grin on his face. It wasn’t often Dylan cursed his wolf form, but what he wouldn’t give for a middle finger at that moment.
Chapter Four
C URLED UP in the tightest ball possible, Avery waited for the first strike to come. Any second he expected to be forced onto his back by Josiah and his goons, to have his vulnerable underbelly exposed to sharp claws and biting teeth. There were muffled growls; then a voice spoke, words Avery couldn’t understand as he huddled into himself. Fear and fury made such a potent combination, he couldn’t hear much beyond his own jackhammer heartbeat.
When he perceived a wolf coming nearer, he flinched and hissed fiercely—for all the good it would do. Unexpected warmth wrapped around him, bringing with it a scent that finally pierced through his haze of panic. Safe , his mind insisted. Safe. Home. Mate.
Mate.
Avery’s trembling eased. A feeling of peace overcame him. Although he wasn’t sure how it was possible, he knew it somehow came from Dylan and whatever bond linked them. His heartbeat slowed, and he basked in the sensation for what must’ve been minutes. Then, in tiny increments, he unfurled from his defensive position.
Sensing no threat, he lifted his snout to test the air. A large wolf lay curled around him, his body shielding Avery from the presence of others.
Dylan.
Even never having seen his wolf, Avery would recognize his smell anywhere. It was muskier in this form, a blend of wild animal and earth, but familiar all the same.
Avery tipped his head back. At night, in shifted form, his vision was monochromatic. He could tell only that Dylan’s coloring was light with darker markings on his face and around his ears. As a hedgehog, Avery’s eyesight was terrible, but when he changed during the day he could still distinguish certain colors—mainly shades of yellow and blue. Right then, he saw Dylan as silvery-gray. It fit him somehow. He was a beautiful wolf.
As Avery stared, Dylan dipped his head and scented him. Whining softly, he nudged Avery. They were nose to nose, in what had to be one of the oddest experiences of Avery’s life. He’d never been so close to a wolf, shifter or otherwise. Facing one while not balled up in his protective position should have been terrifying. Not that his spines would put off a truly determined predator, especially not a shifter, but for ordinary dogs and foxes, they were usually a sufficient deterrent. There was easier, less prickly prey out there.
Dylan nudged him again, then licked him with a long wet tongue. Avery sneezed in response, which amused Dylan, if his wolfie grin was any indication. Normally Avery would’ve bristled at the idea of being laughed at; right then, he couldn’t feel anything but relief.
With another nudge to Avery’s side, Dylan stood. Avery took that for encouragement and began to shift. He blinked blearily once he was human again, vertigo making the woods spin and weave around him. The size differential between his two forms always took some getting used to. As a hedgehog, the world seemed vast, the noises louder, the smells more intense. Danger lurked in new places. Animals that would typically be no threat to Avery became fearsome hunters. But the disorientation went both ways. Even returned to his human shape, Avery automatically hunched forward, curling into himself when Dylan emitted a sharp growl.
He looked askance at Dylan, wary, too raw to snap as he might have any other time, but the wolf’s focus was on something over Avery’s shoulder.
Dylan’s companions stirred, their footsteps moving away as they fell back into the trees. Avery didn’t look to see if he recognized them. He knew the guys in Dylan’s circle of friends, at least by name. He could guess who would be there.
Within moments they were alone. Dylan shifted then, and when he turned his attention to Avery afterward, Avery became aware of his nakedness in a way he hadn’t been in years. Most shifters didn’t
Chapter Four
C URLED UP in the tightest ball possible, Avery waited for the first strike to come. Any second he expected to be forced onto his back by Josiah and his goons, to have his vulnerable underbelly exposed to sharp claws and biting teeth. There were muffled growls; then a voice spoke, words Avery couldn’t understand as he huddled into himself. Fear and fury made such a potent combination, he couldn’t hear much beyond his own jackhammer heartbeat.
When he perceived a wolf coming nearer, he flinched and hissed fiercely—for all the good it would do. Unexpected warmth wrapped around him, bringing with it a scent that finally pierced through his haze of panic. Safe , his mind insisted. Safe. Home. Mate.
Mate.
Avery’s trembling eased. A feeling of peace overcame him. Although he wasn’t sure how it was possible, he knew it somehow came from Dylan and whatever bond linked them. His heartbeat slowed, and he basked in the sensation for what must’ve been minutes. Then, in tiny increments, he unfurled from his defensive position.
Sensing no threat, he lifted his snout to test the air. A large wolf lay curled around him, his body shielding Avery from the presence of others.
Dylan.
Even never having seen his wolf, Avery would recognize his smell anywhere. It was muskier in this form, a blend of wild animal and earth, but familiar all the same.
Avery tipped his head back. At night, in shifted form, his vision was monochromatic. He could tell only that Dylan’s coloring was light with darker markings on his face and around his ears. As a hedgehog, Avery’s eyesight was terrible, but when he changed during the day he could still distinguish certain colors—mainly shades of yellow and blue. Right then, he saw Dylan as silvery-gray. It fit him somehow. He was a beautiful wolf.
As Avery stared, Dylan dipped his head and scented him. Whining softly, he nudged Avery. They were nose to nose, in what had to be one of the oddest experiences of Avery’s life. He’d never been so close to a wolf, shifter or otherwise. Facing one while not balled up in his protective position should have been terrifying. Not that his spines would put off a truly determined predator, especially not a shifter, but for ordinary dogs and foxes, they were usually a sufficient deterrent. There was easier, less prickly prey out there.
Dylan nudged him again, then licked him with a long wet tongue. Avery sneezed in response, which amused Dylan, if his wolfie grin was any indication. Normally Avery would’ve bristled at the idea of being laughed at; right then, he couldn’t feel anything but relief.
With another nudge to Avery’s side, Dylan stood. Avery took that for encouragement and began to shift. He blinked blearily once he was human again, vertigo making the woods spin and weave around him. The size differential between his two forms always took some getting used to. As a hedgehog, the world seemed vast, the noises louder, the smells more intense. Danger lurked in new places. Animals that would typically be no threat to Avery became fearsome hunters. But the disorientation went both ways. Even returned to his human shape, Avery automatically hunched forward, curling into himself when Dylan emitted a sharp growl.
He looked askance at Dylan, wary, too raw to snap as he might have any other time, but the wolf’s focus was on something over Avery’s shoulder.
Dylan’s companions stirred, their footsteps moving away as they fell back into the trees. Avery didn’t look to see if he recognized them. He knew the guys in Dylan’s circle of friends, at least by name. He could guess who would be there.
Within moments they were alone. Dylan shifted then, and when he turned his attention to Avery afterward, Avery became aware of his nakedness in a way he hadn’t been in years. Most shifters didn’t
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