Page 91 of Twice Bitten

“What was it?”

“Several rabbits and an unlucky fox.” Amusement tinged his words.

“Fuck,” I whispered. Rabbits and foxes were so cute, and I’d eaten them!

“Everything went into hyperdrive,” Silas said. “The first shift enhances all your senses, all your emotions. You lose a little humanity when the first full moon strikes.”

“I can’t be a shifter. I’m a witch.”

When Silas spoke again, empathy rang in his voice. “You are both now. As sorry as I am for what happened, this cannot be denied.”

My body started to shake. Silas held me tighter, but tenderly rather than painfully. “You’re still coming down. We’ll lay here for a little while until you adjust.”

“This cannot be happening,” I whispered more to myself than him.

“I’m afraid it has.” He fell silent for a moment. “I’ll have another pendant made.”

I slumped with relief, but he wasn’t finished speaking. “The magic will prevent you from shifting, but my advice is to learn to control it. I know you don’t think so now, but the world has given you a gift.”

“To eat cute furry things who are out there minding their business and frolicking under a full moon?” I sounded like such a brat, but I couldn’t help it. I’d never get the taste of fur out of my mouth.

Silas chuckled. “You are a predator, and they are prey. Life is circular. Animals are born, and they die. In between, their purpose is to mate and continue the circle of life. Some say they love. Some say animals are incapable. But they all have a life.”

“What do you think?”

“I believe all sentient things are capable of love. Maybe not in the same way you and I are capable, but love exists for them in some form or fashion.”

“I think so too.”

“Shifters are different, Alex. We are immortal andtrapped between two forms. We are human, and we are animal, and if we hone our senses enough, we can use them at the same time. Shifters are born of magic, much the same way vamps are.”

I wasn’t afraid of Silas, not curled up against him like this. “Does this make you my alpha or something?” My words sounded grumpy.

Silas snorted. “I don’t believe anyone could rule you, no matter how hard they tried. I created you in a way, yes, but even though you shift on the full moon, you are not a natural-born or made shifter. You can’t be. You’re a witch…and possibly something else.”

“Can you shift whenever you want?”

“All older shifters can.”

“Can I?”

“There’s only one way to know. But I wouldn’t recommend you do so without another shifter around to guide you.”

“I would like the pendant, please.”

I felt Silas move against me. “Are you ready to get up?”

I sighed. “I don’t have any clothes.”

“I had my Second bring some. We guessed at your size, but there are plenty of females in the pack who have similar builds.”

“Thank you.”

“There’s no need to thank me. You are one of ours now, as strange as it may seem.”

I didn’t want to belong to anyone, not this way. “Even though I’m not a full shifter?”

I felt him stiffen against me. “We do not penalize someone because of their blood. I am still your maker, and that makes you one of us.”