“I don't have a harem,” I grumble, still confused about what she's actually getting at, and it earns me a pointed look from each of them as Ocean finally cuts to the chase, planting her hand on Rion's shoulder.
“What I'm trying to say is, Rion could help you become a wolf.”
“That's insane,” Kael blurts, but nobody else moves as each of us lets her idea soak in.
It's impressive, and no matter which way I look at it, I know it's a good idea. The best we’ve got, at least, but it’s asking too much of those I care about.
“We need to think this through if we want to make it happen,” Rion states, and I gape at him.
“You would do that for me?” I breathe, and he snickers.
“I would gouge my fucking eyeballs out for you.Draw a cross over my heart and rip the damn thing from my chest if that's what you needed,” he adds, making my knees go weak.
And we say Ocean's the psychotic one.
“I don't know how long it would last,” Ocean states, pulling me from my thoughts, and I nod.
“If it works, I’m going to end up with no clothes on the other side,” I add, trying to cover all bases.
“Where would we make a run for?” Kael asks, and Thorne clears his throat.
“The Academy building. The portal is the most obvious option, but since I can't tap into their magic, it’s about our best option for me to try and find a weak spot. Otherwise, we could look at the second-floor basement of Institute One, but that could mean bringing down The Vale as a whole, and we don't know what's going to come with that,” he explains, silence swirling around us as my vampire pushes up off the wall, planting his hands on his hips as his gaze finds mine.
“I’ve got it. Let’s go.”
Rion looks at me nervously, an emotion I can feel deep in my core too.
“Are you ready?” he asks, and I nod, aware of the three sets of eyes watching us right now, but I pay no mind to them as I focus on the wolf before me. He’s braced on his knees as I crouch, joining in the same position. “Keep your hands on me until you're fully shifted. I'm going to shift right along with you, okay?” he promises, and I nod again.
Shaking my hands out, I take a deep breath before I do as he says, and place my palms against his chest.
His cheeks hollow out as he tilts his head backwards, sucking in a breath, a complete contrast to the visual I had of Thorne earlier, and it makes me want to stop. But the only thing keeping me in place is the fact that I can practically feel him offering me his abilities eagerly.
There’s no war or strain between us; everything just flows, just as it did with Thorne.
I falter, taking my time to focus on him, but he's not giving me the signal to say he needs me to stop. So I do what I do best, and I take.
Heat radiates through my limbs, intensifying unbearably, and I consider yanking my hands back, silently pleading for the pain to stop, but one glance at Rion, and I insist this won’t all be for nothing.A scream rips from my throat and the sensation of bones breaking filters through my limbs.
My vision blurs, sweat beading at my temples as the world turns dark, and my sobs fall to a husky whisper. I fall to the floor, breathing heavily, but all I can think about is Rion.
Prying my eyes open, I startle when I find him trying to catch his breath beside me. Rich, hazel eyes bore into mine as fur clouds my vision, but it’s not his.
Panicked, I dare to move my arm, only to scare myself as my head rears back, and I find front legs and paws instead of arms and fingers.
A deep, red coat covers me from head to toe.
This is too surreal.
Nervously, I rise up onto all fours, scared I'm going to fall over as I try to keep my balance.
The world is different, the colors around me distorted, the smells stronger, my sight wider, and my ability to hear even greater.
“Beautiful,” Rion whispers, drawing my attention back to him.
Before my very eyes, I watch him go through the same motion without the whimpers and cries until he's standing before me on all fours as well.
Inching closer, he brushes the tip of his nose against mine, and I take a shuddery breath.
