Wolf Betrayed (Talon Pack #4)(39)

The shift itself was personal, their bodies becoming their most vulnerable selves before they went from one form to another. It was a private thing that they could sometimes do in front of others if the time was right. A full moon hunt was usually one of those times.

Shane would shift tonight near Charlotte and Bram, but Walker and Gideon would be close, as well. Bram hoped everything would work out so that none of them were needed, but nothing so far had worked out as he’d planned so he wasn’t sure.

Bram’s wolf pushed at him just a bit more, and he turned as Shane walked toward them. The Brentwoods around him dispersed to their own areas, though Gideon and Walker followed him.

Charlotte slid from Bram’s grasp and moved toward the other man. Again, he didn’t feel the jealousy he would and did with any other man. It just proved to him that his was more than multiple potential mates. This was a triad.

Something that had never once crossed his mind as a possibility before this.

“Ready to do this?” Charlotte asked, her voice serious but still soft.

Shane nodded, though Bram noticed the slight fear in his eyes. That actually made Bram feel a bit better, as anyone with a brain would be a little scared in this situation.

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” Shane rubbed his shoulder over his shirt and winced. “Hell, my skin feels like it’s being rubbed raw.”

Bram moved forward and frowned. “Take off your shirt. Your skin is ultra sensitive right now, and anything on it is just going to hurt.”

“I take it you want me to remove my pants, as well,” Shane said dryly.

“You’re going to have to sooner or later,” Charlotte said evenly. “Did the others teach you the etiquette that comes with shifting in public?”

Shane pulled his shirt up over his head, and Bram did his best not to stare. As they were literally talking about etiquette right then, he knew he should probably follow the rules.

“They told me,” Shane finally answered. “But they won’t tell me how much this is going to hurt.”

Bram met Charlotte’s eyes for a brief moment before turning back to Shane. “A lot.”

The other man blew out a breath. “I figured.”

“I’m here to help if needed,” Walker put in. “But I’m also here for all my wolves, so don’t need me.”

Gideon looked over Bram’s shoulder and cursed. “Hell. Don’t need me either. There’s a pup over there on their first hunt, and they’re scared as hell.”

Bram turned around, aware the Alpha could sense changes within the Pack bonds far before anyone could sense things in the air.

“We can handle this,” Bram promised, praying he wasn’t lying.

“I hope so,” the Alpha mumbled. “You’ve got this, Shane. Just let your wolf come out, listen to it, and breathe through the pain. Those around you have done this countless times and will lead you through it. I need to go help the pup right now, but I can be here on a moment’s notice.”

Shane shook his head, his body tense. “Help the kid. I’m not alone.”

Gideon nodded and then ran off to where the child was.

“Where’s Brie?” Shane asked before groaning. The other man fell to his knees, and Charlotte let out a curse before going to him. Bram followed but stayed silent.

“Breathe through the pain. Let’s take off your pants since the change is coming on quick. And as for Brie, morning sickness came at night this time, so she’s at home resting. Wolves don’t need to change on the full moon, and she’s been shifting often enough for it not to be a problem.”

Bram helped Shane take off his pants, ignoring the man’s naked state. Shane was in a hell of a lot of pain, and this wasn’t the time to think about other things.

Other wolves around them began shifting like normal, but Bram stayed in human form, aware that Shane might need him. When the other man fell to the ground full, a scream ripping through his throat, Bram knew something was wrong.

“He’s not shifting,” Walker whispered.

“I know.” Bram’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t move forward to touch Shane in comfort. Any contact right now would be excruciating.

Shane’s body was covered in sweat, tense and corded muscle sliding over his body but not fully shifting. When going wolf, bones usually broke, and tendons tore, but there was an eventual outcome to the pain.

Bram knew there wouldn’t be this time.

Shane screamed again, tears leaking from his eyes, Bram cursed. His wolf clawed at him, needing to help. But Bram knew of only one way to help right, then and he wasn’t sure it would work at all.

“What are we going to do?” Charlotte asked. She was on her knees by Shane’s side, running her hands through his hair. It was probably the only part of him she could touch right now without making it worse.

Shane coughed, blood spattering over Charlotte’s legs, and she looked up at Bram, fear in her eyes.

“Fuck.” Bram went to his knees. “I don’t think this is working.”

Shane rolled over, his eyes wide as he looked at both of them. “It’s like I’m being ripped apart, but can’t do anything about it.” He coughed again, spraying more blood on the ground.

Walker was on his knees beside Shane, as well. “We’d hoped having him near the Pack when he shifted the first time would help his wolf find his way, but now I’m thinking we should have had him in the infirmary.”