Page 20 of Howl For A Kiss
"Remove your tactical gear," he instructed once she stood up. "The holsters and jacket. Shifting will destroy them."
Elena's fingers hesitated at her shoulder holster. "I feel naked without my weapons."
"You won't be defenseless. Your wolf is your greatest weapon."
She unbuckled the shoulder holster containing her guns, then the hip holster with her knives. The tactical jacket followed, leaving her in just her fitted white top and black cargo pants. He forced himself not to stare at the way the thin fabric hugged her breasts, though his wolf definitely noticed.
Focus. She needs your help, not your hunger.
He led her into the forest behind their cabin, snow crunching beneath their boots. The moonlight filtered through the bare branches, casting intricate shadows across Elena's face. When they reached a small clearing, Damon turned to face her.
"The meditative techniques I learned during my training help warriors center themselves before battle," he said, carefully omitting that his "training" had been preparation for becoming the youngest Beta in pack history. "Close your eyes."
Elena obeyed, her lashes casting delicate shadows on her cheeks.
"Breathe deeply. Feel the connection between human and wolf." His voice dropped to a gentle rumble. "Don't fight for control—work together. Your wolf isn't separate from you. Sheisyou."
"I can feel her," Elena whispered, wonder threading through her tone. "She's been waiting."
"Let her come forward. Trust her instincts."
Damon watched in fascination as Elena's breathing deepened. The air around them shimmered with potential energy, and his own wolf stirred restlessly in response to the power building within his mate.
The transformation began slowly—a ripple beneath her skin, then the elongation of limbs and the sprouting of pure white fur. When it completed, Damon's breath caught in his throat.
Elena's wolf was breathtaking. Smaller than his own but perfectly proportioned, with fur so white it seemed to glow in the moonlight. Her eyes remained that distinctive blue with gold rings, but now they held an ancient wisdom that made his chest tighten.
Mate.His wolf howled the word internally, recognizing what stood before them. White wolves were legendary—symbols of purity and power that appeared once in a generation. And she was his.
Damon thought of his own wolf form, the unusual white patch over his heart that had always marked him as different. Had fate been guiding them toward each other all along?
Elena's wolf padded closer, her movements graceful and sure. She studied him with intelligent eyes, tilting her head as if sensing something important.
She needs guidance. And I need to be close to her.
Without breaking eye contact, Damon began his own shift. Bones realigned and muscles expanded as his human form gave way to his wolf. Dark brown fur rippled across his body, and the distinctive white patch near his heart gleamed like starlight.
When the transformation completed, he stood before Elena as her equal—two wolves beneath the November moon.
Elena's wolf approached cautiously, then pressed her muzzle against his neck in a gesture of trust that made his heart race. Her scent filled his nostrils, now enhanced by the primal undertones of her wolf nature, and his restraint nearly shattered.
Mine,his wolf insisted, and for once, Damon didn't argue.
He guided her deeper into the forest, letting her explore her new form while staying close enough to provide comfort. She moved with natural grace, testing her enhanced senses and reveling in the freedom of four legs.
As they paused beside a frozen stream, Elena's wolf turned to study him again. This time, Damon felt the recognition spark in her eyes—a deep, wordless understanding that transcended their human forms.
She feels it. The mate bond. She knows what we are to each other, at least in wolf form.
Elena stepped closer until they stood nose to nose, her wolf acknowledging what her human mind couldn't yet accept. The mate bond pulsed between them like a living thing, stronger in their wolf forms where instinct ruled over logic.
Tell her,his wolf demanded.Claim what's ours.
But even as the urge to shift back and confess everything nearly overwhelmed him, Damon held firm. Elena was still learning to be a wolf and still grappling with her harsh new reality. Adding any more shock to her already chaotic world would be foolish.
But watching her wolf press against his side, seeking comfort and connection, Damon knew his time was running out. Soon, the truth would demand its due.
NINE
