“I’d claim her nice and official-like to set things straight with the red and before some distant relation tries to take her home with him, if I were you. The other gray didn’t change her, by the way.”

“Thanks, officer, for the advice, and the news,” Hunter said, his voice gruff.

“Navy SEAL, eh? The guy must have been crazy to mess with you. I’ll be right here, so take all the time you need.”

Now that he had his memories back, had Hunter remembered truly being a Navy SEAL? It definitely suited his character. Or was he continuing the tale, enjoying it too much to give it up?

“Thanks.” Hunter opened the door, closed it behind him, stalked across the floor to join her, looking like a warrior with a mission, his harsh expression a mixture of sternness and worry, and she had an inkling he intended to turn her. She definitely had mixed emotions about the whole thing.

“Navy SEAL? You really were one?” she whispered, raising her hands to offer herself to him, to take the plunge, to become something she couldn’t begin to imagine being. Part of her welcomed the change, the chance to be with the man who heated her blood like no other had ever done, yet part of her wanted to remain as she was, still wanting Hunter for her own, but without the life-altering change.

“Yeah. You were right all along, Tessa honey. Meeting on the beach like we did was… karma. Although if I’d been more with it, I would have acted a lot more like one of the SEALs.”

Her mouth slightly gaped. “How could you have been a SEAL as a werewolf?”

“We can be anything we want, if we’re so inclined and have the aptitude.” He winked at her and the sexy look slid a volley of heat through her.

And then she gave him a half smile. “Wonder what your SEAL friends would have thought if they’d known how we met.”

“They would’ve been cursing my fortune that a beautiful woman had come to rescue me and not them.” He lifted her from the chair, hugged her to his chest, tighter than need be as if he’d feared losing her and wanted to prove to himself she was all his—which suited her just fine—then carried her to the bed. “We’ve got to talk.”

Talk? She felt the tension in his muscles, saw the way his eyes darkened with need, smelled the subtle change in him, indicating he was becoming aroused. She wanted him with all her heart. So why didn’t his heated embrace make her melt against him? She stiffened instead, unable to hide a nagging concern. What if he changed her, then gave her to a beta wolf? “You don’t think I’m enough of an alpha.”

“You’re an alpha all right. After you clobbered that gray with the fireplace tongs and tonight again with your crutch?” He gave her a small smile, set her on the bed, and tucked some of her hair behind her ear with a tender touch. “A beta female would have tucked tail and run. With your sprained ankle, if you’d been a beta, you would have easily given up. I saw you trying to keep Yoloff from biting you. If I could have, I would have ended his miserable life, too.”

Hunter’s fingers shifted to the buttons on her blouse, his urgent struggle making her smile.

But she still had to know—was he defying Devlyn? Taking her for his own? What were his intentions? Yet even so, she didn’t stop him. She couldn’t. Whenever he wanted her, she had no power to hinder him, just as she had no control over her own craving to have him. “I thought we were going to talk.”

“I can’t deny I’m uncomfortable doing this to you, Tessa. I don’t want you to regret it. But I also don’t want to bite you. Wolves do bite in playfulness, but as a wolf to human?” He shook his head and pulled her blouse off her shoulders.

So he was changing her. But that didn’t mean he was taking her for his mate. Despite wanting to know the truth first, her body instantly responded to his touching her, flames stoking her insides, a wet readiness preparing her for sex—not change. Want and need replacing common sense. His gaze focused on her face—watching for any sign of hesitation?

The change. That’s what he was concerned about. “I used to play tug-of-war with my Irish Setter when I had one. She’d sometimes go for my hand by accident.” She hoped her lighthearted response would ease his concern.

Hunter smiled. “Want to play tug-of-war?” He pulled her blouse off the rest of the way. “I’ve got to do this. We don’t have a choice.”

She seized his hands and looked into his eyes. In that instant, he looked even more concerned, his mouth tightening, jaw clenched, brow furrowing.

“I’m afraid, which isn’t being alpha like, is it? But I worry I’ll change too much. But more than that, what are you going to do with me afterwards?”

Still looking stern, a hint of relief flitted across his expression. “You’re mine.”

She should be ecstatic to have that question resolved, shouldn’t she? But she couldn’t quit worrying about the change. Instead of addressing his claim, she said, “I thought you couldn’t shapeshift unless the moon was out.” Yet she recalled the look Meara had given him.

His sensual lips curved upward just a little as he started pulling off his clothes, revealing his beautiful body, rough hewn, rugged, capable of enduring great hardships, or giving her carnal pleasure. “I’m a royal and can do anything I want.” He gave an arrogant smile. “Almost anything.”

“So as a royal, you can shapeshift anytime?”

“That’s the beauty of it.”

“That’s why you could be a SEAL. No worry about shifting while under water.”

He chuckled. “No. And the group I was with—all royals, just for that reason.”

She sighed. No scars marked his smooth as silk skin, every bit of toned muscles from his wide shoulders to his well-developed chest, flexing in anticipation. She looked lower, from his narrow waist and hips down to his full blown erection standing at attention amidst dark curls.

“I have to shift, but if you keep looking at me like you want to eat me all up…”

Her eyes riveted back to his lusty gaze.

“You might want to look away when I begin to shift.”

“I’ve seen you shapeshift. You’re gorgeous. What if I’m motley?” Again, she tried to make light of the situation, although her stomach churned with renewed apprehension.

“You’ll be beautiful. But Leidolf and Devlyn will want you unless we’re mated. Ready?”

She nodded. He looked like he wanted to kiss her, his gaze lowering to her mouth again and lingering there… but then he took a deep breath and began to shift into his wolf form. She couldn’t get over how fast the transformation was. Would she shift just as quickly? If Ashton was any indication of a newly turned lupus garou, then yes, she’d change just as swiftly. Probably of a necessity, to avoid humans catching sight of them between forms.

She watched in awe, how his body changed gracefully, effortlessly, painlessly, from the muscled hunk to the healthiest specimen of a wolf she’d ever seen. Beautiful almond eyes captured hers and then before she could say a word, the wolf that was Hunter jumped on the bed and nuzzled her cheek.

She stroked his head. “Hurry and do it before I change my mind.” Her skin perspired lightly and in the cold hospital room, she shivered.

His amber eyes remained fixed on hers and then he dipped his head and nipped her uninjured arm.

“Ow,” she said, frowning. “Jeez, Hunter. That hurt like a hard pinch and you didn’t even break the skin. But I’ll have a bruise for sure there now.”

If a wolf could look contrite, he did and tried again. His second bite was as lame as his first.

“Ah for heaven’s sakes, Hunter. Another bruise. Hurry and do it right or I’m calling it quits.” She hoped her words would make him stop worrying about hurting her. She’d heal quickly anyway, wouldn’t she?

He bit again and broke the skin this time. Her eyes watered and she bit her lip. Blood trickled from the bite on her arm, and he licked it away. And waited.

Self-doubt filled her. Maybe he didn’t turn her either, just like Yoloff hadn’t. What if she was some strange anomaly and couldn’t be turned? Maybe her great-grandmother couldn’t be either and that’s why she died of the fever? A sadness filled Tessa with the notion neither her ancestor or she could forever be with the one she loved.

But if the change had taken effect, what was she supposed to feel like? Except that her swollen ankle and arm where Yoloff had bitten her were tingling with the strangest sensations, nothing else was different.

Hunter continued to watch her, not shapeshifting. She hoped to hell he wouldn’t have to bite her again.

“Too bad with all of your enhanced abilities, you can’t talk when you’re in your wolf form, too.” She glanced at the door. “Someone’s coming. You’d better hide under the bed.”

Hunter didn’t budge, just continued to observe her.

“I mean it. I… I hear several people.” Her heart pumped harder.

“Howdy, folks,” Allan said at the door.

“Did he do it yet?” Leidolf asked, his voice guardedly amused.

Leidolf. Her heart took a dive.

“It remains to be seen. I’m taking care of things here. Why don’t you run along?”

“Tell Hunter four of his people want to return with him. The fifth wants to stay with one of my widowed males to be his mate. When Hunter’s through here, he and Tessa can meet me at the hotel. Different set of rooms. Just check at the front desk. Dinner’s on me.”

Tessa relaxed. Leidolf didn’t want her, thank God for small miracles.

“I’ll let him know.”

Tessa took a deep breath, smelled the air, and looked at Hunter in his feral wolf form, her eyes widening. “You’re a gray. I mean, I smell a special scent that surrounds you. A wildness, like a fresh spring day, the woods, the great outdoors.”

She swore his mouth curved up just a hair, before he began to shapeshift—his body straightening, his rich fur pelt vanishing, leaving behind bronzed skin over hard muscles. Until he stood before her, one gloriously built male stud.