“Sorry.” I raise my hands in surrender. “Just pisses me off.”
“Okay, you just have to metaphorically step back. If inside your mind looks like there is a cage holding her back, open the cage and let her surge forward. Don’t fight it or the shift is going to hurt like a bitch.” Greyson instructs her.
Kira’s body shakes and when she opens her eyes, there are flames burning in her irises. She drops to her hands and knees, her bones cracking and reforming an instant later. Fur sprouts over her arms and face, a beautiful red with golden highlights and undertones. It’s only minutes before the wolf stands almost as tall as Greyson.
“Wow,” I whisper as she shakes out her coat and actual fire sparks off her body. “She really does have fire magic in both forms. Her wolf is an inferno.”
The wolf lowers her head to the ground sniffing before a scent must catch her attention because she’s sprinting the fifty feet between her and Draven. The flames die on her coat as she bumps Draven’s hand and takes a long breath through her snout.
“What’s she doing?” I ask.
“If I had to guess, she’s scenting her mate. I’ve never seen this happen on a first shift before.” Greyson cocks his head to the side.
Kira rubs the side of her body all along Draven’s legs and torso and rests her chin on his shoulder, inhaling a deep breath into his neck.
“Dax and Olly are going to be so jealous.” Draven laughs. “This is so fucking cool. You’re so beautiful, baby.”
Kira’s wolf yips and spins around. Flames curl up around her, dancing along her fur. It’s the most beautiful and deadly thing I’ve ever seen in my life and that’s one of my closest friends.
“You are going to be a force to be reckoned with when we get back to the academy.” I grin at her.
“She really is amazing.” Raven crouches next to me.
Kira’s wolf bares her teeth, snarling at her as she holds her hand out for the wolf to sniff.
“Raven, I wouldn’t get too close. She’s going to be territorial over Draven because she scent-marked him,” Greyson says.
He walks over and puts a hand on Raven’s shoulder. A rumble sounds in his chest as he stares down at the wolf a few feet away. Kira whines and bares her neck to him.
“Does that mean you’re more dominant?” I ask.
“Not by a long shot, but I just staked a claim on my mate which she is acknowledging with her submission.” Greyson squeezes Raven’s shoulder. “She is more powerful than me even juiced up and gods touched.”
“So she really will be the catalyst in the shifter war,” Draven breathes.
“Sorry, man. Looks like you guys aren’t going to get much of a break.” I crouch next to Raven. “Kira, if you can hear me, we need to go to the mountain. Can you shift back?”
The wolf snarls and shakes her head. I don’t blame her. She didn’t get to stretch her legs at all. I wouldn’t be too happy about it either.
“How about this? If you can keep the flames contained to a minimum, you can help us track a route through the forest to Mt. Etna.”
The wolf yips and turns but sparks fly around her as she twirls.
“That’s not exactly keeping the fire contained, Kira.” I laugh.
Kira whines again, then turns more slowly to the forest. She turns her head to us and barks. I guess that will have to do since she’s not shifting back and she contained the flames.
“Bye, Pan. Thank you for the warning. We’ll try to steer clear, but I have a feeling that Olympian is in exactly the place we need to be.”
“You are probably right.” Pan pats my shoulder. “Stay as safe as you can, and I will see you all soon.”
Kira huffs and picks up her pace, so I have to jog to catch up with her. She’s fast in this form. I just hope the wind through her fur isn’t going to ignite the forest in her haste.
“Kira, your nose might not be very good yet so maybe slow down so we can try to navigate until you can get a hold of your senses,” Greyson calls out to her.
Kira whimpers and stops in her tracks, turning a pleading gaze on Greyson who laughs.
“We’re on an important mission. Your human is needed on this one. Once this is all over, we can go for a run at the academy together,” Greyson says.
