They laid together in bed, their bodies drying from a sheen of hot sweat, until the first rays of morning light broke over the mountains and through the windows. Makayla rose from bed and pulled on her pajamas. Ronan watched her body as she dressed and brushed her hair. His shaft stiffened at the sight of her and he wanted to demand she get back in bed so that he could sink between her legs a second time, but he knew she would be going through the change soon. The full moon was that night. She needed to prepare.

“You should relax today, then we’ll go to the forest tonight. You can shift there.”

“It’s… going to happen already?”

“Yes. The change is imminent. The full moon is tonight.”

“Crap. I’m not ready for this.” Her face fell and tightened into a look of panic as she clutched at her chest.

“I’ll be with you the whole time, my love. There is nothing to fear.” He walked over to her and kissed the top of her head, petting her hair as it cascaded down her back. “Makayla,” he whispered. “I’m so sorry about last night. I don’t know what came over me.”

“There’s no need to explain, Ronan. I understand.” She tilted her face up to him, her eyes bright with moisture, her lips tight with unspoken fear. She truly was beautiful. She faced the coming change with the same determination of will that had made him fall in love with her. He kissed her soft lips, and she melted into his chest.

He held her there, soft and warm against him. He smelled the scent of her hair, the perfumes not so overpowering now. He left the room and went downstairs to make her eggs and bacon in Ashton’s filthy kitchen. Something had to be done about his family’s house. He sure as hell wasn’t going to let Ashton destroy everything his parents had built.

Makayla came down, dressed and clean, and slid into a chair at the kitchen table beside a bright window overlooking the street. She looked nervous and tense as she tapped her fingers on the table.

Ronan plated their breakfast and put it on the table. Makayla looked down at her food as if she had no idea what she was looking at.

“Don’t you like eggs and bacon?”

“Of course, I’m just nervous.”

Ronan eyed her cautiously as he put a bite of food in his mouth. Makayla finally started eating and choked down half her meal. Once they were done, he scraped off the plates.

They spent the rest of the day hanging out around Mystic Harbor. Makayla couldn’t stop gushing about how cute the town was. They walked along the docks and got fish and chips at the fish shack. He took her to Vivian McNealy’s apothecary shop and she bought some sweet smelling soap and lotion. As night drew closer, Ronan could sense Makayla’s fear increasing.

They want back to the house and go into Ashton’s car before they drove out to the nearest access point to the forest. As they got out of the car, he could see the change taking place in her eyes. They already glowed with a yellow sheen as the moon rose. He closed her door and she growled at him, her lips curling back over sharpening teeth.

“Quickly,” he said, leading her out into the deep wood. She followed behind him, keeping up with his pace. He came to a stop behind a wide, old myrtle and began to take off his clothes.

Makayla looked at him coolly, with a blank expression on her face. “Take off your clothes,” he commanded as he tore off his jeans.

Makayla shot him a dark look and began peeling off her clothes. Ronan watched her, enjoying the sight of her pale skin in the dim glow of the moon light through the forest canopy. She shivered in the cold ocean air. Ronan took her hand and led her deeper into the forest. After no more than twenty yards, Makayla screamed and threw her head back. Her body began to contort as the shift took her. The cry of pain gripped Ronan’s belly. He couldn’t stand to see her in pain.

He shifted, an easy transition for someone who had been doing it all his life, and waited for her to complete her first change. She saw him standing in lion form before her and suddenly her entire body snapped into place.

There she was, a beautiful female cougar, smelling just like Makayla. Ronan’s mouth watered as he approached her. He licked her ear gently, letting her know he was there for her.

She panted heavily as if she had just run a long way. Her eyes were still glazed over with confusion and pain. Finally, she looked up at him, a spark of recognition in her eyes.

A smile curved on her lips and she growled just before she shot off into the forest. Ronan followed close behind her. Makayla’s cougar form was lithe and agile in a way the human woman never could have imagined. He could sense her excitement as she stalked toward the scent of a deer.

He watched her pounce up a high rock and land gracefully on top. He followed her and they both crouched low, waiting for the deer to come into view. A low growl of excitement escaped her lips.

A moment later, a buck entered the clearing below them. Makayla’s cat wiggled her behind in anticipation of the pounce. Ronan waited, ready to back her up to take down the kill. The buck stepped closer, one foot at a time.

Makayla bolted, landing right on top of the buck’s back. Her teeth sank deep into the deer’s neck, taking him down in one quick stroke. Ronan pounced down behind her, ready to support his mate, but Makayla seemed more adept at hunting than many natural born shifters. Pride swelled in his chest as he watched her.

She tore open the buck’s skin and gorged on its flesh. Ronan came close and licked at the blood dripping down the buck’s leg. She growled at him but ultimately moved over to make room for him to eat.

They shared the kill, eating until they were full. There was little meat left when they were through as Makayla’s cat was famished from the change.

They walked back to their clothes, and licked each other clean before they shifted into human form. He took her in his arms after they’d shifted and kissed her deeply. Makayla melted into him and held him close, her warmth filling him with a sense of peace he had never known.