Change (The Shape Shifter Series) (15 page)

“
Of course you do. Imagine that you're a sailing boat and your tail is your stern. With it you keep balance.”

“
Okay,”
she breathed.
“Easy-peasy. I'm a sailing boat and the floor is the stormy sea.”
She glanced around, terrified. A very stormy sea. Tiamhaidh nudged her with his nose and she turned her wolfish eyes on him.
“Fine,”
she snapped,
“I’m going. No need to push.”
He made a noise that sounded something between a yelp and a laugh and she turned her back on him, whisking her tail so fast she almost fell.

She
made her way to the middle of the cave, and soon found that walking was really easy. She let herself bask in the admiring eyes that followed her every movement. She held up her head and sniffed everyone in the cave. Eventually, she sat in front of Baz and howled.

“Amazing,” Baz sighed,
touching her fur. “Now turn yourself back into a human.”

Right, Marie thought. She had no idea how to do it. She felt more comfortable in her wolf body than in her human body, and every cell in her refused to change back.
“I can't,”
she yelled.
“Tiamhaidh, help me!”

“
Calm down. It’s very easy.”

She looked at him suspiciously
.

H
e backed away, looking at her sheepishly.
“And if it feels difficult, don't try to change. Your body will know what's best for it and you'll learn in time. Trust me. Don't force yourself if you're not ready.”

“
Are you sure?”
She sniffed.

“
Yes, of course I'm sure. Feel me. Feel the smallest detail in me and watch and learn.”

Marie watched him change from a wolf to a man
and from a man to a wolf. When he saw the miserable look in her eyes he did it again. So slowly that she should've gotten it, but her brain blocked her thoughts. Her body fought back. It wanted to stay as a wolf no matter what, and she was so tired. She wanted to scream and cry, but she didn't know how. How did wolves cry? A sad howl slipped from her mouth. Okay, like that, but that's it. She was tired of trying, and maybe he was right. Maybe she should stop trying and just let it happen. She looked sadly at him with her golden-brown eyes.

He knelt down and petted her fur. “I know you don't like this,” he whispered softly. “But you'll learn. I promise you'll learn.”

She put her head on his lap and enjoyed his hands behind her ears. All she wanted was to crawl somewhere and sleep.

“
Maybe you should,”
Tiamhaidh's voice caressed her mind.
“Find a peaceful place and go to sleep.”

“
And you'll be here when I wake up?”

“
I'll be here,”
Tiamhaidh assured.

Marie growled quietly and turned. Everyone gave her way, like she was royalty or something. She didn't want to look at them, though, as she wanted to think she was royalty and not that something. What kind of a shape shifter was she if she couldn't turn back into a human? If wolves could blush, she would've been blushing all over. She found a quiet corner at the back of the cave and closed her eyes.

Tiamhaidh looked at her. She was gorgeous. Her fur was dark brown, almost black, and shiny. Her body was slim and her features beautiful. She was the most beautiful wolf he had ever seen. She had curled herself into a ball and was in a deep sleep. He wanted to go to her and curl up next to her. He wanted to share her wolfness and enjoy it with her. She had proven to all that she was worth saving. She wasn't a helpless human anymore, so she couldn't be murdered, but maybe she wasn't a shape shifter either. If she was, shouldn't the change back to a human be easy for her? And what about her eyes? He had never met a shape shifter whose eyes changed color. Well, except Clarissa. A thought hit his brain. What if Clarissa and Marie were a totally new kind of shape shifter? Siobhan glanced at him sharply and he shielded his thoughts quickly. Later, he promised himself. I’ll think about it later. Right now I have something more serious on my hands than eyes changing color.

He turned his gaze from Marie and looked at the people in the cave. There was so much to do before they could face Erag and his bloodthirsty wolves. He didn't think for a second that they would back off. Not even when Marie wasn't a human anymore. They would find an excuse to destroy her, and he could only hope these people were strong enough to stand against them. He sighed and glanced at the corner again. It was empty. Marie was gone.

Adam glanced at his watch. He had a terrible feeling they were running out of time. The plane was just landing in Tromsø and he could do nothing but wait. He didn't know what awaited them in Senja. He didn't even know if they could help Sofia, but they had to try. The others had silently chosen him as their leader, but he didn't feel like a leader now. Deep inside he knew he was a merciless fighter, a hunter with absurd skill, but right now his heart was bleeding and he felt like a little frightened boy. He clenched his fists. He didn't want to think about Sofia, but he couldn't stop the images that kept flashing in his mind. Most of the shape shifters in Senja hated her and what she represented.
She was surrounded by enemies who didn't know what mercy meant, and they could be torturing her right this moment. David and Marie might be dead or worse. Damn, he felt helpless!

He didn't trust the elders. He never had. He hadn't actually lived with them, but he knew them well enough to know there was something seriously wrong about them. Baz and Faol and a couple of others were all right, but most of the others raised the hair on his neck and he sensed really strange vibes around them, which was bad. He had always trusted his instincts, but this one time he had ignored them. How stupid was that! Sofia had this weirdly optimistic, rosy picture about her birthplace, but this one particular time he should've stood up to her. He should've snatched the rose-colored glasses from her eyes and force her to see the truth, but his heart had been a soft, unidentifiable lump in her hands. He would never forgive himself if his actions had led
her into danger. He swallowed hard. The bile in his throat was horrible. He had known Sofia needed him and yet he had given in to her because he knew how important going back there was to her. Heck, it was important to him, too. Going to Senja was Marie's best and probably only chance to stay alive.

God, he loved that sweet girl! She was like his little sister.
A fairy princess with an edge and more layers than a ballet tutu. Sometimes as painful as the spring flu and sometimes as fragile as the finest crystal. He felt cold sweat running down his spine and pressed his nails into his palms. He really should stop thinking, as it did no good. He knew perfectly well that with Tiamhaidh beside her, Marie should be more than safe. Yet he also knew that the best fighter couldn't win against a hundred indifferent fighters. Sometimes numbers were better than quality.

He cursed silently and hit the wall. The
air hostess glanced at him sharply, but turned her eyes quickly away. He closed his eyes. He had made an amateur mistake and that might cost him more than he dared to think about. Could he live with that? Probably not, but he would deal with it later. Right now he had to concentrate on thinking they were alive. Sofia was alive and far from any trouble. Marie was fine, too, enjoying her heart out with her new relatives. However, he didn't believe it. Not for one second.

He knew he should've made Sofia listen. He should've at least disobeyed her and followed her, but it was too late to cry now. He couldn't go back. He wished he could, but no matter what, he could never go back. A hard pain pressed on his soul. He couldn't explain it to anyone, as there was not a soul in this universe who'd understand how he felt. To him, Sofia was more than a mother. More than a great pack leader he could count on. She had taught him what family meant. What it felt like to be loved and give love back. His soul had been deep black before he met her. Yes, he had had an obsession for Clarissa, but without Sofia he would've ruined Clarissa's pure soul without blinking. So he knew exactly what he owed her. Everything. He owed her his immortal soul and more, so if they had cut so much as a hair from her, he wouldn't rest before they were all wiped from this planet.

A warm hand pressed his arm and he took a deep breath. If it felt like this to imagine someone hurting Sofia or Marie, he couldn't think about
it happening to
Clarissa for a second. He really should calm down. Otherwise he would be no use to the others. He let his eyes travel around the plane. He was still amazed. Sofia had asked them to come and here they were. Six shape shifters, some of them related to her, some almost strangers, sitting in a plane and worrying their butts off for her. The others had asked nothing. Not a single question. When Clarissa had woken them and said Sofia needed them, they had packed their bags like soldiers and run to the cars. They had followed him to the airport and marched quietly to the plane. He could sense their worry, and he was worried, too. But he knew he had to stay strong. If he showed any weakness now the others wouldn't make it through this. He met Jonas's eyes and nodded quietly. He knew they expected him to know what to do, but he didn't. He was as helpless as they were and he hoped Sofia had left at least some kind of clue for them at the airport. And if not … well … then they had to play it by ear and hope to survive.

Clarissa stared at the dark sky. It was bright and full of stars. The next day would be cold but probably sunny. She hoped she would live to see the day after that one. Something bad was about to happen and she knew it. Every cell in her urged her to run away. Every nugget in her brain told her she wasn't ready, but she didn't have more time. So, ready or not, she had no choice. Mom needed her and she had to help.

She was scared. Really scared. She could sense how tense the others were and she was afraid to ask what they were afraid of. All of them had been in Senja. They knew the shape shifters there and had at least some kind of history with them. She was the only outsider. She didn't know anything and they wouldn't tell her, since they still treated her like a newborn. And technically that was exactly what she was. She could change her shape in seconds now and she didn't need to think about it anymore. It ju
st happened if she let it. But - and it was a big but - she didn't know what she was capable of. She didn't know her strength. Her power compared to the others or if she even had any special powers. So what good was she in a fight? The shape shifters they had to face were way older and way more powerful. They would take her out before she knew it. In their eyes she was just a wolf. An ordinary wolf that was nothing more than a retard on their journey of destruction.

She turned her head and let it fall on Adam's shoulder. “Adam?”

“What?” His voice was sharp.

“Why did you bring me with you?”

“Why? Having regrets already?”

“No.” She lifted her head and looked at him, annoyed. “Just wondering why you didn't leave me at home.”

“I thought you knew,” he said, surprised. “I had no choice. Sofia ordered you to come.”

“Really?
But why? I'm not good at anything.”

“You're a part of our pack,” he said, ignoring her statement. “Besides, I'm sure Sofia knows what's best.”

“I hope so,” she muttered as the plane hit the runway.

“Me, too,” Adam sighed and hoped Sofia really knew what she was doing by asking Clarissa to enter the cave of lions.

They grabbed their bags quickly and rushed out of the plane. Tromsø airport was slowly waking up and the people there didn't seem to be in a hurry. Adam's group had to wait at passport control and then at luggage reclaim. Just when they thought they could breathe a sigh of relief, Clarissa was asked for a customs examination.
She glanced nervously at Adam and he gave her a light nod. Sighing, she followed the grinning young man into a room and the door was closed behind her.

Adam was sure the men just wanted to flirt with her, but as the minutes went by he started to get restless. Finally, they let her go, and not a minute too soon. Jonas had already had to hold Adam back. He was mad with jealousy and worried sick about Sofia.

“Let's go,” Clarissa snapped and waved at the customs men.

The men waved back, smiling and eyeing her approvingly. Adam could've read their minds, but he didn't have to. The drooling puppy
look on their faces told him everything and he knew if they were in a different place and different time, they would've been whistling after her. He could've ripped their throats open.

“Now then,” Clarissa whispered. “Be nice and stop staring at them. We don't want any more delays, do we?”

He cursed, but kept walking. She touched his cheek gently, but he pushed her hand away. “What happened in there?”

She shrugged. “Nothing. They were just bored and I happened to walk in their way. That's all, I promise.”

Adam looked at her suspiciously. “What did they say to you?”

“Seriously?” Clarissa stopped walking.
He nodded and she breathed, “Fine. They asked where I'm from and if I'm single.”