Chapter 5 #2
She looked around. They were in the living room. She was naked in his arms. “Time to shift?”
“Yes, Baby girl. Let your wolf out.”
She glanced at the end table and then at the coffee table. There were a few items on both, including a lamp. “What if I break something?”
He smiled. “You won’t, but even if you do, who cares?”
“Could I be huge like Khloe?”
He shrugged. “It’s possible. There’s only one way to find out.” He lifted her off his lap and set her on her feet. “Back up a few steps, close your eyes, and let your body shift.”
She found herself obeying him even though she was frightened. All shifters were nervous before their first shift. It was normal. There was no avoiding the call of nature. Her body was tingling with energy. It wouldn’t go away. She had to heed the call.
Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and let it out slowly as her first shift forced itself through every molecule in her body. The next thing she knew, she dropped down onto all fours.
For a moment, she wasn’t sure if she’d shifted yet or not, but then she looked down and saw paws where her hands had been. She also had no voice. At least not words. She was pretty sure she could make sounds, and she proved that when she tipped her snout back and howled.
The sound startled her and threw her off balance, causing her to drop back and land on her haunches.
When she lifted her gaze, she found Isaac watching her with a smile on his face. “You’re stunning, Little wolf. Your fur is almost the same color of blond as your human hair.” He held out a hand. “Would you like me to pet you?”
She would really like that, and she rose back onto all fours, intending to prance closer to him. It took her a few faltering steps before she got her rhythm and managed to pad toward him.
As soon as he stroked her head, she lowered her snout, instinct telling her to bow to him in a way. It wasn’t something she’d learned. It just came to her.
Amber slowly lifted her head when he removed his hand.
She looked around the room, startled to realize she could see ten times better than the super-vision she already had in human form.
Every single speck of dust. Every tiny imperfection.
Every stroke of paint on the walls, so detailed that she could tell which direction the brush had been moving.
“Your vision?” Daddy asked.
She turned to him and nodded.
“Better than before?”
She nodded again.
“Would you like to step outside for a moment so you can look around?”
Excited by the idea, she turned and bounded toward the front door.
Isaac chuckled as he joined her. He lifted her snout. “You will stay right next to me. We’re not taking off for a run in the dark. A few minutes, right by the house, and we’re coming back in.”
She nodded agreement.
Daddy opened the door and stepped through before motioning for her to join him. He even jumped down from the porch and into the clearing.
Amber followed, still awkward, her paws not fully cooperating yet.
When she reached him, she lifted her head to look around.
It was dark out, but that didn’t matter.
She could see all around her as if it were the middle of the day.
She could see things she’d never seen in her life with the same level of detail she’d noticed inside.
As she scanned the area, she recognized small animals and bugs before spotting Rylee next to Hayes.
Amber cocked her head to one side. It seemed like Rylee was looking directly at her, but Rylee wasn’t seeing Amber. She simply knew precisely where her friend was located and faced that direction. She was in wolf form, too, and she cocked her head to the side. Did she smile?
Amber located Molly next. It was the same with her. She was too far away to see Amber or even the house, but she’d heard her and could face her.
So eerie. What a strange power.
Amber lifted her head, looking deeper into the forest. She stiffened and focused all her attention on three bears.
One of them was in a cage and prowling angrily, saliva dripping off his jowls.
Two other bears stood guard at the large cage, ignoring their prisoner.
Two men were nearby also. They had to be bear shifters.
A hand landing on Amber’s head startled her, and she jerked her attention back to Daddy.
He squatted down next to her. “Can you shift back, Little one?”
She closed her eyes, trying to focus on her change instead of the unsettling new power she had. At least she’d been prepared for it. She’d already developed super-vision even before her shift, but what she was experiencing now made her earlier sight seem like child’s play.
After letting the shimmer take over, Amber once again stood on her human legs, trembling and exhausted.
Daddy swooped her off the ground and into his arms, carrying her back into the house and locking the door. He kissed all over her face. “I’m so proud of you, Little mate.”
“They caught Drow,” she announced.
He flinched and looked at her. “Really? You could see that?”
“Yes. I mean I assume it’s him. He’s in a cage. Two bears and two men in human form are guarding him. It’s so weird to know there are bear shifters out there.”
Daddy stroked her back as he carried her into their bedroom and pulled the covers back. “I’m not surprised, Little one. You have a powerful gift.”
“Should we tell the others?” she asked. “I saw Rylee and Molly and their mates. They’re close by.”
“No. It’s not necessary. They know. Rylee can locate them by whatever they ate for dinner, but she can also scent the emotions wafting off Drow. Fear. Anger. Hostility. Whatever he’s feeling, she can smell it.”
Amber gasped as she dropped onto her back, knowing without discussion that her Daddy would diaper her. She even spread her legs for him. “She can scent all of that?” she asked while he wrapped her in the absorbent material.
“Yes. And Molly can hear them talking. Both of them are getting better at recognizing distances so they can more accurately pinpoint where things are occurring.”
“Will I learn to do that, too? I don’t know how far away they are.”
“I suspect you will, Baby girl. Rylee and Molly can help you. All you’ll have to do is look around, tell them what you’re seeing, and they can judge the distances until you learn.
” He padded around the room, turning off lights before climbing into bed with her, pulling her into his embrace, and covering them up.
“My mind is racing,” she told him. “I’m not sure I can sleep.”
He kissed her temple. “You’ll sleep, Little one. You just need to still your thoughts. You’ll probably sleep the rest of the night and most of the day tomorrow. It’s normal.”
His touch relaxed her. When his mark grazed over her skin, she felt herself connecting to him.
Instead of the sexual frenzy from earlier, she felt the bond growing.
It was powerful. Yes, sex was a huge part of it, and she knew in the future when he set his mark against her skin she would cream for him, but right now, it was helping her settle.
Daddy tucked her closer to his chest, his lips nibbling against her neck, his breath warm and comforting. He tossed a leg over both of hers, cocooning her, making her feel safe.
Gradually she relaxed in his embrace, her breathing evening out, her mind settling.
“That’s my good girl. There will be plenty of time for questions and learning. Now is a time for rest, Little mate. I’ve got you.”
Thoughts still lingered. “I’ll be useful to the pack,” she murmured. “I’ll be helpful, Daddy.”
“Yes, Little one. You’ll be very helpful. I’m certain of it.”
“Can I meet with the others when we wake up?”
He chuckled against her neck. “My Little mate… So eager to start her new life. You know, it’s customary for newly mated Alphas to spend a month with their Little girls without interruption.”
He’d mentioned that before, but it seemed like such a long time. “Daddy, I need to talk to Rylee and the others. We can’t wait a month.” Anxiety grew inside her, chasing away the calm she’d been experiencing.
He laughed again and then sighed. “Don’t you fret, Little mate.
We’ll spend plenty of time talking to the others.
I’ll admit it feels important. In between, you and I will lock ourselves in the house and spend every possible moment naked.
I’m not going to let up until I’ve memorized every freckle on your body. ”
Amber giggled at his silly declaration, but her heart beat for him just as she knew his beat for her.
She knew he was right. She wouldn’t be able to spend more than a few hours a day working to understand her odd powers.
The rest of the time she would look directly in his eyes until she knew not just his freckles but his soul.