For a moment, Kai continued to hold Samantha against the wall, his amber eyes wild and unfocused. Samantha tried again, speaking softly, but nothing seemed to reach him. Marcus stood tense, ready to intervene despite Samantha's signal to stay back. The situation was becoming more dangerous with each passing second.
Then, in what could only be described as either brilliance or complete recklessness, Samantha did something entirely unexpected – she reached out and tickled Kai's sides, right where she'd discovered he was most sensitive during their intimate encounter in the forest.
The effect was immediate and almost comical. Kai's transformation halted mid-way, his wolfish features contorting in surprise. He let out a sound that was half-growl, half-laugh, stumbling backward and landing ungracefully on the sofa. His eyes cleared, the amber fading back to their usual warm brown as awareness returned.
