Page 10 of Shift Happens
He huffed, turning in a circle before settling on the couch, somehow managing to look offended even in wolf form.
“Oh, don’t pout,” I laughed, sitting beside him. “I meant it as a compliment.”
The evening passed peacefully. I read while wolf-Milo alternated between watching me and dozing. Occasionally, he’d make a small noise to get my attention, communicating surprisingly well through expressions and gestures.
Around midnight, I yawned. “I should get some sleep. You good out here?”
He nodded, already curled up comfortably on the couch.
“Goodnight then,” I said, hesitating before giving him one more scratch behind the ears. “See you in the morning.”
In my bedroom, I changed for sleep, unable to stop thinking about what I’d witnessed. The transformation had been beautiful in a way I couldn’t articulate—natural and fluid, like watching water change to ice but accelerated to seconds instead of hours.
And if I found wolf-Milo cute, human-Milo was… something else entirely. I’d always registered that he was attractive in an unusual way, but watching him move around my apartment in borrowed clothes, seeing him relaxed and in his element talking about comics, had awakened something I wasn’t quite ready to examine.
I drifted off thinking about amber eyes in both human and wolf faces, and the way Milo’s laugh seemed to brighten every room.
Chapter 5
Morning brought another surprise. I woke early, heading to the kitchen for coffee, when I caught movement in the living room. Milo was shifting back to human form, the process just as fluid and mesmerizing as before. One moment wolf, the next human—kneeling naked on my living room floor.
I froze, knowing I should look away but captivated by the sight. His back was to me, giving me a view of lean muscle moving under smooth skin as he stretched. He was small but perfectly proportioned, his body lithe and surprisingly defined. As he stood and turned slightly, I caught a glimpse of his profile—and more—before my brain kicked in and I retreated silently to my bedroom.
My heart was racing, body responding in ways that made my pajama pants suddenly uncomfortable. I sat on the edge of my bed, trying to regain composure.
That was private. I shouldn’t have watched. But god, he’s beautiful.
The image of Milo’s naked form was burned into my mind—the curve of his spine, the subtle shift of muscle, the way morning light had played across his skin. I’d never been so instantly, powerfully attracted to someone.
I waited until I heard movement in the kitchen before emerging, giving him time to dress.
“Morning,” I called, carefully casual. “Sleep okay?”
“Great,” he replied, already dressed in yesterday’s borrowed clothes. “Wolf form finds couches extremely luxurious compared to forest floors.”
“I bet.” I busied myself with coffee, hoping my face wasn’t as flushed as it felt.
The day passed in much the same way as the previous one—comfortable conversation, shared meals, and the occasional moment when our eyes would meet and something unspoken would pass between us. Each time, Milo’s scent would change subtly, and he’d look away first, a blush coloring his cheeks.
As evening approached again, Milo prepared for his final full moon shift. This time, I didn’t look away as he transformed, fascinated by the process. When it was complete, wolf-Milo stretched and shook himself, then looked up at me expectantly.
“Still impressive,” I told him, reaching down to ruffle his fur.
We settled on the couch to watch a movie, wolf-Milo curled up against my side, occasionally making commentary noises at the screen. It was strangely comfortable, as if having a wolf-shifting employee-turned-houseguest was the most natural thing in the world.
When the movie ended, I realized Milo had fallen asleep, his head resting on my lap. Without thinking, I stroked his fur, tracing the pattern of darker markings around his ears. He sighed in his sleep, pressing closer.
Something protective and tender unfurled in my chest. This strange, earnest being had crashed into my orderly life and turned it upside down in the best possible way. I’d spent so long keeping my world neat and predictable, and in less than three weeks, Milo had made me realize how much I’d been missing.
I must have dozed off on the couch, because I woke to morning light and the strange sensation of weight on my chest. Opening my eyes, I found myself lying lengthwise on the couchwith Milo—human Milo—sprawled half on top of me, fast asleep and very, very naked.
Oh god.
He must have shifted back and fallen back asleep without waking either of us. His head was tucked under my chin, one arm thrown across my torso, one leg tangled with mine. I could feel every inch of him pressed against me, warm and solid.
And I could feel my body responding, urgently and unmistakably.
I tried to extricate myself without waking him, but the movement caused him to stir. His eyes fluttered open, confusion giving way to realization as he registered our position.
