The Change

by C V Leigh

  “Who would replace you?”

  Nicholas raised an eyebrow. “Drake would be a good choice. Isn’t that what he’s been training for? To be the family enforcer once I’m gone? But remember, a pack is only as strong as the gene pool is deep. You need fresh blood.”

  Alistair thought for a while. He did agree–the family line was becoming stagnant. The Kincaid clan had once been widespread, extending as far as the Outer Hebrides and down to the English borders. But, under his father’s care, the line had dwindled. Not that he could blame him. The humans had let their fear drive ordinary wolves into extinction, and the lycanthropes had retreated to the mountains and hills, hiding in old houses away from the public eye. Four hundred years later, and attitudes had yet to change. The Americans, though, seemed to be more accepting of the paranormal. Witches ran the Council, alongside lycanthropes and empaths. He’d even heard of a few vampires still lurking in the shadows.

  “A coalition with the States could help,” he contemplated. “Once we’ve got this Nathan problem under control, I’ll send Drake over as our representative. He and Jacob have contacts over there. It could be exactly what we need. Did Nathan say anything about CAPA?”

  “He mentioned some witches that might be interested in a natural-born female lycanthrope. He said they were the ones who sent him over. But don’t worry, I’ll deal with Nathan.”

  Alistair remained in the drawing room when his uncle left. He warmed his hands over the burning logs and coals. Winter closed in, rushing down the chimney. The fire spat in disgust, with snowflakes landing on the flames and evaporating against the hot stone.

  He glanced out the window. The moon was almost full, and he knew the next day there would be yet more stories of werewolves prowling on the mountainside. Some alcohol-induced, some told by children to frighten their younger siblings. The thought made him smile. He’d heard of teenage boys using the tales as a way of scaring girls in some misguided attempt at flirting with them. Although the moon enhanced the first change, it had barely any effect on a fully-developed wolf, who could change at will. Still, he wondered how it might affect Megan and Michael since he was so close to his first time.

  Alistair left the drawing room and headed upstairs to relieve Jacob of his duties. He was sorry for putting pressure on his younger brother, but they all knew that if anyone was strong enough to slow her down, if not restrain her, then it was Jacob. He was taller and more powerful than any of them. If he’d wanted to vie for Alpha, it would have taken all Alistair had to stay on his feet. It would, by no means, be a fair fight. But Jacob didn’t want the responsibilities that came with caring for a pack. He was content with his lot in life. At least, Alistair hoped he was.

  He walked into the bedroom. For a moment he simply watched his sleeping wife. The soft snore leaving her parted lips, emanating from the pillows and blankets, the gentle rise of her shoulders and chest, were more comfortable to watch than on previous nights. Her turmoil, her anguish, would be lost to her once she recovered, but he would never be rid of the memories of seeing her suffer in an agony he had no control over.

  Alistair undressed and slipped under the covers beside her. He moved her hair from over her shoulder and kissed the skin bared to him. She murmured in her sleep and wriggled back, fitting against him perfectly. Wrapping his arms around her, he let the warmth of her body lull him into a shallow sleep.

  * * *

  Tess looked up from the pages of her book and watched Derek tussle with Ben, rolling around the library floor, while Michael stood on the side lines. She tossed a cushion in his direction. Michael scowled.

  “Come and sit with your Aunty Tess,” she said, beckoning him over. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

  “Nothing,” Michael muttered. His attitude was pure Jacob. Tess glanced over at Derek and, not for the first time, wondered how they had been born twins. They could not have been more different; Derek was toned and malleable, where Jacob was pure strength and brutality.

  “How’s school?” she asked.

  Michael shrugged. Tess sighed and raised an eyebrow. She was unsure about how to communicate with prepubescent boys. All this one seemed to do was grunt and mumble.

  “Hey…” Derek tossed Ben over his shoulder and dropped him on the sofa. “Come on, Mikey, your turn.” He held up his hands, palms out, waiting for his nephew to throw a jab.

  “It’s Michael.” He moved past his uncle, out of the room. They could hear his heavy footsteps as he went upstairs, then slammed his bedroom door behind him.

  “That told me. How about you, Tess?”

  “I do not fight,” she said, sticking her nose up in the air.

  “We all need to train, Aunty Tess,” Ben said. “It’s part of who we are.” He said it as if reciting from a script.

  “He’s right,” Derek said with a shrug. “We should all be training. It’s important to keep fit.”

  “I’m not wearing the right clothes,” she countered, gesturing at the jeans and top she’d chosen to wear that day. “And it’s almost bedtime.”

  Derek glanced at the clock. “Yeah… Sorry, kiddo. Tomorrow, maybe.”

  Ben groaned, flailing his arms in the air.

  “Go on, Ben. Upstairs. I’ll come and tuck you in later.”

  “Now! Come on, Uncle Drake.” Ben slid off the sofa and ran over to tug at his uncle’s arm.

  “Okay, okay, you win!” Derek chased the youngest Kincaid boy out of the room.

  “Have you really stopped your training?” Jacob asked.

  Tess jumped and glanced over to see him in the doorway.

  “You used to have a good left hook,” he continued.

  “Stooped to eavesdropping, have you?” She shoved her nose back in her book, not really reading, just avoiding the intensity of his stare.

  “Tess—”

  “Save it.” She closed the book and threw it onto the cushions beside her. “You’ve been an arsehole since the moment we arrived.”

  He took a breath. “I’m sorry. Look, I’m just under a lot of stress with Megan and everything else that’s going on at the moment. I shouldn’t be taking it out on you—”

  “Or Zane.” She widened her eyes.

  “Or Zane,” he agreed. “Let me help you with your training. We should all be prepared in case…”

  “In case what?”

  Jacob looked over his shoulder and waited a moment. Tess followed his line of sight, frowning. Who was he was listening for?

  “In case anything happens,” he eventually said. “We all need to be at our best.”

  “I’ll train with Zane,” she said, standing up. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m tired. And I want to go to bed.” She left the room, ignoring the heat of his glare burning into the back of her neck.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Alistair stood in the kitchen and poured coffee from the glass pot into his mug. Megan was fussing over the boys. Ben, desperate for his mother’s attention, sat on her knee with his arms wrapped around her neck. Michael had taken his usual perch at the breakfast bar and was munching on a slice of warm, buttery toast, ignoring everyone. They looked like a normal family enjoying a cold Saturday morning.

  That was until Jacob stalked in with a face like a brewing storm.

  The back door slammed. Jacob shook the snow from his coat before hanging it on an empty peg. He kicked off his boots, muttering about the weather.

  “Coffee?” Alistair offered, indicating the pot.

  “The gate’s blocked. I dug out as much as I could, but we’re not going anywhere for a while.” He glanced across at his sister-in-law. “You look tired. Are you okay?”

  “I will be if people stop asking me.” Megan and Jacob shared a look of warning, each vying for top position.

  Alistair stepped between them and faced his brother. “Are you?”

  “Peachy.” Jacob poured himself a coffee and left.

  Megan watched him go, keeping her arms tight around Ben. “I’m sorry,” she mouthed to her hus
band. Alistair shook his head, indicating it was all right.

  “Maybe Uncle Jake should get a girlfriend,” Michael muttered.

  “A girlfriend?” Megan spluttered a laugh.

  “Yeah. At school, there was this kid whose dad was always miserable, but then he got a girlfriend, and he was all, like, happy and shit.”

  “Watch your mouth,” Alistair snapped.

  Michael’s eyes widened. He slammed a hand onto the counter. His empty plate clattered. “Shit, shit, shit!” he shouted and marched out of the room in a hurricane of hormones.

  Before Alistair could go after him, Megan had shifted Ben off her knee and stood up. “I’ll go.”

  “I don’t swear,” Ben said, smiling at his father. “Michael swears all the time at school.”

  “Does he now.” Alistair picked up his mug and took a long drink, savouring the bitter taste swirling over his tongue. The last thing he needed was his oldest son to start acting up.

  “Yeah. He used the F-word once. Mrs. Lewisham was furious. He said it right in the middle of assembly.”

  Alistair raised an eyebrow. “Who did he learn that word from?”

  “Uncle Jake.” Ben shrugged and trotted out of the kitchen.

  Alistair rubbed the remaining sleep from the corners of his eyes. “Of course he did.” He finished his coffee, then went after his younger brother. He found him in the drawing room, cursing the locked mahogany cabinet. “Sit,” Alistair commanded.

  “Don’t fucking tell me what to do.” Jacob paced around the room. “I need a fucking drink.”

  “It’s eight o’clock in the morning,” Alistair reminded him. “And I’m still your Alpha, so sit.” He pointed at the sofa. A growl resonated in Jacob’s throat, but he did as he was told and sank into the cushions. Alistair sighed. “You need a break. I get that. Drake is here now, and Megan’s a lot calmer. Go for a run. A proper one,” he added. “Stretch your legs and get whatever this is out of your system.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “No, you’re not. You're a pain in the arse to live with right now, and I can’t have you upsetting the kids and Megan. Or Tess and Zane for that matter.”

  Jacob shot a look at him.

  “Yeah, I’ve seen how you are with Tess.” He blew out a breath. “You need to get over it. It was five years ago, and whether you like it or not, she’s a part of this pack and this family. Not only that, but she’s Nicholas’ assistant, and will be my representative for the Council.” He looked at his brother. His frustration was palpable. “I’m considering expanding. Making a pact with the Americans. I haven’t broached it with the British Council yet, but I think it’s time. How would you feel about heading up the office in New York, if it goes ahead?”

  Jacob shrugged, silent as he mulled it over. Then, “I don’t know.”

  “Think about it. You’ve got time. We’re not going anywhere until this weather lets up.”

  “What about Nathan? Nicholas told me what happened in Taedmorden.”

  “Perhaps you could keep your ears and eyes peeled for him while you run.”

  Jacob nodded. “There’s a lot of land to cover.”

  “I’ll leave it to you, but please, for the love of God, run. And stop swearing in front of my kids. I don’t need Megan on my case about their language.”

  Jacob huffed a laugh. “Michael?”

  “Yes, Michael. That boy has enough on his plate without his uncle being the big, bad wolf. Take it easy around him.”

  “What about his training?”

  “Let’s get Nathan Trevell out of the way first.” He walked out of the drawing room. “And leave my drinks cabinet alone,” he called over his shoulder.

  * * *

  Michael stalked around his room, chuntering under his breath. His dad was determined to restrict him, trap him like he had his mum. They thought he hadn’t heard them talking, or seen the way they tiptoed around her. Something was wrong. He was sure of it. His mum wasn’t usually so… quiet.

  He clenched his jaw, refusing to let the tears break through the dam. Men didn’t cry. Wolves didn’t cry, and he was more wolf than man. Soon, he’d be able to change like his parents and uncles—then he’d show them how strong he really was. He’d show them how one day he’d be able to take over as pack Alpha. Fight his dad, if he had to.

  Outside, the weather worsened. Snow splattered against the windows. Gnarled fingers of the wisteria that climbed the walls scratched at the panes, begging to be let in out of the harsh, early winter. In the summer, the plant bloomed with beautiful purple petals and smelled wonderful. He preferred the summer months. His parents let him explore the grounds then, unafraid of him being lost in the trees. He’d try using his senses to find his way back to the main house. They should be letting him practise later in the year as well. He’d never be a wolf as strong as Uncle Jake if they didn’t let him train.

  He listened to the sounds of the house–Mum and Dad were still downstairs. Ben was in his room, playing with his toys. If he was quiet enough, he might be able to sneak out without them realising. He’d only be gone a few minutes. Just enough time to walk around the grounds and get a real sense of what it was like in the harsher months.

  He crossed to the door and opened it, cringing as it creaked. He stepped over the threshold.

  “Where are you going?” Ben appeared in his own doorway.

  “Nowhere.”

  “Can I come?”

  “No.” His little brother was more than annoying. Part of him longed to be back at school where they were in different classes, and he only had to deal with Ben during house events. It irritated him they’d been put in the same house, but it was the same for all siblings.

  “I’ll tell Dad.”

  “No you won’t, you little shit. You’ll stay here and play with your cars.”

  Ben opened to his mouth to yell, sucking in a deep breath.

  “Fine,” Michael said through gritted teeth. “But be quiet.” He rolled his eyes, then walked over and grabbed Ben’s arm. “I’m going outside. So you’d better dress warm if you’re coming with me.”

  “Outside?” Ben exclaimed, eyes wide. “But it’s snowing!” He grinned. “Can we have a snowball fight?”

  “Maybe. Just get dressed.” He let go of his brother’s arm.

  Ben scampered back into his room, reappearing moments later with a scarf wrapped around his mouth and a hat pulled over his ears. He followed Michael down the stairs, giggling as they went.

  “Be quiet,” Michael repeated. “Do you want to get caught? If you dare tell Mum—"

  “I won’t.” Ben pretended to zip his mouth shut, lock it, and throw away the key.

  They got to the back door. Both boys pulled on heavy snow boots and thick jackets, bundling themselves up in the padded layers. When Michael opened the door, the wind whipped through, bringing a swirl of snow with it.

  “Maybe we shouldn’t…” Ben whined.

  “If you want to stay here, stay. Baby.” He stepped outside and began walking.

  “I’m coming.” He pulled the door shut and jogged after his brother as best he could. “Where are we going?”

  Michael didn’t answer, trudging through the snow until they approached the old barn. As they pushed the doors open and stepped inside, the smell of damp and cold swapped out for the warm, dusty scent of old straw.

  Ben shrugged out of his coat and ran to the bales, then clambered up them until he could hook his fingers over the wooden beams.

  “Just be careful,” Michael warned. “Mum’ll kill me if you fall.” This was where his parents changed into their true wolf forms. And soon, it would be his turn. He looked up at the ceiling and howled, pretending he had already transformed. Ben laughed and joined him, howling to an imaginary moon.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Jacob, Zane, and Derek stalked ahead of Tess, sniffing the air, ears twitching at the slightest sound. Every broken twig and crunched leaf caught their attention. Even in wolf form, Jacob seemed m
uch larger than his brothers. But his size also made him heavier and less stealthy. He snarled.

  Still, in human form, Tess looked around them, unable to see what had caught his attention.

  “Shit.” She fingered the hole in her grey, woollen tights. Blood dotted her skin from where a bramble had scratched her with sharp, thorny fingers. Zane turned back and paced towards her. He whimpered and licked at the graze. She rubbed at his ears to reassure him.

  Jacob grumbled his disapproval and moved ahead. White flecks scattered over his heavy, brown coat. His paws sank into the thick layer of snow.

  Tess hugged herself and shivered, her teeth chattering as she followed them.

  It had been Jacob’s suggestion the four of them go out together, and that Tess stayed in human form in case they needed someone with a voice. Part of her suspected it was because he didn’t trust her. He’d called her a liability, and that stung more than any scratched leg.

  Alistair wanted the estate covered before the weather grew even worse. They needed Nathan alive if they found him. Alistair wanted to question him, to discover as much as he could about who it was who had been following them. Tess wasn’t convinced he was stupid enough to venture onto Kincaid land and give them a scent to track. She’d read his file; Nathan Trevell was an intelligent man. Strong, too. She didn’t doubt he would challenge Alistair for Alpha status if it came down to it, and it terrified her he might have a chance at winning.

  A howl shattered the air. Tess realised Jacob had raced out of sight. Zane rushed off, presumably after Jacob, closely followed by Derek. She ran in the same direction. It was difficult to keep up; the wolves were so much faster.

  The toe of her boot caught under a root. She went over, her ribcage colliding with a fallen log. A scream ripped from her throat. Mud-drenched slush soaked into her clothes where they touched the ground. Her stomach rippled. She stretched out her neck, filling her lungs with icy air. Each breath burned like someone was stabbing at her chest with hot needles. She pushed herself up, hissing as pain tore through her hands and legs.