He had a fae guard and a level two witch in his house, not to mention three of our pack roaming the woods.
But still, the thought of leaving him here…
Ithurt.
“As my best friend, I’m asking you to let me do this.”
“Talis.”Rys sounded pained, like this was the very last thing he wanted to agree to. He gripped my shoulder, fingers digging into the muscle. “It’s not going to get any better if you don’t let it.”
“I know. I just…” I gripped his hand. “Not tonight.”
I held my breath as he stared back at me, the war betweenbest friendandalphaclear on his face. Guilt gnawed at me for putting him in this position, but not enough to make me get in the car.
He nodded, short and quick.
My breath whooshed out of me as I took two steps back.
Not giving him a chance to change his mind, I closed my eyes and shifted.
My wolf roared to the surface. Pain, sharp and all-consuming, flared for the briefest moment. Magic flooded my veins as my body broke and twisted, leaving me panting harshly on all fours.
The clothes I’d worn lay in tatters around me, and I said a silent goodbye to my favourite pair of jeans.
Stepping over them, I walked over to Rys and nuzzled his hip.
Thanking him.
His hands found the thick fur at the back of my neck. “I hope you know what you’re doing,” he said, voice resigned.
I nuzzled further into his side, greedily breathing in his scent, letting it soothe me.
He huffed as my nose found a strip of bare skin. “Be safe.” He gave my fur one last stroke before gently pushing me away.
Turning from the cars, I gave Axel’s house one last look, then trotted off into the trees.
AXEL
I stood against the worktop,watching as Nick took a smooth-looking stone out of his bag and set it on the breakfast bar.
“What’s that?” I asked, eyeing it dubiously.
“Just a little something I made earlier.” Nick grinned as he looked up. Since getting his magic back, he was the happiest I’d ever seen him.
I refused to attribute any of that happiness to my cousin.
“What does it do?” I went to touch it, but Dathal slapped my hands away. “Ow!” I glared at him.
“Fuck’s sake, he can touch it, D.” Nick picked up the stone and handed it to me.
I hesitated, not really wanting to touch it when he still hadn’t told me what it was.
“It’s not going to hurt you.”
I took it gingerly, a bit disappointed when nothing happened. It felt like… well, like I was holding a big stone.
Dathal laughed.
“You’re such a child sometimes,” I grumbled.
