Free Shaping Destiny by Hmonroe

wild beast that
roams the forest forever or die from the pain. But I never felt
more alive and in control than at this moment.
    Not wanting to go too far
but wanting to explore, I traveled up the hill on all fours. I
weaved my agile body through trees and leaped over logs, scaring
birds along the way and hearing their angry squawks.
    “Leah!” Max
yelled.
    His voice stopped me in my
tracks. Noticing I’d gone too far, I followed my scent back in a
run. The speed thrilled me and I didn’t slow until I was inches
away from Max.
    Max took a couple steps
back, ready for impact. “I think you’ve got the hang of it. Are you
ready to shift back?”
    I shook my head in
agreement and went back to where my clothes lay. They were ripped
in two. Of course, I thought. How could clothes that
fit a 110-pound human fit a 200-pound wolf?
    “Sorry, I should’ve told
you about this part. I have a blanket in the truck.”
    Max picked up all the
scattered clothing. “Race you back.”
    Was he kidding? My four
legs would carry me faster than his two any day, but I took off
after him. I caught up to him instantly, making him run faster.
Effortlessly, I ran by him until his truck came into
view.
    “Leah, hold back just a
bit. I’ll go get the blanket. We don’t want anybody to see
anything.”
    This place never had
people around, but I found a tree and hunched down to
wait.
    Max hurried back with a
large, red, fleece blanket. “I’m not sure what where going to do
when we get back to your dorms, but this should work for now.” He
half giggled.
    A light growl vibrated my
throat to let him know it wasn’t funny.
    “OK, OK.” He put his two
hands out. “It’s much easier to shift back to your human form than
your wolf.” He took a step closer and winked. “You won’t need my
help this time.”
    Flash backs of his lips on
my mine flooded me. I grabbed the blanket in my mouth and turned to
hit him with my tail before heading to a large tree for
cover.
    First I thought about
breathing and slowing down my racing heart, and then I started
talking to myself. Think about being
human. Just hours before, you walked on two legs. Breathe. As the wolf started vanishing, I reached for the
blanket for clover. It wasn’t weather to be out in the nude, so I
started back to the truck quickly. Human feet weren’t meant to walk
without shoes, but I didn’t have to for long.
    “Nice robe you have
there,” Max said as he whooshed me up into his arms in a
cradle.
    “Ha ha, very funny! From
now on I’ll be doing the packing.”
    “Does that mean you will
be shifting again soon?”
    “I don’t know.” The pain
of the transformation radiated in my eyes.
    “It will get easier. I
don’t even feel it anymore. I think it has a lot to do with fear.
The more you fight this part of yourself, the more your body fights
the transformation. As soon as you accept and embrace who you are,
the better it’ll be.” Max kept ahold of me while opening the
passenger’s door to gently put me inside. “After we conquer your
fear, we need to work on holding back your wolf so I can kiss you
again.” He smiled and shuts the door.
    ***
    We pulled into a parking
spot at my dorms and looked around to see how many people were
near. “I think if I just keep the blanket wrapped up high, it’s
long enough to cover my toes. No one will know I don’t have clothes
on underneath.”
    “No one would even imagine
someone walking around naked. They’d just think you’re cold and
trying to keep warm.”
    “Right. OK, so I’m going.”
Max and I both opened our doors and walk to the back of his
truck.
    “I’ll find you later.” Max
reached out to tuck my hair behind my ear. I smiled and got lost in
his eyes.
    “Leah!” Jared’s voice
could be heard from across the parking lot.
     

CHAPTER ELEVEN
    This could not get any
worse.
    “You have to leave,” I
said, turning back to Max, then back to Jared.
    A smile spread across his
face. “Are you afraid to tell him