Page 46 of Nitro

"Are you sure you don't need to be with him?" I asked.

Nitro scoffed, dismissing the idea.

"He'd hate that. I'm not his boyfriend or his nurse either. Besides, he sort of encouraged me to spend time with you,” Nitro said.

"How did that happen?" I asked.

"Spike reminded me not to let you slip past my fingers," Nitro said, looking right at me.

I blushed, feeling warm all over. Nitro leaned in close, pressing his lips to mine.

The kiss was rough and hungry, exactly how I wanted it.

"I don't want you to slip from me either," I confessed after Nitro pulled away, the words sounding a bit corny even to my own ears.

However, Nitro didn't seem to mind. In fact, a smug grin spread across his face.

With a satisfied air, Nitro rose to his feet and stretched.

"What do you say we lose ourselves in our other skin?" he suggested.

I awkwardly stood up, feeling a mix of anticipation and nervousness. Nitro gave my hand a reassuring squeeze.

"I'm here, Tommy. We'll take things slow," he promised, and I found comfort in those words.

With Nitro next to me, I felt a surge of courage.

Today, I intended to rediscover a part of myself which I had buried a long time ago.

I watched in appreciation as Nitro effortlessly stripped down. It was evident that he took good care of his body.

Without further ado, Nitro initiated the transformation, and in a matter of minutes, the man standing before me was replaced by a powerful grizzly bear.

Taking a deep breath, I felt a mixture of nerves and excitement as I began to undress.

My gaze remained fixed on Nitro, who gave me a reassuring look.

The anticipation built within me as I reached for my animal half, hoping to connect with the magpie within.

A second passed, then five, but nothing happened. Panic began to bubble inside me. Then an unsettling realization set in.

"Why isn't it working?" I muttered.

I knew why I couldn't reach my animal half.

A flashback of that horrible day, the 'shooting accident' as Hicks had called it, flooded back.

The shock that surged through my body when Hicks' bullet struck my left wing.

The paralyzing fear that gripped me as I began to fall, my wings failing me when I needed them the most.

I felt a knot tighten in my stomach.

Nitro walked up to me, nudging his furry shoulder against my legs, offering me reassurance.

Without thinking, I fell to my knees and hugged him, gripping handfuls of his fur.

He felt like a giant teddy bear—comforting and solid.

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