With the Boys in the Band by Marie Medina Page B

talk, she felt as if they were still communicating as he moved closer and rested his head on her. She caught sight of them in the full-length mirror by the bathroom, and she couldn’t stop staring.
    She’d shifted. Finally, she had managed to shift. But it no longer mattered the way it once had. She wanted nothing to do with other werewolves. She only wanted Vince. And Emerson. She whimpered again as her thoughts turned to him. How would he feel about this? Would he feel left out? Would this make him jealous? He had been extra attentive lately, and she had appreciated it, but she hoped that additional consideration he had been showing didn’t mean he was becoming possessive of her. She needed to talk to Vince, but she didn’t know how to change back.
    After a few moments, Vince moved away as if he sensed she needed something. She watched him shift back and simply focused on him, concentrating on her body the way she had been while they were having sex. It felt strange, and her muscles pulled and bunched uncomfortably, but soon she was on her hands and knees on the bed.
    She swallowed and took a deep breath. “Vince?” Her arms shook as she tried to unlock her elbows and knees from their rigid positions.
    He looked at her expectantly. “Are you okay?”
    “Yeah. I think so.”
    “You shifted, baby.”
    He sounded so happy, so awed. “I know.” She realized that his longing to be with another of his kind had truly been fulfilled now that she had shifted. She didn’t want to detract from his happiness, but she was concerned about what this was going to mean to the three of them.
    “I knew something was happening. Your scent changed. I tried to pull out of you, and I couldn’t. Your body wouldn’t let go of me.”
    She stared at him. “We were stuck together?” She pulled her lips between her teeth to keep from laughing. After a moment, through clenched teeth, she whispered, “Like dogs?”
    He put his hand over his mouth, and his eyes told her he was trying not to laugh as well. “Um … yeah. I got a little freaked out, but the way your body squeezed me as you came, I couldn’t stop myself from coming inside you.”
    “It’s okay.” She shifted to sit more comfortably, reaching out to stroke his arm. “So we were right. Being around you has made my connection to that part of myself stronger. You did awaken my instinct.”
    “It seems so.”
    She nodded. “What will Emerson say? It’s still new, so I’m feeling this weird mix of shock and joy.” She reached out and stroked his cheek. “I’m so happy for you, for us , but I don’t want this to divide the three of us.”
    He considered this so long she drew her hand away and began to squirm beside him. He put his arm around her and held her close to his side. “He’ll be surprised.” He sighed. “Honestly, he thinks you’re pregnant and scared to tell us.”
    Now she did laugh. “Really? No, I would tell you both right away, I swear.”
    He gave her a small smile. “Would you be happy?”
    After a moment, she nodded. “Yes. The child’s life would be different, but it would be very loved.”
    His smile broadened. “It would.” Kissing her forehead, he sighed again. “Are you worried he’ll be concerned for you?”
    “I’m worried he’ll be jealous. My connection to you will be even stronger, and it’s something he can’t share in. We’ll have something he can’t be a part of.”
    His smile diminished as his eyes lowered. “I see what you mean. He could feel left out and be jealous of either one of us.”
    “Exactly.”
    “But he’ll be happy for you, don’t you think?”
    She did, but she couldn’t help being worried. “Yes, but I don’t want it to hurt him, and I certainly don’t want him hiding it if he is upset by this.”
    “We should tell him soon.”
    “I know.” She suddenly felt exhausted. Before she could even say anything, Vince was pushing her back on the bed.
    “Lie back and sleep. You’ll need more rest