The panther's doctor would assist and make sure she was sedated, but there was always a chance she would feel the excruciating pain everyone had warned her about. Three days...she could do that, right? If the medicine worked enough to ease her pain, she could do it. At least, that was what she kept telling herself.

"I'm going to do my best to not leave your side," Drake promised, stroking the hair back from her face.

"I'm going to be okay," she stated, more for his ears than her own. She didn't want him to be upset because he sensed her pain. "If you have to leave me alone, I will understand."

"My brothers and Harold will be there with you," he promised. "Let's get you in the bath, and then I'll feed you. He will be here within the hour."

Tessa nodded and slipped from the bed. Drake followed her and began running water in the large tub. She entered the large walk-in closet where all of her clothes now hung; Drake's on the left and hers on the right. She chose a tank top and a pair of workout shorts.

"So, when I wake up, I'll be a bear?" she asked, needing conformation.

"Yes, the final part of the change is when you shift. I will be with you by that time. My brothers will make sure of it."

"What do I do when I wake up like that?" she frowned.

"You have to get your footing like a newborn would," he tried to explain. "Just be calm and let the beast inside you learn its balance."

"How do I change back?"

"You have to use your mind to command the bear to allow your human side to come forth. Sometimes it's easy, other times, the bear will want to roam. With this first shift, you decide when you want to come back as a human."

"Sounds easy," she groaned, rolling her eyes. "I'm trusting you to not let me eat anyone I'm not supposed to eat."

Drake's head fell back as he laughed. Tessa watched as he checked the temperature of the water, turning to look at her with so much love in his eyes. "I won't let you hurt anyone."

She stepped into the water once he deemed it perfect. The bubbles tickled her neck as she settled in and got comfortable. "Let me bathe you, my mate."

Tessa didn't argue, letting him search for her foot under the water. He lathered up a cloth and got to work. She was floating in bliss as he pampered her. From what he'd said in the beginning about spoiling his mate, Tessa was sure the rest of her life would be like this moment.

"Head back, little one," he ordered softly. "I need to wash your hair."

By the time Drake was done, she was relaxed and limp. If the water was still warm, she wouldn't have gotten out. The clock was nearing noon, and she knew it was almost time. Changing into her comfy clothes, Tessa followed Drake to the main part of the house where he sat her down and fed her a small meal.

"You'll need food for energy, but the doc said you don't want much on your stomach," he said, setting a grilled chicken salad in front of her. He opted for some leftover stew, and they ate in peace until Drake's head lifted from his bowl. His eyes fell on hers and she knew what was happening.

"The healer is here," he announced.

"Okay." She nodded and pushed away her plate. "I'll clean up while you let him inside."

"It's going to be okay," he promised as he pulled her up from the seat. Drake's eyes roamed her face, looking for any fear. She held it back, because she was sure if he scented fear coming from her, he wouldn't change her. No matter how bad he wanted her to be like him, Tessa knew he feared her pain more than anything else.

Tessa quickly scraped the remaining food off the plates and put them in the dishwasher. When she turned around, the healer was just entering the living room with a black bag in his left hand.

"Tessa," he greeted, nodding in her direction.

"Healer," she said as she returned the greeting, using his given profession in the shifter world.

"Are we ready to do this?" he asked, looking over his shoulder to where Drake was waiting. Drake nodded and the healer turned to look at her. She swallowed hard and nodded, dropping a towel on the counter that she was using to dry her hands. "I will wait here until I am of need. You already know what needs to be done."

They did. Harold had come by two weeks ago and explained how the change worked. Drake would need to bite into his own wrist and Tessa would need to drink as much blood as she could until the pain began....and then she'd need to drink more. The healer insisted Drake force the blood down her throat when she cried out from the first bouts of pain. If he didn't, it wouldn't work. He was only allowed to stop when she was too far gone to accept blood.

Drake silently took her hand and led her back to the bedroom, where he closed the door. Tessa pulled all of the blankets off the bed, leaving the fitted sheet and two pillows. When she turned around, Drake was texting his brothers.

"They're meeting with the healer now," he offered. "Are you ready?"

"I'm ready to be yours, Drake."

Drake helped her onto the bed. Tessa sat cross-legged and waited for Drake to join her. He closed his eyes for a moment as if he were praying. The man she loved climbed next to her and cupped her face. He didn't speak before his lips crashed down on hers. The kiss was full of worry and love. When he pulled back, Drake lifted his wrist to his lips. The sound of flesh tearing was the only sound in the room. His eyes flashed gold as he whispered, "Drink."

Tessa didn't have a chance to breathe before he grasped the back of her head and pressed his wrist to her mouth. The coppery taste of his blood flowed over her tongue. She swallowed once, twice, and on the third gulp, a pain twisted her stomach.

"Drink more, Tessa," he growled when she tried to pull away. She could feel the blood as it trickled out the corner of her lips and made a trail down her chin.

"Hurts," she cried, wrapping her hands around his wrists. She wanted to push him away, but she remembered she had to drink. Maybe she shouldn't have done this? Maybe it was going to be too much?

Maybe it was too late?

She drank and sucked at his wrist, needing to consume as much blood as she could to make the change work. The pains spread from her stomach to her sides. It felt like a million swords were impaled in her body. Oh, God! Help me!

"God damn it, Tessa! Drink!" Drake snarled, his fangs descending in a rush. Her eyes locked onto them, and she felt the stirrings of something inside her. The blood began to heat up in her body, and when her body seized, a blood curdling scream bubbled from somewhere deep in her soul.