Wyatt was leaned up against the same log Ethan was.
Connor and Finn shared a metal bench.
Austin and Enzo occupied more metal chairs near Abby and Nico’s.
Graham grabbed a plate and sat down on the only empty bench, with Furball at his feet. She watched everyone with suspicion, leaning her side against Graham’s shins for comfort.
None of the guys mentioned or questioned the wolf, though I noticed Abby watching her.
She noticed too, but Graham scratched her lightly on the head before she growled. The contact calmed her.
The guys traded funny stories about the people they were coaching. I didn’t understand what there was to coach through—shifting was a matter of surviving hellish pain until it ended—but couldn’t exactly ask.
The mood was laid-back, and Abby had no problem participating in the conversation even though most of the guys didn’t address her directly.
Considering they were all rejected, I had assumed they either didn’t like women or just didn’t want to associate with us. They were decent enough to Abby, though.
After dinner, everyone cleaned up together and gathered around the table for card games. Camping chairs came out, along with a massive bag of candy that was apparently being used as poker chips.
Though I didn’t participate, it honestly seemed like fun.
I wouldn’t have admitted it aloud, but I kind of wished my wolf would shift back already so I could play.
Connor and Ethan ate their candy while the game went on, knocking them out of the game fairly quickly. They stayed anyway.
Abby was a horrible liar, and was out fairly quickly too.
Wyatt, Austin, and Enzo weren’t nearly as competitive as Finn and Nico, so they were the next ones out.
The battle between Nico and Finn was intense, but short, because Abby, Ethan, and Connor kept sneaking candy from both of the guys’ stashes.
Finn guarded his “chips” better than Nico, so he came out on top in the end, and everyone finally attacked the rest of the pile.
It hadto be midnight when the final piece of candy—I mean poker chip—was gone, and everyone headed back to their houses.
Graham led my wolf into the forest with a playful grin, rather than heading to his place. When we were far enough from therest of his packmates, he threw his clothes into what looked like a metal toolbox that was sitting nearby, and shifted.
If I’d been in human form, I would’ve gaped.
Not because of his body—though that was undeniably attractive.
Because his shift was instant.
I’d never seen anyone change forms without an awful amount of suffering. The shortest shift I’d ever seen was three minutes of agony, and usually it was more like five or ten. I’d been proud for years that I could change in four minutes.
An instant shift was unheard of.
The amount of pain he had saved himself was eye-watering.
Was that why everyone always talked about the feral pack? Because they could shift so quickly? If it was, I could definitely see the appeal.
Graham’s wolf approached mine slowly. His eyes were intelligent, and maybe a little cautious too.
When Furball growled at him, he stopped immediately and waited.
She eyed him.
He watched her. There was no doubt or worry in his stance. Just patience.
