Free Shifting the Night Away by Terra Wolf, Artemis Wolffe, Wednesday Raven, Rachael Slate, Lucy Auburn, Jami Brumfield, Lyn Brittan, Claire Ryann, Cynthia Fox Page A

watched him chew the last crumb, smiling as she took in his shiny coat and glowing eyes.   Peter returned her gaze, feeling with every fiber of his being that he would be completely satisfied to stare at her face forever.   It took all of his self-control to not shift right there and scoop her up in his arms.   He realized he didn’t have a plan for revealing himself later or even a strategy to exit the thicket that night.   Knowing he couldn’t sit there for hours with her, Peter simply got up and gave his body a good shake before turning to trot out of the thicket.  
    "Where are you going, Max?" she called out behind him.
    He turned and met her gaze again, releasing a soft howl as his own form of "until next time."
    Mia was so moved by the beauty of this creature passing through the trees, she almost forgot to follow him.   Lucky for Peter, her clandestine skills were severely lacking and he made it to Charles in the tunnel while she was still working her way from tree to tree.  
    "She tried to follow me."
    Charles disappeared for a few moments to survey the area.   "She’s gone now.   How’d it go?"
    "She talks to me.   It is so fucking adorable.   I just wish I could answer."
    "You didn’t scratch your paw to spell the alphabet?"
    "I may have released a low howl when she asked if she should pose in lingerie."
    "I would have licked her face and tried to mate right there."
    Peter laughed and said, "I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t have appreciated that very much.   At least she’s not afraid of me.   And for the record, those peanut butter cookies were delicious."

    Chapter Four

    The next two weeks brought them together for several basketball games.   Her team had no chance of winning, but gave it their all and smiled through each missed basket and double dribble.   The new uniforms gave a noticeable energy boost, filling them with pride as they unzipped their matching warm-up gear.   Principal Johnson also walked with his chest out and head held high as he showed off the letterman’s jacket Peter had designed for him.   He was a proud peacock supporting his school with swagger.   The only revision Peter desired was changing the mascot from the Westwood Tigers to the Westwood Wolves.   That was a little out of his power, but he was sure he’d have an ally if he asked Mia.   Just the mere mention of the animal would light up her face and cause an avalanche of wolf facts to surge out of her mouth with unstoppable force.
    The two of them had engaged in a few meetings of their own, both over dinner and in the thicket.   They had progressed from a hug and kiss on the cheek to a hot make out session pressed against the door to her apartment building.   Peter thought he would finally have the chance to explore her body the way he normally did in his mind.
    "Can I come up?" he asked between kisses.
    "What time is it?" she whispered against his lips.
    "Why?   Will you turn into a pumpkin when it gets late?"
    She sank into his chest and wrapped her arms around him.   "I have to feed my friend’s dog again."   Her desire to get to her friend in the thicket was thwarting the momentum of her human relationship.  
    "Boy, your friend sure goes out of town a lot."
    "You can come up another time."
    "The dog can wait an hour."
    "School night.   I have to get up early."   She kissed him again before pulling away.   "Another time.   Soon, I promise."
    Peter shook his head in disbelief as he made his way back to the car parked a few blocks away.   He had never been left on a date just so the woman could go on another date … with him in wolf form.   He had already promised Charles he would tell her by the end of the month, especially after a recent close call with participants from an evening scavenger hunt.   Now here he was, wanting to rush into the park again.
    "I’m not letting you go this time," Charles said.  
    "First you tell me to find my balls, then you tell me to go slow, and now we’re