“I just wanna get in there and have a look at the merchandise,” the human said.
“I apologize, but we have no merchandise, and unfortunately, you don’t meet the dress code.”Carl kept his voice calm, but he wasn’t budging.
“What about that fucker?”The man pointed at Sage.“Your whores don’t seem to mind board shorts and fucking flip-flops.”
“Shut your ugly mug, deal with a stomach bug,” Will whispered next to Sage, but the words were laced with magic.
“Bad wolf,” Sage said around a giggle, but Will’s spell hit.The human squirmed, and with the urgency brought on by imminent explosive diarrhea, he hurried away on stiff legs.
Carl gave them a subtle nod before moving back to stand next to the elevator.
“When you do magic to a human not in the know, always be careful about it,” Sage told Will in the car.
Will deflated in the passenger seat.“Sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize.The guy was an asshole.I just mean, you don’t want humans thinking you can do actual magic—it can create problems.Although, to be fair, in New Elvenswood, they’ll just think you’re a Wiccan who likes his ritual and shit.”
“Okay.Being a wolf isn’t that different.”
Sage could have slapped himself.Of course, Will doesn’t need to be told about being discreet.He can turn into a wolf, for fuck’s sake.
“Right.Sorry.You already know the lesson about keeping a low profile, and I’m not helping.”
Will went silent.They were pulling into the driveway by the time he spoke again.“You are helping.A lot.”
“Good.Hey, you still okay staying in tonight?I’m always happy to head out with you so you can get a run on all fours.”
Will shook his head and looked at Sage with big golden eyes.“I like sitting on the couch with you, cuddling, and having your hands in my fur.It’s nice.Peaceful.”
“I like that too.”
Sage might have had trouble remembering the exact dates of the full moon, but that hadn’t kept them from building their own little ritual of watching a movie with Will in human shape for the first half, in wolf shape for the second, and Sage was looking forward to it already.
16
Will
Will’swolfhadbeenuneasy ever since they’d gotten home from that warding job at Celeste’s.Will wasn’t sure if it was because he’d finally met the sex worker Peter had wanted him to talk to or what, but the wolf wanted out fast that night.
Maybe it was Carl.Carl wasn’t an alpha, but he was one of the pack enforcer types, and from the smell of him, he’d wanted Sage.Will was still upset about that.
Things had been moving slowly over the past few months, or at least, things in the bedroom had.Will could feel his magic growing, feel himself getting more comfortable using it, and it was like he had missed out on it until now.Using magic the way Sage taught him made Will feel good, made him feel like he’d been given something he hadn’t known he’d been missing all this time.
Like standing in the sunshine after growing up in a cave.
But sex-wise, Will wasn’t sure he was enough for Sage.Yes, they had done more touching, more getting off together, and at least in bed, Sage didn’t seem to mind that Will enjoyed licking everywhere.But Will still found himself freezing up a lot.The part about all of that Will hated most was that he loved and trusted Sage, and yet his body kept on betraying him.
Perhaps the wolf wanted to take charge so he could help push Will’s human side into letting go of all the stupid, unnecessary moments of shutting down.Will would welcome that.
Whatever the reason was, Will got up from the couch, and Sage paused the latest superhero show.Lemon, after its wash, had found a spot under the couch, and while the cushion never seemed to bother Sage too much, it always went for Will’s feet.He shoved it aside, interrupting its attack.
“You mind if I change here?”Will asked.The wolf wanted out, but he didn’t want to leave Sage alone at all, not even for the few moments it took to shift.
Sage’s blue eyes went wide.“Course I don’t.I want to see.”
Will nodded and took his clothes off quickly, skin itching for the shift.He felt the wolf coming out even before he managed to pile everything on one of the armchairs, and as soon as he was naked, Will gave in to the change.
Shifting was akin to jumping into a pool.There was a rush of adrenaline, and then everything was turned upside down and suspended, only to readjust to the new and yet familiar form.
