Page 4 of Rocky Top

Knox exhaled slowly, as though preparing himself. “It’s not that I don’t want to,” he said. “But I don’t want to freak you out.”

I pressed a hand over my heart. “You already showed me everything the other night. I guess I’m still in shock, but I need to face it head-on. Do it… please.”

His lips quirked. “Alright. Just remember you asked for this.”

He stood in the center of our bedroom, closed his eyes, and began to shift. But something was different this time. Instead of the sudden, full transformation into a fox, Knox’s features morphed only partway. His ears elongated and became sharply pointed, a brilliant shade of orange flicking out in a tail behind him. Whisker-like lines appeared on his cheeks and upper lip, and thick red-orange fur emerged at his forearms.

I just stood there, transfixed, my heart hammering. I recognized the man I loved in the shape of a creature caught between two forms.

“Fuck,” I whispered, unable to form the words.

He opened his eyes, which glowed amber in the dim light. “I can do a partial shift if I need to… sense things better or if I just want a little more strength. Are you okay?”

Despite the swirl of awe and disbelief, I nodded, inching closer. “I’m not scared,” I managed, though my heart thudded in my ears. With trembling curiosity, I reached out to touch the triangular fox ears at the top of his head. The soft brush of fur against my fingertips made me shiver.

Knox let out a quiet growl at the contact. Something caught between human and animal, and I felt heat flood my cheeks. The primal aura of it all teased my senses more than I was ready for.

“I think that’s enough for now,” I managed, stepping back. “I’m sorry. I just… God, it’s a lot.”

Slowly, his body melded back to pure human form. The ears retreated, the whiskers faded, the tail vanished. Knox blinked a fewtimes, rolling his shoulders as if shaking off the lingering fox sensations.

“There,” he murmured. “Better?”

I exhaled a shaky laugh. “I’m not sure I’d call it better, but definitely less terrifying.”

His expression turned somber. “Is it too much? I don’t want to push you.”

I could see the underlying worry in his face that I might reject him. Stepping closer, I rested a hand on his chest. “Knox, it’s not you. It’s me trying to catch up. And I’m sorry, but tonight… I’m not really in the mood for anything. I mean, physically… but… I just need time.”

“I understand.” He lowered his head and pressed a gentle kiss to my cheek. “I’d never force you into anything, shifter or not.”

“Thank you,” I whispered, a swell of emotion tightening my throat. “I just need you next to me tonight, that’s all.”

Knox nodded, pulling me into his arms. We climbed into bed, the blankets enveloping us in a small cocoon of warmth. He cradled me against him, his breathing slow and steady. Despite everything, I drifted off with an odd kind of peace.

The sun peeked through the curtains when I woke up, the tangy scent of coffee already filling the house. Knox had let me sleep in a little while he fed Emma breakfast. Softly, I got dressed, pulling on a pair of jeans and a comfortable top, still marveling that, for all the secrets we’d shared, the day-to-day routine carried on.

Knox soon ushered us out to his truck. Apparently, the Harley wasn’t ideal for a family run this morning, and we headed to the Royal Bastards’ clubhouse. My stomach fluttered with nerves. Even after last night, I still had no idea what to expect from the MC’s inner circle, especially knowing some of them might be shifters too.

Emma was excited, bobbing around in the backseat with chatter about the cool bikes and funny uncles at the club. I cast a quick look at Knox, who offered me a calming smile. He squeezed my hand.

When we arrived at the clubhouse, the Wild Dog, the name now sounding all too appropriate, it was a large building with motorcycles parked in neat rows. Knox hopped out and helped Emma. The building felt different now that I knew. Which of these bikers was secretly a wolf or another fox like Knox? I couldn’t help scanning their faces as we stepped inside.

My nerves were all over the place. Though Knox had explained how important it was to keep his shifter nature a secret, I’d been so rattled last night that I’d accidentally blurted out something weird to Birdie. Now, I had to figure out how to fix that slip before it caused any real trouble.

Birdie was already there, perched at the bar in one of her retro sundresses, chatting with Rocky. At the sight of me, she jumped up, adjusting her sunglasses that always seemed ready to fall off her head. Her eyes flicked to Knox, then back to me. She looked… uneasy.

Rocky slipped an arm around Birdie’s waist, and I noticed the comfortable ease in the gesture. They’d been seeing each other on the sly, or not so sly, given they weren’t exactly hiding in front of me. Rocky, a muscular man with blond hair and blue eyes, was one of the morestoic bikers I’d met, but now, the way he gazed down at Birdie was downright tender.

“Hey, Eliza. Knox.” Rocky nodded.

“Hey.” I attempted a casual smile, though my nerves had me wound tight. “So, we’re here. You guys wanted to talk?”

Knox guided me over, leaving Emma to run off and play with the clubhouse dog, an old bulldog snoring contentedly in the corner. He surveyed Birdie and Rocky with a measured look, then gave me a sidelong glance.

“Birdie, you doing okay?” Knox asked, voice cautious.

“Hey, Eliza,” she said, voice soft. “How are you feeling today?”

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