Two Alphas, One Mate (BAAM 2)

TAOM (8)

I pulled the car over as Bella shouted for me to stop. I looked over to the darkening woods and let out a sigh. She couldn't want to do what I thought she would.

"Who wants to race?" Bella squealed as she climbed out of the car.

Nikki snickered. "Bella always wins. It's pretty much pointless." She climbed out and tapped on the window once she shut the door, beckoning me to follow.

I turned off the ignition and slowly followed suite. Rubbing my hands on my jeans nervously, I headed to to the thick of the woods after them. "Do you really think this is a good idea?" I stumbled over a stick. "I mean, leaving the car on the side of the road. With all our bags in it?"

Bella brushed the thought off. "As Reagan tells it, there's mostly werewolves that live here. It's not uncommon for a car to be sitting on the side for a while. Nobodies going to steal it or anything."

"I'm still not comfortable with-"

"That's what I'm here for," came a new voice. One I recognized immediately.

I turned around to face Reagan. Bella smiled brightly. Nikki seemed just as confused as I was by his sudden appearance. Barefoot, he only had on a pair of baggy sweats and a loose T-shirt. Bella snatched my keys from my hand and grabbed Nikki's arm, pulling her in the direction back to the car.

"I thought we were gonna race?" protested Nikki.

"They are. We're not." Bella waved and continued on.

I watched them until I hear the faint sound of the car heading down the road. I turned back to Reagan. "I'm not racing you."

"We don't have to race," he replied. "But you do need to shift." Before I could say anything, he continued. "You have to get comfortable with your wolf, Holly. I'm gonna help you do that. Just a  bit each day, we'll come out here, and I help you until you're comfortable to the point where you don't even think twice before letting your wolf out."

I sighed. Casting a glance around the trees quickly before meeting his eyes again. "And how long will that take?"

Reagan shrugged, thrusting his hands in his pockets.

"I don't want to get comfortable with my wolf," I snapped, not meaning to, but that's how it came out.

Reagan was unfazed. "You don't want to get comfortable with it, because you're afraid of it. Lose the fear and you get comfortable. And the only way to do that is to let it out."

I found a log to sit on. "It's not that simple . . ."

"It's as simple - or as difficult - as you make it, Holly."

I swallowed the lump that suddenly formed in my throat. "I don't really have a choice in this, do I?"

He sat beside me. "You have a choice Holly. It's just best if you choose this."

I swallowed again nervously and hesitated. "Okay, then. Teach me."

Reagan took my slightly shaky hand and drew me up, pulling me further into the woods. We came upon a small clearing and Reagan let go of my hand and took a few steps ahead of me. Turning around, he took a stance that resembled one of power. We stood there facing each other for a short while.

"Well?" he asked.

"Well, what?"

"Are you going to shift?"

I narrowed my eyes at him. "You don't expect me to take my clothes off in front of you!"

Reagan smirked at me. "I don't see a problem with that."