Clayton

"She called my mother a whore." Said Eve from the passenger seat. "And no one in your tribe will accept a broken girl like me."

My heart ached from the tears that fell from her eyes. "I was doing okay until I got furious." She explained.

I nodded in understanding, "That's because we use adrenaline to make the shift. Anger produces a lot of adrenaline and triggers you to change faster. Fear, extreme happiness, and sexual urges force a change, too, if you don't have control. After we change, we must learn to control our emotions, or we could hurt someone."

I called my Papa to ask him to meet us at my house.

After pulling into the driveway, I hurried around to get Eve. Her whole body shook, and her teeth chattered as I scooped her into my arms.

The front door opened as I stepped onto the porch. "Get Evelyn inside, grandson; she's going into shock. I started the bath when I arrived; the hot water will help."

Every gasp and whimper ripped my heart into shreds. I would happily take Little Bird's place if I could. I will never forget how much it hurt when I first shifted.

I hurried through the house, passing my mother in the hallway.

Once in the bathroom, I set Eve on the toilet. Taking her precious face, I said, " Eve baby, I need your permission to remove your dress, and I will leave your bra and underwear."

With a roll of her eyes, she replied, "Clay, I trust you impeccably. Do what you need to do, fuzzy butt."

Great Spirits above; I love this girl.

Sigh…. This is not what I had in mind when I removed her dress for the first time. I couldn't help but take in her half-naked body as I removed her clothes. She grew more and more beautiful by the day.

After she was clad in her bra and panties, I removed my clothes and left my boxers on.

"Clay, what are you doing…" asked Eve through chattering teeth.

"I don't want any arguments," I said, scooping her into my arms, "I'm getting in the tub with you. I know from experience how painful a shift is; I will go insane if I can't hold you through it."

I stepped into the hot steamy water, then laid us in the tub with her back to my front. She did her best not to scream when the pain grew; she tensed when her bones tried to break.

"Clay, this isn't appropriate." said mother when she walked in.

"Tallulah, there's no talking him out of it." Said Papa. "All he sees is the other half of his soul is in pain. His Guardian will do what it can to protect his mate."

I ignored my mother while trying to distract my mate from the pain. I asked her about her mother, her favorite play, how she felt on stage, and to sing me her favorite song.

"A dream is a wish your heart makes, When you're fast asleep,

In dreams, you will lose your heartaches, Whatever you wish for,

you keep, Have faith in your dreams, and someday,

Your rainbow will come smiling through, No matter how your heart is grieving, If you keep on believing, The dream that you wish will come true."

"Tell me about the song, Little Bird. Is it from a movie?" I asked

She gasped mockingly, "Clay Branham, you've never seen Cinderella?"

"I'm afraid not." I replied

"That will change. I'm going to make you watch all my favorite movies. Just wait until you see the Wizard of Oz."

She had stopped shaking a while ago, but I just couldn't let her go.

She tilted her head to look up at me, then brought her hand up to touch my face. With a sigh, I closed my eyes, leaning into her touch.

"I love you, Clay." She whispered.

Pure happiness lit my soul as I pulled her closer, "I love you too, Little Bird," I said, pulling her in for a hungry kiss.

We both jumped when a loud clap echoed through the bathroom. I turned to growl at who interrupted us when I saw it was my mother.

….. Ah, shit….

"That's enough for you two," Mother said, "I'm too young for grandbabies. Now get out and introduce me to my soon to be daughter n' law.

I laughed when I saw Eve's red ears. She was a great Spirit; she was terrific.

After a quick kiss, I stood, giving her a good eye full of the tent in my boxers as I stepped out of the tub. "You see what you do to me, Little Bird?" I joked as I pulled on my shorts.

Her face was as red as a tomato as she hid her face in her hands.

I chucked as grabbed a towel as she stood, then helped her dry off. Completely ignoring her when she rolled her eyes.

I grabbed my discarded shirt, then slipped it over her head. The shirt was so oversized on her that it fell to her knees. I sensed that my Guardian was just as pleased as I was to see her wearing my shirt.

I scooped her up, then carried her into the living room where my parents and grandfather were waiting.