Lucy was somehow able to shake her lusty thoughts as they neared the large estate house. Her mind instead focused on forcing the change back to her human form.
Come on, girl. Work with me here!
Lucy thought to her wolf. A yawn came from her lips as her wolf form approached the front doors. Clearly the wolf was not interested in letting the human take the lead for the time being.
Jackson pulled one of the large doors open for her. "Do take care not to break any more doors, little one." He shot her a disapproving stare, but the sparkle in his eyes belied his amusement.
Lucy thought back to how her wolf had barreled through their bedroom door and felt the embarrassment rise. But her wolf seemed to smirk. Lucy detected the feeling of self-satisfaction from the wolf at her show of strength.
Lucy felt dismayed at how incompatible the wolf seemed to be with the human side of her. Jackson looked at her knowingly and Lucy knew what he was going to say.
I know, I know. 'Be patient, mate.' Yeah, yeah. I got it.
She muttered through their mate bond, clearly irritated.
Jackson raised an eyebrow at her. "And yet you still think she is so different from you? Insolence, my love..."
Just then a squeal rang out through the foyer. Two gorgeous black women rushed over to the wolf, smiling from ear to ear.
Melanie! Briana!
The human side of Lucy instantly recognized her best friends. She was so relieved to see them, giving her some small reminder of the life she'd known before coming to Pine Creek.
Lucy's wolf, on the other hand, started a deep, low growl. Lucy hushed her wolf, forcing a sense of relaxation to grow within herself.
She spoke slowly and calmly to her wolf internally,
My friends. Our friends. Our family.
Lucy was overwhelmed with the desire to hug the two women.
The weird sensations started again. She felt like a spring being coiled into a small box. Tension was building all over her body- her face, arms, legs. The bushy brown tail was shortening quickly and soon disappeared. A shiver ran over her skin.
And just like that, all of that tension was gone. She looked down at her hands. Much more familiar hands. Human hands.
Her mouth formed an "O" as she realized she'd done it—she'd changed!
"Holy shit!" She exclaimed, her hands roaming over her body to ensure that all of her had transformed correctly.
She absentmindedly pinched her nipples as she double checked her naked breasts.
Jackson groaned. Melanie giggled. Briana spoke, "Uh, Luce, need us to leave you alone with yourself for a min?"
"What?" Lucy soon realized exactly what kind of show she had been putting on for the three people in front of her. Her cheeks burned red, "Oh! Um. Sorry! I, uh, didn't realize..."
Bri laughed, "But I mean, I can't say I blame you with a body like that!" She let out a loud wolf whistle.
Lucy's hands moved in a flash to cover her breasts and vulva.
Melanie giggled again as she stroked her growing belly. It was then that Lucy realized that both women were also nude. She awkwardly tried to avert her gaze while still covering her own private parts.
Melanie offered softly, "You'll get used to it, honey. Nudity is not really an issue for us. When we're all together, we tend to shift a lot. Getting new clothes all the time is kinda annoying. But trust me, now that you're mated to the Alpha, no one would even think about trying anything."
Briana snorted, "Yeah or even looking at you for too long."
"If they know what's good for them,"
Jackson growled through the mate bond.
A strange look came over Jackson's face, almost like he was listening for something far away. He spoke aloud, "I have a few things to attend to in my office. Melanie, Briana, take Lucy up to the library. I'm sure she has a few questions you can answer for her."
"Pretty damn rude not to say 'please'..." Lucy muttered sharply, rolling her eyes.
Briana gasped and instinctively extended an arm, blocking her sister's pregnant belly. Melanie whined and looked down at the floor.
Lucy watched the sisters' reaction as she realized her outright public insubordination. "Oh shit," she whispered.
She turned slowly and saw Jackson looking deadly still. His eyes were a shimmering amber, glaring into hers, cold as ice.
For the first time, she was legitimately afraid of him.
He held her stare for an uncomfortably long amount of time. To Lucy, it felt like hours. She felt nothing from their mate bond. Only silence. Painful silence. Lucy saw in her mind's eye her wolf placing her tail between her legs and baring her neck openly.
Jackson took several slow, deep breaths before finally breaking the silence.
"We will discuss this later, mate."
His voice in her head was quiet and unsteady.
