Sienna tugged at her nightie. “Take it off, Daddy.”
It wasn’t necessary for a shifter to remove their clothes when they switched forms. In fact, it was rare for them to do so because when they arrived wherever they were going, they would be naked. However, it was normal for a female to be naked for her first shift. For one thing, she was overheated. For another thing, no one would see her but her own mate.
“Arms up, Baby girl.” He whisked the nightie over her head and tossed it aside before tugging on the tabs of her diaper so that it fell open. After standing her on her feet, he rolled the diaper up and set it on the cushion.
She didn’t even comment on the fact that she’d wet herself. Either she was too focused on more pressing issues to notice, or she simply didn’t care anymore.
It surprised him that she was sure-footed. He kept a hand on her hip, but she wasn’t swaying or even trembling.
“I’m ready, Daddy.”
He smiled at her. “I’m so proud of you.” He kissed her temple. “Whenever you want, take a few steps back, close your eyes, and let your wolf come to the surface.”
“It’s that easy?”
“Yep. You’ll drop onto the floor on all four paws in seconds.” Though everyone in the valley occasionally shifted, many young people had never witnessed it, especially the marked. They were so protected by their parents that they often didn’t have the same experiences as their peers. Unless their own parents shifted in front of them, they might have never watched thetransformation. That seemed to be the case with Sienna. She had enough trepidation that he suspected she was unfamiliar with the process.
He was so proud of the way she backed away from him, head high, shoulders back. She paid no attention to her nudity. Her spectacular body was on full display.
When she stopped, she met his gaze and gave him a slight smile. “Here goes nothing.” Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath.
Jayce watched, mesmerized as his Little mate shimmered into her wolf form before his eyes. A second later, she was on all fours, wobbly but unbelievably gorgeous. She was nearly black just like her human hair. Average size. Same green eyes. And when she howled, her voice was so loud it shook the foundation.
She must have shocked herself because her big eyes widened, and she glanced around as if unaware the howl had come from within.
“You’re stunning,” he said softly.
She jerked her gaze to him and tripped over her front paws when she tried to take her first steps. It was common. He didn’t react at all as she picked herself back up and tested her legs again. On her second attempt, she trotted toward him.
Jayce reached out a hand and stroked her fur, grinning. So proud. “Wander around, Little one. Work out the kinks. You won’t want to spend long in wolf form this first time. You’re going to be exhausted.”
She found her footing and pranced around the house, looking at everything through new eyes. Though the truth was she hadn’t really explored much yet anyway. She hadn’t had a chance.
Eventually she trotted to the front door and pawed at it.
“Not tonight, Little one. We’ll go outside another time.”
Sienna tipped her head back and howled again, louder.
Frowning, Jayce slowly stood. It wasn’t like her to be blatantly defiant for no reason. He was confident that would never happen. If she wanted him to open the door, it wasn’t because she was a brat. It was because she felt some sort of urgency he needed to heed.
“Okay. Okay.” He joined her and tipped her head back, meeting her gaze. “Stay by my side. Do not move even one inch away from me. Understood?”
She nodded.
He leaned down, holding her snout. “I mean it, Sienna. You’re my mate. I don’t care what you think you know or what kind of calling you feel compelled to follow, you obey me first and foremost. Do not move from my side,” he reiterated.
Another nod from his mate.
Jayce opened the door and kept a hand on the top of her head as he guided her onto the porch. He was surprised to find six other shifters in the clearing around his house. All of them were in wolf form, but he knew them by sight. He wasn’t shocked to discover he was facing Gavin and Molly, Hayes and Rylee, and Isaac and Amber.
Isaac shifted and stepped closer. “Felix called us. Khloe had a vision.”
Jayce nodded, waiting for Isaac to expound.
“Surge and Thorn are headed this way. They’re coming directly here to your house.”
“I’m not surprised,” Jayce said.
