Dimitri’s POV
“Why can’t we go to the forest to do this?” Maddie asked as I closed our bedroom door.
“And risk someone seeing you?” I said, shaking my head at her. “I am not letting that happen, Madeline. You will shift here.”
The room was big enough for her to do it here. Skye would have to wait to go on a run. It wasn’t safe.
Maddie approached the fireplace and looked at the flames. I saw worry in her eyes and it made my heart hurt.
“Maddie, princess, what’s wrong?” I asked her.
‘She is still angry at Skye,’ Skol sighed. ‘She doesn’t want to shift.’
I sighed and walked closer to Maddie. I wrapped my arms around her from behind and kissed her temple. She took a deep breath and leaned into me.
“Skye did it all to protect you, princess,” I said softly. “She loves you so much.”
Maddie remained silent. It was driving me crazy. I needed to know what she was thinking.
“Princess,” I called her again.
She sighed and looked up at me. I caressed her cheek and leaned in to kiss her softly.
“Talk to me, princess,” I mumbled against her lips.
She took a deep breath and rested her head on my chest. I was melting inside. Knowing that I was her comfort made me the happiest man on this planet. I ran my hands up and down her body and pressed her even closer to me.
“I am not ready,” she mumbled. “I am not ready for it to become real.”
I sighed and placed a kiss on her forehead.
“It is already real, princess,” I said. “Letting Skye out won’t change anything. She is a Lycan. You are a descendant of the Goldfangs Kingdom. It is your reality, Maddie.”
I felt her tense up.
“Please, love, talk to me,” I said quietly. “Tell me what you are thinking. I need to know.”
Maddie looked up at me and gulped.
“A part of me still thinks that I am not…,” she stopped talking and I saw tears form in her eyes.
I was pretty sure that I knew the end of that sentence. I cupped her cheeks and sighed.
“You are my mate,” I said softly. “You are my Queen. You are the love of my life. You deserve it, Maddie. You were meant to be mine. There is no one else who is meant to be standing here with me.”
I leaned in and kissed her.
“There is no one else I am meant to kiss,” I added quietly. “There is no one else I am meant to love.”
She wrapped her arms around me tightly and kissed me hard. I tangled my fingers into her hair and kept her close to me.
“I love you, Dimitri,” she said after she stopped kissing me. “I love you with everything that I have.”
I smiled and rested my forehead against hers.
“I know, princess,” I said. “I can feel it.”
I caressed my cheeks and ran my hands down her body. I unbuttoned her jeans and she took a deep breath. I gently started taking her shirt off. She lifted her hands so I could pull it over her head. I threw the shirt to the side and leaned in to place a kiss on her collarbone. The taste of her skin made my heart skip a beat.
“Will it hurt?” she asked, her voice trembling a little.
I got down on my knees and placed a soft kiss on her lower belly.
“A little bit,” I said as I started taking her jeans and her underwear off. “I will be here every step of the way. Don’t worry, princess.”
She stepped out of her jeans and I threw them to the side as well. I looked up at her and smiled.
“I love you,” I told her.
She ran her fingers through my hair and I sighed contently.
“Is Skye ready?” I asked and she gave me a small nod.
I kissed her thigh and stood back up. I placed another kiss on her lips and gave her a small smile.
“Skye will know what to do,” I said. “Just give her control, okay?”
Maddie nodded. I saw nervousness on her face and it made me sad. I wished I could do it for her. I caressed her cheek and took a few steps back. She clenched her fists and took a deep breath.
“Close your eyes, princess,” I said softly. “Let Skye take over.”
Maddie listened to me and closed her eyes. I saw her tense up and furrow her brows. I wanted to take her into my arms, but I knew I couldn’t. Not until she shifted.
Maddie fell to her knees and a scream escaped her lips. My entire body tensed up and I had to fight against every instinct I had. I wanted to grab her and make the pain go away, but I knew I couldn’t.
“It’s okay, princess,” I said, my voice trembling. “It will only hurt for a moment, I promise.”
Maddie groaned and fell to her side. She opened her eyes and tried to take a deep breath.
My muscles were completely clenched. I was like a coiled spring, just wanting to throw myself at her and stop the pain.
“It’s okay, princess, it’s okay,” I mumbled. “Just a few more moments.”
Another scream escaped her lips and I saw fur appearing on her arms. My entire body started trembling with the need to go to her.
“Just a little bit longer, princess,” I muttered, gritting my teeth. “Just a little bit longer.”
Maddie started thrashing a little. She was panting hard and quiet whimpers kept escaping her lips. I was on the verge of losing my shit. I hated seeing her in pain. I fucking hated it.
“Dimitri,” she cried out for me and I almost fucking lost it.
‘No, Dimitri,’ Skol said sternly. ‘It’s almost over.’
I gulped and used every bit of strength I had to stay where I was.
“It’s almost over, princess,” I said, my voice trembling. “It’s almost over.”
Maddie screamed loudly and I saw her claws extend. Skol tensed up. I felt his need for Skye wash over me.
Maddie thrashed again and I saw her body transform into the most beautiful Lycan I ever laid my eyes on.
Skol and I gasped at the same time.
She was beautiful. Her fur was black and shiny. Her claws and canines were white and the flames from the fireplace made them look like they were sparkling. She was small, but I could tell that she was going to be a powerful wolf. She was just so beautiful and I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
She whined quietly and opened her eyes.
“Skye,” I mumbled, making her look at me.
She whined and I was next to her in a second.
‘Let me out!’ Skol exclaimed, pushing to be free.
‘Give me a second, okay?’ I mumbled as I buried my nose into her fur. ‘Just one second.’
“You are beautiful, princess,” I mumbled as I picked her up. “You are so beautiful.”
She nuzzled her snout into my chest and I smiled.
“It is so wonderful to finally meet you, Skye,” I mumbled. “I love you so much.”
She licked my neck and I laughed.
‘Dimitri,’ Skol cried out and I could feel him trembling with need for her.
“Do you want to meet Skol?’ I asked her and she whined loudly.
I chuckled and ran my fingers through her soft fur.
“I will take that as a yes,” I said as I smiled at her.
I placed a kiss on her snout and I let her go. I stood up so I could shift. Skol took over faster than ever. He grabbed Skye and whined loudly. He was finally holding his mate in his arms.
