“Yes … I’m okay, I think.”
“You need to shift to wolf form. Now. Can you do it?”
“I have to. I’ll start now.”
Helping her to the center of the room, she dropped to her hands and knees. Were there more time, she would have removed her clothes, but she didn’t have that luxury at the moment. Her eyes began to glow. Her body shook as though she was cold. Thick, long tan fur sprouted from her face and neck. Arms and legs transformed and distorted her limbs. Her nose elongated until she was a light-colored wolf with the same piercing blue eyes, with shredded clothed falling off her body and limbs.
Shucking off the ripped fabric, Sonya’s animal panted. The wound on her upper arm—now her front leg—began to heal. New tissue grew and closed the cut, then fur grew over the spot. After about a minute, her wolf sat on the floor, tucked her head down on its front legs, and closed its eyes, panting heavily. It was neutralizing the last of the poison in her system.
I took the comforter off the bed and wrapped it around the animal.
We had both done our parts. Now, all I could do was wait.
My phone buzzed, and as I didn’t want to disturb Sonya’s animal, I took the call in my office. It was one of the hotel managers, calling about a minor issue. I ordered her to handle it, and asked her if any report had come in about an incident in the parking garage. She wasn’t aware of anything, which made sense. The men I spared had probably left with their friend’s body. Hunters weren’t the type to stick around for the authorities. Ending the call, I returned to the bedroom.
Sonya was gone.
Her purse and her ripped up clothes were gone too.
I send her a short text to find out if she was okay. She replied with,‘I’m weak, but fine. Mostly hungry. Thank you for what you did. I’ll let you know what it really means to be bound to you … as soon as I find out for myself.’
Not surprised, I returned the phone to my pants pocket and got myself ready for bed.
She would know soon enough.