Grif (Tales of the Were - Redstone Clan) by Bianca D'Arc Page B

stuff and we can’t drag all that back here in our teeth.”
    Belinda giggled and Lindsey had to smile. Things were moving a little too fast for her, but she knew he was protecting her. Still protecting her, as he had from the first. She was confused by all the changes and the startling revelation he’d been watching over her in cougar form for the past days.
    “Why are you doing all this for me?”
    He cupped her cheek in his palm, looking deep into her eyes. “I have to believe the Lady had a plan when She made you cat and not wolf. You belong with us now, Lindsey, and you’ll never roam alone again.”
     
    How he wanted to kiss her, take her down to the floor and sink into her body. But there was much to do and his little sister was watching them. Belinda was taking Lindsey’s change better than he’d expected, but she was still very dependent on him and he didn’t want to do or say anything that might make Belinda feel threatened. He knew that Lindsey would be part of their lives now on a long term basis, so he had time to acclimate his females to each other without tugging anyone’s tail—figuratively or literally.
    He stood and began removing his shirt in preparation for shifting and Belinda followed suit, kicking off her clothes without embarrassment and shifting into the juvenile body of a young mountain lion. He saw Lindsey’s cheeks flush and her eyes widen and noted that she hadn’t moved a muscle from her seat on the couch. His hand went to the button on his jeans and he saw her start, looking from him to his little sister and back again.
    “Munchkin, I think Lindsey is probably still a little shy about shifting. We’ll be out in a minute, okay? Wait for us by the barn. And not one step farther kitten, you hear me?”
    A little growl was his answer as he opened the door for Belinda who was still too small to reach the handle in her cat form. She padded out, wiggling her tail and he closed the door after her.
    “Nakedness among werefolk is not the big deal it is among humans,” he began, scratching his head as he approached her wearing nothing but his unbuttoned jeans. “It’s one of the many things you’re going to have to get used to, Lindsey. But you don’t have to shift in front of others if you don’t want to.”
    “Good, then you go ahead and I’ll meet you outside.” A spark of defiance lit her pretty eyes as he watched her.
    He shook his head, smiling. “Do you honestly think you can shift yet without a little coaching? Remember, the first time you woke in your fur the change was done to you. You haven’t done it yourself yet. It takes practice to learn how to do it efficiently and quickly. We don’t let our young learn to shift alone. They are supervised closely, sometimes for years, before the adults will let them shift on their own.”
    “Dammit.” She stood angrily, turned her back to him and began removing her clothes.
    When she was naked, he came up behind her, grasping her shoulders and rubbing soft circles on her skin. She crossed her arms over her breasts and he had to smile at her stubbornness.
    “Now focus on the center of your being, right below your belly button. That’s where the change will start. Feel the pulse of your blood as it pushes through your veins. Follow the beat and listen to the rhythm. Think of the change, call on the beast that lives within you now.” He stroked his hands down her arms, gratified when he felt a little bit of silk fur starting to ripple out from her soft skin. He started his own change, keeping pace with hers as his hands began to form into paws, the palms becoming pads that rubbed over her fur.
    He had to let her go as she let the change overtake her and her spine changed. He held his own change back so he could talk her through, let her know what adjustments to make, but she was doing much better than he’d expected for a first-timer.
    “Think of your hands and feet, sweetheart. Think of the soft paws that will eat up the