“I’m ready,” Peter said, the anticipation clear in his voice.
Tex hugged him tighter, hands wrapping under his arms and holding him pressed against his chest. If Peter fainted or panicked, Tex wanted to have a good grip on him. That, and he liked to hold him.
“All right,” Carver said, holding his arms out and falling forward. Before he hit the ground, his form blurred, the air shimmering around him, and by the time he landed, he’d shifted into a massive black wolf.
Peter stared at the wolf, not saying a word.
Carver sat down, his thick coat shimmering in the morning light, staring back at them and waiting for Peter to react.
“He’s so big,” Peter finally said, sounding a little nervous. Standing on all fours, Carver wasn’t much shorter than Peter.
“I’m bigger,” Tex said, unreasonably proud of that fact. He brought his hand up and rubbed Peter’s chest. “Are you scared?”
“He’s still Carver, right?” Peter asked, not answering the question.
“Yes, he’s still himself, though the instincts of his wolf will be much more prominent when he’s in this form.”
As Tex and Peter talked, Carver sat still and allowed Peter to get used to the sight of him.
“Could you let me go, please?” Peter asked, tapping the muscular arms keeping him pinned. Sheepish, Tex released him.
“Thank you,” Peter said, walking toward Carver with careful, measured steps. “Hey, Carver.”
Carver thumped his tail, mouth opening to reveal a glimpse of his razor-sharp canines. When Peter approached, Carver moved forward and bumped his head into Peter’s chest, forcing him to take a step back.
“I can’t believe how big you are,” Peter said, lifting his hand and brushing it down Carver’s neck. He laughed softly, a hysterical edge to the sound. “You’re almost as tall as I am!”
“Werewolves are bigger than regular wolves,” Tex commented, watching the interaction and hoping Peter wasn’t gearing up for a freak-out.
Peter spent a minute petting Carver’s neck, glancing back at Tex for reassurance before moving around Carver in a circle to study him from every angle.
“You’re like a little pony,” Peter mused, much less cautious as he patted Carver’s back. The comment earned him a low growl, over in a second, but still the kind of deep scary sound that would have most humans pissing their pants.
Worried, Tex held his breath for Peter’s reaction. To his relief, Peter laughed.
Tex exhaled and relaxed. If Peter could laugh at Carver growling at him as a wolf, they would be fine.
Carver rounded on Peter, catching him off guard and headbutting him so that he fell on his ass. He then went into a crouch, wagging his tail to show that he wanted to play.
Shocked, Peter stared at Carver with an indignant expression that only grew more so as the seconds passed, pushing himself to his feet and throwing himself onto Carver’s back and holding him tight around the neck.
If Carver hadn’t been crouching, Peter wouldn’t have been able to crawl up on his back, but he’d taken advantage when Carver was least expecting it.
“Onward, noble steed!” Peter yelled, laughing and clinging to Carver for dear life as he rose up from his crouch. Carver stood still like he had no idea how he’d ended up with a human omega on his back. He looked at Tex, dark eyes pleading for help.
Tex snorted. Carver was the one who’d started to play; he should have expected that Peter would respond.
Still, even Tex was shocked that Peter was brave enough to climb onto Carver’s back.
“Giddy up!” Peter said, laughing. Getting over his shock, Carver shook his body, sending Peter sliding down his side and dropping to the ground.
“Spoilsport,” Peter complained, Carver looking down at him with a very human look of utter bewilderment.
This was not how humans normally reacted to werewolves.
“I’m sure Carver will let you ride his back,” Tex said, coming over and helping Peter to his feet. He ran his hand down Carver’s flank, yanking his fingers away when Carver tried to bite him.
“I don’t think he likes that idea,” Peter said, grinning.
