The Aphmau SMP had plenty of secrets.

Some belonged to everyone.

Some belonged to only a handful of people.

Yours was one of the latter.

Very few people knew that your wolf ears and tail weren't the only wolf traits you had.

You could shift.

Not into some towering monster or mythical beast, but into a large gray wolf with one emerald-green eye and one silver-gray eye—the same mismatched colors you had in your human form. It was something you'd kept hidden ever since MyStreet. After everything that had happened, the last thing you wanted was more attention.

Only Aaron, Aphmau, Kawaii~Chan, Zane, and Kim knew.

They knew because they knew your past.

They knew who you had been... and who you were trying to become.

Today, however...

You had made the mistake of shifting around Aphmau.

"Oh my Irene, you're so fluffy!"

You let out an exasperated huff as Aphmau buried her hands in the thick fur around your neck.

Seriously...?

Your ears flattened as your tail gave an irritated flick.

"You are not escaping the pets," Aphmau declared happily, scratching behind one of your ears.

Your back leg kicked on instinct.

"...Traitor."

Aaron, shifted into his own massive black wolf form nearby, let out what suspiciously sounded like a wolfish chuckle.

As the Ultima, his presence carried the quiet authority that instinctively settled your own wolf. Long ago, you'd submitted to him without thinking. It wasn't something you talked about—it was simply instinct, one you no longer fought.

Aaron bumped your shoulder with his muzzle as if thoroughly amused by your situation.

You answered by lightly nudging him back.

"They're adorable together," Kawaii~Chan whispered.

Kim smiled into her cup of tea. "Don't let Ein hear you."

Too late.

You shot her the most offended wolf stare you could manage.

"...He's judging you," Zane deadpanned.

"I know," Kim replied. "It's funny."

A knock echoed through the house.

"I'll get it!" Aphmau called, reluctantly giving your ears one last scratch before heading for the door.

You took the opportunity to flop dramatically onto the living room rug with a sigh.

Freedom.

For all of three seconds.

The front door opened.

"Hey, Aph."

Pierce.

"I've been looking everywhere for Ein. Have you seen—"

He stopped mid-sentence.

His eyes drifted past Aphmau.

To the living room.

To Aaron.

Then...

To you.

The large gray wolf lying on the rug froze, one ear twitching toward the doorway.

Silence settled over the room.

"..."

"..."

Pierce blinked once.

Then twice.

"...That's... a wolf. Two wolves."

Nobody answered.

Your ears slowly lowered against your head as you stared back at him.

You hadn't planned on anyone else finding out.

Especially not Pierce.

And judging by the expression slowly spreading across his face...

He had a lot of questions.