Page 94 of Howl You Doin?
I glance around at the bathroom painted in the same muted tones as my bedroom with soft blues and grays—it just lacks the massive tub I had outfitted for my large frame.
Whitley’s hair sticks out at odd angles, like she’s put her finger into an electrical socket, while fur grows over her arms before she manages to push back the change. Her eyes are puffy and red-rimmed. She leans against the sink, wiping at her eyes with a Kleenex.
“You can have cupcakes and chocolate; you’ll just need to run afterwards if that’s what you want.” I walk in the room slowly, my hands down at my sides in an unthreatening manner, unsure of what to do.
“I haveneverhad cramps like this in my life,” she growls, and yellow flashes in her eyes. “Actually, half the time I can’t even feel them. This is all your fault!”
I wish I could be of assistance, but as a male and an out-of-the-norm shifter, I’m useless in this situation. I don’t know how to stop her from shifting uncontrollably, nor how to alleviate her pain or temper.
She also has every right to blame me, although I never intended for this to happen.
She crumples, and I catch her in my arms, my heart thumping a little faster at how she clings to my shoulders.
“This sucks,” she says with a whimper, so I rub soothing circles across her back.
My mind scrambles with what I should do to make her more comfortable, and I pat harder as she howls into my chest with big, racking sobs. She may not like it, but it’s plain to me she needs a good run. Too much energy in one of our kind can have adverse effects, and its perfect timing with how late it is—most of the guests will be in bed by this time anyhow.
I squeeze her waist. “Let’s change into some comfy clothes and go for a picnic. There’s something else I want to show you,” I tell her, wishing I would have remembered to grab my supplies.
“A picnic in the dark? Are you insane?”
“You can see clearly in pitch black,” I remind her.
It’s the only reason I even offer for her to go outside, since she can’t completely control her shift right now. I think the fresh air will do her some good and might help distract her.
I know the last two days have been a lot; hell, this entire situation has been from the start. I never knew females of my kind had to go through such a change during their first transition. I thought my own was challenging, but it does bring me comfort to know she has someone to lean on.
The best I had was Vlad, and I would have rather had Nurse Ratched than his grouchy ass.
I wrap my hand around her nape, hoping the coolness of my palm eases her.
It must be quite the whiplash, my aggression when she arrived, and now I would do just about anything for this woman—anything.
“I’m sorry that I’m an idiot and didn’t realize you were my mate the moment you stepped foot in the castle.” I cup the soft skin of her cheek, and stare into the amber-colored depths of her eyes, noticing how yellow rims her iris when her expression turns vulnerable. “At least let me make it up to you where I can? I promise no one will see us.”
“Okay,” she breathes against my neck, making goosebumps spread along my arms.
My lips curve upward, and I press a kiss to her temple and then her button nose. “Get changed and I will pack us some snacks.”
She rears back, eyes wide, her excitement evident like I’ve just said the magic word to make her hidden-away ears perk up like a puppy. “Snacks?”
Chapter 31
Connor O’Doyle
Paw-sitively charming.
“There’sno easy way for me to tell you this, but I feel the need to confess,” I say to her, wondering if she’s going to think me sweet, or call me out for being a weird control freak.
Damp air wraps around us with each step, the cellar cold and earthy smelling as we make our way to the back of the castle and toward the hidden exit. Our feet make hardly a sound against the smooth stone floors, and there is no real fear of discovery this late at night, especially if we take this exit. I do wish it didn’t take so bloody long to get there.
I make a mental note to tell Vlad I’m renovating again, no matter what the asshole says. I would’ve never wanted the changes for myself, but somehow the idea of Whitley having to sneak across the castle to get outdoors for days on end is repulsive to me. I turn to look at her, taking in her wide brown eyes that flash yellow in the darkness.
“Confess what?” Her tone is untrusting.
I glance down and notice she’s not limping or anything drastic, and it appears her pain has subsided, at least for the moment. Maybe even just a walk made her feel better?
The thought of her going through pain because of me tears at me on the inside. If she were to experience even a small bit of what I’ve gone through over all these years, I couldn’t live with myself. Up until now, she hasn’t seemed to experience anything like the agony I was subjected to.
