Marilu Mann - Changing Focus

Snow flew everywhere as he skidded to a stop. Olivia waited for him to come to a complete halt before springing to her feet. Nipping at his neck, she shoulder-blocked him then hauled furry butt back toward the clearing.

The howls of pure male frustration spurred her to greater speeds. Micah didn’t catch her again until they were both nearly to the clearing. His body check came out of the blue, knocking her off her feet. She laughed in her head as she rolled through the snow to come to a standing position again.

Who’s the fastest, Micah? She danced on her paws then bowed toward him.

You are, Liv, you definitely are. But then females are built smaller so they can run faster. Ready to go home?

Olivia shook her head at him. Go home? This is home. She wanted to run until she fell over. Chase rabbits. Plow through the snow and feel no cold. She never wanted to be human again.

Taking in a huge breath, she embraced the crisp pine mingled with other scents. Her ears toggled forward when she realized one of the scents was wolf and not familiar to her. Sidling toward Micah, she ducked her head under his neck. Touching him felt familiar. Do you smell that?

Micah’s throat rumbled as his hair ruffled up along his neck. When he pressed his jaw against the top of her head, Olivia felt immediately safe.

It’s okay. It’s just Pete.

Olivia blinked. Just Pete? Was everyone here a shifter? Even with Micah’s assurances, she tensed when the other wolf entered the clearing. With his head down and jaws open, the smaller brown wolf turned his head slightly away as he approached.

No eye contact was made with her or Micah. Rolling over in front of Micah, exposing his belly, the other wolf-Pete-waited for something. Olivia didn’t know what, but suddenly his scent changed again and he leapt to his feet. He put his head on his paws, wagging his tail at Olivia next.

Welcome, Olivia Decatur, protected by Micah Keeps Vigil.

The formalness of the tone made Olivia stop for a moment. He made it sound as if she were a part of something. Allowing herself one mental sigh, she placed that feeling where it belonged. Deep in the department of long-lost dreams. There was no place for her to call home.

Micah tells me you won a race with him. Well done. I’m happy he has someone to challenge him now. Does this mean we will see you tomorrow night? Pete dropped one eyelid at her in what could only be a wolf wink.

Dropping her jaw into a wolf version of a smile, Olivia wedged her shoulder against Micah’s. His solidness comforted her.

Thank you, Pete. It’s-ahhh-good to meet you again? Forgive me if I mess up. This is all new to me. What’s happening tomorrow night?

Micah’s voice rang in her head and she assumed Pete’s as well from the way his ears suddenly cocked forward. Don’t worry about that, Olivia. You are vouchsafed by me with the Pack. Pete will alert them to answer any questions you have. We need to go back to the lodge now. Olivia, we’ll talk about tomorrow night when we’re back at the lodge. Thanks for bringing me the news.

The brown wolf trotted back into the woods as Olivia turned to look at Micah. He stood before her human and gloriously, stunningly, breathtakingly nude. Smiling down at her, he said, “You have to shift back now, Olivia. You need to do this on your own.”

I don’t know how. Olivia sounded petulant even to herself. The idea of being a wolf forever was losing its appeal when the human side of her remembered Micah’s hands stroking her breasts and his mouth on her nipples. Turn me back, Micah. I don’t know how.

Shaking his head, Micah pulled his jeans on then smoothed his hands down his legs. “No, Liv, I can but I won’t. You have the natural ability to control this yourself. Just focus on being human again. Grab that thought and hang on to it. Then let it flow over you until you return to two legs. I’m right here, sweetheart. Nothing bad will happen to you.”

His voice eased the trepidation beginning to take hold of Olivia. She knew she’d be sweating if she were human and realized from the tightness of her bladder that peeing in fear took on a whole new meaning in wolf form. Closing her eyes, she did as Micah said.

It felt as if she were putting a puzzle together in her head. Seeing her hands as hands first and then working her way through her body, Olivia panted in her desperation to return to human form.

“I can’t do it, Micah.” The sound of her voice gave lie to her words. Olivia opened her eyes to see her hands in front of her in the snow. Taking the hand he offered, she stood up, brushing snow from her knees as she did.

“You can and you did it beautifully. Nice job for your first conscious shifting, Liv. I’m proud of you. Now unfortunately, you’d better get dressed.”

Micah’s voice rang with admiration that made Olivia glow with pleasure. Then she stopped as she pulled on her shirt. One arm in and one arm out, she suddenly got it. She had transformed into a wolf.

“Oh my God.” Olivia shoved her arm into the shirt and hurriedly zipped up her pants. “I am a mons-”

“Stop right there.” Anger crackled through his voice. “If you are, then so am I and so are Pete and Gareth and even Talia. Do you believe that?”

Talia? The little girl’s face loomed in front of Olivia. She couldn’t reconcile that sweet innocence with that of a monster. And, she nodded, neither could she put Micah or his friends in that role.

“Micah, this is so hard.” Tears burned her lids as she fought to maintain control.

His arms around her destroyed her tight hold on her emotions. She sobbed against his sweater as he stroked her head and back. His voice vibrated his chest but she didn’t listen to the words-just held on to the emotions she could feel from him. Safety. Calm. Sanctuary. Desire.

Desire? Pushing herself back from his chest, Olivia tipped her face up to his in wonder. “You still want me?”

Breathing deeply through her nose, she smiled. Cinnamon raged spicy and sharp in his scent. Stroking a hand against his cheek, she smiled at him. “What is it about me crying that gets you all hot and bothered, fella?”

A shudder shook her when he stroked the back of her hand where it rested on his face. She felt as though she’d never been truly touched until this moment with this man. Rising up on the balls of her feet, Olivia wrapped her arms around Micah’s neck to pull him down to her. She wanted to fall into his luscious soft mouth and drown.

Micah’s responding groan along with the press of his erection told her all she needed to know.

“It’s my turn, Micah. I want you now.” Olivia reached for her zipper only to be stopped by Micah’s hand.

“Liv, it’s below freezing out here. You don’t know how to control your body temperature yet. We need to go back to the lodge.” Dipping his head, he tasted her again. “We need to go back right now so I can taste the sweetness I can smell between your legs.”

Micah stepped away from her and went for his skis. As he kicked the supports into place, he bit his lower lip and looked at her.

“I’d love to have you in the sauna. Hurry, Liv, before I explode.” His words floated back at her as he began to push toward home. Olivia scrambled to catch up to him. It took her a few minutes, but she did manage to draw even with him.

Shooting her a look that reminded her of the one she’d given him as a wolf, Micah bent his head as he put all of his muscles into what had suddenly become another race.

Her laughter split the quiet when she realized she was up to the challenge he presented in more ways than one. Olivia suddenly felt more at peace than she could ever remember. She gritted her teeth as she set her pace to catch up and try to pass the handsome man.