Crescent Wolves - G. Bailey Page 0,40

in.” He goes quiet again, and I take a slow breath in, trying to force myself not to think about the magic itself.

Instead, I focus on the sounds of the woods around me: the rustling of animals in the high tree branches, the gentle whisper of wind, the distant chirping of birds. I can still feel Shade’s hand on my spine, and its presence is both comforting and thrilling.

“There you go,” Shade murmurs, his voice close to my ear. It sends a shiver up my back. “Now, when you’re ready, start feeling for the magic. Don’t try to grab onto it. Just become aware of it.” His other hand moves to my stomach. “Look for it here,” he says quietly.

I don’t know if I’ve ever been so flustered in all my life, but even still, as I continue to breathe, absorbing the feeling of Shade’s hands and the sounds of the forest, I gradually become aware of something below his hand, in my abdomen. It’s that familiar, cold feeling, like a pool in the pit of my stomach. For a moment I feel a surge of triumph. It’s working! I force myself not to pounce on it, instead just continuing to feel it. It’s almost comforting, like meeting an old friend who you haven’t seen for a long time. “Do you feel it?” Shade asks quietly.

“Yes,” I breathe, my voice barely above a whisper.

He hums in approval. “The key is to not jump on it. Just let it do its thing, okay? When you’re ready, visualize your form. Think of every detail.”

“Okay,” I reply, taking another deep breath as I let an image come to mind. A wolf: not a werewolf, but a timber wolf, with gray-brown fur and bright, watchful eyes. I remember what I can about the partial transformation I managed earlier--the texture of the fur, the way the muscles felt, and throw myself into perfecting the image, all the while aware of the cold sensation of my magic running through me. And just like that, I can feel the energy start to branch out, flooding through my body like a cooling wave.

The hairs on my arms stand on end, bristling into fur, and my muscles lengthen. Then I’m leaning forward, dropping onto all fours as my senses grow even more powerful. I can feel my teeth changing, the shape of my skull shifting under my skin into something canine and primal. And then I’m on the forest floor, feeling like both a human and an animal, the current of shapeshifting magic buzzing through my body.

“Yes!” cries Shade. “You did it, Boots!”

For a moment I’m afraid to open my eyes, afraid I’ll lose this progress, but I slowly allow them to come open, looking down to see that my body is no longer human. It’s lupine, and enormous--larger than a wolf has any right to be. The smells of the woods are enhanced, and my vision feels more acute. I feel strong… powerful. And I’m all wolf, no other clan features to be found. I turn back to Shade, watching as he grins electrifyingly at me…

And then the breakfast bell rings, its loud chime echoing all the way across the campus to where we are. It startles me, and in a split second I lose the thread, bursting back into my human form in an instant. Now I’m just a girl again, on all fours on the ground. For a moment I stare at Shade, wide-eyed, and then he starts to laugh. “Not bad for a first-timer, Boots.” I can’t help but laugh, too; I probably look ridiculous.

Getting to my feet, I brush the leaves off my pants and follow him triumphantly back to the quad. “Thank you, Shade,” I say when we arrive on the main path. “I mean it. I was starting to think I would never…” I shake my head.

“My pleasure,” Shade replies, giving an exaggerated bow. “I’ll be here all day.”

I meet his gray eyes with my own, and I swear something passes between us. I’m on the verge of asking him what made him offer to help me in the first place when the sound of a familiar voice draws our attention away. It’s Hazel, jogging down the road towards the two of us and looking distraught. “Millie!” she exclaims when she approaches us. “There you are. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” Her eyes narrow a little when she sees Shade. “He’s not bothering you, is he?”

“No,” I assure her. “The opposite.