Page 48 of The Mating Game
“By seeing whether or not you can catch me.”
And before I can manage a response, he’s kicking up snow as he makes a mad dash out of the clearing, leaving me teetering alonelike a baby deer. Talk about throwing a girl in the deep end with no floaties.
I take one step, and then another, putting one paw in front of the other until it comes easier, until the shakiness lessens and my steps seem surer.
Okay, I think.I can do this. I can.
I see Hunter in the distance, perched on a raised boulder and staring down his nose at me almost as if smirking. I dig my claws into the earth beneath the snow, gearing up to try to run.
As I take off in a sprint, following after the sleek, dark gray of his form that stays paces ahead of me, I can’t help but think he’s sort of gorgeous too.
I never docatch him, but I give it my best effort. I reason that he’s had fifteen years or so to get the hang of this, and it’s perfectly fine that I can’t seem to catch up to him after just one day of practice. Even if it does stir my competitive side.
Hunter seems to be enjoying all of it; he makes playful sounds and a noise that’s suspiciously like the wolf equivalent of a laugh when I get close, only for him to bound off in the other direction, and by the end of our little game of tag, I’m about ready to bite him. Which I’m aware is a thought that would have struck me as highly strange only a week ago.
“This is exhausting,” I tell him.
He trots slowly back and forth a few paces away, looking like the picture of energy. He doesn’t even seem out of breath, while I’m panting like…well, like a dog.
“You get used to it,” he answers.
I make a sound that’s meant to be a snort. “When? When my fur turns as gray as yours?”
I ponder that for a moment, wondering if that happens to wolves. I havesomuch more research to do, clearly.
“You did good today,” he says. “Really. Shifting for the first time is never easy, but you’re already moving like a natural.” He cocks his head. “How is your sense of smell?”
“Well, if the fact that I can tell there’s some sort of animal over there is any indication, I’d say it’s pretty good.”
He flashes me anactualwolfish grin—something I’ve never heard of outside romance novels—yipping in a way that makes me think he’s laughing.
“Rabbit,” he tells me. “If you’re hungry.”
“I’m not eating a rabbit.” If I could, I would scowl. “How are you so damn fast anyway?”
“Years of practice. You’ll get there.” Another sound that seems suspiciously like a laugh. “Maybe. Eventually.”
I feel my hackles rise. “Maybe I’m just warming up.”
“Sure you are.”
I check the sky where the sun has started to sink, grateful that I told my brothers I wasn’t feeling well. I didn’t mean to stay out this long, but I know they won’t come looking for me since I hinted that it was “female stuff.”
Boys.
I know we should probably head back, but my bruised ego is still sore that I didn’t even comecloseto catching Hunter. My muscles feel more alive than they ever have, and my body’s so light, it’s almost like it’s poised to take flight. Once you get over the fact that you’ve changed into anactual wolf, it’s pretty amazing, actually.
“Maybe we should go one more round,” I muse.
He snuffles. “Are you that desperate to lose again?”
“Who says I’d lose again?”
“The other three times you tried.”
I let out a little growl, surprising myself.
Hunter notices. “Did you just growl at me?”
