Darkest Powers Bonus Pack 2

SixOnce Chloe decided that any more “relaxing time” was going to make me too tired to Change, wemoved to the thicket we usually used. As I undressed, Chloe sat with her back to me, talking andmaking sure I stayed relaxed and distracted until I got into position on all fours. Then she leaned back,arms braced behind her, and I kept one hand over hers, that touch reassuring me as I began.The worst part about trying to Change is knowing that if I succeed, I’m going to reach that point,mid-transformation, where I’ll feel like I’m going to die. Where the pain is so incredible that I almostwouldn’t mind if I did. That will pass and once I’m done, I’ll say “it’s worth it.” But when it’sactually happening, I wonder why the hell I’d ever intentionally try to do this.At least I wasn’t throwing up anymore. I remember the first time I started to Change, when Chloewas with me behind Lyle House, and I was puking in the bushes, racked by the pain of the Change.She’d stayed with me. She’d reassured me. She’d looked after me. And that, I think, is when thingsstarted to change. That’s when I saw more than a damsel-in-distress I could use to get my brother outof Lyle House.I’d seen signs of it before, but I’d told myself I was wrong. That night, though, when she stayedwith me, although she hadn’t known I was a werewolf—hadn’t even known werewolves existed—that’s when I looked at her and saw real strength. And I saw the first person, other than Simon, I couldever imagine as a friend.Thinking back to that first night seemed to relax me and make me focus on the process. That did thetrick. I Changed. I didn’t get to skip the “I’m going to die” moment. But it seemed to pass a littlefaster, and almost before I knew it, I was lying on the grass, in wolf form, panting.That’s when Chloe turned around. She crawled over to sit beside me and gave my shoulder musclesa light massage while I recuperated. When I was ready, I pushed to my feet and nudged her.“So what’s it to be tonight?” she asked. “Tag? Hide and seek? Fetch?”I gave a soft growl at the last one and she laughed.“Someday, I’m going to teach you to fetch,” she said. “I really am.”Another growl and I bumped her legs. She laid her hand on my head, and I leaned against her, eyesclosing as I rested there a moment. I’ve Changed forms with others around, but even with Simon, it’snever this comfortable.I can sense that bit of tension Simon tries to hide when I Change. Dad, too. They know a werewolfcan’t always be trusted in wolf form. Chloe was told that, but she never believed it, even the first time,when I’d told her to get out of the way if I finished the transformation. I know now that there’s noreason to worry—I feel like myself, no matter what form I’m in. She’s the only one who really getsthat and treats me the same.“Are you still tired? Or are you ready to play?”I stepped away from her.“Play, I take it. Tag? Or hide and seek?”I dipped my muzzle twice.She laughed. “Hide and seek it is, then. Who goes first?”In answer, I raced off. She started counting.I tore around a bit before finding a spot. I could say I was trying to confuse her by making lots ofnoise and racing in circles, but really, I was just enjoying myself. There’s a restlessness that builds upbetween Changes. Our usual games of chase help, but this is what I really need—just to run. Evenafter I heard Chloe coming after me, I kept running. Then, as she drew close, I dove behind a bush andhunkered down.