Page 143 of A Broody Mate for the Human

“Right.” Marcel looks at me amused. “It’s good that you and Luca were fated to each other. I think you’ll be really good for each other.”

I’m not entirely sure what he means by that, but I agree on one thing: I’m happy the goddess chose Luca for me.

Luca and I accompany Marcel to his car and wave him goodbye before returning to ours and driving back to Red Claw. I decide not to postpone it any longer, and once we arrive at the pack grounds and get out of the car, I take his hand. “Akio thinks that Bennett is strong enough.”

Luca looks at me curiously. “Strong enough for?”

“To shift,” I explain.

His eyes widen. “Are you sure?”

“We’ll never know if we don’t try,” I tell him. “And even if we don’t manage to do it today, it doesn’t matter. But it’s worth a try, isn’t it?”

“Akio truly thinks that?”

I decide to have Akio have this talk himself and step aside to allow him to take over. “Little mate,” Akio grumbles, reaching out his hand to cup Luca’s cheek. “You’re strong.”

“I’m not sure…” Luca mutters, but despite his words he almost melts into Akio’s touch.

“I will guide you and Bennett. He is ready to come forward, and you’re ready to have your first shift,” Akio tells him seriously. “It’s time to stop running away.”

“I’m not running away,” Luca complains.

Akio tilts his head. “We’ll see about that.”

His strategy seems to work because Luca furrows his brows. “Alright! I’ll prove to you that I’m not running away,” he grumbles and starts stomping towards the forest.

Akio follows him. “Very well.”

With newfound motivation, Luca gets rid of his clothes and turns to face Akio. “I’m ready.”

“I will link Bennett now,” Akio informs him, waiting for Luca to nod his consent before opening the link to his wolf.

Bennett, you know what to do. It’s an instinct,Akio says.

I’m scared to hurt him,Bennett whispers, letting his head and ears hang down. He looks seriously crestfallen.I couldn’t protect him against his brother… I can’t fail him again.

But he is here, and he is ready to trust you,Akio explains, his voice softening. It’s the first time for me to see Luca’s wolf through the mind link. He is a cute brown wolf with white paws. So beautiful.Shifting is important for him to feel full and complete.

Are you going to stay with me while I shift?Bennett asks shyly.

Throughout the whole process,Akio promises with a gentle smile.

He takes a step back, keeping the mind-link up for the both of us. He doesn’t need to tell me what he’s about to do; I know it without him having to say it. When Luca starts to shift into Bennett it’s slow, his bones cracking one after another. Akio and I try to take most of his pain, as fortunately we have marked each other already. As a gamma I can take more than others, but the first shift hurts a lot, and both Luca and Bennett are insecure about their shift, which just makes it longer and worse.

You’re doing so well,I encourage Luca.You’re almost there! Just try to focus on Bennett and on his image in your mind.

Try to think of how his body moves, his paws, the way he looks and smells,Akio adds.

You can do this,I encourage him.We’ve talked about it before. You know how it works. Just trust in your wolf.

Luca doesn’t say anything, but I can see his body relaxing slightly. There is still sweat dripping down his forehead, but he doesn’t seem to fight it anymore. Then suddenly, he morphs into his wolf… he drops down on his knees first, as his legs change, then his hands, and then a few minutes later, Bennett is standing in front of us.

“You did it!” I exclaim, kneeling down next to Bennett and touching his fur. It’s so soft, just like I imagined it.

I did, didn’t I?Luca beams through the mind link.I’m a wolf!He backs away from me to jump around excitedly.This is so cool! I couldn’t have done it without you!

I swiftly get out of my clothes, shifting into my wolf as well.Care for a run?I ask.