The most awkward thing about being a werewolf is the nudity part of shifting. Sure we grow up around it because every adult you know shifts, and not a single kid in the pack hasn’t seen their parents naked because of it. It makes us more adjusted than the humans who are just so conservative and worried about nudity. Are some people’s naked bodies more impressive than others? Oh hell yes. I’ve seen Ivan Furlan naked. Now that’s impressive. So while nudity is normal and part of the culture, it is still awkward to shift around the other kids getting their wolves for the first time. My parents took me out to the woods on the full moon night, where everyone was taken to shift for the first time. It was me, Shannon, Paul, and a few others. Overall there were about ten of us shifting on this full moon. So it was our families and Alpha Logan and Luna Aurelia with us. “You’ve all been preparing for today your whole life. Shifting to our wolves is as natural as breathing.” Alpha Log

With a quick pivot at the moment of impact, I remained standing as the boy crashed to the floor, holding my prosthetic leg. “Stop trying to cuddle my prosthetic, you weirdo.” I rolled my eyes, taunting. “While not a bad thought to try and unbalance me, you seemed to be under the false impression that I haven’t learned how to move and fight without the leg.” I sighed. “Don’t underestimate your opponent because of their outer appearance. Now come at me again.” I explained once more, gesturing for him to come at me. The kid was frustrated, tossing my leg aside as he rushed me again. I was laughing as I hopped out of the way. “Toro, toro.” I taunted as he lunged at me. Then with a laugh, add, “Oh lay” when he’d miss. He was huffing out of breath, and a few of the other sparing pairs who felt they had practiced enough had circled up to watch. The giggles of the crowd seemed to piss the boy off more. “Stop playing with him, Cl… Austin.” Scott sighed, correcting himself as he

I don’t know why I expect discretion for Suzanne Walterson. I have never known her to bite her tongue or hold back on anything. I really shouldn’t be surprised. As much as I dread having the conversation I know is coming, I’m glad to at least be alone with her. No one to overhear us. No one to watch us. And no one to interrupt us. We probably need to discuss a lot, not just my past relationship with Denise. Like how she seemed hesitant and quickly retreated before I could kiss her earlier. I mean, I’m not looking to pressure her or anything. She’d probably knock me into next week. But still, I’m not so oblivious to have missed the look in her eyes. She anticipated the kiss, but suddenly she moved away and insisted we leave. “Is it so surprising that I can do nice things?” I arched my eyebrow as we left the training center. “Yeah. I mean, have you met yourself?” Suzie shook her head. “Okay, fair, I guess. But that’s you judging me on how I used to be. I’m not that guy any

You have got to be kidding me! Thanks, Maxton, thanks a fucking lot. Cocking blocking, son of a bitch. Do all fathers have a cockblocker mode, or is it just him? Because fuck if he doesn’t. There is no way he could have just coincidentally timed walking out onto the porch like that. No way. He had to have sensed it like that robot in Spaceballs with her virgin alarm. I waited till she was inside, and Maxton had shut the door before backing out of the driveway. Don’t think I didn’t miss the way his eyebrow arched as he looked at me. Oh, he not only knows my jeep, but he saw me clear as day behind the wheel. I can just imagine what conversation is happening inside the Walterson house tonight. What will she tell them? Will she lie and say we ran into each, and I offered to drop her off? Will she tell the truth and say we’re mates? Or will she tell a white lie? Omitting that I’m her mate but say I was one of the instructors? So many possibilities, and I have no way of knowing

I wanted to get ahead of any possible issues with Suzie. After sleeping on it, I woke up knowing one thing for sure if Suzie finds out Denise was at my place from anyone else, I am dead. So I got up early and went to a local bakery to get a couple dozen donuts and a large carafe of fresh-brewed coffee. Don’t judge. Werewolves have a high metabolism. As a kid, Maxton would stop at Pearl’s Bakery if he was in charge of carpooling Stephen, me, and a couple of other kids to the pack middle school. So I’m sort of banking that he still has a soft spot for it. While getting the donuts and coffee, I kept a running conversation with Suzie in the pack link. And fuck, she’s adorable. I knew what she was doing, distracting me with that comment about still being in bed. Okay, so that probably wasn’t her initial plan when we mentioned it, but she didn’t discourage me from trying to guess what she wears to bed. I am about ninety percent sure my first guess was correct. There might be a nine p