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The next day was Pax’s big day. I was so excited for him that I couldn’t sit still even to read. It wasn’t my day for kitchen duty, but I went anyway to help wash the dishes after breakfast just to have an outlet for all my energy.
The families on duty teased me for coming in on my day off, but they seemed grateful for an extra pair of hands. I loved working alongside them, especially when the older women started to talk about their childhoods and old romances. It reminded me of when Mom would reminisce about her younger years.
“You know, I dated a human a few years back,” a wolf named Erika spoke up. She was a few years older than me.
“Really?” My eyes widened. It was the first time I’d heard of a wolf and a human being together.
“Yeah. He was brilliant and kind, and he told me he loved me. I thought we were going to get married, but before I could tell him that I was a wolf, he broke up with me.”
I gasped gently. “I’m so sorry, Erika.” I looked into the sudsy water in the sink, saddened. “To be honest, whenever I think about love, I get a little sad. I’m pretty sure I’ll never have the chance to find the right guy for me. Romance is something I love reading about, but I can’t imagine it for myself.”
“Nonsense!” Mabel said from across the kitchen. She might have been old, but her hearing was as sharp as any young wolf. “You’re too young to give up on love now. The man of your dreams will find you one day.”
“Mine did,” Erika said. I turned to her with surprise. “A year after I was abandoned, my Stanley scooped me up. I’ve never loved anyone more than him, and I couldn’t be happier.” She patted my shoulder. “Don’t give up.”
My face warmed. They seemed so confident. The only man on my mind was the one who frequented my dreams, whose eyes could set me ablaze within moments. But I knew I couldn’t have him.
As we put the clean dishes away, Pax burst in through the door, a frantic smile on his face. “It’s time, Bryn! It’s time. It’s time!”
I must have lost track of time. I left the women to finish up and grabbed my jacket from the hook. Pax took my hand, and we ran out of the mess hall together. We gathered near the Elders’ cabin on the flat ground because there was plenty of space for the kids to wolf out.
Pax let go of my hand and ran to the center with the other pups. I stood with the crowd of adults, my hands at my side. The first few shifts were always rough on young pups. But once they got the hang of it, they were so excited they tended to destroy tons of clothes while they practiced and showed off.
Pax was one of the last to reveal his shift. It wasn’t because he was nervous—on the contrary, he was waiting to have most of the crowd’s attention so he could hop and dance around, working everyone up into an excited cheer. I laughed along, wondering when the shy, self-conscious boy I’d met had become such a ham.
A deep, rumbling laugh sounded from behind me. I turned my head, but I knew Night was standing there. He was so close that if I turned my body to face him, I would only need to step forward a bit to be flush with his chest. Heat wafted from his body, and when he caught me looking at him, he actually smiled.
My breath caught. I had thought that growly, moody Night was sexy, but this smiling, easygoing version of him nearly left me undone. I snapped my attention back to the pups and tried to keep from hyperventilating.
As Pax finished his dance, he spun and faced me. “Bryn Hunter!” he called, startling me. I hadn’t known that he knew my last name. He met my gaze, bowed, and then gave a little warrior cry with his fists at his side before he shifted. Within seconds, his body became that of a small, blond wolf, and I cried out with delight and wonder at how well he’d done. I had seen pups struggle through shifts, and I knew it took a great deal of focus. For being a late bloomer, Pax was a natural, and I glowed with pride for my tiny friend.
Behind me, Night stepped closer, and my heart skipped a beat. His woodsy scent filled my lungs with each shaky inhale. The heat of him was intense, and my jacket suddenly felt too warm.
“Pax just dedicated his first public shift to you.” His breath was warm across my neck. “Do you know what that means?” His question was asked quietly, a secret spoken between the two of us.
I shook my head, not trusting my voice with him standing so close and speaking so intimately with me. I had seen young wolves call their parent’s name or the name of Alpha Gregor before they shifted, but I’d assumed it was just a formality that some pups participated in.
“It’s an old, binding pact passed down from the old ways,” Night explained, his voice growing even deeper. “When a young pup shifts in public for the first time, they can choose someone to dedicate the shift to. Usually, it’s a family member or someone they respect in the pack. When they bow, it’s a show of deference and a sign of commitment. It represents the young wolf promising their protection and loyalty to the recipient for the rest of their life.”
“I didn’t know,” I breathed, so quietly the wind could have easily stolen my words.
“That’s not a surprise. Most of our pups choose not to dedicate their shift to anyone because the idea of binding themselves to another is too frightening when the future is so uncertain.” As he finished talking, his words became strained, like it was hard for him to get them out. “It is the most precious dedication that someone can receive. I have never seen a pup dedicate a shift to someone outside of their family.”
“W-well, maybe he meant to dedicate it to you,” I said. “You’re standing right behind me.” It was hardly a protest, more an expression of astonishment. Even after our conversation about knights and princesses yesterday, I was amazed that Pax would give me such an important gift.
“Not a chance,” he said with a smile. “It was your name that Pax called.”
I bit my lip. Suddenly, I felt nervous. Would Pax’s family be upset with him? Would they be angry with me? Hadn’t I—a human girl—just stolen an honor from them, even if it wasn’t on purpose? But my doubts disappeared when I felt something soft press against my hand. I gasped quietly. When I looked down, I found Pax’s wolf rubbing at my fingers, eager for attention. I had only been allowed to touch Mom in her wolf form when I was around Pax’s age. I’d never felt another wolf’s fur beneath my fingers.
I gave a light, wondering giggle as I petted his head, and Pax gave an answering purr when I rubbed behind his ears. His long tongue lolled from his mouth, and he jumped up to lick my face, which made me laugh even harder.
“Paxton, don’t jump on people,” Lillian said, walking toward us.
I hesitated, nervous that I was about to face her wrath, but to my surprise, there was nothing but kindness and joy in the tears that glimmered in her eyes.
“Thank you so much for what you did to help Pax,” she gushed. “We’re so grateful for what you’ve done for him.”
“I—I…” I wasn’t sure what to say. Behind me was Night—silent, steady, and warm—and in front of me stood a woman who was near tears and a happy pup who pushed at my hand for more petting. It was difficult to focus. “Pax did the hard work,” I said finally. “I just fed him bacon and jam.”
