Animal Heart(51)

“Rabbit,” she barked loudly over her shoulder. She raced ahead of him and he moved slowly at first, recovering his composure as he followed her scent and that of the rabbit. He gained speed and spotted her hurtling down the trail and up towards eagle clearing. It wasn't a place he wanted to go. Not yet. It was too fresh in her mind, and his. But they didn't get that far. He watched her take a flying leap and she tumbled on the floor of the forest with the rabbit in her jaws. He obviously didn't need to teach her hunting skills, or even how to rip her prey up afterwards, based on the way she was starting to demolish it already.

“Leave bones. Too sharp,” he advised her, panting, as he arrived at her side.

“Mmmm, raw rabbit. Delicious,” she growled, ripping and swallowing her meal with relish. He licked her bloodied face with approval and lay down to watch her, resting his head on his paws and swishing his tail with delight. “Want some?” she mewed politely.

“No, yours. Your kill,” he snarled kindly, refusing her generous offer.

He was completely delighted at her abilities and their easy communication. Delighted full stop, in fact. He yawned, and a shuddering deep sigh of satisfaction rolled out of his throat.

She stood and tossed the reminder of her kill into the bracken for the scavengers of the forest to finish off.

“Home time now?” she yipped, almost happily, her eyes glowing lovingly in the dark of her face, and she kissed him wolf-style, licking his mouth and nose thoroughly, covering him in rabbit scented saliva, which was oddly very appealing.

How he wanted to hug her to pieces.

Despite the terrible tragedy of the past day, she'd still managed to give him so much pleasure. From the darkest hours came the brightest moments, and he was having one right now. He almost floated back to the ranch on air, with her at his side.

As they approached his open window, for some deep unfathomable reason he had a sudden and intense sense of dread. She was so precious to him. Almost too precious. He couldn't lose her, not ever. He shook the illogical feelings away with a shake of his fur and nuzzled her silky dark side.

They leapt in, sat, and faced each other on the floor.

“You first,” she growled softly and settled to watch.

He transformed in his usual three and a half minutes, gently pushing the facial changes. He really didn't like that part. It was the only part which actually hurt at all. His nose ached as it flattened, and his teeth throbbed as they retracted and reformed. Fully changed, he slipped on his underwear, closed the window, and lie down on the bed.

“Go for it, baby,” he said with a grin, rubbing and tugging at her ears. He sat on the end of the bed and waited for her beautifully fast change. But this time he really was shocked. She seemed to morph before his eyes. In a few seconds she was human. No straining, no stretching, and no noise. He blinked, his mouth dropping open in awe. As did hers.

“Oh my God... What happened?” she asked in shock.

“Maddy, my sweetheart...” he said slowly, the light dawning, as he stared deeply into her eyes, “I think you must be a shifter. No normal werewolf I know can do that. No she-wolf I know looks like you do either. Your wolf is too beautiful for words. Shifters are the most prized beings in our world. I can't believe it. Really, I can't. I never thought I'd ever see one, let alone love one.”

“What does it mean? To be a shifter?” she asked, sitting down on the bed, naked, so naturally lithe and beautiful and completely at ease with him.

“I don't know that much. Only that they exist and have special abilities. I don't think we've seen all you can do yet. We'll need to take care over the next few days. I imagine the full moon will bring that all out in you. It's when we're the most powerful of all. Theoretically. Of course in reality it means we're all deadly. But you... I'm not sure what's gonna happen with you my love.”

“I don't want to be a shifter. Why can't I be like you?”

“Oh no... It's a blessing. You're blessed Maddy. It's a wonderful thing to be, and after the day you've had you deserve something like this.”

“Are you sure?” she asked with worried eyes.

“Of course I am!” he assured her, opening his arms wide as she slipped into them. He hugged her close for a while, stroking her hair and back until she finally pulled away.

“I'm just having a quick shower and then I'll come to bed.”

“Okay honey.” He watched as her peachy little ass disappeared inside his bathroom.

Deep down, he wasn't that sure about her blessing. He was having broken memories of something he'd heard long ago, worrying thoughts about shifters only ever being male... He couldn't remember any more, but he was determined to find out.