Page 73 of Fat Betrayed Mate
"It's okay," I murmur, keeping one hand on her back. "Dr. Knowles is going to help you, baby."
"Early shift," Dr. Knowles notes, her hands gentle as she examines Maisie's small wolf body. "Very early. She's what, four?"
"Five," Thomas and I say simultaneously. Our eyes meet over Maisie's head, a silent acknowledgment of the truth we now share.
"That’s new," Dr. Knowles comments, checking Maisie's heart rate, her eyes, her reflexes. She meets my eyes briefly, a stern look, before going back to her examination when I look sufficiently cowed.
“Yes,” I mumble. “It is.
Thomas watches every movement with anxious attention. "Is she okay? The shift happened under extreme stress."
"Physically, she's fine." Dr. Knowles strokes Maisie's fur with practiced confidence. "Young ones are surprisingly resilient. Their bodies adapt more easily than adults. But she's exhausted and probably confused. She'll need stability, rest, and constant contact with both parents for the next few days."
"Will she be able to shift back?" I ask, the question that's been haunting me since she transformed. "I've heard stories about traumatic first shifts—"
"She'll shift back when she's ready," Dr. Knowles assures me. "Probably soon. Her body won't want to maintain the wolf form for long on a first shift. Just keep her calm and stay close. Consistency and contact with pack, especially parents, helps stabilize newly shifted wolves."
Thomas moves closer, his hand joining mine on Maisie's back. "What about after? Will she be able to control future shifts?"
"With proper guidance, yes." Dr. Knowles smiles at his obvious concern. "You'll need to teach her, just as you would when she's older. The timeline's accelerated, but the process is the same."
I watch Thomas absorb this information, already stepping into his role as a father. He's missed so much—first steps, first words, countless moments that can never be reclaimed. But now he has this—teaching Maisie about her wolf, about the heritage that flows through her veins.
"Her wolf is strong," Dr. Knowles adds, something like admiration in her voice. "To manifest this young, under stress... she's quite remarkable."
Pride swells in my chest as I look down at my daughter—our daughter—who has endured so much yet remains unbroken. I've always known she was special, but seeing her through Thomas's eyes, through Dr. Knowles's professional assessment, I realize just how extraordinary she truly is.
Maisie stirs beneath our hands, a tremor running through her small body. Her fur begins to recede in patches, muscles tensing.
"She's shifting back," Dr. Knowles says, stepping slightly away. "This is good. Very good. Keep doing exactly what you're doing."
I cradle Maisie closer as the transformation begins, murmuring reassurances. "It's okay, baby girl. Mama's here. Daddy's here. We've got you."
Thomas kneels beside us, his presence solid and steady. "You're doing great, Maisie," he says, his deep voice gentle in a way I've never heard before. "Just like we talked about. Let your body do what it needs to do."
The shift back to human form is faster than the initial transformation, her flexible child's body adapting quickly. Within minutes, my daughter lies curled in my arms, human once more, her eyes fluttering open with exhausted confusion.
"Mama?" Her voice is hoarse, small fingers clutching my shirt.
"I'm here, sweetheart." I brush damp hair from her forehead. "You're safe now."
Her gaze shifts, focusing on Thomas with wonder. "You were the big brown wolf. The one who found me."
Thomas's eyes shine with unshed tears. "That's right, pup."
"Are you really my daddy?" The direct question, delivered with a child's unfiltered curiosity, catches him off guard. His throat works for a moment before he can answer.
"I am," he manages finally. "I'm your father, Maisie."
She considers this with the serious contemplation only a five-year-old can muster. "Where were you before?"
The simple question lands like a physical blow. Thomas looks stricken, but before he can formulate a response, Maisie continues, her thoughts racing ahead in the way of children.
"Are you going to live with us now? Will you be my daddy forever?"
Thomas reaches out, gently taking her small hand in his. "Yes," he says, voice thick with emotion. "If that's okay with you and your mama, I'd like that very much."
Maisie nods as if this settles everything. "Good. I always wanted a dad."
