Page 126

“Right,” I say, nodding, understanding the logic behind that – if there evenareany girls there. God, why are weonthis goose chase? Why is she so convinced that we’re going to find girls? “So…”

I grimace, not knowing how to propose this.

“Cole, will you please just spit it out?” Nadia asks, snapping her hands to her hips.

I start to slip the backpack from my shoulders. “The fastest and most efficient way to do this is if you let mecarryyou, Nadia. On my back.”

She scoffs. “Cole, I don’t think this is the time for a four-hour piggyback ri…” Her face falls slack, her mouth dropping open as she realizes what I’m actually proposing.

“Don’t be weird about it,” I say, offering the backpack to her. “Just take this.”

“Are you serious?”

“I’m dead serious,” I say, nodding to her. She’s still staring at me as she takes the backpack, stumbling under its weight.

She glances at it and then starts to pull it on, backing up a little like she’s worried I’m going to explode.

“Are you ready for this?” I ask, tilting my head to the side. I mean, I know that Nadia saw us shift when we were kids, but…my wolf is bigger now.

“You’re…you’re going to turn into a wolf?”

I nod.

“Right now?”

I nod again.

“And I’m going to…climb up onto your back?”

“My shoulders,” I say, reaching behind my neck to tap on them. “Right above my forepaws, like a horse.”

Her eyes go wide. “Oh my god, above yourpaws?”

I smirk at her and nod.

She just exhales slowly, her shoulders slumping a little as she shakes her head to clear it. “This is really weird, Cole.”

“I mean, it’s not,” I murmur, shrugging.

“Will we be able to talk?”

I shake my head. Maybe if she’d accept me as her mate, we’d get a bond so we couldmindlinkbut…I put the thought outside my head, knowing she’s not ready for that conversation yet.

“Don’t worry so much,” I say, smirking at her. “I’m a very nice wolfandmy fur is soft – you’ll be perfectly comfortable. There’s nothing to worry about. And you can hold onto my fur as tight as you want so you won’t fall off! It won’t hurt.”

“Oh mygod,” she groans, tilting her head back.

I laugh and take the opportunity to shift, doing it so fast that she doesn’t see. Nadia whips her head up and gives a tiny shriek of fear when she sees me there in my wolf form – which is understandable, as I am a gigantic wolf now with fangs the size of her little finger.

Nadia starts to pant, her eyes moving over my dark brown fur, which is silky and shaggy. I shake, getting used to the feel of my wolf body, stretching my forelegs out before I lay down in front of her, stretching my nose out on top of my paws so she sees that I’m being docile – that it’s still me.

“Yup,” Nadia whispers, staring unblinking and nodding a little. “Weird. It’s weird.”

I growl lightly and then give a little yip, hoping she understands my urge to get a move on.

She takes a deep breath and then slowly starts to walk around me, leaning forward to run her hand over my fur. I shiver, letting my eyes fall slightly shut. That is…very nice, isn’t it?

“So, I just…climb on?”