Page 16 of Safety Hazard

I propped myself up on the pillows, pulling the sheet over my lap in a belated nod to modesty. He gave me one last amused look before leaving the room. Through the open door, I could see him step into what appeared to be a large, open living area.

What happened next was both more gradual and more sudden than I had expected. He stood in a pool of moonlight, head tilted back, breathing deeply. For a moment, nothing seemed to change—then everything changed at once.

His body contorted, muscles and bones shifting beneath his skin in ways that should have been grotesque but were somehow beautiful in their fluidity. Fur sprouted across his body, dark and thick. His face elongated into a muzzle, his ears becoming distinctly pointed. The transformation took perhaps thirty seconds from start to finish, and where a man had stood, a wolf now sat—larger than any natural wolf, its coat the same dark color as Shep’s hair, its eyes the same glowing gold.

“Extraordinary,” I whispered, unable to contain my awe.

The wolf’s ears perked up at the sound of my voice. It—he—padded toward the bedroom, moving with a grace that was both animal and somehow still recognizably Shep. He paused in the doorway, those intelligent eyes studying me with an expression that was unmistakably questioning.

“You’re beautiful,” I told him honestly.

The wolf’s mouth opened in what could only be described as a smile, tongue lolling out in a canine grin. He approached the bed cautiously, as though unsure of his welcome in this form.

I reached out a hand, stopping just short of touching him. “May I?”

He nudged his head under my palm in clear permission. His fur was thick and surprisingly soft, warmer than any normal animal’s would be. I stroked along his head and down his neck, marveling at the solid muscle beneath my fingers.

“This is insane,” I murmured, more to myself than to him. “I’m petting my… what are you, exactly? Werewolf lover? Supernatural fling?”

The wolf made a sound that was suspiciously like a snort, then backed away from the bed. He gave me one last look, then turned and trotted toward what I now saw was a sliding glass door leading to the deck. He nosed it open with surprising dexterity and slipped out into the moonlit night.

I moved to the window, watching as he bounded across the clearing and into the forest, a dark shadow moving with incredible speed between the trees. Within moments, he had disappeared from sight.

Left alone in his cabin, I should have felt vulnerable or exposed. Instead, I felt oddly at peace, as though I’d been granted access to something precious and rare. I returned to his bed, surrounding myself with his scent, and waited for the wolf to return home.

Chapter 7

“Rule fourteen: During full moons, ensure all bedroom doors are securely latched to prevent unexpected nocturnal wandering.”

I tapped my pen against my notebook, considering. “Though perhaps a doggy door would be more practical?”

Shep’s growl from across his kitchen was only half-playful. “I’m going to burn that notebook.”

I grinned at him over my coffee mug. “Professional hazard, Chief. I make lists. I create protocols. It’s what I do.”

It had been three days since the full moon, three days in which I’d split my time between finishing my official inspection and conducting a much more personal investigation into werewolf biology and behavior. Shep had been an exceptionally willing research subject, particularly for the more intimate studies.

“You’re really making a safety manual for dating werewolves?” He flipped a pancake with unnecessary flair, his movements easy and relaxed in a way they hadn’t been when we first met.

“It’s a coping mechanism,” I admitted, setting the notebook aside. “Helps me process… all of this.”

His expression softened as he brought over a plate stacked with pancakes. “And how is that processing going?”

I accepted the plate with a smile. “Better than expected. Though I still have questions.”

“Of course you do.” He sat across from me, his own plate piled considerably higher. “Fire away, Inspector.”

I cut into my pancakes, buying time to organize my thoughts. “What happens after the fireworks? After my inspection is officially over?”

The question hung between us, heavier than I’d intended. We’d been existing in a bubble these past few days, our focus narrowed to each other and the immediate tasks at hand. But my assignment in Liberty Lake was nearly complete. Soon, I would have no professional reason to stay.

Shep’s fork paused halfway to his mouth. He set it down carefully, his amber eyes meeting mine across the table. “What do you want to happen?”

“That’s not an answer,” I pointed out.

“Neither was that,” he countered, a hint of a smile playing at his lips.

I sighed, setting my own fork down. “I have a job. A career. An apartment in the city with plants that are probably dead by now.”