The Shifter's Gift

by Haley Weir

  Screaming herself awake from the immersive memory, she sees she’s on the castle floor again. Tears stream down her face. Xander runs over when he hears her scream.

  “Jenna, what is it?”

  “I remember now,” she whispers.

  “What do you remember?”

  “Trey and Monty. They killed my parents. It wasn’t a car accident. It was an attack.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean they shot the tires, poured gasoline all over the car, and blew it up with my parents inside!” Jenna shrieks, now shaking uncontrollably. “And I just left them.” She sobs. “How could I have just left them?”

  “You can’t blame yourself,” says Xander. “Remember? That’s what you told me. And it’s true. You can’t.”

  “But I can. I absolutely can. Why do you think Trey and Monty are back all of the sudden? They’re not coming for you. They’re coming for me.”

  “Well, they’ll have to take on both of us, then,” explains Xander, extending an arm to help Jenna stand up.

  “I hope they’re ready. I am.”

  Chapter 23

  Xander’s phone rings. It’s a call from Blake.

  “We’re here. I’m going to enter the access code and drive up. Just didn’t want to alarm you. I’ll have my eyes peeled for anything suspicious.”

  “Be careful,” advises Xander. “They’re close by.” Xander hangs up the phone. He and Jenna are now in the artillery room. She paces slowly around the room examining the massive firearms.

  “Do you think we’ll need these?” she asks.

  “I don’t know. It depends on how it all goes.”

  “What specifically?”

  “Well, a gun is pretty useless to a bear. So if you don’t end up shifting, you at least can

  protect yourself this way.”

  “Oh, I will shift. You’ll see.”

  “I really look forward to it,” admits Xander.

  Blake and Avery come bursting into the room.

  “Hey, we made it. There didn’t seem to be anything going on that we could see. Who knows how far away those explosions are?” says Blake.

  “Oh, and everyone else is here too,” Avery adds on.

  Mikayla, Ethan, Douglas, Ellen, and Chris all enter the room. Xander starts getting nervous. It’s a big group, and maybe it isn’t the safest choice to have all the non-shifters here. He thinks about what happened to Laila, and how he could never go through anything like that again. Even if these women aren’t his partners, he still cares deeply about them and wants to keep them safe.

  “Mikayla, Avery, Ellen, and Chris” begins Xander. “I need you guys to stay inside. You can each grab one of these,” he gestures to the guns hanging on the walls.

  “Cool,” exclaims Chris, reaching for a massive rifle.

  “I’m good on the gun,” says Ellen. “I’ll stay with Chris.”

  “I’ll take one!” Avery says with excitement. “I’ve never held a gun before.”

  “I really was hoping you’d never have to,” mumbles Blake.

  “Yeah, let me get one of those, too. Better safe than sorry,” Mikayla decides.

  “Let’s just hope it doesn’t come to using any of this,” says Xander.

  “So, what are we going to do?” asks Ethan.

  “Well, someone needs to go to the tower to see if they’re getting over the wall. It’s only a matter of time until they do. It’s strong, but I have a feeling they’re going to be stronger,” explains Xander.

  “I’ll do it!” Chris eagerly raises his hand.

  “I’ll go with him,” suggests Ellen. “I need to make sure he doesn’t shoot of his own leg with this thing.”

  “Good. Call someone and let us know what you see,” says Xander.

  “Will do.” They exit the room to start their climb up the winding stairs.

  “Douglas and Ethan- take the east wing. We’ll go west.”

  “And we’ll wait here,” responds Avery.

  “No, no way,” says Blake. “You’re right out in the open. Go down to the basement.”

  “Is it like, a dungeon down there?” asks Mikayla.

  “No,” Xander replies. “A pool, actually. It’s empty. But it’s secure.”

  “Fine, we’ll go to the basement,” relents Mikayla. “Even though that sounds creepier than coming face to face with these poachers…”

  Avery and Mikayla head to the back stairs that lead to the basement.

  “Wait, wait,” says Blake. “I’m coming with you both. I can’t just let you go there on their own.”

  “How romantic!” jokes Mikayla.

  Avery rolls her eyes. “I can take care of myself, you know.”

  “It’s not you that I’m worried about. It’s the hunters. I’ve seen the destruction they’re capable of,” describes Blake. “I just wouldn’t be able to live with myself if anything happened to you.”

  “Dude, you’re kind of making us look bad with your brave speeches,” says Ethan.

  “Well, I’ll be with Mikayla, too. You know I’ll protect her for you, brother.”

  “Uh, I’m still right here,” announces Mikayla. “And I don’t need protection. But I won’t say no to it!”

  “I’ll go,” decides Blake.

  “Well, I can’t leave Ellen with Chris. I mean, I’m sure he can use that weapon, but he can’t do what we can do,” says Douglas.

  “If you go to the tower, and you go to the basement, I won’t have backup,” says Ethan. “Maybe I should go to the basement, too. For Mikayla.”

  “This is ridiculous,” Xander shouts. “We don’t have time for this.”

  Right on cue, Xander’s phone glows up with an incoming call from Chris.

  “Dude,” Chris exclaims. “Holy crap. These guys are relentless. They just ran a truck through one of the walls. They’re coming in from the east. Get ready. I see at least 10.

  “Follow me,” orders Xander, heading towards the east wing of the castle. As he approaches the corridor, there’s the sound of shattering glass. Then,a shriek echoes from basement.

  “That’s Mikayla,” Ethan says in a panic. “I’m going down there.” He starts running down the hallway faster and faster when Jenna sees what’s happening. Ethan is shifting. Right in front of them, right on cue in order to keep his loved one safe. He was a man at the beginning of the hallway, and by the end he is a 600 pound grizzly.

  “Woah,” whispers a fascinated Jenna. The only person she ever saw shift was in grandmother. . Envious of Ethan, Jenna wishes she could jump into action like that when duty calls. .

  Xander walks towards the window. Jenna notes that he hasn’t shifted yet. She wonders what he’s waiting for. Then, from the west wing of the castle, they hear glass shatter.

  “Anyone home?” a menacing voice calls out.

  Next, Douglas takes action. He runs towards the west wing, shifting gracefully in front of everyone. Tattered clothing is scattered on the floor.

  Xander’s phone lights up with a call from Ellen.

  “Xander,” whispers Ellen. “They’re surrounding us...they’re coming in from all sides. Watch your back.”

  “Jenna,” says Xander. “We need to be ready.” Then, there’s another explosion. It’s not distant like the others. It sounds like it is coming from right outside of the main entrance. At this point, there’s plenty of access points to the castle. This explosion was just a threat.

  From the west wing, Jenna hears the shrieks of at least two men, and Douglas’s ferocious roar.

  “Does he need backup?” asks Jenna.

  “Sounds like he’s got it under control,” Xander says. “Just be on guard. Maybe you should get somewhere safer.”

  “I’m safe here. Next to you,” Jenna protests.

  “I don’t know how many armed men are about to bust down the main gate, but when they’re here, you can’t be like…this.”

  Jenna frowns. “Fine.” She closes her eyes and focuses. This time, she uses her new
ly discovered memory. She pictures the cruel men who deliberately took her parent’s lives, and would take hers when given a chance. With great focus, Jenna wills her bear to make an appearance, but still has no luck conjuring it. Worrying she will run out of time, she opens her eyes to see there’s a cloud of smoke at the main entrance, close to where she and Xander wait.

  Chapter 24

  “Jenna?” says a voice. It sounds friendly. For a moment, Jenna wonders if none of this is what it seems. Then, they appear. Trey and Monty come from the smoke with a malicious grin spread across their faces.

  “Jenna and her little boyfriend, Xander. How nice!” says Monty.

  “We’ve been looking for you a long time. Both of you, actually. You made it quite easy for us by getting together over the last few weeks.”

  “Oh, tell them about the other thing,” urges Trey.

  “Right,” says Monty. “Jenna, you should’ve been more careful with who you are talking to, and what you are searching for. Does a blogger named Chris sound familiar?”

  “Chris! What a great help he’s been without even meaning to be,” notes Trey. “We’ve been reading his blog for years now. I gotta say, there was lots of information that helped us find you.”

  “Oh yeah, where all the others? We know you run as a pack. They can’t be far.”

  “Why are you so set on destruction? What have we ever done to you?” Jenna retorts. She feels fearless, even in the face of evil. The same evil that stole her parents from her now threatens to take her life, or worse: come for the others. She finally feels like she’s found people she belongs with and they’re all in grave danger. The thought of losing another family is unfathomable.

  “Oh, what a mouth on this one,” jokes Monty. “You seem like a real blast. Cute, too. It’s such a shame we have to meet like this, wouldn’t you say, Trey?”

  “I would definitely say.” Trey gets close to Jenna and she can smell his hot, nasty breath. She would love to knock out his yellow teeth.

  “Enough,” growls Xander in a stern voice that shakes the room.

  “Well, look who finally speaks up,” Monty sneers.

  “Leave this place now and no one has to get hurt,” Xander tells the men.

  “What’s the fun if no one gets hurt?” Trey says. They’re all in the living room, and the cozy place where Jenna and Xander once relaxed by the fireplace has become a warzone.

  “If you say so,” shrugs Xander. He leaves the room and for a moment, and Jenna panics. If he has a plan, she has no idea what it could be. While her mind races trying to figure out her next move, a huge grizzly comes charging down the corridor and pounces onto Trey.

  “Get him off me!” Trey yells to Monty who reaches for what can only be a gun case, and Jenna closes her eyes, searching for the strength she needs. The world slows down for a moment as Jenna channels all of her fear, anger, and courage. She sees her parents’ car in flames, and she hears Grandma Jean’s soothing voice tell her not to be afraid. In that moment, it finally happens. Her transformation begins, and she lets out a roar that shakes the whole room. Instead of feeling ashamed or humiliated, Jenna feels empowered. For the first time, she found a sense of control.

  She pounces on Monty, throwing him on the ground and knocking his gun out of reach. Now, Jenna has Monty pinned and Xander has Trey pinned. They were fighting side by side like a team. She savors the moment, not yet sinking her teeth into the monstrous human she has pinned to the ground.

  “When I start screaming, the others will come. They’ll shoot you both dead and we’ll burn this place to the ground,” shouts Monty. He begins to scream and call for help. There’s a sound of footsteps coming down the hallway, but they’re far too heavy to be a human. Three large grizzlies come barreling into the room, ripped clothing hanging from their blood-stained teeth. Blake, Ethan, and Douglas have already gotten to Monty and Trey’s last chance of survival.

  At the same time, Xander and Jenna sink their teeth into the necks of the evil poachers, finally getting the vengeance they’ve sought for so long.

  Chapter 25

  Later that night, Jenna and Xander return to their human form. They are in a lookout tower, gazing out at the mountains sparkling under the night sky.

  “Jenna,” Xander says. “I’m sorry if it didn’t feel like I didn’t trust you.”

  “I understand,” replies Jenna. Xander slips his hand over hers, cupping her soft hands with his.

  “So what does this mean now?” asks Jenna.

  “I guess you’re going back home,” Xander answers.

  “Am I?”

  “I mean, you don’t have to,” Xander says. He grabs both hands and turns her to face him. Staring into her eyes, he finally pours his heart out.

  “Jenna, I’m in love with you. There’s so much uncertainty in this world but I’m certain of how much I’ve fallen for you, despite all the chaos that has invaded our lives. After the heartbreak I’ve suffered, I didn’t think I could find love again. But then I found you. Or, you found me. I can’t imagine my life without you. You’ve made me feel again.”

  As tears well up in her eyes, Jenna squeezes Xander’s hands. “I’m not going anywhere,” says Jenna. “I love you. I’m completely in love with you, no matter how much I tried to resist. You’ve showed me patience, kindness, and love at a time when I’ve felt the most alone. I never stopped thinking about our first kiss, or how my heart skipped a beat the minute I met you.”

  Xander pulls Jenna close and kisses her. The kiss sends bolts of electricity from Jenna’s toes all the way to her brain. She feels complete for the first time. Their tongues dance as the moon glows above them. Xander pulls away to look at Jenna and take in her beauty. Brushing her cheek with the back of his hand, he gives her a kiss on the forehead.

  “You never have to face anything alone, ever again. We’re in this together now,” he whispers gently into her ear. She buries her head into his neck and takes in his smell.

  “Let’s get back downstairs to the others,” suggests Xander. “We’ll have plenty of time for more of this later.”

  “And the day after that,” answers Jenna. Xander smiles.

  “And the day after that, too,” he says.

  They make their way downstairs to find the rest of the family seated at the table in the massive castle’s dining room. An unfamiliar young man sits at the table, and for a moment Jenna panics that they’re encounter with the hunters is not over yet.

  “Jenna,” starts Blake. “This is Mason.”

  “What’s going on?” asks Jenna.

  “It’s probably best to let him explain,” says Blake. Mason stands up and approaches Jenna. Xander defensively puts an arm around her.

  “Hey Jenna,” greets Mason. “This is going to be hard to wrap your mind around, but...I’m your older brother.”

  “What?” asks Jenna. “I don’t have a brother.”

  “Yes, you do,” says Mason. “I finally was able to track you down after all of these years.”

  “No, this can’t be happening. You’re lying.”

  “I’m not lying, Jenna. Look,” he says, taking out his wallet to display a small photograph. Jenna gasps. In the photo are her parents, herself as a small infant, and a young boy a few years older with ashy blonde hair and blue eyes. There’s no doubt that it’s Mason.

  “Holy crap,” says Jenna, dumbfounded.

  “I’m sure you have a lot of questions, and I’ll do my best to answer, but there’s more,” says Mason. “And it affects everyone. You’ve taken down a lot of men today, but there are more out there. More than you’re ready for. We need my people and your people to come together.”

  “Your people?” asks Xander.

  “The Ottawa Bear Pack. From up north.”

  “I thought you were all wiped out,” says Chris.

  “Not all of us,” Mason explains. “I was just a kid during the attack, and I survived. . I’m not sure how.”

  “Just like me…” Jenna remarks, still
trying to wrap her head around all of this information.

  Avery speaks up next. “It seems like there’s a lot going on so I’ll just come right out and add to it all. Blake?” She reaches for his hand.

  “Sure, why not,” shrugs Blake. “Tell them.”

  “I’m having a baby!” Avery squeals. For a moment, everyone forgets about the imminent danger this stranger just warned them about to congratulate Avery and Blake.

  “Well,” says Mason. “Seems like lots of changes are in order.”

  “You don’t say,” replies Xander, who is looking at Jenna. He whispers into her ear when nobody is paying attention. “I’m ready for anything with you by my side.” Jenna’s heart melts. As much as she’s trying not to be completely thrown off by the introduction of her long-lost brother, she also feels at home for the first time since she can remember.

  *****

  THE END

  Alexander Bay Bear

  Chapter 1

  Mason descends down the winding spiral staircase of Bolt Castle. As he makes his way down the wide steps, he looks out the stained glass window, appreciating the lush green pastures that surround the castle. When he arrives downstairs, he notices the castle chambers are rather quiet. Usually, he can hear echoes of laughter and jovial conversation of his new friends, including his long-lost sister Jenna, down the long corridors. It’s been a peaceful year for the Blue Ridge Bears, but Mason isn’t ready to let his guard down. He’s well aware of the threats that still exist for shifters around the country, despite the pack defeating the Pulaski brothers and their men. In fact, that’s why he tracked down Jenna at Bolt Castle in the first place.