ELLIE
The grass is wet, and it comes up over my ankles. I go through it at a run.
There's a stand of birch at the bottom where the ground drops. I put myself behind it. My hands are on the buttons of my shirt before I've thought about what comes after that.
Eighteen years and a wolf I've had for six days. I have never once been on four legs.
"Now?" Queen says. "You want to do this now?"
"Yes."
"Ellie. It hurts the first time."
"I'll be fine."
"I want to get to him, but—"
"Queen, I was going to shift one day, wasn't I?"
"Yes."
"And it would still hurt like s**t even if I'd prepared for it."
"Yes."
"I'll be fine."
She doesn't respond for a second.
"You're right." A pause. "Let's go save our mate."
I let go.
It's my spine first. It comes up through it in one long wave and tak
