Even though my body was in shock from being shot, and my vision was a little blurry from the pain, watching Pruitt shift into a wolf was the most amazing thing I have ever witnessed, and I know everyone around me can agree because not only is she finally able to shift, but she has shifted into a white wolf.
Her fur is as white as snow, and her eyes blaze a brilliant green. She’s taller than most female wolf shifters but still leaner than a male. She’s absolutely stunning even with the blood covering her muzzle.
The second Nicolai’s guards saw her shift into a white wolf, they dropped their guns and stood in shock as she crushed Nicolai’s throat. They saw her temper and how fast she is, and I have to assume they were a little nervous about being on the receiving end of her bite seeing how it didn’t work out so well for their boss.
“Holy shit,” Ransom whispers from my side, “she’s the white wolf.”
“She’s amazing,” I agree, never taking my eyes off my stunning mate. I’m still feeling weak, and my legs are a little sluggish when I try to stand so I can go to her. Ransom helps steady me once I get my legs and feet under me. “Go check for more of Nicolai’s people, I’m going to try to get her to shift back.”
The scariest part of shifting for the first time is having to shift back to your human form. It can take some young shifters hours to accomplish, and I can tell by the look in Pruitt’s eyes she’s already starting to panic. That’s the worst thing a shifter can do when trying to shift is panic or overthink it. The trick is relaxing and allowing your body to do what it already knows how to.
I push through the pain as I crouch down in front of her. Her eyes stay on me before shooting back to look at the people standing yards away from us.
“Don’t worry about them,” I tell her through our link, “just look at me. Wow, baby, you are so beautiful, and I’m so proud of you.”
Her body stills for a second, and she focuses solely on me. “Ryker, I’m scared. How do I shift back? As cool as it is to finally be able to be a wolf, I would like to be human again right now.”
“It’s okay, just relax. Remember when we tried to get you to shift before, and I told you to visualize paws and fur? This time visualize what you look like as a human.”
A whimper of distress comes from her before she says, “Oh God.”
“What?”
“I’m going to be naked! Your brothers cannot see me naked, Ryker.” Her voice is full of panic when she realizes her clothes are torn to shreds.
“I don’t think either of us would enjoy that,” I agree with her before turning to look at my family that stands off to the side. “Can you guys go do a perimeter check for a minute while she shifts back? And Dad, can I borrow your coat?”
I take the jacket from my dad as they pass us. I wait for them to round the corner of the building before turning my attention back to my scared mate.
“Okay, we can do this. Just do what I said,” I assure her calmly. “Picture yourself in your human form.”
“Okay.”
It takes several minutes before the white fur starts to be replaced by tanned naked skin and long blonde hair. Her vibrant green wolf eyes shift back into their equally pretty human ones, and her fangs and claws retract. As happy as I was to see my mate in wolf form, I’m more ecstatic to see her crouching in front of me as a human.
“Hey,” I say when she looks up at me, and I can’t help the goofy smile that appears on my face.
“Hi.” She smiles back before she launches herself at me. She wraps her arms and legs around my middle and holds me tight in her grasp.
I fall to my butt, and my chest still burns, but it doesn’t stop me from wrapping her up in my arms and holding her close to me. My wolf howls in happiness in my head, having her safe back in my arms. I hear her sniff a couple of times and I feel my own eyes sting with tears of pure joy.
We stay like this for several minutes before she leans back and presses her mouth against mine. I immediately kiss her back, and after the last few days of being away from her, I’m desperate for her touch.
Her fingers travel my back and neck before stopping at my scalp. Her mouth stills, and she pulls away, her eyes narrowing as she frowns and glares at me. “What the hell did you do to your hair?”
The only time I let go of her hand is when she puts on a pair of clean scrubs Ranger found for her somewhere inside. But other than that, I never leave her. Even now, as she’s hugging Remington, I hold one of her hands. I have a feeling it’s going to take a while before I’m ever willing to let her out of my sight. And I’m sure that’s going to go over great with her.
“Oh my God, Pruitt!” Remington squeals into her shoulder as she holds her tight. I notice Remi’s hands are still stained with Jax’s blood from trying to stop the bleeding. “That was amazing. Kind of gross, but amazing.”
“I—I can’t believe I can
