Page 37 of Shifting the Flame

"Asher," she whispered, her fingers tightening around his. "Those are?—"

"Wolves," he confirmed, his posture shifting subtly from relaxed to vigilant, though his expression remained neutral. "I see them."

Her pulse hammered against her throat. "Are they... friendly?"

The lead wolf's eyes gleamed yellow in the darkness, fixed unmistakably on her. Somehow, she didn't think they were.

FOURTEEN

ASHER

Asher felt the change in the air before he saw them—an intrusion into what should have been a perfect moment with Danica. His protective instincts surged as the five wolves materialized from the shadows, their approach calculated and deliberate. Wrong. He kept his outward demeanor calm, unwilling to alarm Danica further, but inside, his dragon stirred restlessly.

"No," he answered quietly, his eyes never leaving the approaching pack. "They're not friendly. And they seem to have their sights set on you."

The crimson tie at his throat suddenly felt constricting as his temperature rose. His dragon blood heated in response to the threat, ready to burn through his human skin.

"On me? Why would they?—"

"Stay behind me," Asher ordered, rising to his feet and positioning himself between Danica and the wolves. His mind raced. Wolf shifters never ventured this deep into dragon territory, especially not during a festival with hundreds of witnesses. This wasn't a territorial dispute—this was targeted. But why Danica?

The lead wolf—larger than the others with silver-tipped fur and eyes like molten gold—lowered its head, a growl vibrating through the night air. The beast's gaze remained locked on Danica, who had risen to stand behind Asher, her fingers clutching the back of his suit jacket.

"Is this normal? Some kind of shifter greeting ritual I don't know about?" Her voice carried a tremor she was clearly trying to control.

"Nothing about this is normal." Asher's voice dropped to a dangerous rumble. "When I move, you run back to the festival tents."

The lead wolf's muscles bunched, its intention clear in the second before it happened. Time seemed to crystallize as Asher's dragon senses heightened—he could hear Danica's accelerated heartbeat, smell the fear flooding her system, and calculate the precise trajectory of the wolf's attack.

"Asher—"

The wolf lunged, a blur of fangs and fury aimed directly at Danica.

Asher didn't think—he reacted. His transformation came in a violent rush of heat and power, his human form surrendering to scales and strength in the space between heartbeats. His light gray suit split at the seams as his body expanded, growing massive and terrible in its beauty. Crimson scales erupted across his skin, hardened plates forming an impenetrable armor. His jaw elongated into a fearsome muzzle lined with teeth like daggers, and elegant horns crowned his head.

The shift completed in seconds—fast enough to intercept the wolf mid-leap with a massive clawed foot. The wolf yelped as Asher pinned it to the ground, his wingspan unfurling to its full, impressive breadth. His tail whipped around protectively, creating a living barrier between the wolves and Danica.

His green eyes—still recognizably Asher's despite the transformation—burned with primal fury. A roar ripped from his throat, the sound reverberating through the festival grounds. All activity ceased as townspeople turned to locate the source of the commotion.

The trapped wolf struggled beneath his grip, but Asher increased the pressure, not enough to kill but sufficient to demonstrate exactly who controlled this encounter. The message in his posture was unmistakable—touch what's mine and die.

The remaining wolves circled warily, hackles raised. One feinted to Asher's left, attempting to dart around him toward Danica. Asher's tail lashed out with stunning precision, catching the creature mid-stride and sending it tumbling across the grass.

Through his peripheral vision, he noticed that Danica hadn't run. She stood frozen just slightly behind his right side, her yellow sundress catching the breeze. Her eyes were wide with shock and something else—wonder? She had seen him in his dragon form before, but not like this—not in combat, not with every scale and muscle devoted to her protection.

The lead wolf growled, an unmistakable challenge despite its compromised position. Asher responded with another roar, this one ending in a plume of smoke that carried the scent of brimstone and power. A warning—the next would be fire.

Festival goers had begun to gather at a safe distance, drawn by the spectacle. Asher could hear murmurs of surprise and concern, but his focus remained singular—Danica's safety.

"I'm okay," she whispered, somehow knowing he needed to hear it. "I'm right here."

The wolves seemed to realize they were now significantly outnumbered as more dragon shifters from the town approached and shifted to back up their Alpha. With a snarl ofdefiance, the leader twisted beneath Asher's grip, managing to free itself with a desperate wrench that cost it patches of fur.

The five wolves retreated, backing away with reluctant steps until they disappeared into the darkness. Only then did Asher turn his massive head fully to check on Danica, a low rumble of concern vibrating in his chest.

Danica came up directly next to his right side. Rather than showing fear, she reached out with steady fingers and stroked his scales. The touch sent electric currents through his dragon form - her small hand against his armored body, unafraid and intimate. She looked up into his eyes, her brown eyes silently communicating that she was okay and thankful for his protection.

Asher lowered his massive head in a gesture that invited her to climb onto his back. He wanted her with him, safe and close, away from whatever threat those wolves represented. He watched as hesitation flickered across her face for just a heartbeat before determination replaced it. With surprising bravery and trust, she climbed up his offered foreleg and settled herself just below his neck, her thighs gripping his scales.

---