BendtedWreath

I haven't read nearly enough from everyone to make a good guess yet. But, I don't mind playing detective with all of these great suggestions.

Had to re-read the last few parts since I lost track of where I was. I am 100% on board with non-shifter soulmates mirroring their wolf forms when turned. Similar souls, similar wolves.

I have a funny feeling that the Council knows more than they are letting on. - That doesn't sound good!

Did the water and ocean theme remind anyone else of Umibozu? There's also the Raiju thunder beast. But that could just be me and my obsession with Japanese yokai. I liked the shifting hair colors and glowing eyes. I'm also interested in Lei, despite how brief that interaction was.

I just wanted to add that this part of the story did not disappoint. I'm happy for Ben and Zev.

Got it. The Veil gives humans beer vision for the supernatural.

Wonder how long it will take for Ben to shift for the first time.

“Do you think the Veil is in danger, like before?” asked Reilly. - There are a bunch of shifter kids being kidnapped and trafficked. So, I'd say yes. And, blast! They've taken Milo! Go, group, go!

When that didn’t happen, he realized that he wasn’t in any pain. - YES! I'm so happy for Reilly regaining some of his health back. Both Hunter and Kellan exclaimed, “But he’s a guy!” - Things happen? I'm sure they'll sort things out eventually.

“Is Ben short for Benjamin?” Silas inquired. / Surprised by the question, Ben shook his head. “No, my given name is Ruben.” - Well, not all Bens can be Benedict, I guess. It's alright, you're still my favorite. The only way for a human to become a shifter is to be turned by their fated mate. Since you don’t have a shifter mate I don’t think you have anything to worry about. - I hate to break it to you, but...he doesn't have a shifter mate yet. Caleb looked at Zev and Ben, then turned to Silas. "Well, Hell," he declared. - Well Hell is right! 🤣 I’m not opposed to being on board with the belief that some ribbon of energy is going to push us together for the rest of our lives, but I can’t commit the rest of my life to someone I don’t know. - Nicely stated! Not that I'm not curious what Ben's wolf form would be should he choose to become a shifter.

Hunters have a sort of shadow that follows them. It’s dark and unlike anything else I’ve come across. I have a theory that maybe it appears after a hunter makes his first kill. Kind of like a scar on their soul that manifests as a shadow. - Yeah, that'd make sense. Consequences of their actions. Then they’re sold to deviants who get off on raping partially shifted young kids. - Twisted folk sure find a way to torture others by abusing of their nature in this story's world. It's a downright danger to shift.

Ben tapped his fingers on the steering wheel...- Hey! I'm a Ben, too. 😆 Is it narcissistic to choose a favorite character that shares your name? Once again he got a whiff of the sweet scent that still lingered from whatever air freshener the other guy had used. - I hate to break it to you, buddy, but...air freshener, it's not. Though orange-clove-eucalyptus do seem like a harmonious group of scents.

Sniffer expected to be booted off the bed, and so he was surprised that Ralph enveloped him in his arms and hugged him tightly. - Tugging at the heartstrings! Sniffer was happy when he began to realize that Justin was out of his life. He never liked the human. - Neither do I! I had a feeling that if they took pity on Justin, it would bite them in the ass later. Also, what happened to the puppies?

His wolf is back! How thrilling, and how sad that it seems to be injured, as well.

I wonder if Kellan memorized the whole thing to relay it or if it was just burned into his mind from the trauma of his own perspective of those memories. I also find it weird that Reilly calls his wolf a coward for not emerging anymore after they both went through such an ordeal and the wolf's probably just as traumatized. I mean, it was forcibly pushed past it's healing capacity on his first emergence.

Kappa, kappa...I'm trying so hard not to think of the Japanese kappa with the water bowl heads, but that's a kappa yokai. Not the same thing.

"Her scent is masked." - Well...there's a reason for that. 🤣