Chapter 242: Chapter 242: The Mouse Watches the Wolves Play
Natalia swallowed.
I felt it. Felt her throat work against the tension. Felt her body go rigid where I pressed against her back. She was trying so damn hard to stay composed.
Had to be killing her inside.
To everyone else, this looked innocent. Big brother helping his stepsister with archery. How sweet. How wholesome.
We both knew better.
That’s what made it fun.
A soft sound escaped her throat. Not quite a moan. Close enough to make me grin against her hair. My fingers squeezed her hip. Hard enough to leave marks she’d feel later. When she was alone. When she’d remember exactly how this felt.
"Like this?" She pushed back against me. Slow. Deliberate. Her ass ground against my hardness.
Little tease.
"Perfect." I gave her hip one last squeeze. Then stepped back.
The absence of my body against hers hit different. I saw it in the way her shoulders tensed. The shallow breath she took.
But the game had rules. And I had other pieces to move.
Natalia released the arrow.
Thwack.
Dead center.
She turned around. Victory gleamed in those purple eyes. Chin lifted. Proud. She’d kept her composure and nailed the shot.
Two wins in one.
I loved when she played like this.
I turned to Soomin immediately.
She jumped. Actually flinched when my attention landed on her. Eyes went huge. Her whole body reacted like I’d physically touched her instead of just looking.
Fascinating.
"Your turn, Soomin." I kept my voice soft. Warm. The tone you use with stray cats. "You wanted help, right? Show me your Aspect."
She clutched her sleep shirt tighter. Knuckles went white around the fabric. The blush spread across her cheeks like someone had dumped red paint in the center of her face.
"My Aspect?" Her voice shook. "But I can’t control it very well..."
Those gradient blue eyes showed everything. The war happening inside her head. Wanting to please me. Terrified of failing. Desperate for approval. Paralyzed by fear.
So easy to read.
"That’s why we practice." I kept my tone logical. Patient. Reasonable. "Safe environment. Supportive teammates. No pressure."
I gestured at the padded gym. The soft mats. The reinforced walls. Didn’t break eye contact.
I’ll keep you safe.
Didn’t say it out loud. Didn’t need to.
"It’s okay, Soomin-chan!" Emi bounced on her toes. Nodded encouragingly. "I’d love to see your Aspect!"
Sunshine personified. That girl.
Soomin glanced at Natalia. My queen leaned against the wall now. Arms crossed. One perfect eyebrow arched. That single raised brow said everything. Challenge. Skepticism. Maybe the tiniest bit of concern buried underneath.
"Okay." Soomin’s shoulders squared. She steeled herself. Took a deep breath. Closed her eyes. Her fingers finally relaxed their death grip on her shirt.
Then she transformed.
Her pink hair bled white. Started at the roots. Spread outward like frost crawling across a window. Her eyes snapped open. Glowed ethereal blue. Lit up her face from within. A single white tail materialized behind her. Swayed back and forth with a life of its own.
But the real change?
Her entire demeanor.
The shy girl vanished. Confidence replaced fear. Her posture straightened. Shoulders back. Chest forward. Chin up. That oversized shirt that looked childish before? Now it hung off her shoulder like she’d planned it. Provocative. Deliberate. Showed pale skin and more curves than I’d noticed.
Her lips curved into a dangerous smile.
"So." Her voice dropped. Became husky. Sultry. Every word dripped sex. "The big bad Stray Dog wants to see what this little fox can do?"
She stretched. Arms above her head. The movement made her shirt ride up. Showed a strip of toned stomach. Smooth skin. Hip bones.
"You sure you can handle it?"
Before I could respond, she lunged.
Fast. Pure predatory instinct. No warning. No telegraph.
My reflexes kicked in faster. Caught her mid-lunge. Arm around her waist. Spun her. Pinned her against the padded wall.
Thump.
My forearm pressed across her throat. Not hard. Just enough to control. My body caged hers. One hand pinned her wrist above her head. Our faces inches apart.
Her glowing blue eyes went wide. Surprised.
And excited.
Her pulse raced beneath my arm. I felt it hammering. Her breath came quick and shallow. Brushed against my face. Her transformed body radiated heat. So different from her usual cool shyness.
"Ooh." She breathed the word. Her tail flicked behind her. Excited. "Strong. I like that."
Her lips curved into a smile. Showed canines sharper than they should be.
Two completely different people in one body.
One a terrified mouse. The other a thrill-seeking predator.
A split personality tied to her Aspect? Ultimate defense mechanism. Or ultimate vulnerability.
Depends how you used it.
"Easy there, little fox." I growled the words. Played to her new persona. Tested the waters. "You’ve got power, sure. But no control. You need a leash."
Something dark flashed in her glowing eyes. She leaned forward against the pressure of my arm. Closed the distance between us by another inch.
"You offering to hold it?"
I caught Natalia’s expression from the corner of my eye.
Pure thundercloud.
Her jaw clenched so tight I could practically hear teeth grinding. Fingernails dug into her own arms where they stayed crossed. Probably leaving crescent marks in her skin.
Emi just stood there. Mouth slightly open. Bow forgotten in her hands. Eyes darting between us like she was watching a fight she didn’t understand.
I released Soomin. Stepped back. Gave her space.
The transformation reversed immediately.
Her hair faded back to pink. Color bleeding from white like watercolor in reverse. Eyes returned to normal gradient blue. The glow disappeared. Her tail dissipated into glowing motes that sparkled once before vanishing.
The confident seductress vanished too.
Shy Soomin returned. Couldn’t meet my eyes. Face went bright red.
"Oh no." She whimpered. Covered her face with both hands. "I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to... she gets so... I can’t control what she says when..."
She trailed off. Mortified.
I tilted my head. Studied her. Watched the way she tried to make herself smaller again. Hunched shoulders. Twisted fingers. The complete opposite of thirty seconds ago.
"Interesting." I said it out loud. Let the word hang there.
Soomin peeked at me through her fingers. "I’m sorry!"
"Don’t apologize." I crossed my arms. Mirrored Natalia’s pose against the opposite wall. "Personality shift when you transform?"
She nodded miserably. "When I activate it, she takes over. I can’t really control her. She does what she wants. Says what she wants."
"She?"
"The fox." Soomin dropped her hands. Stared at the floor. "It’s like there’s someone else inside me. When I transform, she’s in charge. I’m just watching."
"How long can you hold the transformation?" I asked.
"Maybe ten minutes?" She bit her lip. "Sometimes less if she gets too excited. She drains my energy fast."
"And you can’t suppress her personality when transformed?"
Soomin shook her head. Pink hair fell across her face. "No. Once I transform, she’s in control. I can force myself back sometimes if I concentrate really hard. But mostly I just have to wait until she’s done or until I run out of energy."
"Does she remember what happens?"
"I remember everything." Soomin’s voice got quieter. "I’m still aware. I just can’t stop her from doing things."
"Can she hear me right now?" I kept my voice casual. Curious. "When you’re normal Soomin?"
Soomin hesitated. "Sometimes. She’s usually quiet unless I’m stressed or excited. Then she gets louder. Pushes me to transform."
"What does she want?"
Another hesitation. Longer this time. "Fun. Excitement. To not be boring." Soomin’s cheeks went red again. "To do things I’m too scared to do."
There it was.
The fox was everything Soomin wanted to be and couldn’t. Confident. Aggressive. Sexy. Fearless. The repressed desires given form and power.
Classic Jekyll and Hyde situation. Except both sides were conscious. Both sides aware. Both sides wanting control.
Psychological nightmare waiting to happen.
Or the perfect tool if you knew how to use it.