Page 53 of Bitten Shifter

It’s awfully convenient, though, isn’t it? If I survive the change, I will go furry, and suddenly Merrick has a shifter partner who does not look like an old lady. My mind flickers back to Jo and Sandra—the way Sandra looked at Jo with such unshakable adoration. They make it work, but Sandra and Jo aren’t us. Sandra isn’t the Alpha Prime.

The bite, though… it does make things convenient for him.

I look twenty-five years younger now.

I rub my face, the motion doing little to ease the pressure building behind my eyes. This is all just too much. Everybody wants to be loved, to be adored for who they are—not for what some twist of fate decrees. Nobody wants to feel forced into a relationship because of some cosmic matchmaking.

First Paul. Now Merrick.

Neither of them really wants me.

Merrick catches a strand of my hair resting on my shoulder, twirling the end between his fingers. “Hannah did a good job,” he says.

“She did,” I admit.

Before the meeting, Hannah had evened out my hair, undoing the damage from my hasty, self-inflicted chop. It’s not fancy, but at least I don’t look like I lost a fight with a hedge trimmer.

“The things you will need have been packed and are in the car, ready to go. I know you don’t want to leave, and you think you can handle this alone. But you can’t. Trust me.”

“Trust you?” I shoot back, my voice rising. “You set me up for your own amusement. Why should I trust you?”

“Because I’m your mate.”

I throw my hands up. I’m his mate only when it suits him. “You didn’t ask me. There’s this crazy thing—it’s called consent.”

“I know.” His voice is calm, unwavering. “But once you feel your animal, you will understand. You can’t fight fate.”

Oh, I can, and I will. I don’t say it aloud, though. He is the Alpha Prime, after all.

Optimus Prime, I think, stifling a sigh under the weight of this ever-expanding disaster. I thought I’d skirt the Ministry and find help from an outsider. Instead, I walked straight into the jaws of the wolf himself.

“So, I’m leaving now?”

“Yes.”

“To the Facility.”

“Yes.”

Okay, fine.I will go to the Facility. I will do the tests, endure the training, read the books—whatever they need me to do. I will prove myself, be the best bloody shifter they have ever seen. And then, hopefully, I can get back to work. I will keep my head down, focus on my job, and steer clear of Merrick.

I glare at him. “And what are you going to do? Go play Alpha Prime while I’m dealing with this mess?”

“You don’t need me hovering. Riker will take you.”

“Riker?”

“Your bodyguard.”

“Blondie? The big blond guy?”

Merrick’s laugh is warm and unexpected. “He will love that. Have you given me a nickname too?”

“Oh, yeah. You are Mr First Class.”

“Mr First Class?” He smiles.

“Yeah. I thought you were a courier.”

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