Shift (Southern Werewolves Book 1)

by Heather MacKinnon

With a soft click, I was alone, my heart beating painfully, and my legs just strong enough to get me to the bed before they gave out.

  I eased back on the pillow-soft mattress and scrubbed my face with both hands. This is out of control. I’m out of control. A couple hours with the man, and I can hardly string two words together.

  But, if I’m being honest, I’d had similar feelings as early as last night. The second he walked out of that steamy bathroom, my eyes had been drawn to him, and they’d barely moved an inch since. And if I thought back hard enough, I could remember feeling a kinship with him even in the woods. As I lay broken, bleeding, and dying, this man had moved me.

  I was in so much trouble.

  I needed to stop thinking with my hormones and start using the brain I’d grown and nurtured for years. Lusting after this man would get me nowhere.

  And besides, he was my...alpha now. It still felt weird thinking about it, and to be honest, I didn’t even have a clear definition of what an alpha was.

  Was he similar to a father figure? Gross.

  A boss? Weird.

  Was he like, the mayor of Wolf Town?

  I needed questions answered, and I think I knew the right person to ask.

  A knock interrupted my thoughts.

  “It’s Evey!” The vivacious woman called.

  I smiled. Evey was just the woman I’d planned on hunting down.

  “Come in!”

  When the petite brunette walked through the door carrying all my heavy bags in one of her tiny hands, I almost laughed out loud. “Those bags are about as big as you are! Why did you lug them all the way up here? I could have helped.” Which was a lie since I could barely walk across a room without assistance.

  Evey didn’t seem fooled and arched a dark brow. “This?” She lifted my luggage. “Is nothin’. In fact, I coulda’ taken you and these bags from the car to here faster than you made it on your own.”

  My cheeks heated. “I’m injured.”

  “You’re stubborn,” she countered.

  I could have argued–hell, I’d done nothing but bicker with Abraham most of the day, and it was just past noon–but shrugged my shoulders instead. She was right. I was stubborn.

  Her eyes widened in disbelief at my concession and I couldn’t help but giggle. “Oh, shut up,” I said.

  Evey grinned and walked closer to sling an arm around my waist. “How you feelin’ today?” She asked, concern clouding her pretty eyes.

  “Better, for sure.”

  Evey’s rubbed my side before giving me a squeeze. I found it odd how comfortable these people were with me, a perfect stranger. Did she go around hugging everyone she meets? Does Abraham hold and console every new member of this pack? These people were so far from my norm, I was having trouble keeping up.

  That reminded me. “Evey, I was hoping you could help me.”

  The bubbly woman nodded vigorously. “Of course. What’s up?”

  “I feel like I’m completely in the dark here. I’m confused about what I am now, how things will change for me, where I fit in here…” I trailed off. Fitting in was not something I usually worried about. But, it was becoming clearer every minute, that I was connected to these people, whether we liked it, or not. And, I could tell some were more accepting than others.

  I needed all the information I could get if I had any hope of keeping my head above water. And I desperately needed to do that. I couldn’t afford to go under again. Last time, I almost hadn't found the shore while the crushing riptide threatened to drag me into its watery depths. I’d crawled onto land with barely any life or sanity left. I feared next time, I’d sink instead of swim.

  Chapter 10

  Evey climbed onto the large bed and patted the spot in front of her. “Hop on up and let’s chat.”

  Hopping was out of the question, so I carefully climbed up, and took a seat in front of her. She reached out and laid a comforting hand on my exposed knee. I wasn’t used to being touched by strangers, but Evey’s made it comforting instead of awkward.

  “Now, what’s goin’ on?”

  I sighed and rubbed two hands through my windblown hair. With a cringe, I lowered them, and vowed to find a hairbrush ASAP. “I have about a million questions,” I confessed.

  Evey chuckled, “Well that’s no surprise. What’s botherin’ you most?”

  Your brother.

  I cleared my throat. I’m not opening with that. “Let’s start with these ‘changes’ you guys keep talking about. What exactly is going to happen to me?”

  “Oh, sure! Well, let’s see...your senses will be enhanced–”

  “Enhanced how?”

  “Your vision will be clearer and stronger, your sense of smell will be more advanced, and you’ll be able to hear much better, and from longer distances than ever before.”

  “That doesn’t sound so bad,” I admitted.

  “No, it’s not bad at all! I can’t remember everything from when I first shifted because it’s been so long–and don’t you dare ask how long it’s been!–but I know it was exhilaratin’ bein’ able to see, and hear, and smell so much more than I could before.”

  “Wait, I thought you were born a wolf…”

  “Of course I was! But we don’t come out of the womb with fur and fangs,” she

  giggled. “A natural wolf doesn’t make their first shift until around the time they reach puberty. As if all those hormones weren’t bad enough, we have to deal with the changes that come with shiftin’ into a wolf too.” She shook her head in exasperation.

  “Was it really bad?” I asked in a small voice.

  Evey looked at me seriously before continuing. “No, it wasn’t that bad. It wasn’t fun, but it really wasn’t that bad.” I sighed in relief. “But.”

  Uh-oh.

  “You’re not a natural wolf.”

  I raised my eyebrows. “What does that mean?”

  “You’re a bitten wolf. So things will be a little different for you.” She bit her lip and studied me.

  “How different?” I asked warily.

  “For starters, natural wolves usually go through the physical changes over the course of a few months. You’ll be doin’ it in just one.”

  I gulped. “Okay, what else?”

  Evey averted her eyes. “Uh, well, it’s also a bit more difficult for your body since you weren’t born to shift into a wolf. It’ll be a bigger shock to your system.” She paused to study me. “But, hey! You also get super fast, and strong so that’s pretty cool!” Evey added.

  “Will I be as strong as you?”

  Evey scoffed and pulled up her short sleeve to expose a thin bicep. She flexed her small muscles and gave me a cocky look. “You’ll be strong, but I don’t know if you’ll be able to compete with this.”

  I looked at her incredulously until she broke out in peals of laughter I couldn’t help but mimic.

  “Girl, yes you’ll be as strong as me! Probably stronger since I’m a runt.”

  “Don’t talk about yourself like that,” I admonished.

  She waved me away. “No, it’s true. I’m the runt of our family. It’s okay, though, cause’ I’m the prettiest.” She grinned widely, and I laughed again.

  “All right, all right, I get it,” she grumped.

  I shook my head at the lovely woman in front of me. “Don’t be silly. You’re gorgeous, Evey.”

  She perked up and flashed me a brilliant smile.

  “What about Abraham?” I asked tentatively.

  “What about him?”

  “Will I be as strong as him?”

  Evey chuckled. “No. No one’s as strong as the alpha.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “To keep order. If anyone else could be as strong as the alpha, they’d constantly be challengin’ him for his position. The pack would destabilize, puttin’ the weaker wolves in danger, and causin’ chaos.”

  “How does he make sure he’s the strongest then? What if you accept a new member, and they’re stronger than him?�
�

  “Good question. First of all, Abey’s always been the strongest out of all of us. It was clear, even when we were young, he was meant to be an alpha. Secondly, the larger our pack grows, the stronger he becomes. Our fealty to him strengthens his wolf and makes him a better leader. And as for new members, Abey’s very careful to not allow another alpha into the pack.”

  “So he would just turn them away? That doesn’t seem fair.”

  Evey shook her head. “You don’t understand how packs work. If Abey let another alpha in, it would only be a matter of time before they challenged him for his position. That other wolf wouldn’t have a choice. It’s in an alpha’s nature to dominate and lead the wolves around him. This would cause fightin’, and threaten the stability of the pack. He doesn’t deny those wolves for himself, he does it for the rest of us.”

  Their way of life was so foreign to anything I’d ever experienced. I knew I still had a lot to learn. Dozens of more questions bubbled to the surface, and I struggled not to blurt them out all at once.

  “What is an alpha exactly? It seems like he’s in charge around here, but what does that entail?”

  Evey leaned back onto her hands and blew out a big breath. “He’s a lot of things. He sets the rules we abide by, settles any disputes that arise within the pack, and makes sure everyone is taken care of. It’s his job to make sure we’re fed, clothed, housed, and healthy. He also protects us by makin’ alliances with other friendly packs or protectin’ us from malicious ones.”

  “That’s a lot of responsibility,” I mused.

  Evey nodded. “It is. Especially for such a young wolf with such a large pack.”

  “How large is it?”

  “Currently, we’ve got thirty-three wolves in our pack. And we’re growin’ all the time.”

  “Where do they all come from?”

  She looked away. “Some move here for whatever reason, and are so far away from their old pack, that it doesn’t make sense to stick with them. Others leave their packs for whatever reason and come this one because of our reputation.”

  “What kind of reputation?”

  “We’re a young, up and comin’ pack which is appealing to wolves lookin’ for a new place to be a part of. And, our alpha is well known for bein’ capable and fair. Unfortunately, that’s not so common.”

  “Not all alphas are like Abraham?”

  Evey’s blue eyes turned grave. “Not at all.”

  A knock on the door interrupted us.

  “Come on in, Del!” Evey called.

  The petite woman entered the room, arms laden with a giant tray full of food and drink.

  “What’s all that?” I asked warily.

  She set it on the nightstand next to me and placed a hand on her cocked hip. “That is your lunch. Abey said since you stalked off in such a huff earlier, he didn’t get a chance to feed you.”

  Evey looked at her incredulously. “Don’t tell me he cooked again!”

  “Abey cooked?!” Delilah screeched.

  Evey nodded with a laugh. “He did. I was just as surprised as you.”

  Delilah eyed me. “Seems a lot of things are changin’ ‘round here.”

  “I was just tellin’ Elizabeth about becomin’ a wolf.”

  The other woman’s eyes lit up. “Are you so excited?”

  “Um. I’m not sure if ‘excited’ is the word I’d use.”

  She waved my words away. “It’ll be so much fun! You’ll see.”

  I nodded, but wasn’t entirely sure I believed her. When my stomach rumbled, Evey scooted off the bed, and retrieved the tray full of food.

  “You need to eat,” she admonished, sliding the feast onto the mattress in front of me.

  My first instinct was to argue, but I found I didn’t have it in me. She was right. I needed to eat. I just wasn’t used to other people telling me what I needed to do or not do. For some reason, Evey’s concern didn’t ruffle my stubborn feathers. In fact, I found I liked that she cared enough to worry about my wellbeing.

  Without another word, I dug into the food while the sisters chatted to themselves, and at me. I occasionally gave them a nod or shake of my head, but my mouth was too full to give them any proper answers. They seemed to understand, and I was thankful because once I started eating, I couldn’t stop. Before I knew it, all that was left on the tray were empty dishes and cups.

  “You sure got that wolf appetite down, don’t ya?” Evey asked with a little giggle.

  My cheeks warmed at her words. “I was really hungry,” I admitted.

  “Elizabeth,” she admonished. My eyes met hers involuntarily. “You’re in a house full of werewolves, and we know how to eat. Don’t be upset that your appetite’s increased. You’ll see you’re in good company tonight.”

  “What’s tonight?”

  “Weekly pack barbecue,” Delilah answered. “It’s not mandatory or anything, but Abey has a cookout open to all the wolves at least once a week. We usually only get about half of em’ to come, but I have a feeling we’ll be seein’ just about every wolf tonight,” she laughed.

  “What’s different about tonight?”

  Evey scoffed. “You silly. Everyone’s comin’ to see you.”

  I gulped. “Why?”

  The sisters rolled their eyes in unison. “You’re the girl who lived,” Evey said, eyes wide.

  Delilah snorted. “Nerd.”

  “Illiterate,” Evey shot back. Del just shook her head. “We’ve all known about the wolf that’s attackin’ women in our woods,” Evey continued. “The fact you survived is a small miracle. Besides, you’re the first bitten wolf most of us have ever met. You’re like a celebrity!” Evey laughed, but my stomach dropped.

  I didn’t want to be a celebrity. I didn’t want to attract any extra attention. In fact, I didn’t even want to be here. This should have been a quiet, solitary weekend in the mountains. And now, I felt like a sideshow at a circus, and soon I’d be on display for everyone to gawk at.

  Another knock on the door interrupted my thoughts.

  “Come in, Abey,” Evey called.

  She loved inviting people into my room.

  The man in question opened the door and stuck his head in. When he saw his two sisters on my bed, his brows furrowed, and he stepped inside.

  “What are you two doing in here?”

  “I brought her bags up,” Evey answered.

  “And I brought her food like you asked me to,” Delilah added.

  He shook his head good-naturedly at the women. “I didn’t tell you to stay and bother her.”

  Both women gasped in indignation. “We are not botherin’ her,” they yelled in unison.

  “We’re gettin’ to know our new sister,” Delilah added.

  Sister? Was that how they referred to their fellow pack members?

  Abraham’s eyes jerked to my face and frowned. He dragged his gaze away from mine for a quick moment while he inspected the empty tray. “Did you have enough to eat?”

  I couldn’t help the incredulous laugh that escaped me. “That was enough food to feed me for a week.”

  He smiled and walked closer. The less space there was between us, the harder my heart pounded. My eyes were riveted on his as he came to a stop at the side of the bed. “Your body is changing.” He paused and raked his heated gaze down the length of me. “You’ll need more food as a werewolf. This is all perfectly normal.”

  “Well, my werewolf body better burn calories faster than my human one did, because I can’t afford for these hips to get any wider than they already are.”

  His denim blue eyes heated, and he shook his head. “Don’t worry about that. You’re perfect.”

  My cheeks heated painfully, but the spell between us broke when one of the women on my bed cleared their throats. I severed my stare with Abraham to turn to the sisters, both of which had smug grins spread across their faces.

  “Did you say something?” I asked, embarrassed I’d been caught staring.

  “Oh no, we
didn’t say anything. I was just wonderin’ if we should excuse ourselves,” Delilah said with a smirk.

  I didn’t think it was possible, but my cheeks burned hotter. “Um, no. No, that’s not necessary,” I stammered.

  “I can’t stay,” Abraham spoke up. “I have a lot more work to get through before the cookout tonight.” His eyes raked me again, seeming to see right through me. “You should take a nap before then. You’re probably tired. Your body’s still healing.” He gave me a knowing smile and turned to his sisters. “Will one of you take the tray back down to the kitchen?”

  The sisters smiled and nodded. Evey grabbed the tray, and they made a hasty retreat. I watched them go with trepidation. Alone with Abraham in a bedroom was a very dangerous place to be.

  “How are you feeling?” His deep voice broke through my thoughts.

  I turned to him, marveling once again at how incredibly handsome he was. At least I knew my attraction to him wasn’t some weird Stockholm Syndrome. This man would have tempted me in any situation.

  “Elizabeth?” His voice sounded concerned. It was then I realized I’d just been staring and hadn’t answered his question.

  “Yes. Sorry. I’m feeling fine. My leg’s still sore, and my throat’s a little raw, but I’m feeling much better than I expected to.”

  He nodded. “Fast healing is another werewolf perk.”

  “Really?” Evey hadn’t mentioned that.

  “Really. In fact, right now you’re healing pretty slow for a werewolf. After you’ve shifted, a wound like this will be gone in a few hours.”

  “So, I’ll be fast, strong, have better vision, hearing, and sense of smell, and I’ll also heal super fast? Is that everything I need to know?”

  Abraham’s eyes left mine, and I knew, without a doubt, he was keeping something from me. “Pretty much.”

  Another yawn escaped, and I didn’t bother to stifle it.

  “I’ll let you get some rest.” He turned for the door, but hesitated. It seemed like he didn’t want to leave, or he had more to say. Something was stopping him from walking out the door.

  I sat quietly and waited for him to do, or say, whatever was holding him up. After a few moments, I was disappointed when he said only, “Sleep well,” before retreating through the door and closing it quietly behind him.