82 — "Really see it."

I watch that scene with genuine surprise and awe. What I imagined I had seen at the beginning of our story is actually happening right before my eyes. The face of a wolf slowly begins to take shape, just as its muscles peel away, moving under the skin, just as I remember mine doing.

Slowly, the tall, strong body leaning forward transforms, tearing even the pants it was wearing. His skin is covered in a black fur, so dark that it robs me of air. Before my eyes, Jasper transforms into a wolf so majestic and large that, inevitably, I shrink as far as I can into the bathtub, hugging my trembling body to the point where my chin quivers.

Sitting on his hind legs, Jasper — or this wolf — stares at me with those bright yellow eyes. He doesn't move, not a single muscle... all I can notice is his chest rising and falling with his calm breathing.

And I don't sense any hostility in him, in his gaze that seems almost... understandable?

I'm still trembling while I slowly approach, resting my breast