AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Shall we go inside?" he asks, gesturing towards the gate that leads into the compound where we'll be doing our training.
"We should if we don't want to be late." I don't want to make a bad impression, especially when it's bad enough that I'm going to have to shift. I know that I'm going to appear terribly incompetent when I do. After all, what kind of eighteen-year-old shifter doesn't have control of her paws?
Jeremy gestures for me to go first and moves his other hand as if he's going to place it on the small of my back before changing his mind.
Disappointment wells up within me at the missing touch, and I have to remind myself that we're friends, nothing more. It's reassuring to know he's struggling a little bit with it too, but does that mean we're kidding ourselves about whether we can do this?
Grace's comment about him still being a distraction even if I don't want him to be springs to mind.
Several other students I recognise mill around the courtyard, along with some I don't. I frown. I know the academy is bigger than the people I know, but I don't even recognise them in passing, which is a little confusing.
A middle-aged man steps forward and whistles for our attention. "Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to Shifter Agility training. Today's course is aimed at big cat shifters, if you are a different kind of shifter, then I highly advise that you change to a different date. There will be things on this course that you won't be able to achieve."
A small murmur goes through the assembled students, probably as people try to work out what the different parts of the course might be.
Instead of making me more intrigued by what's to come, I get more nervous. I take a step back, bringing me flush against Jeremy's chest and causing me to stumble.
A girl to the left of us gives a small laugh, but I ignore her as Jeremy reaches out to help steady me.
"You'll be okay," he promises, and from his tone, I can tell that he believes it's true.
"You've seen me shifted," I point out in a whisper. "How can you say it's going to be okay?"
"You were drunk then."
"Trust me when I say I'm not much better at it when I'm sober." Much to the annoyance of just about everyone in my life.
"Krissi," he says firmly. "You can do this. And I'm not going to leave you behind, I'll help you every step of the way."
A vague memory of his shifted form flits through my mind. While I know he shifted and helped me when I was foolish enough to change forms in the street, I don't really remember much of what he actually looks like when he's a tiger.
"All right, put your belongings in the lockers over there and shift," the instructor calls.
I chew on my bottom lip as I follow Jeremy over to the lockers in question. Why am I doing this? It's such a bad idea and I'm only going to end up embarrassing myself in front of someone I like.
As a friend. Like as a friend.
I don't think I'm fooling anyone, including myself any longer.
I grab a hair tie from my bag and put my hair into a high ponytail.
Jeremy raises an eyebrow. "Why are you doing that if you're going to shift?"
I frown, realising that he has a point. "I don't know, but we're about to go on an obstacle course, it feels like the right kind of thing to do if I want to get ready."
To my surprise, he just nods, seeming to understand the logic. "Anything that helps."
"Precisely." He's going to understand just how important that is soon. I set the code on my locker and turn to face Jeremy. "I guess we have to shift now."
"Want me to go first?" he offers.
"Yes." The admission is out of my mouth before I can think twice about it, but it's the truth. I think I'll feel better if I can see his form while I'm not worrying about my own.
In the blink of an eye, the tall auburn-haired guy in front of me is replaced by a huge tiger. His dark orange fur suits him, and the black stripes only add to the illusion of power and grace.
Without thinking about it, I reach out and place my hand on his head. Realising how rude it is of me to touch him like this, I snatch my hand back.
Jeremy is having none of it and steps forward to press his head against my hand.
