Page 65 of Rescued

He shook his head. “Sanchez is a bad influence on you.”

Way too soon, she was fully clothed. She looked up from tying her boot laces. “Where are your clothes?”

He felt suddenly self-conscious, which shifters usually didn’t because hell, they went naked all the time. But her eyes on him made his dick maybe think it should get interested again, and he needed to get her back to the cabin before he started ravishing her.

Right. Where were his clothes. He thought back. “On the roof, probably. More shredded than your underwear.”

“Oh.” She seemed taken aback. “Well, you can’t walk all the way back to the cabin naked. It’s freezing out.”

It was just as well—maybe that would keep his boner under control. “Shifters don’t feel it the same.”

“Even so. I mean, what if your balls just froze and dropped off? Want the blanket?” She held it out.

He hesitated.

“What?” she asked.

“Well, normally I’d just go wolf.”

“Oh.” That was a little gasp. “Of course. Well, can’t you—I mean, are you technically not supposed to turn into one in front of humans or something?”

He turned away. “It doesn’t matter, if they already know about us. It’s just—it freaks them out, you know? They’re looking at you, and you were a person, and then suddenly you’re a monster.”

She said softly, “I don’t think you’re a monster.”

That silenced him. But for some reason, he still didn’t want to Change in front of her. Before he’d wanted her to be scared of him, wanted to push her away. Now he didn’t want her to see the ugly in-between phase, hear his bones crack, see his body go misshapen and freakish.

He said, “I’ll Change outside,” and pushed through the door before she could say anything.

Outside, the Change came slow. He had a desperate desire for her to know his wolf, and an equal desire to just run, so she didn’t have to confront just how different he really was.

Knowing it was one thing, but accepting and embracing it was something else. He loved the way she looked at him with those fucking doe eyes, like he was some kind of hero, and he never wanted that to change.

Damn. This whole thing had been a mistake.

It was not. It was good. She makes us feel better. Your paws do not shake when she’s around.

Yes they do. But he let the wolf take his body, with a sharp warning. No biting. No Turning her. Don’t even think about it.

His wolf’s response sounded suspiciously like a snort. Fuck. This was a bad idea too. This whole night was a fucking bad idea.

Except, if it was, why did he feel so good?

The door to the hut creaked, and Bree put her head out. “Is it okay if I come out?” And then he heard her mutter. “Shit. He can’t answer, stupid.”

He gave a little yip. She made a startled squeak and said, “Shit! He can answer.”

She stepped out onto the porch, saw him standing in the moonlight and stared, a little smile on her face. “You’re so beautiful.”

A surge of pride and warmth went through him, and he didn’t stop Wolf from going up to her and nosing the palm of her hand. She giggled. “Your nose is cold.”

He licked her hand briefly, and then leaned against her thigh. She smelled so fucking good. Twice as good, when he was a wolf. She hesitated, then tentatively stroked his head.

Fucking heaven.

But she was shivering, even in her jacket. He needed to get her walking, so she’d be warm. He had to take care of her. She is ours now. Protect her, the wolf said.

Not ours. But he still felt the need to protect her.