Page 98 of Shifted Desire

Max shakes his head. “You don’t need to go to the wedding with Nic. Bring Nathan as your date. If the family freaks out, I’ll tell them it was my idea. That I wanted Nathan to sit at the family table rather than at the singles one, but it would ruffle feathers having non-family sit there unless he was someone’s date. People get weirdly intense about wedding seating.”

Gods, what did I do to deserve such a kind baby brother? I definitely didn’t do anything to earn his kindness, with the years that I antagonized or ignored him.

“You’d do that for us?”

“I’d do anything for you,” he says matter-of-factly. “If Nathan makes you happy, then that’s what matters.” A cheeky smile forms on his lips. “Plus, now I get to know a juicy secret before anyone else finds out, and you know I love that shit.”

I laugh, tugging him back into a hug. “You’re the best.”

He chuckles. “Nice that you’re finally acknowledging it after all these years.”

When we part, Max gives me an assessing look. “Is Nathan why you’ve been checking your phone all night?”

“Yeah. Sorry.”

He shakes his head. “Don’t be. I was worried you were trying to coordinate the clown strippers to appear when I least expected it.”

“No, I’m saving those for your 40th since I know Mona will want to be there to witness your reaction.”

Max pretends to scowl at me, but it’s half-hearted.

I sigh, the relief of someone knowing my big secret washing over me. “I’ll put my phone away. I’m worried about Nathan, but he’s not going to text me or anything. It’s just… I know he’s dealt with the full moon on his own for years, but that doesn’t make me feel any better. If anything, I feel worse because he has me now, and I could help him if he let me.”

Max frowns. “You should go. You’ve already done your Best Woman duties, and very well at that. Ren will make sure that we all get home okay, since he’s not drinking.”

“It’s okay, I don’t need to go.”

“Yes, you do.” Max nudges my shoulder. “You have these mushy, lovey, anxious feelings about him, and it’s really harshing the party vibe for me.”

I laugh, appreciating him more than words can express. “Well, fine, if you don’t want me around, I guess I’ll leave.”

Max grins back. “Go on. Tell Uncle Nathan I said hi.”

I grimace. “Ew, you can’t call him that anymore!”

He chuckles and shrugs. “We’ll see.”

Flipping him off, I head out of the barcade, waving goodbye to the party and pulling out my phone to text Nathan.

Samantha: I’m coming over. I know you’re worried about hurting me, but I can’t stop thinking about you being in pain when I could help.

Samantha: I’ll beg for forgiveness later.

36

Blinding pain lances through my spine, shooting out like branches of lightning crackling down my limbs, shredding every molecule in my body apart.

I claw at my chest, letting out a wail of agony.

The last time I transformed, I blacked out briefly from the rage-filled pain of the curse that I’ve forcibly suppressed, but this time, I feel it all. Every muscle fiber reshaping, every bone breaking as it grows, my fangs pressing through my gums, every inch of my skin stretching and growing. Everything in excruciating, vibrant lucidity.

It hasn’t been this bad since the first time. Sometimes I don’t feel pain at all, when my instinctual mind comes on board before the transformation sets in and deadens the pain with primal thoughts and delight at taking on my hybrid form.

I pant and whine, curling up in a ball like that will somehow contain the curse writhing under my skin, wishing I’d never listened to Shane about trying to transform. Yes, it probably would’ve happened anyway—I could feel it roiling in my veins as the full moon approached, fraying the bindings of the amulet that’s served me well for forty years, too powerful to be contained any longer. But maybe the charm would’ve held. I should’ve waited and seen, I shouldn’t have take the amulet off, I shouldn’t have…

My head tips back and I release a howl so loud it rattles the dishes on the other side of the loft. As my body settles into it’s monstrous form, so too does the haze of the wolf’s thoughts wrap around my mind.

Yes, it snarls. Finally.