Chapter 448:

🍙 🍙 🍙 🍙 🍙

His eyes softened, and he shook his head. “I can’t leave her.”

I sighed. “Fine. For now.”

He looked at me suspiciously. I smiled. “You’re coming eventually.”

The heaviness in my chest loosened. Then I looked toward the forest. I still couldn’t believe what he had done for me. He had spent days rebuilding the place while I prepared for my Luna ceremony, and he had done it without asking for anything in return. I wanted to give him something, anything, that would make him understand how much it meant to me. Then an idea came to me, and a smile slowly spread across my face.

“I know how I can thank you.”

Bram narrowed his eyes. “Whatever you’re thinking, delete it.”

𝘘𝘶а𝘭𝗂ty 𝘁𝘳аոѕlаti𝘰n𝗌 o𝗇 𝗀а𝗹ո𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘴.𝘤o𝗺

I laughed. “You don’t even know what I’m thinking.”

“I know you well enough to know that look.”

I stepped closer. “Come on.”

“No.”

“You haven’t even heard it.”

“I don’t need to.”

I smiled wider. “Let me give you a ride home.”

He stared at me. “What?”

“On my wolf.”

His eyebrows lifted. “Absolutely not.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re my Luna now.”

I shrugged. “Exactly. Which means you should probably start getting used to doing what I say.”

He let out a disbelieving laugh. “That is not how this works.”

“Please, Bram.”

“No.”

“Just once.”

“Remi.”

“Please?”

He stared at me for several seconds before finally rubbing his face. “You are exhausting.”

I grinned. “So that’s a yes?”

“I didn’t say yes.”

“You didn’t say no either.”

“I definitely said no.”

I laughed and stepped back. “Fine. I’ll take that as a maybe.”

He shook his head, but a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “You’re impossible.”

“And you’re going to let me carry you home.”

He sighed. “One ride.”

I threw my arms around him before he could change his mind. “Thank you!”

“Get off me before I change my mind.”

I laughed as I stepped away. “Too late.”

Bram opened his mouth to say something more. Then his expression shifted, with a flicker of acceptance, or perhaps the quiet understanding that this might be the last uncomplicated thing we got to share.

I moved a few feet away and closed my eyes. Parrot surged forward almost immediately, eager to shift. The change came more easily than it ever had before. My bones shifted, my body stretched, and fur swept across my skin in a rush of warmth. When I landed on four paws, I felt the difference at once.

I was bigger. Much bigger.

Parrot stretched inside me, powerful and restless, and I could feel the strength in every part of my body. I turned my head toward Bram. He stared at me.

What? I asked through the bond.

“You’re huge.”

I couldn’t help laughing. I know.

“You weren’t this big before.”

Maybe I’m getting stronger.

Parrot gave a pleased growl.

Bram shook his head. “You’re huge.”

I lowered myself slightly. Get on.

He hesitated. “If you throw me off, I’m never forgiving you.”

I won’t.

.

.

.