Blaidd
By the third deep breath, I lifted the bottle of milk from the fridge and forced myself to close the door.
“Is something wrong?” she asked innocently while she crossed her feet at her ankles.
My eyes ran up her bare legs until they reached my white T-shirt. When did she even come down to sabotage the fridge before I got here?
“Not a thing,” I said through clenched teeth and a fake smile. “Eat your eggs.”
All I wanted to do was go back and turn all the bottles and cartons around again. But I forced myself to add the milk to my coffee.
“Why don't we go out today?” I asked, wondering if taking her outside would prevent her from driving me crazy inside the house.
She knew that I knew every dirty trick she’d played on me. What she did to my DVD collection was an abomination. If she ever got into my home office, I was doomed.
What kind of a father would I be when I couldn't even control their mother’s daily fuckery?
“Is there anywhere safe for Bouda to take a run?” she asked, cutting into her omelette.
Perfect.
A long drive to the national park. Fenrir could make Bouda run around to tire Lielit out.
“Yes,” I murmured, taking a long sip of my coffee.
Leave me out of this, Fenrir grumbled.
I ignored him. Once both of our animals came out, there would be no stopping them.
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I took her home. The drive to Wales was long, but I knew all the secluded areas where the humans wouldn't disturb us. The summer attracted a lot of tourists, and I didn't want anyone to see us. That was one of the advantages of owning Caer Virel. The privacy was priceless.
I glanced over at her, but she was staring out of the window. Her fingers were tapping against her leg to the beat of the song she was listening to. It wasn't my kind of music, but it didn't irritate me. The sound from her headphones was minimal over the road.
A lot of things didn't irritate me because they were part of her.
Surprisingly, Fenrir remained silent—no lectures or shoving the bond in my face.
I focused on the road as the thought ate away at me.
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The moment Fenrir shifted, he was showing off for her. He ran back and forth from the entryway to the woods, back to Lielit. He was impatient waiting for Bouda to emerge. Lielit hung the last of the clothing on top of mine before removing her boots.
Bouda’s emergence was graceful. She didn't come out snarling the way Fenrir often did. She shook her head, and the long hair on her back spiked for a moment, reminding me of a prickly porcupine. He did not appreciate the comparison.
She crouched down and stretched her back out while keeping her mouth open. Her teeth looked ferocious.
Fenrir didn't care, he circled her, sniffing her before rubbing himself against her side. His tail flicked over her face and snapped her teeth at him.
The most telling response was that she allowed him to graze his nose over her belly. When he began sniffing her rear, she pounced on his head, growling as she bit his ear.
He didn't rage or even react. In fact, he held still until she was done chomping on him. She slapped a paw on our face before she took off.
His eyes snapped up. I saw her tail’s fur spike up just as he gave chase.
The same tail I once mocked now looked attractive.
It was probably because she smelled like us now.
Grass, trees, and branches all whizzed past.
But the bliss Fenrir felt playing with Bouda was astounding.
She wasn't a passing shifter. Lielit and Bouda held our legacy.
And so much more.
They didn't shift back until the next morning. I remained silent and observed.
They’d run, hunted and played together. At night, they’d curled up together. Fenrir remained wide awake for hours listening for any intrusions before finally lowering his head over Bouda to rest.
The animals were more harmonious than our human sides.
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I could hear her humming in the kitchen as she prepared dinner. The aroma of her jerk chicken filled the hallway. I’d have been in the kitchen with her if I could cope with her chaos.
My eyes narrowed on the painting above the side table.
It was subtle.
Just a fraction out of place.
I moved closer and adjusted it, smiling as I stepped back to admire the artwork.
She couldn't break me if I adapted to her unruly ways.
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After dinner, I walked into the spotless kitchen, pausing to glance around to see what was out of place. The clock ticked in the background, but I couldn't find it.
The sink was empty, and the white porcelain sparkled.
I opened the fridge.
Every bottle, carton and container had the labelling the correct way.
I felt foolish by the time I opened the oven, but I did it anyway.
Nothing.
I returned to the living room and sat beside her. She lay curled up beneath the blanket, watching her animal documentary. I rested my hand on her ankle. She didn't move or complain.
I relaxed on the couch… but I was still waiting for the other shoe to drop.
We managed a normal weekend together.
It should have been mundane. I should have been bored and itching to get away.
Her laughter during dinner echoed in my mind as she’d teased Fenrir.
The remote fell from her hand as she fell asleep.
It was best that she get some rest now.
Because I intended to sleep with my knot buried inside her cunt tonight.
Fuck the mundane.
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The moment she joined me in bed, I dragged her to my side of the bed.
“No more clothes in our bed,” I muttered, tugging my T-shirt over her head.
As much as I loved my scent on her, I wanted to feel her naked flesh against mine.
“Is this a dictatorship?” she sniped as I peeled her knickers down her legs.
A dictator—I liked that title.
I moved over her, placing her legs on my shoulders before planting my face between her thighs.
She didn't complain again.