Only Exception | P.L

1.09 First Controlled Shift

"You ready?" Paul asked gently.

Tala swallowed. "For what?"

Paul stepped closer, slow enough for her to track every movement. "For me to show you how to center your senses."

Sam clapped her shoulder once. "I'll be close. But this is Paul's thing."

He stepped back, giving the two of them space.

Paul motioned to the ground. "Sit with me."

Tala lowered herself into the grass beside him. Paul didn't crowd her; he left a respectful gap, but his presence still hummed against her awareness.

"Close your eyes." He instructed. "Tell me the first thing you smell."

Tala inhaled.

"Earth." She said. "Pine. And you."

Paul's breath hitched — barely, but she caught it. "Good. Now find the farthest thing."

She reached, stretching her senses outward like Sam had taught her.

"Saltwater. The coast."

"Exactly. See? You can control where your senses go. You're not drowning in them anymore — you're steering."

She opened her eyes, surprised at the steadiness returning to her chest.

"How did you learn all this?" she asked.

Paul's lips tilted in a small, soft smile. "You learn fast when you don't want to lose control around people you care about."

The words brushed against her like warmth.

Sam cleared his throat loudly from across the clearing. "She doesn't need romantic revelations mid-lesson, Paul."

Paul threw him an annoyed look. "I didn't say anything romantic."

"You implied it."

"I didn't imply anything."

"You absolutely did."

Tala let the bickering wash over her — familiar, grounding. The racing of her heartbeat slowed, her senses settling into something softer.

She leaned back on her hands, breathing in the damp air.

"Okay." She said quietly. "I think I'm ready to try shifting. Not today. Not tonight. But... soon."

Both men stopped arguing.

Paul looked at her with something like pride flickering in his eyes. Sam's expression softened, the tension leaving his shoulders.

"Whenever you're ready." Paul said. "I'll be there."

Sam added, "We all will."

For the first time since that terrifying night in the forest, Tala believed them.

———

The moon wasn't full — didn't need to be. The air in the reservation was damp and cool, the kind that clung to skin and made the trees look darker than they were. Tala stood at the edge of the pack clearing, arms tight around herself, trying to steady her breathing.

Sam, Paul, Jared, and Emily waited nearby, giving her a wide perimeter but never stepping out of her line of sight. No one spoke. The forest did enough of that on its own. Tala swallowed hard.

"This feels like a bad idea." She muttered.

Paul took one slow step toward her — close but not crowding, his gaze warm amber even in the dim light. "You said you wanted to try. If you want to stop, say the word."