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MARIA WATCHED DERRICK as they both stood naked in their back yard. A shiver ran down her spine from the cold February air. She noticed him stalling when he rubbed his warm hands up and down her arms. Derrick shoved his hands through his hair and took a deep breath.
“It’s ok, Derrick. I have the wolf gene. I will survive the change.”
“I can’t lose you, Maria.”
“I'll be with you until we are old and senile.” She placed her hand on his chest. “Before you do this, I want you to know something.”
“What?” Derrick played with her soft black hair.
“I’m not going to run for mayor. I’m happy being the alpha female. That's enough power. I’m strong like you and I think this will be for the best.”
“Are you serious?” Derrick pulled her into a crushing kiss, making her body melt against his.
“I’m serious. Now you need to hold up your part and change me. I can’t do this on my own.” She paused and looked at him. “Well, maybe I can get Aiden to change me. Maybe he’s...” Derrick grabbed her arm to stop her from walking toward the house where Aiden watched TV. He was there just in case something happened when Maria learned to shift.
“All right, stand back.” Derrick kissed her quickly before Maria walked back to give him room to shift. She loved seeing him in his brown wolf coat. This may only have been the second time she had seen him this way, but she loved it. She shoved her hand into his soft fur and rubbed the spot between his ears.
“I’m ready.” Maria took in a deep breath. He licked her arm but didn’t bite her. She dropped to her knees and pulled his face down so he met her gaze. “Damn it, Derrick.”
She sighed and closed her eyes. His tongue licked her shoulder and before the saliva dried, teeth pressed against her skin. Maria gasped from the sudden pain, he released her shoulder after a minute or so. She couldn’t tell that he'd released her as the pain pulsed down her body, hitting her heart then spreading throughout her limbs.
“Holy fuck, it burns.” Maria swallowed, but her mouth had gone dry. Derrick shifted out of his wolf form and held her close.
“It will be over soon, Maria.”
“What’s happening?” Another wave of pain rocked through her making her whimper.
“Your body is accepting the change. Soon it will move into the shift. Just try to breathe.”
“Easier said than...” She gasped for air and her body vibrated in her mate’s arms. He gently placed her on the ground. The cold grass sent zips of pain through her, then heat consumed her body. Hair started to sprout out of her skin, then more pain coursed through her bones while they adjusted and grew longer.
Maria took in another sharp breath. Slowly the sound of her breathing grew louder, giving her a mild headache. When she opened her eyes, not only were things brighter, but she could see farther and in more detail. She blinked a few times, then found Derrick standing a foot or so away.
“You’re beautiful my little mate.” Derrick took a step closer and Maria licked his arm without even thinking about it. Her nose caught new scents. She sniffed a few times and pushed her nose against his stomach. He chuckled and she looked up.
“Your nose tickles. You'd better not tell anyone.” Derrick raised an eyebrow before she rubbed her nose against him again.
“Let’s get you moving.” Derrick took a few steps back then shifted seamlessly into his wolf. He motioned for her to move away from the house. She took a few tentative steps and when she didn’t fall over, she pushed her body a bit more. At first moving on four legs seemed strange, but this new part of her quickly took over. Looks like my wolf wants to play. Once the thought filled her mind, she nodded her head without really thinking about it.
Maria dashed toward the fence line with Derrick hot on her tail. She jumped over the wooden fence, her fur barely grazing the top. Her wolf took control as it took in everything around her, judging how high to jump before Maria had time to overthink it. This sense of freedom both frightened Maria and sent a wave of exhilaration through her body. Derrick nipped on her hind leg and she slowed to a stop right before a big dip in the sand. She turned her head around to find Derrick motioning toward the house.
“I’ll race you.” He shifted to his human form for a moment to speak. Maria nodded and took a head start, she had a strong wolf, but he was the alpha. He was strong and swift in his own movements, catching up to her in a few heartbeats. They ran next to each other in the soft sand before it turned to grass surrounded the fence line. She jumped again, but this time she over thought it and tumbled into the ground. She cursed as she rolled in the grass before stumbling to her legs.
“Fuck, that hurt.” Maria yelled and realized she had shifted back into her human form. She took a few steps toward Derrick and her body shifted back into her wolf form. Derrick tilted his head and shifted.
“Do you want to be in your wolf form more?” Derrick stepped forward. Maria and her wolf had different answers to his question, Maria was done but her wolf wasn’t ready to give up her control.
Maria surged forward and shifted into her human form and dropped to her knees. “My wolf doesn’t want to let go.” She gasped in the cold air. Her slightly warmer body still shivered when the cold air hit her. Before Maria managed to stand, she shifted again making her curse. Her wolf took another few steps, but Maria was getting pissed off.
I want my body back and I will stay in my human form Maria yelled in her mind. Her wolf didn’t seem to care, she just wagged her tail. There were a few more shifts back and forth before exhaustion consumed her body. She dropped down to the ground, sparks flying from her hands in her human form, then shifted into her wolf form. Maria vaguely recalled Derrick yelling but she couldn’t help him calm down. With each shift or spark of magic, her limited energy was draining until she couldn’t lift her head up. Another shift back into her wolf form, but this time her eyes wouldn’t open for, her no matter how hard she tried. Darkness consumed her senses. She had no choice but to let it take over her body.
Maria struggled against the weight of the darkness after what seemed like a few moments, but with no success. Derrick’s voice came into her consciousness but the words didn’t stick. Each time she pushed against the sleep, the easier it became. With one more shove back to reality she opened her eyes. She was glad to see she was in her human form this time.
“She is fine, Derrick. With her magic being suppressed for so long I think it is affecting her shift. She will have the next nine months to practice before the baby gets here.” Alia rubbed Maria’s arms, a soft blanket covering her body.
“I’m sorry about that.” Maria’s mom whispered. Everyone turned toward Derrick but he stared into her eyes.
“Are you ok?” Derrick inched closer to her.
“I’m fine, just tired. What happened?”
“You kept shifting back and forth before you passed out.”
“That must have been wonderful to watch.” Maria clicked her tongue at herself and her sarcastic comment.
“Well we can always practice later. Thank you for your help Alia and Elene.” Derrick nodded toward Maria’s mom and Alia.
“Get some rest baby girl. Tomorrow, if you’re feeling up to it, we will start your lessons.” Elene kissed Maria on her head.
“Thanks, mom.” Maria smiled but betrayal filled her belly. On their way home from rescuing Elene, Maria had told her about Walter’s duplicity and the images filled Maria while she rested on the couch trying to recover from shifting so many times. Everyone cleared out of the house leaving Derrick and Maria alone.
Despite all the craziness, she knew deep down that she belonged with Derrick. Tomorrow she’d announce her choice not to run for mayor of Austin. The choice was made and nothing would change her mind.
“Are you sure you’re ok?” Derrick’s concern touched her, making her body warm up. He sat on the couch and she wiggled onto his lap to face him. Then she leaned in so their lips met. “I don’t...”
Maria shook her head and kissed him again. “I need you, Derrick.” Her naked body hummed with the need. A low growl left his chest, sending a shiver down her body.
“I love you, Maria.”
“I love you, Derrick.” She gasped when his mouth sucked in her nipple.
Soon she would get her magic and her wolf under control, but for now she would enjoy these moments as much as she could before the little one came into this world. A moan left her lips and she surrendered herself to the pleasure. This wasn’t the way I wanted to find love, but damn, it feels good. She met Derrick’s gaze.
My plan for mayor be damned, Derrick’s worth it.