The Werewolf Meets His Match

Charlie looked at him. “They’re not?”

Hank shook his head. “But you know what I think?”

“What?”

“I think you can shift.” Hank sat cross-legged on the damp ground, glad he’d changed into jeans.

Charlie sat down beside him. “You do?”

“Mm-hmm. I just think you got so scared and confused during that last full moon that your instincts shut down. It’s been a month since that night. You’re probably even more ready to shift than you know.”

Excitement lit his eyes, then blinked out. “What if I still can’t do it?”

Hank shrugged. “No big deal. You’re still you. Awesome Charlie.”

A little grin bent his mouth. “Really?”

“Really.”

“Can you teach me to do it?”

That was the opening Hank had been waiting for. “I can try, but you might not be ready yet.”

He sprang up to his knees. “No, I wanna do it.”

“I mean, your body might not be ready. I just don’t want you to be disappointed if nothing happens.”

“I won’t be.”

Except he would. There was no way Charlie wouldn’t feel let down if he couldn’t go wolf. This was dangerous territory, and Hank knew it. If the kid failed twice, he might never shift. Which was exactly why Hank had brought some insurance.

“Just in case, I have something to help you.” Hank pulled the leather cord and pendant he’d gotten from Willa out of his pocket and held it up so Charlie could see the silver disc with the engraving of a wolf’s head.

Charlie jerked back. “Is that silver?”

“No. Nickel plated with rhodium.” Hank realized that probably wouldn’t mean anything to the kid. “It’s safe, I swear. It’s just silver colored.” Willa had assured him the metal was safe for all kinds of weres. He laid it flat on his palm. “See? Nothing.”

Relief filled Charlie’s eyes. “What is it?”

“It’s an amulet that has magic built into it.”

Charlie’s mouth fell open. “Real magic?”

Hank nodded. “One hundred percent real.”

“What kind of magic is it?”

“The kind that’s going to help your wolf come out.” Willa had done a quick spell on the piece as she’d engraved the wolf, promising Hank it would rid Charlie of all his grandfather’s stifling, negative energy and open him up to his animal side. She swore that if Charlie had a wolf in him, this would set it free.

Grave seriousness rounded Charlie’s eyes. “Really?” he whispered.

Hank held it out. “You want to put it on?”

“Yes,” Charlie said solemnly.

Hank adjusted the cord and slipped it over the little boy’s head.

Charlie kept his head down and his eyes on the pendant. He held it between his fingers. “I don’t feel any different.”

“Not even a little bit?”

Charlie shook his head, his gaze still firmly fixed to the amulet.

“That’s okay. Let’s try something. You ready?”

Charlie nodded with such sincerity that Hank’s heart ached for the kid. To be unable to shift in a family of shifters…he couldn’t imagine what that felt like. “Close your eyes and think about being a wolf. Picture one in your mind. Think about running as fast as you can through the woods. About how your muscles move when you jump over a fallen tree. About feeling the earth under your feet and the breeze ruffling your fur. Sniff the air. You are a wolf. How does that make you feel?”

A smile appeared on Charlie’s face. “I want to howl.”

“Howling is great. Focus on that. Imagine tipping your head back and letting out the biggest howl you can as the light of the full moon bathes you.”

Charlie’s head fell back as if he was doing just that. His mouth opened a little.

Hank swore the kid’s canines had grown.

“Look at me, Charlie.”

He opened his eyes.

They were bright gold.

By the time Ivy made it to the justice of the peace, she felt like she’d been overhauled from head to toe. Which she kind of had been.

After Howler’s, Birdie had taken her to a salon, where Ivy had been swarmed by attendants. Her hair was curled and coifed, her toenails and fingernails polished, and her makeup done, a rare and wonderful treat.

Then Birdie had bustled her home and helped her change into her wedding dress, veil and satin slippers. Hank’s aunt had sniffled through the whole thing in the most endearing way. Then she’d given Ivy a pair of diamond and sapphire earrings to borrow as her something blue.

Ivy had sniffled a little bit too.

In the end, the woman staring back at Ivy in the mirror was someone new.

And Ivy was okay with that. This was, after all, a fresh start. A big one, but a good one. The last time she’d been this overwhelmed by change was the day Charlie was born, and he was the light of her life.

Now she’d have two lights. Charlie and Hank.

She couldn’t stop smiling as Birdie led her to a little room inside the courthouse. “You wait here. I’ll go make sure Hank is ready.”

As Birdie sailed out, Ivy faced the window and took a deep breath. This was really happening. The door behind her opened and closed.

“Is he ready?” She turned to see what Birdie had found out.

She sucked in a breath. Hank and Charlie stood in front of her. “Hank! You’re not supposed to see me before the wedding.”