Sommy stood in the cramped RV, her back pressing against the counter as she faced her three friends. Telling Jessica had been hard enough, but this? This was worse. She took a steadying breath before pushing off to stand tall. "I'm about to tell you something that might be difficult to believe. It's scary, but I need you to remember the Sommy you know when I say it."
Elena and Zain sat close together on the couch, fingers interlocked, their eyes wide with apprehension. Jessica perched on the edge, crossing her legs and bouncing her foot. "They'll be fine, Sommy. They love you like I do. Just tell them."
Exhaling slowly, Sommy met their gazes. "I'm a werewolf."
Silence. Then, laughter. Elena smirked. "Good one."
"This isn't a joke," Sommy said firmly.
Zain's breath caught as he scooted backward against the couch. Jessica laid a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "It's true, Sommy can shift into a wolf anytime she wants."
Elena rose from the couch and paced to the front of the RV, her eyes scouring Sommy's body as though searching for some kind of sign. "Prove it."
"No!" Zain's voice was little more than a squeak as he scurried backward. Sommy's chest constricted.
Jessica didn't loosen her hold on Zain. "She'd never hurt us, Zain."
Zain swallowed hard, before nodding his head to her words-though the doubt remained in his eyes.
"I wouldn't," Sommy reassured. "Werewolves aren't monsters. Timothy wouldn't hurt you either."
"He's—?"
"Yes. The other firemen are, too. Today, we were going toward a jamboree—a place where wolves find their mates. Timothy wanted to present himself to you there, Zain, in wolf form, to confirm the bond. It's part of their pack's ritual."
Zain's brow furrowed. "Bond?"
"He wants you as his mate." Sommy said after a hesitation while looking over at Jessica, continuing with, "I think you two are true mates, which means you belong together-for life."
"Whoa." Elena ran a hand through her hair.
Sommy kept her attention on Zain. "It's why you feel drawn to him, why being apart might already hurt in a way you can't explain. But you deserve a choice, and Roman—Buchi—wasn't giving you one. That's why I stopped it."
"Buchi?" Jessica asked, her voice sharp with intrigue.
"He's their alpha, calling the shots. And I don't trust him." Sommy's lips pressed together. "True mates or not, you deserve time to understand what being a werewolf means before making a decision. Buchi didn't respect that."
"Was he going to bite him?" Elena asked.
Sommy shook her head. "No, the ritual was just Timothy, in wolf form, confirming the bond. If Zain were a werewolf, he'd shift and do the same. It's instinctual. When you're true mates, there's no hesitation."
Jessica's eyes widened. "That's what the wolf in the woods did to you!" A satisfied smirk crossed her face. "He totally likes you."
Sommy's stomach clenched at the thought of Buchi, the reaction of her body despite her ire. She pushed the thought away.
Elena crossed her arms. "Back to you being a werewolf-how does it work? Full moons?"
"No. I can shift anytime."
"This whole thing sounds barbaric." Elena's lips pressed into a thin line. "Don't the females get a say?"
Sommy bristled. "We do. My pack doesn't even follow this ritual. It's more like an engagement, and females can initiate it too."
Zain leaned forward. "What's it like? Being a werewolf?"
Sommy smiled. "Amazing."
"Can we… see your wolf?" Zain's voice was steadier now, curiosity overtaking fear.
The request warmed her. Sommy nodded and began undressing. Elena frowned.
"You're struggling with this, aren't you?" Sommy asked softly.
"No. Yes." Elena sighed. "I'm concerned about Zain. I believe I'm losing him to something I don't understand."
"Then let me help you understand." Sommy let her human form go. The shift rumbled through her-muscles stretching, bones cracking. Her front paws landed on the floor with a soft thud. Golden fur shimmered under the dim RV lights as she lifted her head, watching her friends carefully.
Jessica was the first to step forward. "My god, you're beautiful. Can I touch you?"
Sommy nodded. Jessica ran a hand down her back, marveling at the softness of her fur. Zain followed more hesitantly, fingers brushing against her coat before he seemed to relax and fully pet her.
Elena's face was unreadable. "Can I see your teeth?"
Sommy tilted her head in amusement before baring her fangs. Elena let out a nervous chuckle. "Remind me never to piss you off."
"My, what big teeth you have," Jessica teased.
"The better to eat you with!" Zain added.
Sommy huffed—a wolfish sigh at their predictable humor—but her heart swelled. They still saw her as Sommy. That was all that mattered.
Later, she gave way and allowed them to interrogate her, but the effect of the discussion was to raise her frustration with Buchi anew. The compulsion to run took over her. She was racing through the woods, burning muscles unleashing pent-up energy.
The snapping of twigs brought her to a stop. Another wolf. She breathed in deeply. Buchi.
He stepped out from behind the trees, his black fur a shadow. His wolf nuzzled her, and despite herself, she nuzzled him back. When he circled and sniffed her, she let him. The act was primal, intimate—a true mate's greeting.
Sommy shifted first, standing naked before him. Buchi followed, his dark eyes locked onto hers.
"Still mad?" he asked.
She moved closer. "You put my friends in danger. I won't let that slide."
Buchi laughed. "You do know I'm an alpha, right?"
"Yeah, I did." She squared her shoulders. "This isn't going to work. I don't take orders."
"Good. My mate needs to be strong, stubborn, unbreakable." He outlined a thumb down her lower lip. "A partner."
The word sent a thrill through her. "Partner I can do. But you need to treat humans as equals."
"
I already do. I wasn't going to throw them into a pack of wolves--I had a controlled plan. But you didn't let me explain."
Sommy's fingers brushed his chest. "Oh."
His voice dropped. "You didn't give me a chance."
The words had barely registered before he jerked her into a kiss. Fire flared to life between them, her wolf and his howling together in unison. And for the first time, she let herself believe-maybe, just maybe, they could make this work.