For exactly half a second, nothing happened.
Then the room exploded with light.
"—What the hell—"
A blinding burst of pink and gold shot upward like a fireworks display. Ribbons of glowing energy spiraled around Bastien's body, lifting him several inches off the floor.
Wind roared through the room.
Sparkles.
There were actual sparkles.
Bastien would later swear he heard someone shout, "MAGICAL BOY TRANSFORMATION!"
"Oh my," someone breathed.
Everyone held their breath as they watched Bastien struggle against his awakening.
Bastien tried to grab onto the display stand, but his arms were pinned to his sides as glowing bands wrapped around him like affectionate snakes.
A chorus of chiming bells filled the air.
Clothes dissolved into light.
New clothes assembled themselves piece by piece.
"Why are there—" Bastien began.
A jacket made of shimmering white and gold material snapped into place around his shoulders.
"…ribbons?" he finished weakly.
Boots materialized next, polished white leather with dramatic gold buckles.
A glowing emblem flared briefly over his chest.
The sparkles intensified.
Bastien spun once in midair.
Gracefully.
Elegantly.
Against his will.
"WHY AM I SPINNING?"
By now Damien and Angus were wheezing with laughter.
Jennifer pressed her lips together very hard.
The other men stared in various states of shock and disbelief.
The light reached a crescendo.
Then Bastien struck a pose.
A dramatic one.
One arm extended.
Cape fluttering behind him.
The sparkles slowly drifted down like golden snow.
The transformation ended with a cheerful ding!
Like a microwave announcing that someone's dignity was ready.
Bastien dropped back onto the floor.
Silence.
He stared at his own hands.
Then at the glitter still floating in the air.
The floor around him was covered with gold confetti.
"…what the hell," he said quietly.
Jennifer blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Who was writing these awakening transformations? ChatGPT?
Angus wiped tears from his eyes. "That was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."
Damien had to grab Angus's shoulder to keep him from collapsing because he was laughing too hard. Would you look at that—the dark, cursed young alpha could make such an expression too.
Adrian's eyes glowed again.
He looked at Bastien.
Then blinked.
"…Interesting."
Damien stopped laughing long enough to ask, "What did he get?"
Adrian paused.
"Charm of All Creatures," he said.
Silence filled the basement.
Adrian glanced at Bastien again.
"Charm of All Creatures," he explained calmly. "All creatures will be favorably disposed toward Bastien."
He paused.
"Like Snow White."
Another pause.
The younger guys burst into another round of laughter.
Angus, in particular, looked unabashedly gleeful.
"The power of Snow White! I can't believe there's a power that's even lamer than mine."
Bastien glared at the younger guys.
"At least I'm not life-bonded to a werewolf."
The laughter stopped immediately.
"Do you have something against wolves?" Damien growled.
Bastien smirked.
"Why isn't my charm working on this dog?" he asked cockily, nodding toward Damien.
Damien bared his teeth.
"Let me test my life steal now."
"Or," Angus grinned slyly, "we can use him as alien bait."
Quintin snickered. "I bet the roaches outside would love him."
Damien's growl shifted into something approving as he considered the possibilities.
Bastien's eye twitched.
"I will shoot you."
The three boys laughed loudly.
Suddenly Jennifer was reminded of the two little wolf brothers in her kindergarten who were neither wolves nor brothers, but twin troublemakers. Even Quintin had stopped being the quiet boy in the corner.
Bastien opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Jennifer sighed for her favorite main character and tried to comfort him.
"Look on the bright side," she said.
Bastien looked at her.
"How," he asked flatly, "is there a bright side?"
Jennifer gestured vaguely at the glitter still floating around him.
"Well," she said carefully, "the special effects are very pretty."
Bastien did not look even slightly consoled.
So she added gently, "At least you're still good looking. And I'm sure you're resourceful enough to use it to your advantage."
"Hohoho." Frank laughed fondly. "As always, my dear, you notice the silver lining."
Bastien sulked.
His grandfather was the coldest, most patient predator Bastien had ever known.
But when it came to this woman… his grandfather must be going senile.
"Does anyone else want a go?" Duke Chevon asked, folding his arms.
"Pandora's Box is a mythical artifact," he said evenly. "A national-level treasure."
His gaze passed slowly over the young men who had spent the last five minutes laughing.
"It is not a toy. Nor is it entertainment."
To be honest, Jennifer was almost tempted.
But then she decided that, with her luck, she might end up with something worse than Bastien.
She was not the only one.
Nobody in the room felt particularly eager to open Pandora's Box again.