14. Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

Eden struggled to remain calm. Her entire life had been researching and reading about supernatural creatures of myth and lore. Every article and peer-reviewed paper she'd written, her book, the lectures—they had been entirely dedicated to the world of paranormal fiction. The news that she'd been bitten by a supernatural immortal—not fictional at all—was almost too much.

"Am I going to become a werewolf?"

A darkness crossed Nero's eyes for half a moment. "Yes. I'd reckon you've already experienced some of the changes."

"Like smelling food or hearing things from a great distance?" Eden shivered. "Yes, that's started. Does that mean I'm going to grow fur at the next full moon? Is that lore true?"

He nodded.

"That's only a few days away!"

"I know this is a lot, Eden." Empathy knitted his eyebrows together. "I know you didn't ask for this, and it wasn't part of your life plans. You need to know that I will always be by your side, whatever happens. And I had to make sure you knew what would become of you, because a surprise transformation would be traumatic."

Eden startled. "Wait, is that why you brought me here? Our meeting, the date, our conversations … was it all because you knew I'd gotten bitten?"

"No, I actually didn't know until you mentioned it earlier today," he explained, his thumbs gently massaging her palm. "I was drawn to you and everything in the past few days has been genuine—except that I let you believe I was human. I needed to make sure you were ready to listen, and not take me for a fool telling you tall tales. And I do want to keep you safe."

She tentatively closed her fingers around his. At the pressure, Nero stopped his ministrations and studied her intently. She cleared her throat.

"So, I'll turn into a werewolf. What does that mean, exactly?"

Instantly, her mind was tabbing through everything she knew about werewolves. Shifter lore was as varied as the sources that were written about them. Personally, she'd always believed that werewolves had turned into something close to their wild counterparts. If they shifted into a nine-foot-tall monster, keeping their secret would've been much harder.

"When the full moon rises, you will shift into a wolf, one that is impossible to differentiate from the wild wolves. You will still be yourself, with your human capacity to reason, but also have a primal side that will operate on instincts and natural urges. Eventually, you will be able to control the shift and your inner she-wolf. It's a lot to take in—trust me, I know—but I'll ensure you have all the help available."

She found herself snuggling into Nero's warmth, soaking up the Hawaiian sunset. Despite the ache that'd begun between her temples, her mind was firing on all cylinders. Every myth and legend that had appeared in research hovered on her tongue, battling for the privilege of being her next question. Shapeshifting hadn't been her forte or her main focus, but now, it was all she could think about.

"Are werewolves the only immortals that turn into something else?" she asked. "Do vampires turn into bats?"

"No, they don't turn into bats, though I'd love to see you ask one of them that," he chuckled, the vibration soothing. "The occasional Raeth does have the ability to turn into an animal, as well."

"Like what?"

"Well, wolves, tigers, bears, panthers. Predators, mostly."

"Do any of your, um, people have that ability?" Suddenly timid after all the excitement, she wrung her hands. "Is it like a werewolf turning? Would I be able to ask them what it's going to be like for me?"

"It's exactly like a werewolf." He gave her a reassuring smile. "The abilities of the first alpha of the werewolves were derived from a Raeth with a wolf shape. Had the original been a panther, well, they'd all have been werepanthers, I suppose."

"Do you happen to know, Nero—does it hurt?"

"Shifting?" Nero drew in a contemplative breath. "It's both euphoric and excruciating. The first shift is inevitably the hardest: bones and muscle have to reform, ligaments and tendons have to stretch and recede. It's difficult, even when it's expected. Which is why the werewolves only turn those who are healthy."

Eden's blood ran cold. Nero must not have noticed.

"Werewolves transmit their immortality through the bite, and no alpha worth their salt would bite anyone without vetting them first. It's imperative that recipient's body is strong enough to endure the first shift." Nero studied her as he spoke. "With you, that vetting process didn't happen, because you were bitten by a werewolf who wasn't in control anymore."

The scenario played out in Eden's mind as Nero continued to speak. If she wasn't strong enough, she would die. She didn't need him to spell it out, just like he didn't need to hear about her reality and her fears now. She couldn't let Nero see how scared she was.

"You didn't answer my question, Coffee Shop. Come on, curious minds, can I pick the brain of a Raeth shifter in your clan?"

"Yes, several of my people have the ability to shift into animals."

When excitement bloomed, it nearly overrode her anxiety. "Can I meet one of them? What do they turn into?"

"Esmerelda can shift into a lynx, and Geoffrey can shift into a bear." He paused, then proudly added, "And I shift into a panther."

"A panther?" Eden leapt to her feet. "Nero, will you show me? Please? You won't hurt me, right?"

Slowly, Nero stood, his movements graceful and languid. "My panther has wanted to meet you since we met, and no, I'll never hurt you. I'll warn you, though, my cat is the reason I'm a snuggler."

Eden eagerly followed him, her hand in his. Breathing in the salty air, jitters sparked within her. Though she'd already experienced teleportation several times, seeing him shift into a large predator would clear away any last traces of doubt. Rooting through her memories, she focused on what she knew about shapeshifters. In some cases, it was magic based, while in others, it was purely a physical change. On the heels of that thought came another.

"Do you have to … undress? Should I give you privacy?"

He gave a booming laugh. "No, professor. With our abilities, we can take clothing in and out of the shift. No disrobing necessary. When I call upon my cat, he's happy to leap to the surface. I'm certain it'll be the same for your wolf."

Nero's beast had indeed been keen to leap.

In a half-second shift, too swift for her eyes to process, the predator emerged. Before her stood an honest to goodness panther, black as night, with piercing emerald eyes locked on hers with the intelligence of the man.

Practically vibrating with the force of his purr, the animal's soft black ears twitched as if uncertain. Slowly, one big paw moved forward, and the panther prowled closer. Half a step more, and he was suddenly an arm's length away.

Worst case scenarios began to play out before her mind's eye. Every primitive instinct within her was shouting that this predator would harm her—that those three-inch-long fangs could take her life without a second thought. But even as the thoughts entered her mind, they dissolved. This was Nero, and he would never harm her, no matter what form he wore.

Eden reached for him, and the panther rubbed his massive head into her open palm as if he'd never wanted anything more. Her delighted laugh made the panther chuff, the soft, soothing sound vibrating through to her soul as the cat gently pushed his head into her palm.

"You're absolutely gorgeous, Nero."

She meant every word. Running her hands through his dappled black fur was a dream become reality. As she murmured to him how beautiful and soft he was, she was struck by the fantastical nature of this situation. Days ago, petting a panther had been a logistical impossibility.

When a pair of women appeared on the lawn beside them, she realized she hadn't noticed their approach.

"I take it he's told you everything, then?"

Startled, Eden's balance teetered sending her from a crouch to her butt. It forced a laugh out of her while Nero bared his fangs at the new arrivals.

"Either that, or Nero's pet panther is one hundred percent tame," came Luna's voice, echoed by a laugh from Key who stood beside her.

"All of this—it's just incredible!"

And yet, Eden couldn't seem to stop combing through his midnight black coat. With the big cat patiently letting her caress him, she couldn't fathom wanting to direct her attention anywhere else.

Luna came to sit beside her. "Nero's cat has been a fixture on our island since we came here centuries ago. I'm glad you're here, Eden. It'll be nice to have someone who can convince him to take a few vacation days every once in a while."

"Now that, I can definitely do," she replied. "Especially given how handy teleportation is. What a phenomenal gift."

"It truly is," Key echoed. "How was Paris?"

"How did you know we were there?"

"I, too, have a gift," she said with a wink.

A tingle of electricity skittered up Eden's spine, and while she could brush away the sensation, the panther below her hands stiffened. Luna immediately retreated, and Eden, uncertain of what was happening, followed her lead.

Within seconds, Nero shifted, and his eyes met the trio of women. "The Citizens have released more wolves."

"Where?"

"St. Louis this time."

"Do you need to go, Nero?" Eden asked, worried for the humans who were in the path of the rabid animals. He'd been there for her when it'd happened in Chicago. Given his reaction, it was clear he'd done it more than once.

"There are others who can go in my place …"

The hesitation in his voice made her frown. "You saved my life, Nero. Don't let me be the reason you don't save someone else's. Go . Be safe."

"Forgive me. I'll come back to you as soon as I can."

And then he was gone.