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“You haven’t talked through a change before.” Chad frowned, not liking the idea.

“Last time I checked, you guys will be on the other side of the door.” I arched an eyebrow. “I’m sure I will be fine.”

Dad nodded his head. “Alright, Chloe. Remember, go slow.”

I nodded my head and wrapped a hand around the doorknob. My hand was instantly covered by a larger one.

“Thank you.” Xavier’s eyes were soft and he was standing dangerously close to me.

“I haven’t done anything yet.” I pointed out and steadied my breathing.

“You’re here.”

I nodded my head and he removed his hand. I understood what he meant. I had come. I had cared enough to come.

Twisting the doorknob and slipping through a small crack, I closed the door quickly behind me, and found myself in the darkness of the room.

“Charlie? Nathan?”

My eyes adjusted to the lack of light. The room was a mess. Furniture hurled on its side, fabric torn in pieces everywhere. Taking in the amount of ruined toys, I would say it was one of their rooms.

“Boys?”

Well, this was something. They weren’t charging at me like they had Xavier. I bit my lower lip. This had to be a good sign.

My eyes drifted over the ruined room and then locked onto a pair of yellow little ones, looking at me from under the bed.

Lowering myself to my knees, I locked eyes with the yellow ones.

“Charlie? Or is it you, Nathan?”

The little eyes gave no sign of an answer. But a second pair then opened beside them. Both boys accounted for.

“Do you guys want to come out?”

They didn’t move. Ok, Chloe. I thought back to my first change. It was awful. But at least I expected mine. They hadn’t expected theirs.

“Do you guys want to know something cool?”

No reaction.

“I’m a wolf too.”

Both eyes widened slightly. Good sign. Their wolf didn’t have complete control.

“Would you like me to show you?”

No reaction.

Sighing, I got to my feet and moved slightly out of their view. Not taking my clothes off, they ripped and fell to pieces as I changed. Arching my back, I walked around to see the pairs of eyes again.

This time, both pairs were alive with wonder and relief. Now they knew they weren’t the only ones. I shook my small wolf head and smiled a wolf grin at them. I wasn’t sure what it looked like, but I hoped it was reassuring.

Parading to the side and scooping up a bed sheet in my mouth, I changed back, wrapping the sheet around me and tugging the side in under my armpit.

The boys didn’t need to see me naked.

Walking back and lowering myself near the bed, I said, “Please come out?” I looked into each pair of eyes for a moment before walking a few paces from the bed and lowering myself to my knees.