One beer hadn’t been enough to give her a hang-over, but it had been enough to leave her in a somber mood that she just couldn’t shake.

When she and Cannon left Wilson’s Bar, she had insisted he gave her the keys to drive back to the Windego grounds.

“But I’m not drunk. I swear,” Cannon had said repeatedly. Nova hadn’t been convinced though. The abrupt change in his attitude toward her had left her sure that alcohol was the primary influence; there just was no other explanation for why someone could go from hating your guts, to attempting to make out with you later during the same day. Unless you were in junior high school, that sort of thing just didn’t happen. So, when Cannon had attempted to kiss her yet again the jeep, she had made sure to dodge him.

After she had driven Cannon back to his cabin on the Windego grounds, they said feeble goodbyes and vowed to see each other in the morning for another day of work. Nova then went to her own cabin with the intentions of getting some sleep. While she was sure Cannon had returned to his room and fallen into the type of deep slumber that only a solid night of drinking could bring about, she had lied in her bed, her mind racing as it attempted to make sense of what was going on and how she was feeling.

Being kissed by Cannon, seeing a former fling, and learning her brother’s plans straight from the horse’s mouth had all proven to be too much for her to handle. Furthermore, it just proved why she needed to get out of Crescent Valley. The town and all its human occupants had already been annoying, but now, they felt entirely too stifling. She so badly wanted to be back around her own kind, where she would be free to shed her human skin and relish in her animalistic instincts. Emotions were blunted and so much easier to deal with in animal form; that was the kind of ‘intoxication’ she wished to obtain.

After a short and fitful sleep, Nova woke only to realize she simply wasn’t ready to face the new day—or Cannon. She wasn’t ready to face anyone or anything. She just wanted to be free, even if only for a little while.

Not bothering to shower, change out of her pajamas, or eat breakfast, Nova ventured outside and looked longingly toward the woods. The earth, trees, and wind called to her. She closed her eyes in the cool morning breeze, letting it caress her skin. And then she realized her body just couldn’t resist anymore. She had no choice but to give in.

Glancing around her vicinity to ensure no one else was within sight, she stretched luxuriously, allowing herself to use the agility she typically had to hide around humans. With one graceful leap, she then jumped down from her patio and took off towards the woods, loving the feeling of her legs running at full speed. As she reached the entrance of the woods, she immediately shed her clothes without reservation. Seconds later, she allowed her body to transform into the white wolf she had been keeping caged away for what felt like far too long.

With her heightened senses, she breathed in the fresh scent of the dirt on the ground below her. She dug into it, enjoying the way the packed dirt felt on the padding of her large paws. She then stretched once more before she took off running, staring at the shadows created by the sunlight peeking through the treetops. Twigs snapped beneath her as she ran, sounding like music to her ears. She hadn’t felt this kind of freedom in so long, she had almost forgotten what it felt like.

If only she could remain in this state forever. It suddenly felt so tempting to stay out in the woods, hiding from the world and all the problems it kept throwing at her. If she could just hide out, becoming the elusive white wolf of Crescent Valley, maybe she wouldn’t have to worry about Julius, Cannon, Maxine, or anyone else. She could be her own alpha, a lone wolf.

As tempting as it was, she knew she couldn’t truly entertain such thoughts, not even with her wolfish brain. Reality would come crashing back, as it always did.

But still—she could hold off for just a little while longer.

So she did, letting herself run back and forth in the woods to her heart’s content. As she ran, she attempted to release some of her frustration with each step. She imagined pressing her worries further into the dirt under her paws each time her foot touched the ground. Before she knew it, the shadows surrounding her began to shift in response to the sun’s movement in the sky. Nova had completely lost track of time, and initially, she didn’t even care. Yet, thoughts of Cannon returned to her, bringing along with it a sense of guilt. She had promised him the previous night that she’d see him in the morning. She knew he had undoubtedly been looking for her to report to work.

Would he think she had stood him up because of what happened between them last night on the dance floor? Had she? Nova realized she couldn’t even honestly answer that question to herself because she truthfully didn’t know the answer. All she could do was hope that Cannon had been too drunk to remember the kiss, and that when she saw him again, he’d have no recollection of it to begin with.

Panting, Nova resigned to the fact that she couldn’t hide out in the woods from her problems forever. She regretfully trotted back to where she’d left her pajamas. Sighing heavily as the field across from her cabin came into view, she reverted to her human form—realizing far too late that she had done so at the most inopportune time.

There had just been too much on her mind and as a result, she hadn’t checked her premises carefully enough to make sure she was alone. Her heart practically plummeted to her feet when she glanced up and saw that someone was watching her. And it wasn’t just anyone—it was Cannon. He had seen her shifting, plain as day, from a wolf back into a woman.

Shit!

Shock paralyzed her. All she could do was stare as Cannon’s eyes worked over her—all of her. His eyes had locked with hers just briefly before getting thoroughly distracted by the rest of her. He visually drank in every inch of her bare body like a man dying of thirst.

A deep flush came over her face. Perhaps under different circumstances, she may have possibly felt flattered by capturing a handsome guy’s attention as if she was the most riveting sight he would ever behold. But under these circumstances, there was nothing flattering about it in the slightest.

Snapping back to her senses, Nova reached for her clothes, wracking her brain for how she could possibly explain herself to Cannon. But her mind went completely blank and her hands trembled as she attempted to cover herself.

“No—wait,” Cannon said. He stepped closer, unafraid.

Nova halted, at a complete loss for what to do as Cannon stopped less than a foot away from her. She then lowered her gaze to the floor, finding it impossible to look him in the eyes. What would she tell him? What would he say?

Exposure was not an option.

She jumped when he reached for her chin, his hand cool to the touch. He then raised her head, forcing her to look at him. Still standing perfectly motionless, she marveled over the fact that there was absolutely no fear in his eyes. Instead, there was only fascinated curiosity. While she wanted to appreciate this observation, it was still inappropriate. He was human and the rules said he wasn’t supposed to know about beings like her; their kind was sworn to secrecy.

Nova stepped back, shaking her head and hastily trying to slip her clothes back on. But Cannon reached for her hand. He glanced around, as if ensuring no one else could see them. And then he moved closer still, forcing Nova to move backwards into the woods again.

His chest rose and fell rapidly, and Nova realized with some trepidation that he couldn’t seem to take his eyes off her.

“Cannon…” she said, her voice trailing off as she tried to figure out what on earth she could possibly say.

“Maybe that’s why…” he said, his voice trailing off.

For the second time in less than 24 hours, he had given a response that took her off guard. “What’s why what?” she said.

“Maybe that’s why I felt a connection to you that I couldn’t quite place my finger on.” His expression was still one of pure awe.

“Cannon—you’re not freaked out about this? How…?”

He laughed. “Maybe it’s best that I just show you.” With that, he began stripping off his own clothes.

“Woah…wait. What are you doing? No…I’m not into this, I—” But Nova’s words were cut short when suddenly, in Cannon’s place, stood a fox. It’s beautiful dark orange fur glistened in the sunlight.

He was a shifter too.

“Unbelievable,” Nova said. She wasn’t sure how many more surprises she could take.

He trotted past her, swishing his bushy tail and moving farther into the woods. When he paused to glance back at her, his intentions were clear.

Nova returned to her wolf form, once again feeling the freedom that came along with it. Together, they dashed into the woods, running, leaping, digging holes, and spinning in circles beneath the sunlight, all humanly worries gratefully held at bay.