Chapter 7 Changing

• The next day, Emily ordered me to stay while she went out. She soon came back with a pair of soft brown pants and a long blue cloak. She ordered me to put them on and told me we were going out.
• So, I could learn.
• I didn’t really know what that meant. But I was willing to follow her about. Trying to learn what I should do as a Skin instead of fur. I watched her move around the town appreciating the gentle sway of her hips beneath a loose dress. Remembering what they’d felt like in my hands.
• I heard a thunk and looked over. Seeing a man cutting big hunks of wood. Another was beating a soft tan hide, hitting it with a flat stick and knocking out blooms of dust.
• “Who is this, Em?” A woman sauntered up next to her. Her gaze locked on me. She drew close enough to sweep her hand down my bare arm. “A fine one, isn’t he?”
• I reared away from her. Shrugging away her touch and giving Emily a long look. Wondering what I should do.
• I don’t want her touching me. I wasn’t for this woman. I already belonged to Emily.
• She talked to the woman while I edged behind her. Watching over her head to ensure no threats approached, and to stay well away from her reach. I was scanning everyone milling around the road. Standing at booths and hawking their wares. Trying to ensure that no other males approached her.
• I was awash with both protective instinct and male possessiveness. Though I didn’t fully understand what either was. Not yet.
• Another was chopping up bits of raw meat.
• I sniffed the air. Deer.
• It all smelled delicious and was making my mouth water.
• I heard a growl come up my throat without warning.
• Drawing a few eyes in our direction.
• “Ssh.” Emily hissed at me. Eyes narrowing. “Calm, yourself.”
• But I was hungry.
• I gave her a dark look. Considering snatching the meat from the booth.
• I took a step that way.
• She caught my arm and drew me back to her side. “Obey.”
• I didn’t like how she was talking to me, but I moved back to her.
• My fists curled into a white-knuckled grip as I stared at that meat yearningly. My stomach burbled in loud objection to my restraint. I felt my eyes sting and blinked them hard.
• Emily turned to look at me, hearing my stomach. She gasped slightly.
• “Your eyes! Contain yourself, Wolf.” She hissed angrily.
• I’m trying! Dammit.
• She was looking at me and then scanning the crowd as if I was making her nervous.
• I’m just hungry.
• I needed something to eat. I already felt as though I’d not eaten in a month. My stomach beginning to cramp.
• My gums hurt and I felt a sting behind my lip. I touched there and found my mouth bleeding.
• Emily saw my movement and caught my hand rounding to drag me back to the hut.
• “There’s a handsome one!” Another woman called in a honeyed tone.
• But Emily was on a mission to get me back to the hut. Once inside she slammed the door and put her back to it. Glaring at me.
• Pain had settled in. Low in the pit of stomach and climbing up through me. I felt like everything inside me was trying to shift to one side.
• Organs were creating inside me. Making my ribs crack to make room for two sets. Others bulging along my stomach and side as others exploded on the other side. Bursting because they were no longer needed.
• Making me fall to floor. Groaning in pain.
• I was on my knees, cradling my stomach as I tried to alleviate the pain. But more bones began to snap and realign. Everything hurt so badly that I tipped to my side and rolled to my back. Drawing my legs up to protect my stomach as though I thought some invisible attacker was beating me senseless.
• I didn’t know what this was. But it hurts like hell!
• “So, much for taking you out.” Emily said disdainfully. Standing at the door and offering me no comfort as she watched me writhing in pain.
• She was so cold. So unlike how she’d been when I was an animal.
• When it was done, I rose on trembling legs. Gathering strength as I stood. My eyes still burning as I blinked away the pain. I huffed a few times between fangs. Lifting my head to look at her. Seeing I was far lower and knowing that I was now back in the hated wolf form.
• Emily blinked at me. Crossing her arms in disapproval. “You couldn’t have waited to do that? Were you trying to humiliate me?”
• No. I’m hungry. I gave a bit of a whine and my stomach growled again.
• I was so weak today that all I could do was lay next to the fire.
• Emily came in a bit later and threw a squirrel on the floor near me. She was exuding anger. But I didn’t know why.
• I couldn’t help it.
• But she clearly thought I could’ve.
• Was she right?
• “Stupid, Dog.” Emily swore. Taking her seat next to the fire and pushing her chair forward and back to make it glide near the fire.
• I was eyeing her, wondering why she was so furious with me.
• “You are supposed to be hunting for me.” She said in a furious tone. “I didn’t change you, so I could forever serve you.”
• She rocked a bit faster. Her agitation obvious in her movements. “What good are you, if you don’t control it.”
• I wanted to argue with her. It’s not that I wouldn’t. It’s that I couldn’t.
• But I could feel her reeking disappointment.
• I circled her chair. Wanting to please her. I lay on my belly near her. Blinking yellow eyes up at her. My brows dancing as I tried to figure out what was wrong.
• “Get away from me.” She kicked me in the ribs. Urging me further.
• I leapt up with a whine. Skittering to the other side of the fire. Shooting her an anxious look.