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“I know it does. But I need you to focus, okay? You’re going to need to calm down if you want to control the change.”
“I can’t do it.”
“Yeah, you can, buddy. You’re so close. Just close your eyes and breathe for me.”
Hunter does as Josten says, leaning back on his hands. He bites down on his lip, scrunching his face like he’s trying to fight the pain.
“Good. Now concentrate. Remember what we taught you. You’re connected with your wolf. Dig down inside of you. Feel it. Tell it what you want.”
“I want to change back,” the poor boy sniffles.
“Not out loud. Say it through the connection. You are one in the same. Hunter and wolf. You need to work together.”
I watch from the doorway, astounded. I’d always imagined the orders that could change were a single entity. But they are two parts of one whole. Separate, and the same.
It happens so fast, fur to flesh. Hunter stretches his legs, sighing out with relief.
“Good job.” Josten smiles down at him, helping him to his feet. “Nothing to it, right?”
Hunter wraps his arms around Josten’s legs, squeezing tight, then runs to the wall of toys with his brother, already forgetting the chaos.
“Sorry about that. They’re still learning.”
“Is it harder for kid wolves to control their shifting?” I ask, genuinely curious.
“Not at their age usually. It isn’t their fault though. They’re…” he pauses, lips scrunched to the side like he’s trying to decide the appropriate word, “mixed.”
“Mixed?”
“Their mom’s a siren. We took them in when their orders emerged as ours. Wolves need a pack.”
“What about their dad? If they’re wolves, he must be too, right?”
“Yeah,” he says slowly. “Being mixed isn’t a good thing in this world. We want our bloodlines to be pure, strong. Blending orders produces weaker offspring. It’s looked down on. Their dad doesn’t claim them.”
“That’s fucked up.” I watch the two little boys, still so young and innocent. So perfect and full of life. They didn’t do anything wrong by being born. Why should they be punished for it?
“It’s the way it is.”
The sound of the front door opening has the boys perking their heads up. A woman’s voice echoes through the halls, and they run out of the room, pushing past us.
“They seem excited.” I laugh.
“They are.” Josten steps around me. “Come on. There’s someone else for you to meet.”
We make our way back into the living room, where a crowd is huddled near the entrance. Long auburn hair and eyes like emeralds stands at the center. Each person rushes in to hug and…nuzzle her, all exclaiming how much she was missed while she was away.
Josten stands at my side, antsy, like he wants to be a part of it.
Finally, the group disperses and her focus falls to us. She’s large for a woman. It doesn’t take away from her feminine figure in the least, but makes her presence seem more daunting. There’s a shift in the air around her, demanding respect.
“Josten.” She smiles, making her way in front of us.
He grins wide, jumping into her arms and burrowing his face in the crook of her neck. Her hands glide through his hair and down his back, almost like she’s petting him. I have to bite back my laughter when he pulls away and full on licks the side of her cheek. And she lets him.
What the hell is happening with these people?
“Who’s your friend?” the woman asks, sage eyes on me.
