Change (The Shape Shifter Series) (23 page)

“I can't believe this,” Sofia snorted powerlessly. “What she needs is her pack. Her family. She doesn't need any of you, and she certainly doesn't need this place. What’s so special here? The mountains? The forest? Well, we have forest at home. I'm not going to leave her here. How can you even suggest something like that?”

Siobhan understood enough to look embarrassed, but refused to back down. “Can you just for once put your own needs aside and think of what's best for Marie?” she snapped.

Sofia narrowed her eyes. “Am I the only one here with a good memory? Don't you remember anything about our history? Marie is not a wolf. She is a human, and yes, she is also a shape shifter. But her original form is human, and what will happen if she abandons it?
What happened to the shape shifters before us? The ones that you haven't seen in hundreds of years? Have you forgotten what the vital condition is for a shape shifter?”

Faol whispered something in Baz's ear. He stared at Sofia, horrified. Baz whispered something back to Faol and for once she looked really old.

“I remember, but please tell the others,” Faol said, beaten.

“A shape shifter must shift its shape once in a while. If it doesn't … well…” Sofia dragged a finger across her neck. The others inhaled sharply. “If a shape shifter stays with the same form too long it forgets how to shift its shape, simple as that. So if Marie stays as a wolf, her cells will forget her original form and eventually she will become a wolf. Not a shape shifter wolf but a wolf that can possibly die.
I know that sometimes some of us have changed into some kind of spirit by our own choice, but that's different. A spirit cannot die, nor can a soul that is forced to vanish by the elders. And before you ask, no, I'm not absolutely sure about this, but I'm not willing to test my theory. So will you please cut the crap and concentrate on helping her instead of sharing your stupid hare-brained ideas!” Everyone stared at her and she sighed. “Look, what you're basically asking her to do is deny her nature and ignore that she is no longer a mortal. You're asking her to trade her immortal future with Tiamhaidh with what, ten years or maybe less than that. You're fools if you ask me! There has to be a better solution.” Sofia felt the air next to her flicker.

“Is it true?” Marie asked as she turned back into a human.

“I'm afraid so, honey. As hard as it is for you, you'll have to keep changing your form.” Sofia pulled Marie into her arms.

“And if I don't?” Marie asked with a tiny voice.

Sofia lifted her eyebrows.

“It's settled then,” Marie sighed. “I have no choice but to be something between human and wolf.”

“Cool,” Clarissa sighed. “You're like that green princess in
Shrek
. A human by day, an ogress at sunset.”

Sofia glanced sideways at her.

“Not that you're ugly or anything like that,” Clarissa muttered, blushing.

“Marie?” Sofia said, brushing Marie's hair softly. “You can still choose. If it's too hard, you can stay as a wolf and we'll all understand.”

“That's true.” Tiamhaidh knelt in front of Marie and took her hands in his. “I don't want you to suffer, and I don't care if you live ten or a thousand years, as long as you're happy.”

“You know, being a martyr doesn't suit you,” Marie snapped. “I'll do whatever it takes to stay alive and be with you. After all, someone must protect you from women like Isabel.”

“Really?” Tiamhaidh said and tried not to smile. “You'd do it for me?”

“Of course, stupid! When I said forever, I meant it.” Marie laughed and Tiamhaidh grabbed her in his arms. “Although I don't think I can go to the movies with you for a while,” she added, and Tiamhaidh could see the pain in her eyes. “Sorry.”

Before he could kiss her she had turned back into a wolf.

“Another seizure coming?” Tiamhaidh asked and Marie licked his hand.

“So is this clear to everyone?” Sofia challenged. “We'll take care of Marie and as wise as you are, you can bang your heads together and try to help her situation. I'm sure in time you'll figure out something useful.”

“Sounds fine by me,” Baz said and Faol nodded.

“Do we really have a choice?” Ealasaid asked dryly.

Sofia shook her head slowly.

“I guess that's it then,” Ealasaid said and grinned. “I didn't expect anything less from you, Sofia. Take your little girl home, but don't let her forget her legacy.”

“I won't,” Sofia whispered and wiped her eyes.

“And don't do anything as stupid as you did just now. You almost lost yourself trying to help her, so promise you’ll contact us if you need help.” Sofia looked confused so Ealasaid continued. “Even you cannot defy death, and as powerful as you may be, there are times when you simply need help from others.”

Sofia nodded. She still didn’t understand half of what she was saying, but if she’d got it right, basically she meant that she could pour
out as much energy from her surroundings as she wanted to and be okay, but if someone was as close to death as Marie had been it might be too much to handle alone.

Ealasaid smiled slyly. “And don’t you think for a second that you just got rid of us
.” She wagged a finger. “We'll visit you and make you crazy. We'll teach your children to be the best shape shifters ever and we'll make your handsome husband cook for us.”

“Can't wait
,” Sofia sobbed.

Ealasaid hugged her. “Take care, mo caraid,” she said hoarsely.

“You too,” Sofia sniffed and turned to hug the others.

There was a lot to do before they could go home, but before sunset they had everything packed and had started their journey. Three cars, full of shape shifters and one wolf. Not bad, Sofia thought as she turned her eyes from her mother. They had come there to find a cure for Marie and they had found it. Well, sort of. What would happen in the future was a riddle, but with a pack like this they could survive anything. She smiled and stepped on the gas. After all, there was a ferry to catch and a couple of thousands kilometers to drive before they would be home. Before she would see her mortal husband and close her arms around him. She shivered out of expectation and a wide smile lit her face.

Sofia leaned on David and sighed euphorically. Flames crackled in the fireplace and the room was full of cozy noises. Laughter and quiet conversations. The delicious smell of garlic floated to her nose, as Matt was back behind the stove making dinner for their pack, as usual. Adam squabbled with Clarissa, who hit him hard and tried to slip further from his fast fingers. She giggled and he threw her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. They left the room yelling and laughing.

Sofia turned her eyes to Marie. A dark-brown wolf lolled on the floor growling with pleasure as Tiamhaidh's hands scratched her. She looked like a huge dog rather than a wild wolf, and when Tiamhaidh didn't watch his fingers she nipped him playfully.

The sun had colored the sky red and Sofia could smell the spring through the open terrace door. Yes, everything was definitely just the way it was supposed to be.

They had arrived home late the previous night and David had welcomed them with open arms. Daniel had sulked a bit when they filled them in about what had happened in Senja after they left. He thought it wasn't fair to be left out of all the fun. But they all knew most of his behavior was just an act. Marie had walked gracefully up to David and put her furry head on his lap, and he had cried. He had buried his hands in her thick, soft fur and held her tight. He didn't care if his daughter was a wolf. Not anymore. All he cared about was that she was alive.

Sofia got up and walked to the terrace. She looked longingly at the forest and closed her eyes. David hadn't asked about Gunward, and that was good. There were things she hadn't told him on purpose. Things she needed to think about alone before telling him. Her future with David looked bright and she didn't want anything to come between them. And Gunward was definitely a big issue. She crossed her arms over her chest and rubbed them. She didn't want to think about him. He was out of her life, at least for now. Yet she felt sad that their bond had almost been broken.

A cold wind blew suddenly and made her shiver. No, she couldn't dwell on the past anymore. She would take the days as they came and enjoy every minute she got with David. A cold wind blew again. She glanced around warily. What was this?
A bad omen or just a coincidence? A strange feeling crept up her spine. She focused her eyes and looked at the dimming forest. She was almost sure she had seen something, but maybe she was just tired. Then a pain hit her. A terrible pain that made her twitch. She stumbled to the edge of the terrace and puked. She pressed her hand on her stomach and felt something moving. She froze. It couldn't be, could it? And as the realization hit her, the forest before her filled with a frantic howl. There was no doubt. The forest was full of wolves and they were coming to get her.

Baz
- wolf in Hebrew

Farkas
- wolf in Hungarian

Gur -
wolf in Kurdish

SCOTTISH-GAELIC GLOSSARY

Faol -
a wolf in Gaelic

Tiamhaidh -
sad

Mathanan -
bear

Ciall -
sense

Gormal -
Gormalia

Anndra -
Andrew

Iósaph -
Joseph

Pól -
Paul

Niall -
Neil

Ealasaid -
Elisabeth

Fa'ilte -
welcome

A' phiuthair -
sister

Mo phiuthar -
my sister

Mo gaol -
my love

Carson a tha
thu `gal? - why are you crying?

Dé tha `cur
dragh ort brathair? - what`s worrying you, brother?

Creid mi -
believe me

Carson a tha eagal ort?
- why are you afraid?

Cha chaomh e cron ort idir.
- I don´t harm you at all.

Feuch -
try

Madainn -
morning

Cuir an aithne a chéile sinn -
introduce us

An lámh a bheir
,´sia gheibh - the hand that gives will receive

Eu-comasach -
impossible

Tha sin
gu leòr - that´s enough

Tapadh leat -
thank you

Gu bràth -
forever

Dé thánn? -
what is it?

Amhairc -
look

Mar sin leat -
bye for now

Mo caraid -
my friend

Leig rach -
let go

Chan eil -
no

Tha -
yes

A
nis - now

Beatha -
life

Tha mi duilich -
I´m sorry

Tha grádh agam ort -
I love you

Ma´s e
do thoil e - please

Beag eun -
little bird

Mo cáraid -
my friend

Beannachd leibh -
goodbye (literally blessings go with you)

Gu leór -
enough

Mo beath seillean-dé -
my little butterfly

Intinneach -
interesting

Gu math -
really

Dé th'ann? -
what is it?

Nighean -
daughter

Athair -
father

Madainn mhath -
good morning

Leanabh -
child

Mi faic
thu - I see you

Óg -
young

Seillean
-dé - butterfly

Saighdear -
soldier

Feasgar math -
good evening

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

F
irst, I want to thank you. Yes, you! The reader. Your support and encouragement means the world to me. Please keep sending those awesome emails, tweets and postings on my FB wall, and if you like this story, please leave a review on Amazon and Goodreads. Thank you! You rock!

A special thank you to Marie Godley, one of my beta readers, fellow author and a dear friend. I was about to delete the whole book before you gave me a good kick and encouraged me to go on.

Again, thank you to Loni Kim for doing the first proofreading and to amazing Amanda Burfoot for the last proofreading and editing.