“Reason I ask is that I don’t want to shred my clothes. So, I need to undress before I shift,” explained Kevin.
“Meg, what in the hell is this stuff about? If you didn’t want to give me a job, all you really needed to do is say no. It would have been a hell of a lot kinder,” said Angie who was getting more upset by the second.
“Oh hell,” said Kevin as he kicked off his shoes and then shifted.
Angie screamed. Meg moved to her side and was torn between trying to comfort her friend and not laughing about a rather large wolf tangled up in shredded clothes. Laughter won as Kevin shook and while the shirt and most of the trousers fell off, the belt and underwear were still in place.
She was laughing so hard that Angie stopped screaming and took another look at Kevin. As she watched Kevin try to bite the belt and bikini briefs off of his hind end, she too started to giggle. About this point, Meg’s office door burst open and Cal and Peter ran in.
“We heard screams…” was as far as Peter got when both of them saw Kevin. Cal started laughing and Peter just whooped. By this time, Kevin had the belt stuck bandoleer style and the undies were shreds with elastic holding them around his hips.
Cal took pity on Kevin and undid the belt and pulled the underwear the rest of the way off. Kevin shook himself again and then sat looking at Angie. The giggles slowly settled down.
“Angie, I’m sorry we upset you, but,” started Meg.
“No, it was my own fault. You can take the girl out of the Midwest, but not the Midwest out of the girl,” she said trying to explain her reluctance to believing Meg without seeing things. “I just thought this was all some elaborate prank to not hire me,” she finished.
“No, it wasn’t. It was an honest attempt to explain how life is around here. You had to know what kind of environment you would be working in,” said Meg.
Angie nodded, still looking at Kevin. She finally collected herself and stood up. Walking over to Kevin, she held out her hand. Kevin sniffed it and then sat still. Angie touched his ear and then his head like you would a dog.
“He likes scratched behind the ears,” said Cal.
“Cal!” said Meg. “You are such a brat!”
Cal smiled. “You have to admit that this is the best laugh we’ve had in weeks, besides Ginny,” he said.
“I know, but Kevin just shredded his clothes, and the last thing he needs is for you to pull funny jokes at his expense,” said Meg.
Peter nodded. He agreed with Meg, but oh how he was going to tease Kevin. There was ammunition in this situation for weeks.
“Meg,” said Angie turning back to her friend.
“Yes, Angie,” said Meg.
“He’s real,” Angie said as all of what had just happened sunk in.
“Yes, he is. And when he shifts back so that he can drive home, he’ll be naked,” said Meg.
“Nah, he’s got his belt and his shoes,” teased Peter.
“Peter!” said Meg almost at the same time that Kevin growled. Angie stepped back from Kevin.
Peter put his hand up in a gesture of surrender. “Okay, he won’t be nude. I know where his spare stash of clothes is in his car. I’ll go get them.” Peter then turned and left the room followed by Cal and Kevin.
Angie sat down still trying to take everything in. It took her a few minutes to compose herself. “Mmeg, when did you find out that Luc was a shifter?” she asked.
“In the middle of sex, on that first camping trip. I screamed too, and climbed a tree,” Meg said. “Luc and I had a talk and he finally convinced me that he wasn’t going to eat me, nor was it contagious and I fell out of the tree and into his arms.”
“Oh god!” said Angie. “And this is real? Not some magic trick or fancy holograph trick? I’m not dreaming?”
“No, you aren’t,” said Kevin from the door.
Angie jumped. “Oh! Kevin, I am sorry I didn’t believe you. Sorry I caused you to destroy your clothes,” said Angie.
“And I’m sorry for laughing, but it was the undies that got me,” said Meg.
Kevin blushed a bit and went to pick up his shoes and what was left of his clothes. He tossed some of them in the trash. “Yeah, I forgive you ladies. I know it isn’t easy. Not from this side either. Both my parents are shifters and the first time I discovered that some people don’t shift it really threw my world into a spin. Even worse on my first non-shifter date,” he said.
“I never thought about that,” said Meg. “I guess it would be a bit unsettling.”
“It was. Put me off sex for months, because I was afraid I’d hurt someone,” said Kevin.
“Mentally or physically hurt them Kevin,” Meg asked.
“Both. Mostly physically though. Luc is real gentle isn’t he,” said Kevin.
“Yes, but I never thought about it in terms of trying not to hurt me,” said Meg.
“Well, you know we are strong, so think about how that would be if we got carried away during sex,” said Kevin.
Meg thought about it and nodded. “Yeah, I see,” she said.
Kevin walked over to where Angie sat. “So, are you running away from the prospect of a job with a bunch of werewolves, or are you going to join us?” Kevin asked Angie.
“You aren’t afraid I’d run off and expose your secrets?” Angie asked.
“No, who’d believe you?” asked Kevin.
“What?” asked Angie.
“If you went to the papers, or the news stations, who would believe you?” asked Kevin softly. He could see Angie thinking it over.
“You’re right,” Angie said after a moments thought. “And the woman who’s job I’m taking over is a werewolf too?”
“Yes. Does that bother you?” asked Kevin.
“No, not really. It explains the peanut butter dog biscuits in the jar and the vase full of beef jerky though,” Angie said. “Are you sure you want to work with me?” she asked Meg and Kevin.
“Angie, I wouldn’t have offered you the job if I didn’t think you capable of the work,” said Meg.