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Made from rough-hewn stone, looking much like the smaller standing stones in Europe, a woman and several of her men sniffed around it in Tirian form, jerking back when a blue light flared between the rocks.

The white Tirian, the female, touched the blue with her nose and…

I blinked and saw that I had returned to the original plain where I first met the Tirian.

Though now when I looked over my shoulder, I could see in the distance the set of standing stones they had gone through.

“So that’s how they got into my world,” I said, “through a gate?” The Tirian nodded.

“And that’s how I came to be. Someone from here, like that, was one of my ancestors. ”

“She needs to be brought out of the coma in three days.”

“It’ll take longer than that to reduce her dosage safely…”

“You don’t get it, Doc. Whatever health emergency you’re predicting will be resolved once she shifts.”

“You… Fine, if this is what you want, I’ll leave you the instructions.

I am done with this. This, this was handled badly, all of it.

The policy of keeping people, particularly the girls, in ignorance has to change.

Better that you have them bolt out into the world beyond, than this.

I’ve kept my peace in the past, as there’s been no real casualties but--”

“Your concern is noted. Go back to the surgery after you’ve written the instructions. We both thank you for all your hard work.”

“Don’t be tempted to drop the tranqs too early. She can die from seizures before the full moon, easily.”

“We will follow your instructions to the letter.”

“Doc, I’ll stay with her, right to the end. Slade or Brandon can switch with me when I need to sleep. We’ll do what we can, around the clock, I promise.”

“If that’s what you’ve decided, I’ll leave the instructions in the hospital office. Good luck.”

“I think--”

“Just wait… OK, she’s gone into the office. Go on.”

“I think I should give her some of my blood. It could help the transition, and keep her going until the full moon.”

“And it will bond her to you, almost guaranteeing you as the leader of her pack. Apart from the riot that will incite with the men, I’m not sure tying you to the girl without her permission is wise.

She’s had blessed few choices since she’s come here, and I am loathe to take more from her unless we have to. ”

“We’ll monitor her, but I want latitude if it comes to it.”

I was on the back of my Tirian, and we were moving like the wind.

I whooped as I felt the rush of the breeze on my face, my wolf beast covering ground like a racehorse on steroids.

I gripped my thighs tight around her ribcage, but it didn’t slow her down.

Finally, she stopped in a stand of trees.

I slid off, my toes burying themselves into the spongy, mossy turf.

She jerked her muzzle, drawing my attention to what lay beyond.

I dropped down into a crouch, peering past the tree trunks.

There was a beautiful waterfall, the water clear as glass, pooling in a sandy hollow.

Perhaps my wolf wanted to swim? I went to get to my feet and walk towards it, but my beast kept me down with a paw to my shoulder blades.

She indicated I should sit and watch. I settled down against the cool soil and waited.

He moved so quietly, I hadn’t realised he was there until he appeared from between the trees.

It was the black Tirian, the one that hurt me, I’m sure.

His eyes gleamed red, and he was huge, his fur a furious plume of smoke.

He made his way down the slope and to the water with precise steps, dropping a bundle on the bank and lowering his muzzle to drink.

His head jerked up, I watched the drips fall from his muzzle, and he scented the air, taking in long whuffing breaths.

I froze, not that that would prevent him from smelling me if the wind went the wrong way, but I couldn’t stop it.

I remembered those knife long claws and those razor teeth…

I looked up at my Tirian and started to shift, wanting to get on her back and run and run…

She looked down at me and shook her head.

We were in luck, he seemed to almost shrug it off.

Instead he walked into the pool, submerging his body, and when he popped his head up to take a breath, he was a man.

I studied the broad, well-muscled shoulders and long, wet black hair.

He looked much like the guys at the Sanctuary, the same tight, hard bodies, but his had seen more action.

White scars raked down his torso, partially covered by spiky black tattoos.

He scrubbed at his skin, then scraped his hair back from his face, walking towards the bank, water running down in rivulets across his washboard stomach.

I didn’t care how fucking cute he was, he nearly bloody killed me.

Once he’d finished, he stepped free of the pond, reaching down into the bundle for a cloth to dry himself and some clothes to put on.

I was forced to watch his toilet by the heavy paw of my Tirian, though I didn’t know why.

Not until he reached down and retrieved a familiar looking white skull.

I watched him with my heart in my throat and my heartbeat loud in my ears as he placed it on his head, tweaking it until it sat just so, before he looked up and met my eyes.