Chapter 23

If I knew anything about the Alpha, he’d break every speed limit and traffic law he could to get here for his pack.

Then he was there. His wolf scent, tinged with citrus, filled my nose, then he enveloped both of us in his strong arms. I listed sideways and let him hold me up.

“Good job, cub,” he whispered in my ear, then reached for Charlie. I was strangely reluctant to let him go, but I handed over my charge. Trey laid him on the ground and I eased back my power, letting Trey take over.

After a few seconds of tense silence, he placed a hand on Charlie’s chest and looked up at Duncan. “Where’s Lee?”

Duncan choked on a sob, then sucked in a huge breath. “Down in—down in Waterlee. He went to pick up…” Duncan couldn’t seem to remember but it didn’t matter. He shook his head. “He’s on his way. Even if he speeds, it’ll take him an hour.”

“Okay. It’s okay,” Trey’s voice was soothing, and it calmed me as much as Duncan. “Have Melissa come get Nora. I have to pull Charlie through his shift. It’s not going to stop.”

Duncan cried out, but he nodded fast and pulled out his phone again. It seemed like only a moment later before a young woman with bush brown curls swooped in, gathered up Nora, and was out the door again. Without his daughter to take up half his attention, Duncan knelt by his son. He undressed Charlie, then pulled off his own clothes.

Trey nodded, closed his eyes, and took a long, slow deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, they were all wolf. His power filled the room, making my hair stand on end, and filling me with a sense of peace. It built and built until it was almost oppressive. Then he growled out one word. “Shift.”

Duncan was a man one moment and a wolf the next. Charlie screamed, his eyes flying open, and his body gave one almighty jerk. Then he sprouted fur, and bones and sinew snapped and popped. It took at least a minute, which had to be agonizing for the first time, but then he was a wolf.

The cutest damn wolf I’d ever seen.

Duncan lowered his head and licked Charlie’s muzzle, nudged Charlie’s head, and whined low in his throat. After another tense second, Charlie lifted his head and slowly tried to get his feet under him. He fell over once, but Duncan was there to brace him. Charlie wobbled, getting used to being on four feet instead of two.

He lifted his face and gave a tiny howl. Duncan yipped, and the relief rolled off him in waves. I sagged against the couch as Trey pulled his power back into himself. My skin felt too tight, itchy, and restlessness filled me.

Trey laughed and stood, then crossed to the door.

“Duncan, take your son for a run. I’ll send Lee out to find you when he gets here.”

Duncan bowed his head, rubbed his flank along Trey’s leg, and herded his son out the door.

“Trey,” I called weakly, and he turned to me. The smile vanished and he was at my side in an instant.

“Asher? What’s wrong?”

“I don’t….I don’t…help.”

Trey studied me for a few seconds, then his face cleared. He sprang into action, pulling off my socks, pants, and underwear. Then he used his superior strength to haul me to my feet. We were outside before I could even process what was going on, and he had me on the ground, on all fours, before I could get more than a “wha” out of my mouth.

“Let it happen, baby,” Trey crooned, petting my head. “See, I told you he wasn’t gone. And I have a theory about that. But that’s for later. Just let your bear out, cub. I’m right here.”

It took a second or two for me to parse his words, but then it clicked. It had been so long, so many months, and finally I could feel my bear again. He was demanding to be let out, even if he was sluggish and slow. I concentrated on him, and slowly I began to shift.

I didn’t hurt, exactly. More like using muscles for the first time in a long time. The snap of bone was loud in my head, my muzzle lengthened, and fur sprouted as my mass grew. Then I was a bear, a tired, panting, somewhat aching bear, but a bear nonetheless. Joy filled me as I sucked in a huge breath through my nose and all the new and interesting scents assaulted me.

The strongest one was Trey. Wolf and citrus and pride. I huff out a growling breath and bumped my big head against his chest. On all fours, I only had to lower my head a little.