Series: Shifter Ops Series by Renee Rose
Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 65371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
A huge white wolf stands in front of the stairs. His body is the size of a German Shepherd, but his head is even bigger. He’s so huge, but this isn’t even full size. In a few years, he’ll be bigger than a Timberwolf.
Eldritch green eyes flash, and the wolf drops his head.
There are shreds of the t-shirt and sweatpants littering the floor around him. At least he wasn’t wearing shoes.
Channing approaches slowly. I hold my breath as he extends a hand, but Geo’s wolf doesn’t crouch and pounce or growl and bite. He sniffs the tips of Channing’s fingers and pushes his nose against them, then licks them.
“That’s right, you know me.” Channing turns his head and grins at me, and the dimple catches me by surprise. “He recognizes my scent. He knows we’re family.”
I press both hands to my face, as if they can hold in all my emotions. Fear, shock, relief, elation.
Channing kneels and runs his hand over the wolf’s flanks. “Good job, Junior. Only got a little stuck. Next time will be easier, I promise. It just takes practice.” The wolf not only lets Channing pet him, he leans into Channing, rubbing against him and poking his nose everywhere.
Channing chuckles and looks back at me. “He’s white, like Geoffrey.”
The wolf shoves his head in Channing’s face and licks. Channing’s deep laugh echoes around the room, filling the empty corners. Righting all the wrongs.
“Come on. Let’s go meet your mom.”
My heart leaps out of my chest, but when Channing extends a hand, I take it and let him place my palm on the wolf’s white back. The fur is thick and strong but softer than I expected. I suck in a sob.
“He’s beautiful, isn’t he?” Channing says.
“So beautiful.”
“See? Nothing to be scared of.” Channing keeps narrating in his strong, smooth voice. “Strong emotion can bring on the change, and teenagers have a hard time controlling their emotions. But don’t worry, you’ll learn to control it.”
The wolf whines.
“No, you did good. You did just what you’re supposed to do. And I’m with you now. I’m gonna help.” Channing rises and heads to the back door. “Now we let your wolf run. That’s all he needs. This way.”
The wolf follows, its claws clicking on the kitchen tile.
They’re out the door. I stand there a moment before I can get my trembling legs to follow.
Channing comes to meet me at the door. “We’re going for a run,” he tells me in a firm tone that allows no argument. “He needs to get used to his wolf form.”
I nod. I was opposed to this, but now that we’re in the moment and it’s happening, I’m so grateful Channing knows what to do. That he knows what to say and how to guide Geo.
The white wolf is already halfway up the hill, sniffing around a tree. Channing was right. Geo’s wolf needs to be in the wild.
Not Geo’s wolf. Geo. He’s my son in wolf form as much as he is as a human.
“If you go to the truck, you’ll find a bunch of t-shirts and sweatpants. I bought them cheap.” He looks past me to the crop circle of shredded fabric by the stairs and grimaces. “Next time will be easier. Every time, it gets easier.”
“That’s good.” My voice wobbles.
“Hey.” Channing puts a hand to my cheek. “You okay?”
“I’m okay.” I’m blinking back tears, overwhelmed with all the feelings, but as long as Geo is okay, I’ll live.
“Nothing to be worried about. I’m not going to let anything happen to him, Julia. I promise.”
Chapter Five
Channing
I stride out to Geo, who’s sniffing the base of a pine tree, scenting all the animal visitors to his territory. He looks back at me, his tongue lolling out.
“Go ahead.” I wave a hand to give permission. “It’s your home, and I know you want to.”
The wolf wastes no time cocking a leg and marking the tree.
“That’s it.”
The wolf finishes and trots to the next pine.
I breathe in the night, and the tightness in my chest eases. My nose is still singed with Julia’s panic. She did her best, but she was afraid for her son.
Even so, Geo’s shift went better than I thought it would. For a few awful seconds, I was sure Julia would slip past me, and Geo would pounce. It didn’t help that all our emotions were high. Part of me wants to go back and comfort Julia, but the best thing I can do to help her is to guide Geo. She’ll be okay.
When I turn, Geo is waiting nearby, looking up expectantly.
“I’m coming,” I say. “We’re going to go on a good long run. And don’t worry, when the time comes, I’ll give the order, and your wolf will let you shift back, no problem.”
Getting stuck is the biggest fear. It’s hard to let your wolf come, take over your body. A part of you fears you’ll never get it back. New wolves sometimes have a hard time changing back.