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She was thankful that whatever the meat was, it appeared washed and a fleshy pink, and no blood covered it. However, Morlie’s human side wanted to vomit at the sight and walk away at the thought of eating it, but her beast, the one controlling her body, dove in with jaws open wide.

Morlie didn’t particularly care for the taste of raw meat as it crossed her wolf’s palate. However, she still experienced the satiation and satisfaction of her wolf as it chomped through one body part after another, crushing the bones in its teeth.

You’ll get used to it.

Will I eat raw meat even when I’m not like this? Morlie’s stomach curled at the thought. She was struggling to get used to the duality of herself.

No . In human form, it’s best to have cooked meat.

What am I eating, by the way? Morlie was trying to decipher the new smell since she had little experience with eating meat.

Rabbit. Like yesterday. I’ll let you tour the farm one day.

Morlie’s wolf’s ears perked up as it devoured the second or third...or possibly the fourth skinned animal.

Oh, no.

Her wolf tore a leg from the meat and looked up at Chanin.

Chanin folded his arms over his expansive, bare chest and crossed his jean-clad leg at the ankles as he shook his head. No. Until you’ve learned to master your wolf from the inside, you won’t be allowed around the bunnies.

Her wolf whined.

“Whining will get you nowhere with me, little bunny.”

“Trust me, Morlie, Alpha rarely caves.” Rudie grabbed a second serving bowl from the counter and set it next to the first.

Bowing its head again, her wolf finished the last of the meal.

Maybe we need to talk about the nickname you would like to call me if I’m now dining on the little critters.

Why, little bunny, I enjoy dining on you in the same way.

Her wolf practically choked on the rabbit’s foot it swallowed.

At the same time, Morlie, the female inside of the beast, went all warm and gooey at the memory of Chanin's face buried between her thighs the other night.

For the first time, Morlie felt trapped in her wolfen form and wanted out so that she could experience more naughty things with her mate.

Morlie urged her wolf to glance in the direction of Rudie to ensure the other woman wasn’t picking up on Chanin’s wicked words. However, the other woman only observed the wolf; her eyes lit with joy, and there were no signs she overheard the exchange.

Licking the last grassy-flavored goodness from around its muzzle, Morlie’s wolf stepped to the side, ready for the fresh, clean water in the other bowl. Very thirsty, the wolf lowered its head to lap the drink and paused.

Its gaze was transfixed on the surface of the water, her reflection.

It was the first time Morlie saw herself, her wolf.

The first thing she noticed was her eyes.

They were no longer fully light brown. No, they were now an amazingly golden amber, with small, light-brown rings around them—a hint of the woman inside.

But that was the only place she recognized her old self.

Her fur was maple-brown, a luxurious coat that covered her face, head, and beyond.

The sight overwhelmed her with its lush beauty.

She thought about how the color would reflect in the sun as it absorbed the warmth.

Even though she could see her entire body in the large bowl, she was aware of everything.

Somehow, she felt each hair on her wolf’s body and how the animal responded to everything around it—even the movement of air.

Behind her wolf’s eyes, Morlie glanced up at her furry ears sitting wide on her head. It amazed her that she could hear so much around her: Chanin and Rudie breathing, the crickets chirping outside the windows, and the thump, thump, of her own heartbeat.

“Beautiful, isn’t she?” Chanin kneeled beside her wolf again, and she watched in the water’s surface as he lifted his hand and petted the crown between her wolf’s head between the ears.

Morlie’s wolf ears spread wider and lowered slightly as the animal’s lids drooped, calmed by his touch.

“Drink. Hydrate.” He patted her beast’s shoulder before rising. “You’ve been in this form long enough, for now.”

Following orders, her wolf bowed and lapped up the water. It consumed over half the bowl at record speed.

Water never tasted so good, Morlie discovered.

“Well, I’ll leave you both to it.” Rudie collected the serving bowls and set them in the sink before she turned to Morlie. “I look forward to getting to know you and our first run.”

Swish. Swish. Swish. Her wolf started wagging its tail at the idea.

Rudie stepped before Chanin. “Alpha, I’ll see you in the morning unless you send for me otherwise.”

Chanin reached out and ruffled Rudie’s short twists, which made them dance around her head.

Morlie saw the other woman scrunch her nose, but the blush to her brown cheeks revealed how much Rudie enjoyed the affection.

Now able to recognize the connection between the two, Morlie missed the hugs and playful touches she got from her dad.

It shocked Morlie because she had done a great job of bottling and hiding away her feelings and emotions surrounding the loss of her parents.

Morlie wished for her hands to stroke the ring dangling from the leather strap, still around her neck.

Just like Rudie, Morlie had been young when her parents died.

“‘Til morning, runt.” Chanin watched his ward walk out the door, then turned his magnetic, blue gaze on Morlie’s wolf. Come on, mate, let’s get to work.

Trotting along, Morlie followed Chanin’s bare-footed steps down the hall toward the main bedroom.

Inside the room, Chanin settled at the foot of the bed while her wolf sat before him and stared up at him, expectant.

Morlie, getting your wolf to recede will take more than a little effort—especially your first time .

Her wolf tilted its head and stared at the tall, lean male before it. In what way?

In every way .

It took several hours for your body to transform and your wolf to work its way out. Now, you have to concentrate on settling it back in place, in your core, where it will reside.

She didn’t really understand what he meant.

The only thing that kept going through her mind was the extreme agony and searing pain that she’d gone through to get this way.

Her wolf played images of her balled up or contorted and disjointed on the bed.

If Morlie had to repeat the day's events, she’d prefer to remain in the body she was in.

It won’t be like that. He said as if he was a party to the flashes in her mind. Chanin leaned in with his forearms balanced on his knees.

Will it hurt?

More uncomfortable because the shift will be unfamiliar . He caressed her wolf along its jaw. “Trust me.”

The beast didn’t nod but instead placed a paw on his knee.

“Good, girl,” he praised her wolf. Holding her gaze, Chanin continued to speak to her audibly. “I need you to breathe with me, little bunny.”

Her wolf watched him and then listened to him take a breath.

Morlie followed suit.

As he inhaled, Morlie inhaled inside the wolf.

When he exhaled, she did the same.

On and on they went, Chanin not breaking eye contact with the animal. With Morlie.

“Now, listen to my voice, Morlie.” He caressed around the back of the wolf’s ear.

When her wolf started to shut her eyes and lean into his touch, Chanin’s voice became more profound, more commanding. “Morlie, see me touch you . Your skin, your neck...” His hands traveled along the side of her wolf's neck.

Doing as he instructed, Morlie allowed him to be the master craftsman and paint the picture in her mind. Metaphysically, she moved forward, trying to reach for the canvas he designed with his words, but there seemed to be a wall blocking her.

“Me caressing your bare shoulder, mate.” One, two, three, his deft fingers tripped down her wolf’s shoulder. “Lovely, warm, smooth skin...”

Morlie strained to focus on his touch and how it felt to have him caress her skin instead of the actual fur currently under his touch. However, she realized it wasn’t a wall but her wolf blocking her way. The beast desired the strength and connection found in Chanin’s hands.

Shift , the wolf begged.

No , he declared, denying the wolf. “Come on, beautiful, I want to run my tongue along your curves...your spine.” He dragged his nails around to the center of the wolf’s shoulder blades and down a few inches.

When the beast began to arch into his touch, Morlie shoved—then shoved again.

She knew what her wolf wanted and could see it in the beast's mind. It desired the man’s touch but wanted Chanin’s wolf to come out and play in a way that made Morlie gasp.

The naughty bitch was trying to push up on her man and convince him to shift, to take the she-wolf.

Morlie wouldn’t have it. She didn’t know why he hadn’t shifted tonight and allowed his wolf to meet hers, but right now, he wanted her, the woman, and that’s who she was determined to give him—even if she had to fight her canine self to do it.

“Come on, beautiful, come out to me.”

Morlie kicked and clawed her way forward, out of the depths of her core, as she took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the sweet taste of air, oxygen...freedom.

Ouch . Morlie winced as she felt the nip on her phantasmal ankle. She gave her wolf the final push down, down, down into the soul of her core to blend seamlessly into the fabric of their being until she called her forth again.

“Oof.” Heavy and weak, her body fell against Chanin’s broad, muscled chest.

He caught her and pressed her naked body into his. “There you are, little bunny,” his rough voice whispered along the shell of her ear.

She shivered. Chills racked her body even as a throbbing heat filled her deep inside, the place where her wolf retreated, falling silent.

It should have been strange to feel the weighted presence inside her, but it didn’t.

Somehow, it was as if the beast had always been housed there.

Morlie’s lips curled in a small, wonder-filled smile.

“I’m so proud of you.” His hand slid down to the middle of her spine, then back up.

Another quake shook her, and goosebumps pimpled along her skin. “Chanin,” her voice croaked. “I’m tired.”

“Let’s get you to bed.” Thankfully, he didn’t wait for her to attempt to rise. Instead, he scooped her up in his arms and then rose.

She offered no resistance. Her body too shaken. She felt dizzy and more than a little out of sorts.

Chanin walked around the bed, then kneed his way into the center, where he laid her down. Once she settled, he leaned over and dragged a sheet and blanket from the end of the bed to cover her quivering form.

She reached out and gripped his wrist when he slid toward the edge as if to leave.

“Please, don’t leave me.”

Turning to look at her, he smiled. “Never, mate. Just getting out of these jeans.”

When she released him, he got up and made quick work of shucking his pants. Nude, he climbed back in beside her.

He opened his arms to her, and she crawled right in.

“Will it always...be this hard?” Morlie yawned as she curled into Chanin’s warm embrace.

His strong arms tightened around her and drew her closer until she was laying her head on his chest. “No, mate. It will become as easy as breathing and happen in a blink.”

The soothing sound of his steady heartbeat echoed in her ear and relaxed her.

She wanted to ask more questions about her new life but lacked the mental or physical energy to do so.

It only took a few seconds before all thoughts left her mind as she breathed in Chanin’s comforting scent and drifted off to sleep.