Page 7 of Rocky Top

I shifted.

Bones cracked, muscles twisted, and fur split through skin as the beast in me took over. It wasn’t pretty, and it wasn’t easy, but it was fast. One moment I was a man, the next I was four paws and pure fury.

Furry fury, like my ma’ used to say.

I barreled into the other creature mid-leap, teeth bared, claws swipin'. We rolled in the dirt, limbs tanglin’, jaws snappin’. It was strong but sloppy, untrained. And I was pissed.

I sank my teeth into its neck and threw it off, watchin’ it skitter back into the shadows, whimperin’ like a kicked pup. I could’ve chased it. I wanted to. But then I heard her.

Birdie was screamin’.

I turned.

She was on the ground, knees scraped, eyes wide as dinner plates as she looked at me, my wolf self, lit up by the firelight. She didn’t move. Didn’t breathe. Just stared, frozen.

Shit.

I stood still, chest heavin', tryin’ not to look threatening. Tried to convey some kind of calm, like,Hey girl, it’s just me, don’t freak out, but it was no use. I was a fuckin’ wolf. A big one. Covered in blood.

I took a step closer, slow and easy.

She backed up so fast she tripped again, palms draggin' through the dirt. “No. No. No. Nope. Nuh-uh,” she muttered, talkin’ to herself now.

Smart girl.

But then she got brave, puffed out her chest. “Go on, get. Shoo,” she commanded.

I huffed, gave her one last look, then turned and bolted into the trees.

Couldn’t let her see me shift back. Couldn’t explain it. Not yet.

Not without draggin' her into a world she might never come back from.

I shifted back behind a ridge, clothes shredded, bruises already healin’. My heart was poundin’ like a jackhammer. Not from the fight. From her.

Birdie.

She was gonna be a problem.

Not just 'cause she saw me. But 'cause the sight of her, soft, wild, fearless even when she should be scared, it did somethin’ to me. Got under my skin in a way nothin’ had in a long time.

I pulled out my burner phone and dialed Knox.

He picked up on the first ring. “That you, Rock?”

“Yeah.”

“You good?”

I glanced toward the smoke risin’ through the trees. “Depends on your definition. We got a rogue. Came at Birdie while she was campin’.”

“Birdie? Eliza’s Birdie? She’s not exactly the camping sort.”

“Yeah. It threw me for a loop.”

Knox groaned. “Shit.”

“She’s okay,” I said. “I stepped in. Shifted.”

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