Seeking Shapeshifters

by Rebekah L. Purdy

  “Hang on Daddy, I’ll get you some help,” I said.

  Yet, I didn’t know if I’d find any. Nor did I know if the men who attacked him would go back to look for his body. Picking up my cell phone I attempted to dial out again. Beep, beep, beep.

  “Come on you piece of crap.” I slammed the phone down on the seat. Nothing worked up here in the wilderness—at least not consistently.

  The winds hit the side of the truck with gale like force, and I struggled to gain control of my vehicle. My windshield wipers thumped across my window with a constant thwack-thwack as I drove into the white out. My eyes darted back and forth, searching for signs of the road ahead, but the surroundings were lost. I felt like I was flying a ship in one of the Star Wars movies, the snow coming at me like I’d jumped into light speed.

  One moment everything lay swathed in ivory, and in the next moment, all I saw was a large outcropping of rocks.

  I slammed on the brakes, but it was too late.

  “No!”

  I heard the crash, then the metal buckled around me. Dad cried out—but the dizziness washed over me as my head struck the steering column. I tried forcing my eyes open, to focus on getting us out of the truck. But I couldn’t move.

  Somewhere in the distance, a horn blared. Help, I thought, someone’s come to help. But after a moment, I realized it was my horn that disrupted the tranquil night. I took a deep breath, the scent of fire ensnaring my senses. Panic enveloped me as I pushed my head up, attempting to slide across the seat to my dad. But I couldn’t budge. My legs were pinned.

  “Daddy, wake up!” I said, reaching over to touch his shoulder. Even as I shook him, he didn’t respond. “C’mon! Please.”

  A low growl erupted outside the truck door, and I let out a soft sob. I didn’t know who or what was there—but I was sure whatever it was my father and I wouldn’t be able to outrun it.

  Crack! The truck door was ripped off its hinges and the bitter wind stung my cheeks. I attempted not to scream, my life wavered before my eyes. My dad’s decision to investigate the supernatural in Alaska would be our demise. Why hadn’t I objected to coming here? Why didn’t I demand we settle down some place warm? Why? But it was too late for questions now.

  That fateful summer day drifted to the forefront of my mind, as did the four words, which secured my destiny.

  We’re moving to Alaska.

  If only I could go back.

  ****

  Talon’s eyes met mine, and I sobbed. He took one look at me and my dad and he tore the seat belt off me. Then he hefted me from the truck.

  “It’s okay, Ima,” he said. “Calm down, we’ll get you out of here.”

  I peered around because I didn’t see anyone else. Just then Carsen and Ferren bounded into the open, their eyes wide with terror. My head throbbed, and I set it against Talon’s shoulder, everything around me blurred.

  Carsen came over to us and Talon growled, grasping me tighter in his arms. He stepped away from Carsen.

  “I’ve got her,” Talon said with an edge to his voice.

  Ferren shot a look between the two guys. “Talon, it’s okay, you can hand her over to Carsen, he’s not going to hurt her.”

  Talon hesitated, his haunted eyes met mine and I inhaled deeply, finding security in his arms. It was like I belonged to him and I didn’t want him to let me go.

  At last, he slid me into Carsen’s arms and walked away from us. I sobbed as Carsen’s familiar scent washed over me. I clung tight to him, letting him nestle me into his chest.

  “Please, save my dad, he’s all I have,” I whispered.

  Ferren and Talon went around to the other side, removing him from the truck.

  “He’s lost a lot of blood,” Talon said in a soft voice.

  “We need to get him the elders, now,” Ferren said.

  I tried to ignore the pain and dizziness, but I felt it taking over. “Thank you,” I managed to mutter. There was something else I was supposed to tell them, something important.

  I attempted to lift my head, but Carsen gently pushed it back down against him. “Be still, Ima, I’ll take care of you.”

  “But the men know about you, they’re coming,” I said before darkness consumed me.

  ****

  My lids fluttered as I awakened. The walls were vaguely familiar and I recognized the interior of Carsen’s grandma’s house. Tilting my head to the side, I saw Dad lying motionless, his skin too pale, and his face gaunt.

  Fighting back the panic, I darted up and pain shot through my head. I cringed and touched my temples to find a bandage covering my forehead. Yet, my bumps and bruises were of little concern to me compared to my father’s well being.

  Moving to his side, I reached out a quivering hand to touch his hand. His skin was ice cold, his chest barely rose and fell.

  A sob escaped my lips.

  “Come child,” Carsen’s grandma said guiding me away from him. “This is no place for you this night.”

  “But my dad!” I cried.

  “We’ve asked him some questions and the decision was his to make, he’ll survive.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “It means, young one, he chose life and will need time to heal. Now come along, we’ve got lots to do.”

  The old woman led me to the house next door then left. I spotted Ferren sitting motionless in her room and I swallowed hard, wondering if she was still angry with me.

  “You scared the hell out of us tonight,” she said.

  Surprise fluttered through my body when she stood to hug me.

  “I’ve missed you,” I cried.

  “I’ve missed you too, Ima. I’m sorry for acting like such a witch.”

  I sniffled as we pulled apart, my mind reeling with the remembrance of Jefferson. He had to be stopped.

  “Let me get you some clean clothes to change into.” Ferren eyed me. “They’ll be a kind of big but it’s better than having to wear those.”

  Rummaging through her closet, she grabbed a pair of jogging pants with a pull string and a heavy sweatshirt.

  “Did you guys hear me when I mentioned Jefferson?” I asked.

  “Yes. The tribal leaders are in session, deciding how to handle things.”

  How could they sit and wait like this? Panic raced through my blood at the thought of Jefferson barging in and hurting my friends.

  “Listen, I’ll give you some privacy so you can change. If you’re hungry I can put on some soup or something.”

  “Soup would be great.” My pulse quickened as I began to devise a plan.

  It was my fault my friends were in danger. And I felt obligated to fix the problem. But it was more than that, Jefferson had nearly killed my father tonight and there was no way I’d let him hurt someone else.

  After I changed, I poked my head around the corner to make sure Ferren wasn’t around. Slipping on a pair of her boots, I climbed out her bedroom window, dropping to the snowy ground below. Cold air nipped at my face as I dashed across the yard to a snowmobile.

  The key was in the ignition. Thank God for small favors. I turned the snowmobile on then sped from the yard toward my house. I wasn’t sure what I’d do once I got there, but one thing was for sure, Jefferson wasn’t going to get away with this.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Ghosts

  The Jeep was parked in my drive when I pulled the snowmobile around the side of the house. I knew he’d be here. Taking a deep breath, I cleared my face of any emotion. I had to play along.

  I burst in the door to find Jefferson coming down the hall accompanied by two men I didn’t recognize. My best bet was to play dumb.

  “Hey, where’s my dad?” I peered around the living room. Keetah limped over to me, and I noticed his bloody leg. Bile seared the back of my throat as I tried to remain focused.

  “Where’s the map, Ima?” Jefferson moved closer to me.

  “Map? I have no idea what you’re talking about. We’ve got an atlas of Alaska, though
.”

  “Don’t play stupid with me. I want to know where the shifters are,” he snarled.

  I started laughing. “Shifters?”

  “Yes, the ones from the camera,” he said.

  “Oh my gosh—you’re serious. Sorry, but there aren’t any shifters. Me and a friend were playing a trick on my dad. Did he show it to you?”

  Jefferson’s face turned bright red. “You’re lying, I saw the pictures there’s no way that could be fake.”

  I shrugged. “Well, if that’s what you came all the way up here for, then I’m sorry, because it was a hoax.”

  “I don’t believe you.” His face twisted. “Just like I didn’t believe your dad. You will show me where they are.” I watched in horror as he took a gun from his pocket and rushed for me.

  Keetah whimpered, then lunged at Jefferson, and knocked him to the floor. I picked up a nearby lamp, smashing it down on his head. He reached for my leg but missed, and I grabbed Keetah’s collar, pulling him out the door with me.

  Terror enveloped me like surging waves as I tried to get down the driveway. Keetah barely limped along and I had to drag him over to the snowmobile then prop him up in front of me. I started the engine, turning to see Jefferson and the other two men stumbling down the stairs after me. I gave the snowmobile some gas and sped through the streets. All I needed to do was lead him away from the others. To keep him from finding my friends.

  “Hold on, Keetah,” I cried as a gunshot rang out.

  I veered down the road toward Old Town. The cold air bit at my bare face and hands. The exposed skin tingled as if someone was sticking pins and needles in me. With a quick glance over my shoulder, I searched behind me for my pursuers. To my relief no one followed me, yet. But I knew it’d only be a matter of time before they caught up. I had to get as far away from them as possible. The glittering snow swirled and twirled before me, and I fought to see where I was going as the flakes billowed into my eyes.

  “Please,” I whispered. Old Town was just a little further.

  Right then the snowmobile chugged, and coughed.

  “No, not now! Come on.”

  I stared down to find the fuel light had come on. The pin was on empty. It went about another two hundred feet before it died.

  “Damn it!” I shouted punching the snowmobile.

  A pair of headlights blazed in the distance, but they were far enough away for me to find a hiding place.

  “Come on Keetah, we’ve got to go,” I said.

  He lifted his head, staring at me. Keetah whimpered again, and I realized he wanted me to leave him. Tears blinded me, freezing on my lashes as soon as they fell. I couldn’t go through this, not again tonight.

  “I’m not leaving you out here.” I sobbed. “So you better come on.”

  Keetah pushed to his feet, trudging after me. He got partway then collapsed his whimper louder this time.

  “Okay, I’ll carry you.” As gentle as I was able, I slid my arms beneath his front arms and half-carried, half dragged him.

  I maneuvered us toward one of the last sod houses and went inside. Panic set in as I stared at my surroundings. Where could I hide? It was then I realized I hadn’t eluded death this night. Sure, I tricked him once, but I doubted I’d be spared a second time.

  My lids fluttered shut and when I opened them, a flash of light pierced the darkness of the ancient abode. Ghostly figures wearing bear and animal skins floated through the room. A wispy woman gestured her faint hand for me to cower down in the shadows. Spectral men marched by, their phantom drums pounding out a warlike hymn.

  I clutched Keetah tight to me as I heard the Jeep skid to a stop.

  “I know you’re here, Ima. You can’t hide from me,” Jefferson shouted his voice high, almost deranged. .

  He’d gone mad. There was no other explanation for his behavior.

  “What are those?” one of the men shouted before gunshots fired off and the sound of screaming enveloped the night.

  “They’re ghosts,” another man said.

  Several more shots rang out, and I jumped with every bang and scream.

  “It’s okay, Keetah,” I said in a hushed voice, burying my face in his fur.

  A dark silhouette blocked the light from the door and I watched in alarm as Jefferson barged into the sod house.

  “You thought you’d get away from me.” A bitter laugh echoed around me. “You won’t be able to protect them—because once I kill you nothing’s going to stop me from exposing them and getting my name in print.”

  “You’re mad.” With a gentle nudge, I moved Keetah from my lap and attempted to stand. “The thing is you won’t get away with it. I got to my dad in time and he’ll tell the authorities, which means you’ll go to prison.”

  “He’s dead.”

  “He’s not. I found him at the airstrip and took him somewhere safe.”

  “No!” Jefferson raised his gun.

  He pulled the trigger and I simply stood staring at him, unable to move. At that moment, Keetah used his last bit of strength, and leapt in front of me.

  The bullet struck my dog and blood splattered on my clothes.

  “Keetah,” I screamed. “You shot my dog!”

  Jefferson went to fire another round, but the gun clicked. He was out of bullets. Throwing his weapon aside, he dove at me, sending me against the back wall.

  Pain rippled through me, and I screeched as something stabbed through my side.

  Jefferson wrapped his hands around my neck, choking me. I flailed in an attempt to kick at him, but his grip was too strong. Black spots formed in front of my eyes. I couldn’t breathe.

  How much longer could I hold on?

  A growl erupted behind Jefferson and he released me, seeing the large polar bear standing behind him. I knew what Carsen looked like when he shifted and this bear’s eyes were much darker, angrier.

  The bear’s gaze flicked over me and I knew without a doubt it was Talon. He lashed out a paw, dragging his claws across Jefferson’s face. The man screamed in agony as he fought to scoot away from the bear. But Talon bared his teeth, pinning the man down before he ripped out his throat.

  I buried my head against the gruesomeness, listening to the sound of other bears outside the sod house. The unmistakable noise only a shifter could make; the cracking of bones and tearing of skin.

  “Ima,” Talon’s voice called out to me.

  I raised my head to meet his gaze. “Thank you.” I sobbed.

  He knelt before me his hands on my face, his breath hot against my wind burned cheeks. His mere touch made me breathless. A soft humming vibrated in the frosty air between us, an ancient calling that didn’t want to be denied. My hand reached out of its own accord and touched his bare chest and Talon’s fingers entwined with mine.

  Mates.

  The word drifted from ghostly voices, swirling and thrumming from every inch of the room. And in the back of my mind, I knew this was what I wanted.

  Talon’s head snapped around as another figure entered the sod house. He snarled, lunging forward and shifting in mid air. I observed the scene with terror when I realized it was Carsen coming in. Yet, Talon didn’t stop in his pursuit.

  “Stop,” Ferren shouted. “Talon!”

  Talon swiped a big paw out, nearly catching Carsen’s leg but after a few intense moments, Talon finally eased up, but not before backing up to guard me.

  “I’m not going to hurt her,” Carsen said, his voice laced with irritation.

  Talon shifted once more, his skin stretching and his fur disappearing until at last he stood in front of me, naked as the day he was born.

  “I’ll take care of her,” Talon said, leaving no room for argument.

  “Fine, but don’t you forget whose girl she is.” Carsen’s tone sounded defensive.

  I glanced around Talon to find Carsen staring down at me. His girl? That was all I’d been wishing for this past week; to have Carsen forgive me and for us to go back to normal. Now I wasn’t so sure if it w
as enough. But the longer his eyes lingered on me the more I felt as I had the night we’d fallen asleep in the sod house. Even so, there was no way I could ignore Talon.

  “We’ll talk later,” he said.

  With a slow nod, I turned my attentions to Talon who bent down and lifted me. I cringed in pain, blood seeped through my sweatshirt and I glanced back down at Keetah.

  “Keetah’s hurt.” I cried.

  “I’ll get him,” Carsen said, then reached down and picked up the large dog with ease. He stepped around Talon and me, leaving us alone.

  Talon peered down at me. “You risked your life to save us.”

  Tears flowed from my eyes, and I nodded my head again.

  Talon leaned down as if to kiss me, then stopped. He frowned, moving one of his hands from my back. “You’re bleeding.”

  “I think I fell on something when Jefferson tackled me.”

  “Let’s get you home,” he said, saving me for the second time that night.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Complications

  I awoke sometime later in an unfamiliar bed and groaned. This was becoming too much of a common occurrence—waking up in strange places. Pushing myself up into a sitting position, I found Carsen seated on the floor watching me.

  “Hey, you’re awake.” He smiled. “That sleeping medicine Grandma gave you certainly knocked you out.”

  “How long have I been asleep?” I yawned.

  “About twenty four hours.”

  “What? How—how’s my dad?”

  “Still sleeping. Grandma’s trying to keep him down for as long as possible in order to give his body a chance to heal. But don’t worry, he’ll be as good as new.” Carsen stood then came to sit on the bed next to me. “So are we, you know, okay now?”

  “Yeah,” I said chewing on my bottom lip.

  “I don’t plan on walking away ever again, Ima. I want you back. I should’ve trusted you. Tonight, you proved to me we can be together. That you’d do anything to protect our secret.