34. Claire: Intruder

*CLAIRE*

Standing next to Vivian in my wolf form, my gaze goes back and forth between the two of them. Even from here, I can feel Nik's tension radiating from him like waves of heat. Despite the fact that he hadn’t stopped me from moving toward Vivian, he looks like he’s about one second away from putting himself between us again.

But I can't dwell on his behavior right now; I need answers, and Vivian might have them.

“Claire,” Vivian says, “Do you think you can Shift back to your human form? There are some things we should probably discuss.”

She’s right. What I need right now is to ask them what’s going on with Nik, and I can’t exactly do that in my wolf form. But…I’m not entirely sure how transition back. The switch to my wolf had happened so fast that I have no idea what had cause the change in the first place or how I did it. I've never done it consciously, and I’m not even sure where to begin.

I cock my wolf-y head to the side, a low whine in my throat, an attempt to tell them that I don’t know *how* to switch back.

Vivian’s eyes flicker with sudden understanding, “Okay, let me see if I can explain how to Shift….Think about how it feels to be standing in your human body,” she suggests, “Remember how it feels to be standing up straight, the way the dirt feels beneath your human feet, the way the wind feels on your bare skin.”

Okay…I can do that.

Shifting my focus inward, I do as she says, remembering the feel of my human form. Vivian's soothing voice breaks through my uncertainty, guiding me through the process step by step. With her guidance, I start to feel the familiar sensation of my body shifting, bones realigning, muscles reshaping. It's strange and disorienting, but I push through, focusing on Vivian's voice and the knowledge that I need to do this.

Finally, with a shiver that runs through my entire body, I stand before Vivian in my human form once again. Relief floods through me as I take in my hands, my legs, my familiar body.

I let out a shaky breath, relieved, “I did it. That wasn’t so bad.”

“You did great,” Vivian says with another proud smile.

“Thanks for explaining how to do it.”

“Of course.” She says, “Soon, the Shift will come easily enough for you that you won’t need to think about it— it will just come naturally.”

Nik steps forward, a robe in his hands, "Here," he murmurs, offering me the silky fabric. "You’ll probably want this.”

In the excitement of it all, I’d somehow forgotten that I’m standing here in front of them both completely naked. Oops.

“Thanks.” I quickly slip into the robe, a small blush staining my cheeks. When I’m covered again, Nik slides his body between Vivian and me again. The motion is smooth enough that it seems almost casual, but I can tell that it’s anything but.

Whatever protective or territorial instincts are riding him right now, they must be really intense.

Vivian rolls her eyes, but there’s an amused grin playing at the corner of her lips. She takes a few steps back, to give us some space and Nik’s shoulders relax when she does. I poke my head out around Nik’s body and meet the other woman’s gaze again.

“What’s going on?” I ask, “What’s a post-heat frenzy?”

Nik and Vivian share a look that I can’t interpret.

“Do you remember ever hearing stories about Shifter males becoming…attached or territorial to the female they’ve spent Heats with?”

*Oh!* Revelation dawns on me like a sack of bricks.

From what I understand, there are always risks involved going into something like this. Risks of growing too attached. That’s why it works better to have someone you already have a relationship with if you have the option. I’m just grateful that Nik was willing to risk the side effects in order to be there for me.

And suddenly his behavior begins making a lot more sense.

“I’ve heard about it happening occasionally,” I say, “but I didn’t think it was very common.”

“It’s not,” Vivian admits, “Typically, it only happens to males with higher number of shifting forms.”

And as an Alpha, Nik probably has a *lot*.

Nik lets out a rough sigh, “It’s a possibility that I should have warned you about sooner. I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright,” I tell him. I place a hand on his shoulder in what I hope is a comforting gesture and he shudders beneath my palm, muscles rippling. The feel of his hot bare skin under my fingers sends a stream of heat shooting through my body straight to my core. I swallow hard, forcing myself to ignore it, “Between everything that’s happened, it’s not like you really had an opportunity to warn me. I just feel bad that you’re going through this because you helped me.”

Nik drops his gaze to mine, his jaw still tight, “Don’t apologize Claire, it’s not your fault.”

Regardless of what he says, it *is* my fault. At least a little bit. He wouldn’t be in this situation if it weren’t for me. But I don’t want to argue that fact right now. Instead I ask, “How long will it last?”

“It varies from Shifter to Shifter,” Nik tells me, “But it shouldn’t last more than a week or two.”

Vivian shifts on her feet, “Now that we have that settled…there’s something I need to tell you. *Both* of you.”

The wary tone of her voice sets off warning bells in my head.

“What happened?” Nik demands. His voice is back to being what I recognize as his authoritative, very *Alpha* voice. The sound of it sends a shiver down my spine.

“I drove out here because there’s some information I needed to share. And it seemed like something I should tell you in person instead of over the phone.”

Vivian’s eyes shift between us, taking a breath, as if steeling herself. My stomach twists with a sudden wave of nerves.

“Our patrols at the Pack’s borders discovered a trail from a male Shifter entering our territory. They haven’t been able to catch up to him, but they’ve identified who it is.” She tells us.

“And who is it?” Nik prompts her through a clenched jaw.

“Felix Myers from Amber Claw Pack.”

It’s like I’ve suddenly been plunged into icy water. Shock steals the breath from my lungs like a physical blow and suddenly I can’t pull in a full breath of air.

*Felix Myers.* Jame’s Beta. My attacker.

I can think of only one reason he’s here, sneaking through Blood Moon Pack’s borders. *Me.*