After I kicked my two friends out of the elevator on their floor, I continued down to the main floor. I gave a tiny wave to Jora, who was wrapping up his shift, and walked out the door. I am sure he called after me, but as soon as I hit the cool morning air, I was running. I ran around the building, straight into the woods, and shifted into Nix.

She paused on a hill, feeling the wind ruffle her fur, and she closed her eyes. “I have missed this feeling for far too long.”

I receded enough inside to sit next to Megan. “I promise we will make time for both of you to shift more.” I turned to look at Megan. “And I want to train in your form as well.”

I felt her stiffen next to me, and she turned her head to look me in the face. “You would have no reason to fight in my form.”

I wrapped my arm around her. “It is always better to be prepared. What if you are running and are attacked? We won’t be able to stop to shift into Nix.” I ran my fingers through her fur. “It would make us vulnerable, and it would out our secret.”

I watched as she thought through my words. “But not everyone knows about me.”

I raised my shoulder. “Toya and Wendy do. I’ll work out a day that Toya will run the training in wolf form, instead of me, and I will attend as you.” I bumped her shoulder. “Do you not want to?”

She shook her head, but her voice was low. “I want to.” She looked away. “I just thought you didn’t think I was important enough.”

Her words hurt me, but I obviously made her feel this way. "I am so sorry, Megan. I didn’t even think about it until you were both gone. I never should have neglected you."

Her eyes widened, and I could see a slight bit of panic enter them. “You didn’t. That isn’t what I meant.”

“Don’t lie to us, little one.” Nix’s voice was soft, but she turned and started running through the trees. “We are all in this together. If you feel you need something, talk to us, and we will help you.”

So obviously she lept this from Nix as well. “You are both a part of me, Megan.” I got to my knees and wrapped my arms around her. “I’m sorry we weren’t paying attention to your needs.”

“Me too.” Nix called to us, but then she skidded to a stop. “You.” Both Megan and I snapped our attention outwards and froze. Nix’s snarl was vicious as she stared at the wolf in front of her. “You have some fucking nerve to show your face in front of me.”

The wolf, that looked black in the dark shadows of the trees, stepped out. His dark grey fur rippled as he came closer, dropping to his belly, and slowly shuffled closer to us, with his white-blue eyes focused on Nix’s. “I have been looking for you.”

Nix snorted. “I stopped believing your words months ago, when I stopped looking for you.” She turned and went to run, but the male jumped in front of her. “Move.”

“Please listen to me.” He dropped back down and rolled onto his back, showing his belly to her. Both Megan and I stiffened.

“Males shouldn’t show their bellies to females.” Nix’s voice was icy and dark. She was still unimpressed.

“Any male will if he knows he fucked up.” His dark voice made all of us shiver, but Nix turned to leave again. “Please.” His begging stopped Nix’s paw.

Chapter 283

“Just say what you wanted to say, Erubus.” Her words were knives, and even I winced.

“Maybe you should hear him out,” Megan offered softly, but Nix snorted and turned.

“I was told to hear you out, and I will. Not because I feel you deserve the chance, but because my soul sister asked me to. Now speak.” Nix’s words cut him. I watched as he winded.

“I swear to you I haven’t neglected you.” Nix snorted again, but she stepped closer. “I swear I have been out here every week, looking for you for months. But you have been missing.”

I felt his words hit, and Nix softened a fraction. “I searched for you for months, and you never came.” Her words, uncertain. “I gave up.”

He dropped again and slowly approached on his belly. “I wasn’t able to get away for a little while. I didn’t know who I could trust. But I figured it out, and I have been out here waiting for you.”

“How do I know you are telling the truth?” Nix cut in.

He stopped, as if to think, but shook his head. “I know my words mean nothing to you. But all I can do is prove it going forward.”

“And how do you expect to do that?” She scoffed.

“Every other day from four in the morning until sunrise, I am out here. I have been out here. That is my time to run. Join me?”