\[Maverick’s POV\]
All eyes come to rest on me as Tristan’s words settle around us. And I know that they’re waiting to see what I will say. Of course, I was willing to try anything, but there was the slightest bit of reservation in me.
What if I returned to being that mindless rogue? Would Serenity be able to change me back again? Would I return to my own wolf from the past? Would any of this even work?
There was truly only one way to find out, and if I wanted to be able to properly stand beside Serenity and protect her, I would ignore the voice in the back of my head and do what needed to be done.
“Alright,” I announce, making my decision. “Then give me some of her blood.”
At my words, Serenity’s eyes widen, and fear flashes in them. I’m certain that she is thinking the same thing as me but has also settled on trying.
“Could we maybe have some privacy?” She asks, looking around at all that is watching us. “You’re making me uncomfortable with all the staring.”
“No way!” Rosco snaps, but stops as Jose presses a handle against his shoulder and shakes his head.
“Let the kids be.” He chuckles, earning a growl from Rosco. “Serenity is more than capable of handling herself if anything goes wrong.”
“What about the trained professionals being here to make sure nothing goes wrong?” Rosco counters. “They should at least...”
“Everyone,” Serenity repeats. “Out.”
Eyes widening, Rosco takes her in, and I know that he is probably silently blaming me for his daughter's disobedience. But in the end he doesn’t say anything and turns while pouting.
“Whatever,” he grumbles, heading out of the room while Jose laughs and shakes his head.
“Don’t mind him,” he chuckles before following. “He’s just upset that his baby has replaced him.”
“Shut up!” Rosco growls, reaching out and grabbing Jose to pull him along.
It is only when the two men have vanished that Tristan and even Jolene look at us.
“Are you sure you don’t want assistance?” Tristan asks, clearly upset about not being able to be present for the experiment. “We could…”
“I could,” Jolene counters. “You go away. This is my territory anyway.”
“And these are my pack mates.” Tristan argues. “And I’ve been in charge of Serenity’s condition way before…”
“Both,” Serenity snaps, bristling. “I said that I wanted everyone out, and I meant it.”
At her words, Tristan gives a look of hurt over being shunned during such a critical moment, but Jolene just looks at him smugly.
“So much for being part of it.” She giggles, turning and beginning to move. “Fine, if you don’t want me here, I won’t beg. Come on, pouty,” she continues, motioning for Tristan. “Let’s go.”
Remaining silent, Serenity and I watch as Tristan gives one last look of longing and then follows in the direction that Jolene went, and when we are finally alone, I turn my gaze to Serenity’s, urging her to explain why she wanted us alone for this.
“What?” She asks, giving me a shy smile.
“Don’t try to act innocent,” I warn her. “There’s a reason you wanted to do all of this alone. Is it because you’re worried that something will happen?”
“No,” she responds, and I don’t hear a hint of a lie in her words. “I wanted to be alone with you because I’m sure that if you shift, you won’t want a bunch of people watching you.”
Eyes widening, I realize too late that she was doing this for my sake. And that alone just makes me fall in love with her even more.
“Now,” she announces, bringing her wrist to her lips. “Are you sure that you want to do this?”
“I’m certain,” I assure her. “I trust that no matter what happens, you will find a way to save me.”
“You’re talking like you’re going to be lost again.”
I know that she is trying to be light with her words, but I can hear the worry in them. Of course, she too understood that this was risky, especially since we were going in blind, but like her, I truly believed that no matter what, our bond would bring us back together.
“Alright,” I announce, deciding there was no reason to keep putting it off. “I’m ready.”
For a moment, Serenity doesn’t speak. Instead, she stares at me, her gaze portraying so many things as she drags her canine along her skin, and when the scent of blood hits me, I feel something stir.
“Here,” she says quietly, offering her now bleeding wrist to me. “It shouldn’t take much.”
Nodding, I gently grab her skin, and then, while keeping my gaze locked on hers, I bring her wrist to my lips. And as the taste of blood explodes on my tongue, I begin to drink. As I do, I’m shocked to find that the coppery taste is shifting and becoming something sweet. It’s the strangest thing, but it warms me as it travels down my throat and enters my system.
“That should be enough,” Serenity murmurs when I continue to drink. “It didn’t take much to change you the last time, remember?”
“Right,” I whisper, feeling like my whole body was slowly catching on fire as Serenity’s blood races through me.
“Do you feel anything?” She asks when I grow quiet. “Do you feel like there is any difference?”
“I…” I begin, but stop as my body jerks and I feel it—the feel of someone going through their first shift. “I’m…”
Hissing, I scurry away from Serenity as my claws erupt from my fingers and my clothes begin to rip as my body changes from that of a human and into a wolf that I haven’t been in so long.
“Maverick!” Serenity gasps while I continue to shift right in front of her. “You’re… But is it still you? Are you still in there?”
Was I? From what I felt and how I could think, I was certain that I was still here, but I wasn’t sure what she was seeing. Was I back to my original wolf or was I something different? I knew that a few things felt off, but I wasn’t in severe pain like when I was the rogue, nor did I feel the need to attack Serenity as she stands in front of me.
“It worked,” she whispers, moving forward and reaching out. “Maverick, you’re a wolf again. This is great.”
I was… I was a wolf again, and by the way Serenity was looking at me, I was certain that it wasn’t the grotesque rogue that she first met.
‘This means that we can turn the others back.’ I murmur, remembering Ellie and the twins.
Not only them, but my entire pack that was changed into these horrible creatures thanks to Ezekial.
“Yeah,” she whispers. “We can.”