Page 25 of Crystal Luna
“I would curse you if you weren’t holding a baby.”
Wayne laughed and bumped Heath’s shoulder. “How about you and the kids come around for dinner tonight?”
“You should come to us. I know Evelyne will try to be the perfect host even with a newborn and I can’t let that happen.”
“Perfect, my plan worked. Free dinner and no dishes for us tonight.” Wayne threw his head back with a deep rumbling laugh that faded down the hallway as he left.
Chapter Nine
Velora
Once everyone had left, she’d spent the day curled up as her wolf in her bedroom. She hadn’t wanted people to come by and see her, hadn’t wanted to talk to anyone. She’d felt as if she’d been mouldered by a train and then stampeded by a herd of horses. She’d felt emotionally distanced from the world and had slept the day away.
With her breakfast in hand and the sun rising in the east, she made her way to meet Alpha Heath. She walked instead of running as her wolf because she dreaded seeing him again. He hadn’t done anything particularly wrong, but she was embarrassed to say the least.
He was already waiting for her, sitting on a moss-covered tree trunk and only wearing shorts.
He greeted her with a soft smile. “Good morning.”
“I didn’t mean to be late.”
“You’re not.”
She nodded in response and sat on a stone by his side.
“How are you feeling today?”
“Better.”
“If you need, we can start tomorrow. Or whenever you feel ready.”
“I’m fine.”
“You can always ask for a break, alright?”
“Okay.”
He tilted his head, his eyes studying her. Usually, it would’ve made her feel uncomfortable, but she’d gotten used to Marvin doing it.
“Where would you like to start, Velora?”
The way he hummed her name made her body vibrate, goosebumps rising over her skin—or maybe her mind was just playing tricks on her.
“Why is it so special that I can half-shift?”
“Because not many are able to achieve that.” Then he paused and shook his head with a grin. “That was a lie: half shifts aren’t rare. They happen more often than we think. For example, when we get angry and our nails turn into claws or when we mark our mate. It’s not a true half shift but it is somewhat the beginning of one.”
“Why was what I did yesterday different?”
“Because you have the ability to choose. Just like we can fully shift whenever we like, you’ll be able to choose when to half-shift.”
“I don’t understand. I’ve never done it before—I didn’t choose to yesterday.”
“But the connection you have with your wolf will give you the ability to do so. You’re forgetting that you are merely a pup.
What you’ve revealed so far shows great potential.”
She hated that word; “potential.” Marvin had used it often, but she didn’t know why. “I didn’t do anything.”