With Austin’s help, he had designed an artificial pond and a waterfall. The others built a gazebo near our fire pit, which was the only thing that hadn’t changed, aside from the new lawn furniture.
Blake, Randall, Steve, and Austin had built a successful contracting company, and Darius was all too eager to have them build up the town, giving dour government buildings much-needed facelifts. I’d never seen Austin or Adam so full of excitement and purpose. The transformation had been gradual. The bond they shared only intensified the more fulfilled they were with their roles in life and love.
The front door opened, and Roscoe trotted in holding several bags of groceries. It was all fresh produce, vegetables, meat from the butcher, wines and spices. I wasn’t sure when he stopped buying junk food altogether—another gradual change.
“How were things at the restaurant?” I asked, sliding off the couch to greet him with a one-armed hug and a kiss on the nose.
“Aw man. Never seen so many tourists in my life. I’m pooped.”
I grabbed the groceries out of his arms and headed into the kitchen.
“How’re ya feelin’?” he asked, following me close as I sat the bags on the black granite counter.
“I don’t know. It’s hard to put it into words.”
Roscoe smiled and leaned in for another kiss, more tongue this time. When had he gotten so fit and even more handsome? He always had a charm about him, but he was so different now. Since he owned his own restaurant, he had to stay clean. He wasn’t overeating junk food anymore, so his gut had gradually disappeared and the natural werewolf muscles came through. Roscoe had gone from looking old and worn out to decades younger in just a few months.
“It’s gettin’ close.” Roscoe reached into one of the bags to sort the produce. “Maybe you’ll turn on Halloween like Adam did.”
“Does it hurt?”
Roscoe shook his head. “No way. It’s almost sad that you’ll never feel anything like that again. Yer whole body feels like it’s breakin’ free from being tied down, and you just feel right after. You don’t feel like a monster or nothin’. You just feel normal.”
“Do I look different?” I asked, turning back to him.
“Yeah and no. Yer still the same Cody, but I can tell yer gonna be big.”
“Will you still want to be with me?” That thought had been bothering me for months. What if after I turned, he lost interest?
Roscoe’s eyes widened. “Aw, come on Cody.”
“I know. I’m just worried.”
He took me into his arms, and my face fell into his broad chest. Roscoe still had thatRoscoesmell to him, but it was so pleasing to the nose now—like a hit of something familiar in all the change.
“Yer my everything, ya know. It don’t matter what you look like when this is over, yer stuck with me.” He paused and looked down at the ground. “I think I know why yer worried.”
