Page 37 of Fight
"You're both welcome here anytime," Ethan invited."it's my place, but no one lives here full time, so don't worry about bothering anyone."
"Are you sure?"I asked.
"Very," He replied."most of the pack knows about it, including all of the enforcers."
"The only reason I hadn't already told you, Nickie," Bill explained."is that I hadn't found time to introduce you to our Theron, and I didn't want to send you out here without having met him."
I nodded, understanding.
"In fact," Ethan spoke again."you're welcome to join us now."He motioned to where the other enforcers had been standing.
I followed his gesture and saw the men still present were in varied states of undress, as they prepared to shift.I quickly looked away, blushing.
I kept my eyes averted as I replied."That sounds like fun.I think I'll go over to the truck and shift."I stepped out from under Devon's arm, and headed for the truck.Behind me, I could still hear the men talking.The truck wasn't parked far enough away for me not to.
"She's still shy?"I heard Bill ask Devon.
"A little, she's getting better."Devon replied."It's easier for her, when it doesn't surprise her like that."
Bill was silent, but I knew he was nodding; I'd just spent too much time around him not to know.
Devon spoke again."If you don't mind, I'll go shift too."The gravel crunched under his feet as he followed me, detouring to the driver’s side of the pickup.
I went to the passenger’s door and started taking off my clothes, folding, before stacking them in the seat.I finally kicked off my shoes and carefully stepped on the graveled driveway in my bare feet.I set my shoes up in the floorboard of the truck, and gave Devon a brief grin before closing the door.I bent, crouching over my feet, with my hands touching the ground in front of me, as I concentrated on my wolf form.
My muscles shifted and popped, the fur pushed its way out of my skin in a transformation that was no longer painful.Seconds later, I stood next to the truck on four legs.The perspective in wolf form always surprised me when I'm someplace new.Seeing things from different angles isn't the most shocking, it's the scents.Since the first time I shifted, my sense of smell has dramatically improved, even in human form.But even now, my human senses are weak compared to my wolf form.When I spend time as a wolf, I can smell a million different scents, all overlapping, waiting to be peeled back and discovered.Who, or what, has been there before me becomes a mystery to be solved.But sometimes it's overwhelming, and I struggle just ignore it all and focus on something else entirely.
I padded around to the front of the truck and found Devon there waiting for me.
You ready for this?I asked him telepathically.
More than.It's been days since I had the time to shift, and I can't wait.I pulled the thought from his head.
Let's go.I turned, and loped away.I stopped once, to look back over my shoulder, and make sure he was following.I'd only been out in animal form with Devon a few times, and only once since he'd shifted.You might think that going for a run together would have been one of the first things we'd do, once he could shift, but we've both been busy; and what time we've been able to spend time together, we hadn't wanted to take the time to find somewhere we felt safe shifting.
I yipped, teasing him as I ran farther from him.He sped up to chase me, and I dodged him, darting to the side and circling around, so I could nip his flank with my teeth.He let out a playful growl.
Hey, that's not nice,He thought.
When have I ever claimed to be nice?I thought back, laughing as I darted away again, trying to get him to chase me.I wasn't sure why but getting him to chase me, to pursue me like this, felt important.When he didn't follow immediately, I went back.Twisting around I bit down on his tail, I gave it a sharp tug before releasing it.I wasn't trying to hurt him, just to get him to play.I ran again, this time, he quickly followed, nipping at my tail and flank when I slowed enough to let him catch up enough to reach them.
After a few minutes of this game, I thought of something.I stopped suddenly and watched Devon continue past me, and then I started after him.I raced forward and when I got close enough, I pounced on him, sending us both tumbling as I knocked him off his feet.
Hey!What was that for?he thought at me.
For fun.I replied.
Are you enjoying yourself?
Very much,I nuzzled my snout along his neck.you realize we've only been out together as wolves once?
Yeah, I do.As much as I've wanted to spend more time like this with you, we never seem to have time.
We've got time now.I nipped at him again, before jumping up and darting away.
What's this all about?he asked
I don't really know, but it's fun.Something in me wants you to chase me, to catch me if you can.
