Page 17 of His Rescued Mate

Max nodded. “That’s right. Only some of those mythical creatures have at least a basis in reality. There are stories throughout the world about people who can shift between human and animal form.”

“You mean like a werewolf?” she asked incredulously.

“Not exactly. They aren’t confined only to wolves, and it isn’t an involuntary response to a full moon.”

Alexa laughed. “You make it sound almost real.”

Max chose to ignore her last comment and simply continue. “Think about it. The ability to shift between one form and another could be advantageous in a dangerous world. It would allow those who could shift to thrive in environments in which a human would have trouble surviving. Shifters were said to have enhanced genetic immunity, rapid healing ability, and a longer lifespan, thus helping them to leap to the top of the evolutionary ladder.”

“I guess in theory.”

“But what if it wasn’t only theory?”

“I don’t understand.”

“Understandable. Let me try and explain it a bit better—for as long as anyone has ever known, there have been at least two types of humanoid lifeforms evolving here on earth—one that could shift into an animal counterpart, and one that couldn’t.”

“You don’t seriously expect me to believe that do you?”

“How about you just suspend disbelief, at least for now.”

She nodded. “Go on.”

“I am one of those who can shift between man and wolf.”

He let that sink in.

At first her eyes grew wide with fear and then she shook her head, laughing. “You almost had me there. For a split second. I almost believed you.”

He took her hands in his. “You must believe me. You actually don’t have a choice, but it is imperative that you believe me.”

“Max, that’s just not possible.”

“I assure you, it is.”

He held her hands while she searched his face. It was fascinating to watch the synapses connect as she put together everything they had learned about Evelyn Renner.

“Are you trying to tell me that you believe the skeletal remains of the wolf belong to Evelyn?”

“Yes, and that those of the man belong to Nathaniel. I suspect they came up here to be able to live their lives together more easily. Being a wolf-shifter living among humans as some of my ancestors did is not always easy. People hate and vilify those they don’t understand.”

“Let me get this straight. You want me to believe you have the ability to change into a wolf?”

“Yes. I know it’s a lot…”

“Ya think?”

Max growled deep in his throat, knowing she would not only hear him, but feel it down the bonding link—something else he’d need to explain. He watched as her body shivered in response.

“So, you want me to believe you can just blink your eyes, and poof! You’re a wolf?”

“It isn’t quite that easy.” He stood up and removed his clothes. She was staring at his rapidly hardening cock. “Hey, eyes up here.”

She allowed her eyes to drift up as the swirling maelstrom formed around him. Charged particles of light, sound and color flashed all around him and then dissipated, leaving a large gray wolf where a man had once stood.

Alexa shot to her feet. “Holy shit!”

He rumbled softly and sensuously down the link to calm her as he approached. Fascinated, Alexa reached out to him.

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