Seeking Shapeshifters

by Rebekah L. Purdy

  Did Carsen have any idea what he did to me? The way his gaze made my legs wobble and my heart zoom out of control. He consumed my every thought and waking moment. In other words, I was a lost cause where he was concerned.

  When the bell sounded, I sprinted for the door just so I could breathe again. Carsen met me by the wall and laced his fingers through mine. Now that our skin touched, normalcy settled in.

  “I don’t know if having you in class with me is a blessing or torture.” I broke the silence.

  He chuckled, pulling me closer. “A little bit of both. But I like having you where I can see you.”

  “Speaking of seeing me, do you want to hang out this weekend?” I stopped at my locker to switch out books. “My dad’s gone so I thought it might be nice to have someone to visit with.”

  Carsen ran a hand through his hair, shifting his gaze away from me. He seemed uneasy. “Actually I can’t. We’ve got a family thing going on.”

  “Oh, okay.”

  Sorrow washed over me at the thought of being alone. Dad wasn’t coming back until Monday morning and now my boyfriend was busy too.

  “It’s not that I don’t want to see you, Ima, because I do. It’s just this time of year, Ferren, Talon, and I get busy. But I promise to make it up to you.”

  “I’m fine. It’ll give me more time to work ahead on my homework since I’ll be gone next week.”

  I tried to keep the hurt from my voice but must’ve done a poor job because Carsen hugged me close.

  “Trust me I don’t like being away from you. The only time I feel whole is when you’re near.”

  “Does that line work for you?” With a snort, I forced a smile.

  “I don’t know, you tell me.”

  “Hmmm,” I said as we walked to class, my mind on anything but school. Why did I get the feeling Carsen was hiding something from me?

  ****

  With Carsen gone for a dental appointment, I walked by myself to last hour.

  “So do you think Carsen’s gone all the way with her yet?” I heard a boy ask.

  Nausea swirled in my stomach as I peeked around the corner to see Ricky Melner and some kid named Isaac from my first hour class leaning against the wall. Both wore stupid grins.

  Isaac snorted. “Are you kidding? If he hasn’t it’s only a matter of time. Besides, have you seen how hot she is in her gym uniform?”

  “Oh yeah, you should see her run.” Ricky made a spanking motion in the air.

  “How about you two shut your mouths,” a familiar voice sounded behind them. I gasped, watching Talon step out of the alcove. “Or maybe I ought to shut them for you.”

  He dropped his books to the floor, and stood fists clenched at his side like he was ready to step into the boxing ring.

  Ricky took several steps back. “I was just kidding, man. Take it easy.”

  “Take it easy?” Talon sneered. “You have no right to talk about Ima that way. If I ever, ever hear you say anything about her again, my fist is going to connect with your face. Got it?”

  My heart thudded like a herd of horses racing across the plains. Why did he stand up for me? Maybe he felt obligated since Carsen wasn’t here.

  Isaac and Ricky rushed past me, without so much as a hi, bye, or excuse me. It was kind of comical, especially after the way they’d been talking about me. I felt kind of dirty, just thinking about it. I’d definitely not run in front of them again.

  I glanced down the hall to see Talon staring at me. For a moment, I hesitated then gathered my courage and moved to help him pick up his books.

  “You okay?” he asked, his gaze softened.

  “Um—yeah. They were just talking smack, no biggie.” I shrugged.

  He caught my arm, and I stopped moving. The air crackled to life around us, the scent of snowy mountains clinging to him. His shaggy hair fell across his forehead, his eyes intent on me.

  Destiny. The word sprang to my mind, as the whispers grew louder. My fingers shook as I raised them. And I watched his hand mimic mine, until our fingers entwined. A strange warmth coursed through my blood. Voices urged me onward, to let Talon into my life. I didn’t want to fight it.

  Yes.

  I closed my eyes, feeling the rhythm of the world around me, pushing and guiding me toward Talon. As my lids fluttered open, his breath was warm against my cheek and we were inches apart.

  Then he jerked back, tearing his hand from mine. Oh God, what had I almost done? This was Carsen’s best friend.

  “I need to get to class,” Talon said, hopping to his feet. “But don’t worry about those guys, they won’t say anything again. I promise.”

  I nodded my head and watched him stalk away. I had no idea what just happened, but it wasn’t a good idea, no matter what the whispering voices said.

  Chapter Eight

  Shift Happens

  I finished my last math problem and slammed the book shut. I’d spent all morning working ahead on schoolwork. I wanted to turn it in by the end of Monday.

  My fingers toyed with my shirt, as I stared about the living room in boredom wondering what I should do next. Dad was still gone and of course my friends had plans, which left me alone with Keetah.

  “You want to play with your ball?” I asked my dog.

  He gave me a blank stare but didn’t move from his spot on the couch. I sighed. Even he didn’t want anything to do with me. I wandered back to the computer hoping to catch either Matt or Brady online, but to my dismay both of their icons showed them offline. Ugh! This sucked. Instead, I ended up switching on the TV, scrolling through several channels before finding a documentary about Alaskan wildlife, which nearly put me to sleep. I know Dad didn’t want me going anywhere, but I was stir crazy. If I spent one more second in the house, I’d likely waste away.

  “Okay Keetah, I’m getting changed then you and I are getting out of here for a while,” I said.

  He peered at me then back at the door before nudging my leg as if to deter me from leaving. But I continued down the hall with him in pursuit.

  “Stop it,” I said when he rammed me again.

  Shutting my bedroom door, I left Keetah in the hallway. He scratched on the wooden barrier until I finally let him in. I pulled a heavy sweater over my head then tumbled back on my bed, fighting to get my jeans buttoned over my thermal underwear. Figuring I wanted to play, Keetah grabbed a hold of my pant leg and tugged it in the other direction.

  “Knock it off.”

  Keetah released my jeans with a bark then trotted after me down to Dad’s gun cabinet.

  “Don’t look at me like that. We’re going to check the cameras, nothing more.”

  I don’t know why I felt inclined to explain my actions to the dog, but I guess it quieted the guilty voices in my head.

  Grabbing a rifle and a box of shells, I ushered Keetah out to the Jeep. The air bit at my nose like icy teeth, but at least it wasn’t snowing. I turned the heat on full blast then went back into the house for some bottled water and snacks, just in case.

  After I scraped off my windows, I climbed in behind the wheel and pulled out. I flipped on the CD player, letting the rock music fill the car.

  “Maybe I ought to put you up on the dashboard,” I said laughing as Keetah’s head bobbed up and down to the beat of the music.

  He licked my cheek causing me to veer off the road.

  “You’re going to make us crash.”

  Keetah let out a puppy sigh before lying down on the seat with his head in my lap. I parked at a halfway point between the two cameras and hopped out of the Jeep. Keetah leapt down next to me, and I reached behind the seat to retrieve the rifle. I loaded the ammo into the chamber before clicking the safety on.

  I pocketed a handful of extra shells then locked my vehicle. Keetah and I slumped through frigid conditions to the first camera, and I almost cheered when I saw it had snapped ten photos. When I reviewed them though, I found a wolf, a fox, and a couple of blurs I couldn’t make out, but no substantial evidence. So
I deleted the photos then replaced the batteries.

  We ambled toward the second camera when Keetah suddenly bristled, his ears perking up as he sniffed the air.

  “What is it boy?” I whispered, watching him prance around.

  As long as he wasn’t barking I’d be okay, right? I took a staggered breath then glanced at the marshmallow colored surroundings. I shifted the rifle on my shoulder then peered at the ground. I stifled a yelp, noticing the bear tracks leading down to the creek. My knees knocked and my hands became clammy in my gloves. I hesitated, because although I was curious, I didn’t have a death wish. A part of me considered just snapping a picture of the prints and calling it good, but the investigator in me wanted to check things out.

  I deliberated all of two seconds before deciding against looking at the other wildlife camera. Instead, I headed back to the Jeep, when I caught sight of a faint human print in the snow. Bending down to take a closer look, I saw several more, then as if in mid-step I noticed where the foot had changed into a bear print. With my heart thudding in my chest, I stood contemplating the possibilities. But the chance to help my dad overwhelmed me.

  Losing all reason, I decided it couldn’t hurt to investigate it. I clicked my tongue at Keetah, bringing him back to the vehicle. The last thing I wanted was for him to scare whoever or whatever was here. However, he refused to go into the Jeep quietly.

  “C’mon Keetah, I’ll be fine.” I grabbed a hold of his collar and dragged him into the back seat.

  Not feeling, totally sure of myself, I kept the rifle slung on my shoulder, even I wasn’t stupid enough to leave my weapon behind.

  “Breathe Ima,” I said trying to calm myself. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Whoever said these exercises worked was full of it!

  Retracing my steps, I trudged through the snow, continuing on to the creek. I knelt down in the brush then gasped when I saw two bears sitting on the opposite shore, their paws in the water searching for food.

  I so hadn’t thought this through. I mean, here I was, alone, staring down two bears that may or may not be shifters. Dad would be freaking right now—hell, I was freaking right now, but not in a good way.

  My throat went dry as I stood still as the dead, watching them, and waiting, but for what I wasn’t sure. I didn’t linger long before a shimmering moon like beam enveloped the area. A strange popping sound filled the air, followed by the unforgettable noise of tearing and breaking bones. I watched in terror as the first bear began to gyrate, and its fur tore away from its body. The skin stretched and broke until I thought I’d scream. I expected there to be blood, but there wasn’t any, just the undeniable sounds of pain, radiating in the wilderness.

  Run, my mind screamed but my legs wouldn’t move. Sweat beaded up on my forehead as I tried not to stir.

  “Ahh…” a low growl sounded from the bear.

  It bowed its head, quivering with the change and when it rose on its back legs, I nearly fell over in disbelief. Where once the mighty polar sat, now stood a very muscled, very naked Carsen Shinew. His features were wild, his eyes glowed icy blue. This wasn’t happening, I mean what if he sensed me. Would he attack?

  I fought back the images and the agonizing sounds of the shift. I covered my mouth for fear of screeching. Come on girl, snap out of it and run. Yet there I stood, crouching, rooted in place by both fright and awe. Carsen’s body glistened with sweat and chorded muscles. I’d never seen a naked guy before so to say I was transfixed was putting it lightly. His skin was tanned, very little body hair. Each movement he made sent his muscle rippling and my pulse soaring.

  I managed to get my legs moving, partially out of fear and partially because I didn’t want him to know I’d been spying. I backed up, attempting to keep myself from freaking out and blowing my cover.

  Once I was behind the concealment of the brush and out of sight of the creek, I ran. My mouth felt as if I’d swallowed a bag of cotton-balls and my body trembled with shock. I peered over my shoulder several times to see if someone pursued me. But each time found nothing but snow in my wake.

  I exhaled in relief as my Jeep came into view. But before I got there, an iron grip caught my shoulder and I started to scream before a hand clamped down on my mouth.

  I fought to get free, panic rising as my assailant pulled me backward, spinning me around until I came face to face with Talon. His dark eyes gazed at me like fathomless pools of shadows.

  “What are you doing here?” he demanded.

  “I—I don’t know what you’re talking about.” My voice quivered. Dang it. Now was not the time to show weakness. “I was out for a walk,” I lied.

  He sneered. “I know what you saw, Ima. I can smell you a mile away. You were there when Carsen shifted.”

  “Please, I won’t tell anyone, you’ve got to believe me.” Panic burned through me like a raging fire as I attempted to tug free, but he held tighter.

  “We can’t have outsiders knowing what we are.”

  Talon’s bare chest was hot as coals against my numb body, and I noticed he wore only a pair of jeans, but no boots, or shirt, or coat. His hair stuck up in messy tufts, while his eyes darted around in alarm.

  “I didn’t mean to intrude. I was out for a walk.” I repeated.

  “Shut up!” he snapped. “What are we supposed to do with you now?”

  I swallowed hard because I’d read enough stories and myths to know sometimes clumsy girls stumbled into bad situations and ended up hurt, or worse, dead. I suddenly felt like Little Red Riding Hood staring down the big bad wolf—er bear.

  “Let me go,” I said gritting my teeth.

  I didn’t want to die. With my adrenaline kicking in, I flailed about trying to break free. But Talon merely jerked my arm causing me to fall into his arms. His fingers dug into my hair as he forced me to look at him. A low growl started in his throat, scaring the crap out of me. I struggled against him for a second until the voices stirred in the air around us.

  Yes...Destiny.

  I lost myself in Talon’s dark eyes, both of us fighting to catch our breath. Talon’s grip on my hair loosened and I pressed closer to his bare chest, the muscles rippled beneath my fingers. In the back of my mind, I knew I should push him away or run. But there I stood gazing at him; the overwhelming urge to be close to him overtook my thoughts.

  Forever.

  Talon leaned down, his lips a breath away from mine, and I slid my shaking hands up his rock like abs until my arms encircled his neck.

  Silvery ropes and webs danced around us, pulling us closer, binding us as one. I needed him, I thought moving to close what small distance there was between us.

  Yes.

  What was I doing? This wasn’t Carsen. This was stupid and dangerous. But my heart and mind were at odds. Talon wasn’t all bad, I’d seen the good in him. There was no denying the strange, magical connection, no matter how hard I tried to pretend it wasn’t real. I trembled against him, a war waged within me, one I wasn’t sure I could win. But the fact remained. I was Carsen’s girl and would be for as long as he wanted me.

  “Let her go, Talon.” Carsen appeared, his face twisted in anger as he glared at his best friend.

  Talon’s face hardened and he jerked away from me, still holding my arm.

  “She’ll expose us,” he said, pretending like nothing happened.

  “No, I won’t. I can keep a secret.” I tried to keep the panic from my voice as I wondered what’d just happened between Talon and me.

  Ferren came bounding into the open too, a look of terror encompassed her cheeks. She stared back and forth between Carsen and Talon before her gaze met mine.

  “Oh, this isn’t good,” she said.

  All three of them glanced at me and I attempted to read their expressions to determine what’d become of me. But their steadiness gave nothing away. Would I be reduced to begging? Why did I ever come out here? Keetah tried to keep me in, and as usual, I ignored my pup. I squeezed my eyes shut in order to ground myself. I
needed to think clearly. More than that, I needed a plan.

  “Carsen, you’ve got to be reasonable here,” Ferren said in a soft tone. “She’s an outsider.”

  “I love her,” he said. His eyes blazed as he stared at Talon.

  I gazed across the short distance to find Carsen watching me now, and I fought back the tears that danced on my lashes. I had a serious problem because I loved him, too. I was in love with a flipping polar bear. A shifter, the very mythical creature my dad searched for here in Alaska.

  “I won’t tell anyone,” I said more firmly. “You have my word.”

  Talon and Ferren didn’t appear convinced, but the grip on my arms loosened, and I fell to the frozen ground, landing on my knees. Strands of my hair blew in my face, whipping and snapping around in the wind. Talon’s warmth left me, and the cold seeped in making me feel as if I’d been abandoned. I had serious issues—I mean the guy didn’t even like me.

  “We’ll leave it up to the elders,” Talon said. “And you.” He pointed at me as he started walking away. “Stay the hell away from me.”

  Ferren followed close behind him, turning once with a sad look upon her face. “Sorry, Ima.”

  I waited for Carsen to say something, anything. But he merely stared at me before spinning on his heel and rushing after the others. A sob escaped my lips, unsure if I’d see Carsen again. But relief flooded my body. This could’ve ended badly. Then again, it still might.

  A tongue licked at my face. I jumped back to see Keetah peering down his snout at me. As I sat there on the cold ground, I realized something. I’d locked Keetah in my Jeep.

  “How did you get out?” I wiped the tears from my face with the sleeve of my coat before climbing to my feet. I went over and tugged on the doors of my vehicle. Sure enough, every door was locked. There were no broken windows, no way for him to get out.

  Keetah and I eyeballed one another. He seemed to dare me to question his escape.

  “I must be crazy,” I said aloud. After I unlocked the doors, I slid in behind Keetah. I sat staring out the windshield then laid my head on the steering wheel. I was so confused and unsure about everything now. The whole shifting thing, then Talon’s “almost” kiss.