Rolling around on the floor with Shade in his wolf form, I couldn't contain my laughter. Each time I found a ticklish spot under his ribcage, his reactions—jumps, whines, and whimpers—only encouraged me more.
I leaned down and kissed him softly on the snout, not expecting the deep growl that followed. That sound, so unfamiliar and intense, made me pause and take a step back, a trace of fear passing through me.
I could sense Shade's immediate regret, his worry evident even without words. Just as I was bracing for him to shift back, to explain or apologize in his human form, Link's voice carried from the bathroom. "Don't shift back, Shade. I'll explain it to her if you promise not to rip my throat out."
Shade seemed to relax slightly, giving Link the space to step in. Link emerged, weari
