She nuzzles her face into the soft fur of his neck. “And you fulfilled my life. I didn’t know how many things I was missing, but thanks to you, I now have a past and an identity. And I love you, both of you.”

I love you too,he says.We both do. More than words can ever describe it.

For a second, he shifts his attention to me.Maybe we should show her our favorite spot?Lys asks me.

You don’t need to ask for my approval to show her,I point out.

I do,he says quietly.So?

I smile a bit.I think it’s a lovely idea.

Lys carefully pushes his head against Dalila.We would like to show you something, beautiful,he says.

Wow, he is smooth, already throwing around pet names for her.

She looks at him in interest. “I’d love to.”

Then up with you,Lys says, lying flat on the ground so she can hop on.

“What…” Dalila looks surprised and a bit terrified. “You want me to ride you?”

Oh, we’d love it if you ride us,Lys snickers.

She flushes instantly. “That’s not what I meant.”

Hop on,he says.The way is too long to walk. I will be careful.

“Okay,” she mutters. “I’ve never ridden any—“ She raises her hand before Lys can even tease her. “Before you say anything, I’d consider if you and Tony would like me to ride your dick anytime soon. In your human form, obviously, in case that wasn’t clear, I’m not doing wolves.”

I almost doubled over at her words and Lys’ expression. It’s hilarious she thought we would like to have sex with her in our animal form, but then how is she supposed to know how we do things?Explain it to her,I urge Lys.This is your moment.

He waits for her to crawl on his back and dig her finger into his fur before he carefully walks off. Slowly, at first, he eventually picks up his speed and runs.I can take over Tony’s body if he lets me,he says in what’s the worst explanation ever.

He has always been a bit of a dunce, but at least he is trying.

“You mean… you can swap your consciousness in either form?” Dalila asks. “I know Tony can be in lycan form and still be himself from when he shifted first. But I didn’t know it works the other way.”

It does, Lys says.So you can ride my dick, too, in human form. I will make sure to make it worth your time.

I almost double over laughing again, well aware that Lys isn’t even aware of how embarrassed she is by his comments. He just said it in his blunt wolf-way.

“Fantastic,” Dalila stutters. “Very interesting. The… the forest is beautiful.” She changes the subject swiftly. “It’s so green.”

That’s why the pack is called Emerald Moon,Lys tells her.

“Wow, it makes sense.” She seems to be genuinely engrossed by what she is seeing. Lys is right. Our pack has always been proud of the lush green of our surrounding forest, which is why we used it for our pack name. It makes me proud and happy that she seems to like what she sees.

In Lys’ form, we don’t take long to reach our destination, a small, cozy cottage built into the trees. It’s safe from prying eyes, deep in our pack lands, but far away from our borders. Next to it, there is a small idyllic stream. Dad made one of these each for me and Henry. Henry’s is closer to the mountainside, as he enjoys that more. He also loves hiking, and mine is more romantic. I had a phase where I was obsessed with Lord of the Rings, and Dad took it as an inspiration to build me my own elf house.

Lys lets Dalila climb down his back. She stares at everything in awe. “The carving in the wood,” she mutters. “This is so beautiful.”

Lys hands the control back to me, and I shift to my human form. “Dad built it for me,” I explain. “And one for Henry. He wanted us both to have a place just for ourselves when things would be too much for us. Don’t worry, there is running water and electricity. You don’t think I’d ever stay in a place without a PlayStation, do you?”

She laughs heartily. “This is fantastic. Your father really cares about you so much.”

“It took a while for me to understand that,” I admit. “But I do now.”

“My mom was the same.” She smiles a bit. “Everything she did, she did for me. I know she kept my identity a secret, but I know she only lied because she had to.”