Jonathan nodded. “I had planned on telling her. I knew she’d understand, but our night together had been perfect; I didn’t want to spoil it.”
“Please.” Rayna rolled her eyes.
“I did! I loved her. She was everything to me.” He took a breath to calm himself. “But the virus became active in the middle of the night and I panicked. I didn’t want her to watch me die, so I ran as fast and as far as I could before the shift took hold. If Charlie hadn't shown up…I never would have survived.”
Rayna looked to Chief, who watched her with a keen eye and he nodded.
“Charlie pushed my beast back and over the next few weeks helped me through the shift. He eased it out, piece by piece, until I fully changed.”
“This is all great, but if all you have to tell me is how Chief saved your life, I’m not interested.”
“That’s only the beginning,” he said. “Once I’d garnered control of the beast, I came back to your mother, but the Circle had discovered our affair and she’d fled. I didn’t know she was pregnant then, but I still searched for her. I spent over a year following her trail, but I was always two steps behind. When her scent finally vanished, I couldn’t wander aimlessly anymore, so I came back to Stonewall. Chief had taken over the Hollowlights by then and I was welcomed into the pride. It wasn’t until nine years later that I'd heard she’d returned, but when I finally found out where she was, it was too late…”
Jonathan started pacing the room and looked at Rayna, his blue eyes clouded as they began to well up.
“I didn’t even know she’d had a child…not until I got this.” Jonathan pulled a crumpled and worn white envelope out of his back pocket.
“What’s that?” Rayna’s calm and even emotions were wavering on nervous anticipation.
“It’s a letter, sent to me anonymously, a few months after she died. Sarah knew about me all along, but didn’t contact me in fear it would jeopardize your safety. When I discovered I was a father, I tried to find you, but I didn’t know your scent. I didn’t know anything about you. I had nowhere to start.”
“Can I…read it?” Rayna’s voice was quiet.
Jonathan stared at the letter a moment before handing it to Rayna. She pulled a few weathered sheets out of the envelope and began reading.
The silence that filled the room over the next few minutes went from sad to awkward. Tears that Rayna refused to wipe fell from her eyes. Her hands trembled, and as she finished the last few words, she turned to Chief.
“Is this true?” she asked, holding back a sob.
Chief nodded and lowered his eyes.
“I’m sorry.” Jonathan said.
Rayna clutched the letter in her hand and moved into the bedroom. The door slammed behind her and silence wrapped around us.
“I need some air,” Jonathan said.
“I'll check on Rayna,” Chief added.
I followed Jonathan out to the porch. With Chief confirming his story, I couldn’t help feeling bad for him.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “For the other night, I just…”
“I get it. You just wanted a chance to set things straight. I never realized…I mean, it’s a lot easier to believe you’re a deadbeat than a man who tried everything to set things right.”
Jonathan let out a half-laugh. “I guess it is.”
The sun made its descent behind the tree line and darkness crept into the sky. You could see the moon and stars shining through the partly lit sky while the cool air moved in with the eve.
“What’s she like?” Jonathan asked. “Rayna…”
“She’s amazing. She’s beautiful, strong, intelligent, and a stubborn ass.” I smirked.
“Sounds just like her mother. She looks like her, too. Gods, she was beautiful.” A smile crossed his lips. “Sarah always had this look in her eyes: determination. She wouldn’t take crap from anyone, especially me. She was one hell of a witch, too.”
“She sounds really great.”
“Oh, she was.” Jonathan’s blue eyes turned to me, practically glowing as he raved about his lost love. “She was more than that. She was…”
“Incredible,” Rayna said from behind us. She leaned in the doorway, eyes red with sadness.
“Yes, incredible.”
“I remember when–” Rayna stopped, her eyes opened wide with panic, and power crashed over us. She dropped onto all fours and let out a fierce growl.
Chief came through the doorway and he and Jonathan both dropped to their knees.
“Calm yourself, Rayna. You shift on your terms.”
Rayna unleashed a ferocious sound through snarling lips. The skin on her arms split and clear fluid dripped out as the fur broke through. Her bones cracked, and although she whimpered, they shifted quickly into the thick black paws of a wildcat.
“Yes!” Chief cheered.
“I’m here, Rayna,” Jonathan said, and her beast stared into his eyes. She growled and let out a screech as her fangs dropped and thick white claws shot out of her paws.
Another power entered the scene. Jonathan’s beast came to life, his eyes shifting, and a deep screech escaped his lips.
“Jonathan, don’t,” Chief commanded.
Fear filled Jonathan’s eyes as his fangs began to drop. “I…can’t…stop.” His words were slurred by the large fangs. Blood poured from his mouth and hands as he shifted, a tail ripping itself through his jeans.
“Control yourself!” Chief ordered, pushing his beast over Jonathan, but it was no use.
“I’m trying. It’s…her–” Jonathan grunted as his bones snapped, and in moments, he was gone. A waist high panther sat on a pile of torn clothes. It growled at Rayna as her bones moved. Her back arched and her spine snapped as it changed shape. She collapsed to the ground and started panting heavily.
“You’re nearly there, Rayna.” Chief turned his attention away from Jonathan, bringing his beast to the surface and pushing it against Rayna.
Rayna jumped onto all fours and growled again, a new determination filling her. Green cat eyes watched me as the rest of her body began to move. Her pink tank top ripped, and baggy sweats fell off her hips as black fur pushed through a wave of blood and fluid. She grunted and her skin rippled across her face. Her cheekbones collapsed and her skin stretched as her face reformed. Her jaw snapped and dislocated, taking on a new shape as the last few bones shifted into place. Now there wasn’t one, but two black panthers standing in front of us.
Jonathan stared at Rayna, but Rayna watched me. She crept towards me, her body swaying with each step. I took a few steps back until the porch railing stopped me. My pulse sped as she neared and I called my water element, partly to calm myself, and partly just in case.
Rayna stopped and growled.
“Don’t,” Chief said.
I held the magic inside me for a moment, staring into Rayna’s eyes. I could see the beast, but she was in there too, looking out at me. They were one.
She growled again, fiercer this time, and I let the magic recede. She stepped closer and sweat gathered on my palms. My pulse leapt but the nervousness buckled as she pushed her head into my hand. Long whiskers tickled my skin and I moved my fingertips over her head. A deep rumble moved from her throat, but instead of a roar, she purred. She arched her back and rubbed up against my leg, coming up just below my hip.
Rayna stepped away from me and Jonathan moved forward, pushing his head into her neck. She continued to purr and watch me as he nuzzled her.
“She needs to hunt to complete the shift.” Chief’s eyes focused on me.
I looked down at Rayna, who watched me with an intensity I’d never seen before. I nodded and she growled, taking a few steps and leaping off the porch in unspoken grace. Jonathan walked softly after her, his large feet padding against the earth. He was a few inches taller than her, but they looked nearly identical. Glossy, black fur covered their bodies; the only difference was in their eyes.
Rayna nudged into his neck and the crowd of shifters th
at had gathered separated as the pair bounded through the clearing. With only a few long leaps, they dove into the underbrush and vanished in a spill of colorful leaves.
“She did it…” I said.
Chief came to stand beside me. “The kinship her and Jonathan’s beasts shared was the final piece.”
“But he said he couldn’t control it. He couldn’t stop.”
“Probably just the power of a shifter’s first change. They’re family. Just as with born shifters, the bond completed the act.” Chief tried to smile, but he didn’t look or sound confident.
“Probably?”
“Rayna is safe. Their beasts have a different, unbiased relationship. They are meant to be together,” he said, avoiding my question.
A few men and women pushed through the crowd below and stormed towards us. Garrett and Karissa were among them, and Chief stepped down to meet them.
“What is it?”
“It’s time we spoke to him,” one of the men said. His brown hair hung down to his shoulders and his eyes watched me with an anger I didn’t understand.
“Now is not the time.”
“Now is the time. You said he was a hunter; you never told us who. I had to find out through Karissa.”
“Jesse, I didn’t mean to–” Karissa started.
“Silence,” Jesse commanded.
“I was under the impression everyone knew,” Chief replied.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“Tell him, Chief. It’s time we learned where his true allegiance lies.”
“We know where it lies,” Garrett said. “Chief has already spoken to him.”
“I want to hear it from him. I’m not losing anyone else!”
“Jesse, come on, he’s the one who saved me and Garrett,” Karissa pleaded.
“I don’t care. I want to hear it from his mouth. I want to see it in his eyes when he tells me. Tell him, or I will.”
“What the hell’s going on?” I asked.
Chief sighed and turned to me. “There’s something you should know, Chase. It’s about your father.”
“Okay…” The air slipped out of my lungs and I couldn’t help holding my breath.
“A few weeks ago, Riley and the Dark Brothers approached us with an offer.”
“What kind of offer?”
“To join them…”
“It wasn’t an offer, it was an ultimatum,” Jesse added.
My pulse leapt and I gripped the porch railing.
“We have not accepted, but he was…unsatisfied with that answer. He killed two pride members in response.”
“Two cubs!” Jesse growled.
Chief lowered his gaze. “He said he’d be back, and he hoped we’d change our minds…otherwise we’d suffer Ithreal’s wrath.”
“And you didn’t feel the need to mention this?”
“Rayna was my prime concern. Her shifting took priority; her life depended on it.”
“Are you sure about that? Are you sure you didn't offer your help just to get to me?” My power beat beneath the surface, anger swelling in my veins.
“That isn't what happened.”
“You should’ve said something!” I could feel my pulse throbbing in my throat and the fire burning inside me. “I trusted you and you’ve lied to me this entire time.”
“Forget what Chief did. What about you hunter? Are you with your father too, scouting out his enemies?” Jesse snapped.
I leapt off the porch and stood eye to eye with him. “I’m the only one trying to stop him!”
Jesse pushed his beast to the surface and I let the fire rise. We pushed our powers against one another, never breaking eye contact.
“Enough!” Chief commanded, but we didn’t stop.
I pushed harder and I could feel fire pulsing in my eyes. Jesse winced as the magic poured off of me.
“I said, enough!”
Jesse flinched at Chief’s voice and stepped back as he stormed towards him.
“What is it with you people today? Your arrogance is insulting.”
“You’re right, I’m sorry. I should’ve never questioned your judgment.” Jesse lowered his gaze. “But I didn’t realize we were bringing the spawn of a murderer into our home.”
“You people keep all this from me, and I’m untrustworthy? That’s bullshit!” I said.
“He killed my kids!” Jesse shouted, but the anger wasn’t there anymore. “I won’t lose anyone else.”
I resisted the urge to unleash my magic, clenching my fist as anger beat through me. I stared at Jesse and he looked weakened. His anger faded and all that was left were the pieces of a broken man.
I tried to feel sorry for him, but the thought that this was all a setup infuriated me. I turned my back on the group and stormed into the cabin, slamming the door shut. The fire raged like a power storm and I took deep breaths, trying to push it away.
“Chase, I’m sorry,” Chief said, following me in. “I promise you our primary goal was to help Rayna. We’d been watching her for some time, but I will not deny that Riley’s visit sped up our approach. Do not be angry with my pride. They are only looking out for each other.”
“You shouldn’t have kept this from me.”
“Perhaps not, but I stand by my decision to keep my focus on Rayna. Just as I stand by my decision to help you. My pride simply wants reassurance. Everyone fears the Dark Brothers, but the thought of Ithreal entering our world is far worse.”
“You want reassurance? Fine,” I said, walking back outside to the group. It had grown larger and dozens of shifters swarmed around, whispering amongst themselves. All eyes were on me as I stepped onto the porch and I stared at them, trying to put my anger away and understand their position.
“I want nothing to do with my father’s cause,” I said, and the crowd’s whispers went silent. “His choices are his own. Yes, I’m a hunter, but I don’t fight with him, or the Circle. I fight on my own side.” I paced the porch. Cold air whipped off the trees and through the clearing, pushing heavy black clouds towards us. “Riley thinks invoking Ithreal’s power will seal the divide between the hunters and the demons. By taking this power, he believes he’ll bring lost magic back to the hunters. He thinks once he does this, he can rule the Underworld and all the Underworlders in it.”
The crowd grew restless, their eyes falling off of me as they conversed with one another.
“I believe we deserve the right to choose. Underworlder or not, everyone deserves their freedom. They have a right to choose. You’ve already made your choice by declining Riley’s offer. Will he be true to his word and come after you? Yes. But I’m with you and when he comes, we’ll be ready.”
“Yeah!” Karissa yelled. The crowed all turned to her and she fell silent, stepping back awkwardly. The silence was thick and the crowd stared at me.
Chief stepped up beside me, gentle eyes looking over them. “For the first time, the Hollowlights will fight, not against a hunter, but with one,” he said. “You’re witnessing history tonight and together, we’ll make more of it!”
Applause came in a rush and cheers followed. The cheers turned to roars and the power of the shifters united, crashing over us in suffocating wave. Clothes fell to the ground and the beasts came out.
A huge group of mismatched shifters appeared, their human shells fading and reforming in front of me. The sound of breaking bones echoed and before long, there were no people, only animals.
Chief sat beside me, bright purple cat eyes staring up at me. His wide shoulders were covered in black and white swirls that turned to stripes as they moved down his body. He sat on a pile of torn clothing and gazed out over the crowd. He let out the fiercest of roars and the cats responded.
The sounds of hundreds of feet padding against the grass came in a thundering stampede and a flood of cats leapt into the forest. Rustling leaves and broken sticks exploded into the air and through the darkening woods until there was nothing.
The moon hung overhead and the night ma
de its final push into the world. Bright pinholes in the midnight sky shone as the stars made themselves known, and I sighed in relief. Rayna had survived the shift. We’d made allies with the werecats, which could only help in our fight against Riley, and I was learning to protect myself on more than one level. Things had started to come together. We still had a couple of days to rest before we had to go home and I, for one, planned on enjoying them. In a few days, we’d be back in Stonewall, and dealing with our real problem: Riley.
Chapter 22
I sat on the porch and watched the sun rise. With the exception of the birds, the camp was silent, and I soaked up every moment of it. Rays of pink, orange, and red stretched over the clear sky. The air was cool, and thick dew made the grass shine. Rai had soared over the tree line and found her way to the porch. She looked happier here. Free to go when and where she wanted. I thought about her home in Drakar and realized even then she was constantly cooped up in the goblin’s barn. This was the first taste of freedom she’d ever had. The lightning that crackled in her eyes was vibrant, and her feathered coat was fuller and thicker than usual.
I stayed on the porch, watching for hours as the sun moved higher into the sky. The camp had stayed silent as they all slept off the shift, but as afternoon approached, the cabin door creaked and Rayna stepped onto the porch. Her hair was tattered about, strands of red and black mixed together over a baggy gray sweater. Black pajama pants hung low on her hips and the green of her eyes had an unusual glow.
“Morning.” I smiled.
“Hey…” Her voice trailed off. Rayna sat next to me and the bench swung as she settled in. She stayed silent and stared out over the clearing, a look on her face I couldn’t read.
“How was your night?”
Rayna shrugged.
“That’s all I get? Rayna, you did it, you shifted!” I tried to convey how proud I was, but she seemed unimpressed.
“It’s no big deal.”
I glared at her. “Are you kidding? This is a huge deal.”
“I just don’t want you to think…”
“We’ve been through this. I’m proud of you.”
“Really?”
“Yes!” I said. “Now tell me about it.”
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