Animal Heart(49)

“More like who…” Lucas nodded across the room as Grace appeared and opened the fridge, grabbing a few bottles of beer for them.

“Really? Well that's just great. I love it. Really I do.” He smiled from ear to ear. He liked her a helluva lot too. How wonderful it was to be able to admit these things to himself. She'd been his favorite of all the women. He didn't tell Lucas that though. But he could understand the attraction very well. Grace was quiet and unassuming, yet had a gorgeous body to die for. Her dimples and that cute little crossed tooth of hers had always done things to him. Her eyes were genuinely warm and caring. She was perfect for his best friend.

“So do I. I wished we'd both realised it long ago. It just took off. We sat and talked about things and we... well you know.”

“I've had the same experience tonight. I'm still recovering.”

“It got deep and heavy did it?”

“Lucas, I can't explain it.”

“You don't need to. I know.”

They both laughed, their bond strengthening between them.

“So, where's Mia? Is she okay about things, being in the guest suite, I mean?”

“I don't think that's gonna happen.”

“Right... Why?”

“They've hit it off, big time.... Her and Cal. She might not be with us for much longer. I've never heard anything like it. It takes a lot to embarrass me, but I was earlier... The howling, screaming and whatever.... Jesus...!” He laughed.

Grace handed him an opened beer. They clinked their bottles together.

“To all of us,” Aden said with a deep understanding look.

“Yeah. To all of us,” they agreed.



They lay facing each other on his bed. He didn't want to rush into anything with her tonight. In fact he was happy to just sleep, if that's what she wanted. He couldn't imagine how she was coping right now. He wanted to be there for her, no matter what she needed. A hug, a kiss, something more...

“How are you baby?” he asked, tucking her hair behind her ear, and giving her a little kiss on the nose.

“I don't know. I'm half way between being ecstatic about us and despairing over my parents. My heart's going haywire,” she said with a wobbly lip.

“Oh Maddy, I wish I could take some of that hurt away, but only time will do that.”

“Just the fact you're here is enough. Really.” She touched his face and he held her hand against him.

“Have you been feeling any more urges to transform, or strange things going on...? It's nearly full moon and we get a little freaky about now. Breakouts can happen quite fast, parts transforming all over the place. We all have our way of dealing with it, but be warned, it gets intense when the moon is full.”

“I haven't felt a thing. I'm quite calm inside. And I can transform at will, so easily, look.”

She started her transformation... he could see her eyes glowing, her nose and mouth beginning to bulge, and she held up her hands as her claws began to emerge, black wiry hairs springing forth. He stared at her as she stopped it, and it all reverted back to human form again almost instantly.

“That's quite amazing, to have such control over yourself so soon. Especially now. I'm having problems keeping my wolf back this evening. It's pushing me to my limits.”

“It's like I touch a button inside me, ever so gently. I think of her, my wolf side, and she sweeps to the surface. It feels really cool. Pleasant even. Initially, anyway... I'm not so keen on the stretching part. I've done the full wolf twice on my own. I did it once in the lockup, after my rush, and once in the bathroom.”

“You're obviously a natural wolf in sheep's clothing,” he laughed. “I wish I'd been that way. I had a lot of problems at the start. I was always changing inconveniently. Parts of me were uncontrollable. The ears and the tail were the worst.” He snickered for a moment as he remembered some embarrassing, tricky moments.

“Aden, show me him. Your wolf.”

“Okay, but promise you won't laugh, or scream in horror.”

“I promise I won't. But as I'm excited to see you change, I might smile at you quite a lot.”

“Shall we go outside together, in the forest? Our night vision is perfect. Perhaps some exercise and cool air will make you tired, and you'll sleep better, because you need some rest.”

“I'd love to do that. Open the window first, so we can leave. But I want to sit on the bed and watch you change.”

He got up and opened the window. The cold night air flooded the room and they both shivered.

“I'd better get my fur coat on then,” he grinned. He removed his clothes and stood naked before her, and then brought him out. It took about three minutes in total, if he forced it. But he didn't, he let it happen slowly so she could see all the ugliest stages he went through. His eyes fixed on hers as she sat propped up on his bed, her eyes widening larger and larger with each passing moment. She didn't seem to be smiling much.