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"Come sit beside me," her mother commanded, patting the sofa cushion.
Shannon sat and turned to face her mother, resolving to sit through the lecture and inevitable questions without offering any detail.
"What happened between you and Max?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"That's what Kaitlyn tells me. You have to talk to someone about this, ma belle."
"No, I don't. There's nothing to say, Mom. It didn't work out."
"Did he hurt you?"
She had to smile at her mother's narrowed eyes, and she suddenly felt very loved and protected. "No, he didn't hurt me."
But she'd hurt him. Badly. He'd easily accepted her powers, the fact that she wasn't entirely human, without blinking an eye. Had she done the same for him?
No.
He'd risked his life to save hers, had taken on six wolves in a battle that could have easily killed him.
Had she thanked him for that?
No.
Then, he'd told her what he was, no doubt expecting the same acceptance of his unusual genetic makeup as he'd done for her. Had she accepted him?
"He's different, Mom," she said, pushing the guilt deep inside herself, praying that some day she might be able to forgive herself for hurting him.
"I know what he is, petite," she said, smoothing her hand over Shannon's hair.
She couldn't hide her wide-eyed stare. "You do?" When her mother nodded, Shannon shook her head. "You can't know. No one knows but me."
Her mother laughed. "I've known for a long time. Almost since he first arrived here."
"You know that he's a--" She stopped mid-sentence and looked around to be sure no one was within earshot, then finished in a whisper. "A werewolf?"
"Yes. I know that."
Shannon sat back on the sofa, unable to believe that her mother knew. "Does Dad know, too?"
"Everyone does, now. I told them the other day, after Kaitlyn said she had to come and get you. She sensed you were hurting. She also sensed your guilt."
Shannon didn't doubt that. It was difficult to mask remorse the size of the entire state. She turned her head to regard her mother. "So you all know."
"Yes."
"And you're okay with it."
Her mother shrugged. "It doesn't matter whether we're okay with it or not. None of us are in love with Max. You are."
She blew out a sigh and stared up at the ceiling, feeling more confused than ever. Sure, her family was fine with Max being a werewolf. Clearly they didn't understand what that entailed. For that matter, she didn't understand all of it. Other than the fact she'd have to give up control.
"You don't have to dominate every aspect of your life, Shannon," her mother said as if in answer to her thoughts. "Sometimes it's good to share, to give up a little control to the one you love. Not only does it take the burden off you, but it makes a relationship a true partnership."
"We could never have a true partnership. He'd want to be in control all the time. He'd want to dominate me all the time."
"Are you certain of this?"
"Yes."
Her mother took Shannon's hands and rubbed her fingers. "Don't be so certain you know. I have felt Max's heart. He has a deep love for you."
"Funny, he never told me that." She turned her head and looked at her mother. "Did he tell you?"
"No. He didn't have to. I'm not sure he even realized it at the time."
"He doesn't love me."
"Don't be so quick to decide how he feels. It's not your place to control his feelings. Maybe you need to step back a bit and give him another chance. You've always been quick to judge people, Shannon. Typically, your instincts are better than your outward logic. Let your heart decide on this."
Could her mother be right? Had she jumped to conclusions and just assumed Max would want to dominate her? Oh, she didn't know what to think anymore! Frankly, she was tired of thinking about it at all.
After dinner, she drove home alone. Kaitlyn was spending the night at the house so she and their mother could get an early start on shopping the next day.
Thankful to have the place to herself, Shannon took a shower and read for awhile, but couldn't concentrate. She tried to do some paperwork, but her mind kept drifting to Max.
She didn't want to think about Max. She didn't want to feel the guilt, the uncertainty, the intense longing that threatened to double her over.
Giving up, she slipped between the sheets of her bed and tried to sleep, but found she could only drift in and out, her dreams filled with a gray wolf with eyes of golden green. A wolf that stayed by her side, protected her, revered her, and transformed into a man who took her very breath away with his beauty.
She dreamed of Max crawling over her, whispering that he loved her, that he'd always take care of her. She felt the soft caress of his fingers over her bare skin. Her breath hitched as he slid his palms over her nipples, following the trail with his fiery hot tongue until she was writhing, begging him to--
She heard the growl on the fringes of her consciousness and sat up in bed, blinking her eyes, trying to adjust them to the darkness. Surely it had been part of her dream.
Then she heard it again, coming from the corner of her room. She looked over and saw the window was open, the sheer curtains billowing out in the cool breeze.
Shannon shivered and pulled the covers up to her chin, scooting away until her back hit the headboard. The growl grew closer. Yellow eyes glowed in the darkness as he approached the foot of her bed.
She shrieked in surprise when the wolf leaped onto the foot of her bed. He stared at her, not advancing, his watchful eyes waiting.
Waiting for what? For her to say something?
"Max?" she whispered, knowing full well it was him. Could he even answer her when he was in wolf form?
Obviously not. He didn't speak, didn't growl, just slowly crept up the bed toward her. When he reached her feet, he began to claw at the sheet, pulling it away from her until she was exposed. He sniffed at her feet, licking her toes. She fought back a giggle, still wary of his intentions.
>
She was more curious than afraid, knowing that he'd never hurt her.
"Your being here doesn't solve anything," she admonished, feeling stupid for talking to him. But surely he understood her.
He cocked his head to the side and looked at her as if he were intently listening.
She supposed he was giving her the opportunity to talk to him, without his being able to respond. She drew her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them.
"Why are you here, Max? And why in wolf form? I've seen you like this before, so it's not a shock to me. Besides, you showing up here like this doesn't change anything between us."
He stood on all fours watching her, not moving.
This was her chance to tell him what was in her heart.
"I'm sorry I hurt you the other day. You don't disgust me at all. I fully accept what you are."
He leaned forward and licked her legs, rubbing his snout against her calf.
Tears filled her eyes at what might have been between them. Tentatively, she reached out and touched his head, loving the feel of his fur under her hands. She stroked his ears and he leaned against her, his long tongue licking at her palm.
She shuddered, wanting him naked here with her. In human form, their bodies entwined and making love. But that could never be. Not after what she'd done to him.
She hitched a breath and continued. "I can't be what you want me to be, Max. I can't be docile and let you control my entire life. It's not in my nature to give up control like that. Not all the time. Not the way you'd expect me to."
Then he did something that stunned her. He moved next to her and laid down, then rolled over, exposing his belly to her. Even the novice she was knew that was a sign of submission.
The alpha wolf of a pack would never show his belly to anyone.
But Max had just given her a sign. He gave up some of his control to her. He wasn't here to take, he was here to offer. And while she knew he'd never take a submissive role with her, she knew this to mean that he was willing to share equally with her.
Tears of joy streamed down her face. What it must have cost him to do this was incredible. She reached out and wrapped her arms around him, letting the tears fall freely onto his fur.
He stood and moved to the end of the bed. She watched in awe as his back legs elongated, his snout shrinking, his fur disappearing as he changed into a human again. The transformation took only a minute and yet was the most amazing thing she'd ever seen.
