Page 3 of Emerald Moon (Pitch Mountain Pack #2)

Her confidence made Jo grin, but knots tied in their stomach. “I won’t remember any of it anyway.”

“You might. If nothing else, you’ll still have the feeling when you come back.”

Jo thought about it. As much as the transition back was difficult, it was impossible to ignore how good they felt after a full moon run. It was one thing to come back after an accidental transition because their mom was being awful, but it was something else entirely to return from something fun.

“You’re not wrong, but I still don’t know,” Jo said.

“I understand. It’s hard to trust someone you just met.”

“No! It’s not that!” Jo blurted. “Or maybe it’s a little that. It’s not that I don’t trust you. It’s more like I don’t want you to see me struggle like that.”

“It’s nothing I haven’t seen before, but I understand, whatever you choose.”

Jo could feel their wolf right below the surface, excited at the thought.

It was contagious, spreading and making Jo’s fingertips and toes tingle.

“Alright,” they said before they could change their mind.

“Let’s do it. The wolf wants out and, as long as you’re okay with helping me come back, I want to get out of this body for a little while anyway. ”

Cass smiled wide. “I promise I don’t mind helping. I’ll take care of you.” She stood and started unbuttoning her shirt.

Jo stood and turned away, eyes wide in surprise.

Being naked in front of your pack was a part of werewolf culture, but Jo hadn’t gotten used to that yet, let alone being naked in front of someone new.

“Maybe I’ll remember something,” they said to get their mind off the sounds of Cass undressing behind them.

“Maybe this time you will,” Cass agreed.

The tingling in their fingertips and toes started spreading through their body as they undressed.

The last thing they took off was their binder, clinging to the confidence it brought until the last moment.

After it was gone, Jo was in a rush to welcome the wolf and forget about their body for a little while.

The tingling became a low hum before building to a buzz that Jo swore they could hear just as much as they could feel.

Jo grit their teeth as pain crept into the experience of transforming, gradually becoming stronger until it was everything, and then it was gone. Jo disappeared, leaving the wolf in their place.

Jo groaned as they came to, aware of their body’s aches and the fact that there were rocks digging into their back. They cracked open their eyes. Cass was above them.

“Are you back?” she asked.

Jo nodded, taking in their situation. They were naked. More importantly, Cass was naked and hovering above them, hands on either one of Jo’s shoulders. Jo reminded themselves that this was just a part of werewolf culture. Still, they shut their eyes tight to keep from seeing anything.

“How are you feeling?” Cass asked.

“Like a dump truck ran me over.”

“Really?”

”I mean, a little. But I’m fine.”

“Do you remember anything?”

Jo searched their memory. “Nothing, but you’re right — the feeling remains.”

“And you feel —“

“Good.” Jo smiled. “Awake and alive. And sore. But good.” They shifted under Cass’ weight. “Could we — I mean — Can I get dressed?”

Cass sprang backwards, hands flying up. “Of course! Sorry.”

”It’s fine. It’s fine,” Jo said, looking out into the forest instead of at Cass.

As close as they had just been, Jo thought for sure a friend crush would surface, but all they felt was the passing embarrassment that came with wolf nakedness and a warmth in their chest that Cass had been willing and able to help them come back.

That good feeling lingered as they made their way back to the campsite and got ready to sleep. Jo could understand how many people could feel gross going to bed with a day of hiking and running as wolves on their skin, but not for them. It felt like warm sunshine and they smelled like the forest.

They wriggled their arm free from their sleeping bag. It was still too hot to be in it, even at night, but they couldn’t sleep without being wrapped in something cozy. With the fresh air, it was easy to give in to the pull of sleep and Jo began to drift off.

“You’re easy to talk to.” Cass’ voice startled them.

The sincerity of her words would have normally made Jo squirm, or else fire up a brand new friend crush, but Jo slipped deeper into their sleeping bag and smiled, remembering their favorite parts of the day. “Thank you,” Jo replied, muffled by the fabric. “You, too.”

“I have a hard time talking to a lot of people, but with you, it’s been easy. Thanks for a nice day.”

Jo pulled the fabric down from their face and searched for Cass’ face in the darkness. They could see a faint outline of her. She was closer than Jo expected her to be.

“You’re welcome,” Jo said. “Thanks for looking out for me, for helping me come back.”

“Of course. I’d do it for any one of my packmates.”

“Means a lot that you think of me that highly already.”

”I think you’re great.”

Jo laughed.

”I mean it,” Cass added.

”I think you’re pretty great, too.”

“I really needed this.”

“Needed what?” Jo asked.

“A day out of my ordinary.”

“I get that.”

“You’re out of my ordinary.”

“I hope in a good way.” Jo held back nervous laughter. Cass’ sincerity took some getting used to.

“Definitely in a good way.” Cass shifted closer.

“When we first met, I thought you were fun.” She sighed and Jo could feel the wisps of her breath across her cheek.

“I’m not surprised you don’t remember me.

I don’t often talk to new people. Or most people.

I watch people interacting like I’m watching birds through binoculars.

I don’t like to join in. But some people make me wish I could talk more.

You were like that. And today was like that. ”

“I’m glad you’re comfortable around me.”

“I hope I wasn’t weird.”

Jo shot up and propped themselves up on their elbow, facing Cass, their noses inches apart. “Oh! Not at all! You weren’t weird at all. I mean, no weirder than me. Which isn’t to say that you’re weird, only that I know I’m weird, so if you were weird, too, that’d be okay.”

She puffed out a quiet laugh. “That’s good to know.”

“And you helped me so much today. I appreciate it. Thanks for letting me get the wolf out.” Jo searched for the words to say, to try and match Cass’ sincere feelings. “You helped me feel safe.”

“Thank you for trusting me.”

“Of course.”

“Hey Jo?”

“Yeah?”

Cass tipped forward, the tips of their noses brushing. Jo sucked in a breath and froze. Cass shifted her weight towards Jo, her breath dancing across Jo’s lips.

Jo panicked and fell backwards into their sleeping bag, eyes wide and staring at the tent ceiling. “Good night!” they yelled.

Jo was stiff as a board as they listened to Cass move in the darkness beside them. The further she moved away, the more Jo could breathe, but it was in quick, staccato breaths. Was that almost a kiss? What would have happened if they hadn’t pulled away?

“Good night,” Cass said.

“Sleep well,” Jo managed, voice shaking. “See you in the morning.”

Jo stared at the tent ceiling. If this were one of the numerous fanfics they consumed, that would have been the tipping point. Jo would have been inhaling the story to get to the moment where they kissed. They’d have been kicking their feet and squealing as they held their phone to their chest.

But Cass had tried to kiss them, right? If it even was a kiss. Jo had no idea. People didn’t try to kiss them. They were friend material, not kissing material. Whatever just happened required some serious overthinking before they could even attempt sleep.

Jo made a plan to wake up well before Cass so they could start packing up the camp and be super normal right from the start so nothing would be weird.

They’d act like absolutely nothing had happened.

Because nothing had happened! So, Jo would simply be acting accordingly. Anything else would be strange.