Lyra had to look away from his gaze. It was searing, turning that spiral of heat in her belly into a full–on fire that burned through her. She had never felt so embarrassed and aroused at
the same time.
“Can we change the subject?” she asked.
“Sure,” he said with a chuckle. “Let’s go back to you taking your clothes off.”
“Goddess,” she gasped.
“Here. I’ll go first.”
Before she could protest, Jake pulled his shirt over his head. Lyra couldn’t help but look, her eyes drawn to the well–defined muscles of his chest and abs. A trail of dark hair led down from his navel, disappearing into the waistband of his jeans. He toed off his shoes and slid off his socks before his hands moved to the buckle of his belt.
Lyra told herself to look away, while Juno cheered for her to keep watching. She couldn’t stop staring as he lowered his pants, leaving him in nothing but a pair of black boxer briefs that did nothing to hide the erection straining beneath the fabric.
He reached for the waistband, but Lyra blurted, “Stop.”
He froze, his thumbs hooked under the elastic.
“That’s enough,” she said quickly. “Just… stop there.”
He smirked. “You don’t mean that.”
“Please.” Her voice was barely a whisper, but he relented, dropping his hands to his sides.
“Your turn.”
There was no escaping it. This wasn’t meant to be s****1. She only needed to shift, but the situation did nothing to ease her embarrassment. Slowly, she undressed until she was in just her bra and panties.
She could feel Jake’s gaze on her, warm and heavy. She wondered if he could see the scars on her left shoulder and upper chest. They were thinner than the ones on her face, faded and stretched, but still there. If he noticed them, he gave no sign.
“You’ll want to lose the underwear too,” he said, voice calm though his eyes were stormy. Unless you want it destroyed.”
”
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< Chapter 20
She stared at her feet for a moment, then looked up when he spoke again.
“I’m not going to do anything,” he said gently, catching her gaze.
“Tell that to your dick.” She jerked her chin toward the obvious bulge.
*75 Prants
He shrugged. “It’s biology, Lyra. My beautiful mate is standing half–naked in front of me. I’m going to get hard. I can’t help that. Now stop avoiding the inevitable.”
With a heavy sigh, she unclasped her bra and slid off her panties, tossing them onto the pile. Jake’s eyes swept over her, dark with want, his tongue darting out to wet his lips.
Then, finally, he met her eyes again. “Alright. You should sit down. Juno isn’t going to land on her feet, and you’ll fall if you try to shift standing up. Just like the first time, okay?”
Lyra nodded. Something about his voice settled her. She sat down, and Jake knelt beside her.
“Just let Juno take over,” he murmured, brushing his fingers through her hair. “She knows what to do.”
Lyra closed her eyes and let herself sink back. It had been years, but Juno didn’t hesitate. As her wolf came forward, Lyra felt her bones begin to tremble. She braced herself for the pain.
“Relax,” Jake whispered. “It’ll hurt more if you tense.”
But she couldn’t relax. The first bone snapped in her leg, tearing a scream from her throat. She barely registered falling sideways until her cheek hit the damp earth, the smell of pine and dirt grounding her.
Another snap in her arm brought another scream. Jake brushed hair from her face, speaking softly, but his words barely registered. She reached for him with her unbroken arm, the tingles from his touch offering the only comfort.
“Focus on me,” he said firmly, holding her face in his hands. She could smell him, eucalyptus and mint, and her body eased slightly.
More bones broke. Her skin stretched. Her body reshaped itself. Her fingers and toes elongated into claws. Her face cracked and reformed, leaving her momentarily breathless as it morphed into a muzzle. Fur erupted over her body.
Time lost meaning. All she knew was the searing pain and Jake’s hands constantly touching her, grounding her. She clung to his scent, his whispers, anything to anchor herself.
Finally, it was done. Juno stood on shaky legs, shaking out her light gray coat. Jake moved back onto his heels, awe in his eyes.
Chapter 20
“Your coat is the same color as Lyra’s eyes,” he whispered. “You’re incredible.”
Juno leaned forward and licked his face.
+25 Pointy
Jake sputtered and laughed, running his hand through her fur. “Do you want to meet Rome?”
Juno answered by jumping on him again, licking his cheek. Jake fell back, laughing as Juno hovered over him.
“Well, let me up,” he said, nudging her snout.
Once she stepped back, he removed his boxers and began to shift. It took him far less time to become Rome, a massive brown–and–black wolf that towered over Juno.
She launched herself at him, bouncing off his side and tumbling away. Rome chased her, the two of them weaving between trees, playing like pups.
Lyra let Juno run, watching through her wolf’s eyes as the forest blurred around them. It had been too long, years since Juno had stretched her legs. The joy that radiated through their shared body made Lyra’s heart ache. Juno was slower now, and she tired quickly. She stopped at a stream to drink and rest, collapsing beside Rome. He lay beside her, and Juno nestled her head against him.
Guilt twisted in Lyra’s chest. Juno’s weakness was her fault. Werewolves shared a body, but Lyra had shut her out. Out of fear, out of anger. She had trapped Juno, her best friend, inside with no way out.
It’s okay, Juno said gently, sensing her thoughts. I know how hard it’s been. I understand why you did it.
That doesn’t make it right.
No, Juno agreed, but you gave me a chance again. And you’re giving our mate a chance, which is all I can ask for. I know you’re scared, but I don’t think the Moon Goddess would give us more than we can handle.
Agree to disagree.
Eventually Juno rose, continuing to play until they returned to the clearing. Exhaustion hit hard, and for a moment Lyra feared she wouldn’t be able to shift back.
Juno lay in the grass while Rome shifted and Jake dressed. Once he was clothed, he knelt beside her, fingers trailing through her fur.
“Do you feel ready?” he asked softly.
Chanter 20
With a tired sigh, Juno began the shift. Whimpers escaped as her body broke and rebuilt. Lyra stepped in, taking over as the change progressed, tears running down her cheeks as she returned to human form. The pain was just as bad, and when it was done, she couldn’t lift herself from the ground.
She closed her eyes, feeling Jake’s fingers in her hair, his voice soft and steady. She drifted to sleep with him beside her.
Lyra had no idea how long she had slept, but when she woke, her head was resting on Jake’s chest and the woods were dark around them. His breathing was steady, his fingers idly playing with the ends of her hair.
She shifted to look at him. He lay on his back, one arm around her and the other tucked behind his head, staring up through the canopy of trees. When he met her gaze, he smiled gently.
“How are you feeling?” His voice was low and rough.
“Sore,” she murmured, stretching slightly against him. A shiver ran through her as the cool night air whispered across her skin, goosebumps rising.
That was when she realized she was still completely naked.
“My clothes,” she gasped.
“Over there, where you left them.” Jake nodded to her right. “I thought about dressing you, but you looked too peaceful. I didn’t want to wake you.”
“Don’t look,” she blurted, scrambling away from him.
He laughed, the sound low and amused. “Lyra, I’ve been lying next to you for the past hour. Trust me, I’ve seen everything. And I’ve liked everything I’ve seen.”
Her face turned bright red as she fumbled with her clothes, hastily pulling on her underwear and jeans. He chuckled again.
“I love how easy it is to make you blush.”
She shot him a glare as she tugged her shirt over her head. “Glad I can entertain you.”
“You do more than entertain me.” His voice dropped, heavy with heat and longing. She felt the pull of his desire surge through the mate bond, stoking the fire already simmering inside her.
X Chapte 24%
It was foreign, this feeling of being desired. Not just wanted, but truly seen. And by the Alpha, no less. A flicker of uncertainty passed through her, but just beneath it, a quiet thrill curled
low in her belly.
She sat down to slip her shoes back on. When she stood, Jake was already beside her, offering his hand. She hesitated a moment, then laced her fingers through his.
He held her hand tightly as they began walking back toward her house.
“How was the shift?” he asked.
“Painful,” she admitted, glancing up at him. “And exhausting. I feel like I could sleep all day
tomorrow.”
“That’s normal,” he said with a nod. “But you’ll have to be up. We’re meeting with the elders at ten thirty. I’ll come pick you up at ten, if that works.”
She sighed. “Yeah. Sure.”
“Shifting will get easier,” he continued. “We’ll give it a couple of days to let your body recover, but we’ll keep at it. Juno needs time to rebuild her strength.”
Lyra nodded.
“I also want you to start training with some of the warriors.”
That made her stop short. “What?” She pulled his hand, forcing him to turn toward her.
“You need your strength back, Lyra,” he said, facing her fully. “No matter what happens with us, you need to be strong. For yourself. The best way is to keep shifting and to start training.”
“I haven’t trained since high school,” she said, incredulous.
“I figured.” He gave a small shrug. “All the more reason to start. We’ll wait a day, let you rest, then start training the day after tomorrow.”
“And if I refuse?”
He rolled his eyes and stepped closer. “I don’t think you can refuse me, Lyra.”
Her heart thundered as he closed the distance between them. His hand rose, brushing her cheek. She didn’t pull away.
“I mean it,” he said, his voice low. “You’re strong, even if you don’t feel it yet. But I want to help you remember what it feels like to fight for yourself.”
Lyra’s breath caught. The fire between them flared, raw and electric. She didn’t know who
5/6
Chapter 40
moved first, but suddenly his mouth was on hers. Hot, demanding, and impossibly soft all at once. Her fingers curled into his shirt, pulling him closer as their bodies pressed together.
His hands slid into her hair, tilting her head to deepen the kiss. She melted into him, every inch of her body sparking with the heat they shared. When they finally pulled apart, they were both breathing hard, foreheads resting against each other.
“We should get you home,” Jake murmured, his voice rough with restraint. “You need to rest.”
Lyra nodded, though part of her wanted to stay in his arms forever.
Jake kept her hand in his as they walked the rest of the way back.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
