Page 115 of Shapeshifter

“I know. Nobody would think this is your first real show. Most of us do this for fun, but you’re actually good.” I wasn’t lying either. I had noticed that Alison came alive when she rehearsed. Her natural talent made it easy for her to turn into a different person onstage.

“If it’s for fun, why are you nervous?”

“This time I’m nervous in case I screw up and lose control somehow.” I couldn’t meet her gaze. “I’m having trouble with mood swings and stuff. It’s harder than I expected.”

“I used to get so embarrassed about it,” she admitted. “Whenever I lost control. The alpha told me that there’s no shame in being who we are, so I felt better about it. We’re like kids learning to walk. Nobody judges a baby for learning. You’re a baby werewolf. You’re supposed to make mistakes to learn. I’m still making mistakes.”

“It’s exhausting trying to stay on top of everything. I used to think you lot were bullies, but now I get how hard it is. Sorry about that.”

“You’ll be okay. You have Dorian. He’s always been the one who stops us from making bad choices.” She bit her lower lip. “He’s stopped me from making a bunch anyway.”

Something in her tone made me think she was insinuating something that I didn’t need to hear. “Are there any upsides to this?” I joked. “We both sound miserable right now.”

“I wouldn’t change myself,” she said after a moment. “It’s not like I hate it, and there’s a lot of cool stuff we can do, but sometimes I hate feeling like one of the boys. It’s like a given that we have to be outdoorsy and rough and ready for a fight, but sometimes I want to wear lipgloss and watch the cheesiest romantic K-drama I can find, you know?”

That made me laugh. “We are pretty much shoved into the hairy, muscular manly men category.”

“Right? We’re the least feminine mythological creature. Mermaids get to sit around and look pretty while they lure men. We get to run around in the mud and eat raw meat.”

“Oh, no. I just imagined Victor as a mermaid.” My laughter turned into full-on cackles.

“Luring your creepy uncle to his death with the power of a song.”

We looked at each other for a brief second before bursting into fresh laughter. My sides hurt. The release of tension made me feel light as air.

“Holy shit,” I said. “I haven’t laughed like that in ages.”

“Yeah, you’rereallyuptight. That can’t be healthy.”

“Don’t I know it.” I pushed against her. “I think this is the most I’ve ever heard you speak.”

“I don’t have much to say.”

“Well, let’s be friends then,” I said. “And figure out more to say.”

She held out her hand for me to shake. “Deal.”

Chloe and Emma approached us together, shouting our names as they jogged towards us.

“Margo!” Emma let out an exaggerated gasp. “You’re here?”

“Yeah,” I said. “I told you I would be.”

“Ignore her,” Chloe said. “She had two energy drinks today.”

“Never mind that,” Emma said. “There’s talk that people have been seeing your stalkers hanging around. How many of them are there anyway?”

I exchanged a worried glance with Alison. “I have no idea. Where were they seen? When?”

“Don’t worry,” Chloe said. “It was in town. Stay close to home, and you’ll be okay.”

A knot formed in my stomach.

Chloe caught my concerned expression. “They were probably mistaken. You know how gossip takes on a life of its own.”

“I don’t know,” Emma said, oblivious. “One of the kids two doors down told me his granny saw somebody strange, and she described Margo in male form, basically.”

“Shut up,” Chloe hissed.

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