Not on my fucking watch.
My body stirs and Jolie gasps. Thick paws pound against the floor, fangs stinging as they elongate until my mouth is full of sharp teeth. I happily show them off to the stunned idiot sitting with his pants down on the bed. I rear back on my haunches, displaying my glorious earthside beast with a low growl in warning.
The shrill cry that comes out of Blake before he scrambles off the bed, grabs his pants, and runs bare-assed out the bedroom door is all the reward I need. I didn’t want to shift tonight. Had tried to control it. But the look on his face was worth the unintended intervention.
Oops.
I’m enjoying this far too much, trotting around the room in glee. Serves him right.
That is, until I notice Jolie frozen next to the door. Halting in place, I sit on my hind legs, looking up at her wide-eyed. Herhands splay against the wall, nails digging into the paint as if she’s trying to get as far away from me as possible.
“Th-this can’t be happening.” Jolie’s voice cracks just above a whisper.
Knock, knock.
“You okay? Did I just see Blake slam the door behind him with his pants halfway on?”
“Everything’s fine, Lark,” Jolie squeaks. “I needed to get some rest.” She yawns dramatically. “Shouldn’t you be happy he’s not here?”
“I mean, yeah, sure I’m happy.” Larks confusion is clear even muffled by the door between them. “Could’ve done without seeing his ass but, you know, I guess I’ll take the wins where I can get them… You sure you’re alright?”
“I’m great! Just tired.”
“Okay. Night, Jojo.”
“Night!”
Footsteps shuffle away from the door until there’s only silence and me staring at Jolie pressed to the wall like she can somehow camouflage herself into it.
It takes everything in me to fight off the desire to get closer to her. To nuzzle her and show her how real I am. I don’t want to scare her more, though. So I lie down, averting my gaze to my paws in submission. The idea that she could ever be fearful of me when all I’ve ever done or wanted to do is cherish and protect her cracks a fissure in my chest.
The floorboard creaks. I keep my snout low but glance ahead of me and wait.
She slowly takes one step closer.
Then another.
Then another.
Until two fuzzy, blush-colored socks stop just in front of my paws. Little mugs of cocoa hug around the ankles.
“Jax?” Her voice is brittle, like she’s too scared to ask. “Is th-that you?”
Snapping up to standing, I can’t contain my excitement.“Yes, Tempest! It’s me.”
I bow toward her, jumping from side to side, words bursting out of me even though I know she can’t hear them beyond a series of barks and yips.“You knew it was me!”
In all my daydreams, she would pull me into her arms, and I’d feel her heart beating within our chests in eerily perfect unison. Beautiful acceptance.
Instead, her eyes are wide again, mouth slack. Not the reaction I’d been hoping for.
Shit. Stop scaring your mate, Jax.
Dropping to the floor, I glance up at her.
She shuts her eyes, dark lashes fanning over her cheeks. Her heartbeat flutters against my ribs. There’s anticipation and a faint flare of fear.
I send a prayer to Fate that this works, then zoom to the window and blow some frost across it until it forms one word:
