Epilogue #2
When they’re out of earshot, I nod towards the trees. “He might end up coming here a lot since Morgan lives here now.”
“And?”
“Is that going to be a problem?”
He gives me a dry look. “Not for me.”
“Okay, then.” I give him a pat on the shoulder and get to my feet. “The next few weeks aren’t going to be awkward at all.”
He laughs as he stands up. “Pretty sure none of us will seem hot once he finds out what we are. Problem solved.”
Maybe he’s right.
Either way, it’s not something I’m going to worry about. Not when there are so many other things vying for my attention.
MORGAN
Lynx is waiting on the front steps when I get back from seeing Ash out of the compound.
“How did it go?” he asks, getting up.
I take a moment to admire the way his jeans lovingly hug his thighs. “Good, I think.” I let out a sigh deep enough to make Lynx raise his eyebrows. “Obviously, I didn’t tell him everything. And what I did tell him was heavily edited, but he’s still my best friend so I’m happy.”
“Good.” He grabs my hands and starts to walk backwards, tugging me with him.
I smirk. “Where are we going? Don’t we need to get back?”
“What for?”
“I assumed the others would want to know how it went and what we talked about.”
“They will.”
“Then shouldn’t we go inside?”
“Not yet.” He shrugs. “We’ve got time.”
“For?”
He tugs his T-shirt from his jeans, then pulls it over his head.
“Out here? Really?”
Lynx laughs. “Mind out of the gutter.” He shrugs the rest of his clothes off until he stands gloriously naked before me.
Oh.
As beautiful a sight as this is, anxiety floods me. My palms sweat and my mouth is suddenly dry, because I know what this means, what he wants, and it’s as terrifying as the first time.
“Morgan,” he coaxes, stepping into my space. “It’s okay.”
Is it, though? I’ve not shifted since that first and only time in the fight ring.
When I killed Fox.
I shake my head. “I can’t.”
He smiles, soft, patient, encouraging. “You can.” He reaches for the hem of my T-shirt and I let him lift it up and over my head. He nods toward my feet. “Kick off your shoes.”
Despite the nervous fizzing in my belly, I do as he asks and toe off my trainers. I take my socks off as well, and he smiles in approval.
“Now these.” He goes for my joggers next, sliding them and my underwear off together so I’m as naked as he is.
“You need to shift.” His voice is soft but firm. “It’s not healthy to go long periods without it.” There’s no alpha power in his words, but they slide under my skin anyway, and my wolf wants to comply to make him happy. “And after the afternoon you’ve had, you need it more than ever.”
I want to shift.
I’m just fucking terrified.
“You didn’t kill Fox.” He puts a finger on my lips before I can protest. “You defended yourself.” He taps his chest. “And me.”
“I know that, but?—”
But it doesn’t help. There’s a block where it should be instinctive.
“Do you trust me?” He takes my hands in his.
“With my life.”
He smiles, eyes wrinkling with happiness, and my heart beats that little bit harder.
“Then close your eyes.”
I do it.
He lets go of my hands, and I sense him walk behind me, feel his warm breath on the back of my neck when he comes to a stop. I’m hyperaware of his body, so close to mine but not touching.
Warm lips graze my skin and I suck in a breath.
“Clear your mind,” he whispers, fingers trailing up my arms until they reach my shoulders. His hands curl around them, grip firm. “Search for that place inside you, the pull you feel in the pit of your belly.” Another kiss, this time over my mating mark.
I shiver.
“Can you feel it?”
“Yes.” Feeling it isn’t the problem. I focus on the gentle tug, the promise of something dark and enticing, always just out of reach.
“Now picture your wolf.” Another kiss and a graze of teeth. “Imagine fangs and claws and fur. And power .”
The tugging gets a little stronger, more insistent.
“Now imagine there are doors holding everything back, but behind them your wolf is ready. Waiting to be set free.”
I do as he asks.
Picturing it all with startling clarity. I even imagine a roar in my head.
His grip tightens, voice a rough growl in my ear. “Now imagine throwing those doors wide fucking open and letting everything flood out.”
I do it without thinking, like his words cast a spell over me, and instinct takes over.
Blinding pain steals my breath. My vision blurs as my body breaks and reforms in the blink of an eye.
I’m panting by the time I come back to myself. Tongue lolling out as it takes me a moment to adjust to... well, everything.
A pleased rumble from behind has me darting around to find the big, beautiful sight of Lynx in wolf form.
He dances backwards towards the trees, then tilts his head and waits in a silent, You coming?
When I don’t move, he trots back over and nuzzles his nose into the fur at my neck, checking if I’m okay.
I am.
More than okay.
There was no panic this time.
He didn’t have to use his power to force me to shift, and it’s like my whole body heaved a sigh of relief. He’s right, I did need this.
I nuzzle him back and press into him. I’m good.
I have no idea what the future holds for us, but I know that I’m not facing it alone.
And I never will be again.
When he backs away this time, I follow .