She Can Shift (Interracial Shifter Romance BWWM)

by Archer, Tia

  I couldn’t show them what I could do because that would only alienate them further. This fight would have to happen in human or panther form; it looked like it was going to be the latter. Their anger was quite prevalent, making it easier for them to transform. I wasn’t nearly as emotional as they were but I hope they would think so, I thought, as I change. Their animal brains would be electrifying all of their impulses, so they couldn’t think straight and only using their animal instincts to attack.

  A quick retreat was in order, which would allow me to gauge their reactions and see what I could use to even the odds. I knew from being out here before there were various traps to keep the lioness tribe from getting close, and unfortunately for them, I was going to put them to good use.

  We moved stealthily through the forest. At the last second, I leapt over one of the traps. My sister and three others manage to avoid it, but two shape shifters fell into the pit, screaming in anguish as the metal spikes pierced their skin.

  The numbers had dwindled down to three opponents, before long, I saw what I needed to make this into a two on one fight. It was barely distinguishable, and had they been in human form they probably would’ve been able to see it coming, but their animal instincts were not keen enough, one of them got caught in the bear trap.

  Turning around, I was attacked from both sides. I was knocked down, rolling around with both panthers trying to bite into my neck. We fought like the enemies that we now were, their claws slashing into my skin and I was barely able to keep their jaws from attaching to my neck. Rolling to the side, I came up onto my paws, only to feel that my ankle had snapped, leaving me to hobble away.

  Unfortunately, they were faster than me and a weakened prey was most likely a dead one. We were now standing precariously on the edge of a cliff. I was backing away and they, coming ever closer. They attacked again, and this time my sister slashed out and scratched across my face, blinding me for a brief moment, but it was more than enough for the other to jump me. We tumbled backwards, falling into the abyss, and heading for the rapids down below.

  The jarring cold water transformed us back to human form, naked and trying desperately to grab on to anything to save our lives. I heard the rushing falls approaching and noticed that the other, named Gabrielle had somehow latched onto a fallen branch. I felt as if the impact of the water had broken every bone in my body.

  Falling over the falls, my head continually smashed against the rocks, the water rushing into my mouth and making it hard for me to breathe. The dark water carried me down the river and away from my sister and her gang.

  The next thing I remember I washed up on a private beach. The family lived there were kind enough to help me. I didn’t know who I was, fading in and out of consciousness, I finally woke up later, in a hospital.

  Chapter7

  “I think we might have a problem.” I heard Andrew’s voice and I looked back. It appeared that they had found us and was now behind. They were driving a very powerful SUV, easily a match for the car we were in. We were going to have to take evasive action. “Hold on, I am going to try and lose them.” Andrew didn’t sound so sure and I wished that I had decided to drive.

  He veered to the side of the road, jumping the curb and barely missing an old man pushing a cart of cans. The cans went flying in the air and the old man was now yelling obscenities and waving his hand in the air.

  I didn’t know that Andrew could drive like this, but it was becoming evident that he was panicking and using everything he could to stave off death. His survival instincts were amazing. Now, I was seeing the hero emerge and my love for me soared to new heights.

  “Head for the warehouse district,” I hear Sean say, “and we might be able to lose them in the catacombs of dilapidated buildings. We can’t stay out here in the open, because we are sitting ducks. We need to find somewhere that we can have the upper hand or at the very least be evenly matched.” It was a good idea and we could turn the warehouses into our own hunting grounds.

  “I’m not worried about my sister, because with my memories back, I think I know how to get under her skin. My worry is Adrienne and she isn’t going to fall for any kind of manipulation, which means we have to fight her. I can assure you, she will laugh in the face of any odds. It’s the reason why she is the leader and the one that everyone fears…including me.”

  I have learned that fear is just an unnecessary emotion that takes away your ability to act rationally. The one thing I did have going for me, was that such a trivial matter no longer affected me. I think about all those mornings that I awoke in the house somewhere and I know now it was just the beast asserting its dominance. That wouldn’t happen again.

  “I don’t know why you can’t just get along with each other. Can you imagine what you could all accomplish together? I bet neither side remembers why the feud happened in the first place.” Andrew’s statement took me aback and I looked back at Sean to see that he too was confused.

  “Come to think about, the Lioness clan and my family never mentioned the actual cause. They didn’t want to talk about it and we were left with bad blood passed down from one generation to the next,” Sean said, reflecting.

  “Sean, the shifters do the same thing and I don’t think any of us really knows the cause of this animosity between our two people.” It was curious that nobody ever questioned this and I found myself admiring the way that Andrew came to this conclusion.

  “Whoa…what the hell was that?’ An arrow hit the metal of the car. I knew that their aim was slightly off, but that wasn’t going to be the case for the next one.

  Pulling the wheel sharply with my own hands, I saw the arrow meant for the back wheel go sailing by. Unfortunately, I had taken this sports car into a dirt road, and it was not meant for this type of abuse.

  Andrew tried to keep it steady, but the damage was extensive and we finally had to ditch the car.

  Coming to a stop, we jumped out and headed for the woods, and I could see one deserted warehouse in the near distance. As we moved quickly, I looked over to see that Andrew was doing his best to keep up. I guess those days jogging were paying off, but Sean and I did have to hold back a bit, in order not to lose him.

  Bounding down the hill, Sean took lead and kicked the door open, with Andrew and I following behind. “Take cover somewhere and make sure you have direct eyesight of the door and the windows. There is no telling where they will come…” The crash from above rained glass down, as Adrienne and her mane of white followed her down as the white panther.

  She landed with her back towards us, but then her head snapped around to make eye contact with just me. “You two go and take care of my sister and I’ll do what I can here.” They didn’t look sure, but instead of arguing they disappeared further into the building. This left Adrienne, and me alone.

  Adrienne only remained in panther form to the leap down, and was now changing into her real self. “My dear girl…I would say it was nice to see you again…but I think we both know that I would be lying.”

  The idea that I had to go up against her was not exactly a pleasant one, but it didn’t look like I had another choice. The only thing I had going for me, was that she really didn’t know what I was capable of. “Adrienne, we really shouldn’t be fighting amongst ourselves, don’t you think there are better things to do with our time than this?” I was trying to make her see that she was making a mistake, but, for the most part, I was just trying to find out where her head was.

  “Tina, what I have learned from your sister Sheila is very disturbing. For this reason, you cannot be allowed to exist. I’m afraid your mother was the same, and unfortunately, she had to be dealt with in the same way you will be.” I was paralyzed for a moment, thinking, I didn’t know any of this, I really did think that my mother had died of natural causes.

  This wasn’t the time to get angry, because she would only use that against me. I had a feeling that my mother had been in the same position before. I shouldn’t have been surprised by this reve
lation, but I have to admit that I was shocked to learn that they had treated her like a pariah. “If what you say is true, then I have to wonder why you didn’t come after me before.”

  “We actually did, and we tested you at an early age to see if you were capable of the same powers as she was. We thought mistakenly that the mutant gene wasn’t passed down to you. It appears that we were wrong about that, and it just took a little more time for your abilities to develop. I won’t make that mistake again.” Taking a stance, it was something that I had seen her do on many occasions against many an enemy. “Your mutation can never become public, and that is the reason why whenever these instances do arise they are handled very privately and in-house.”

  Two knives came out of nowhere, flying towards me at breakneck speed. I was able to deflect one with the back of my hand, while moving fast to the side to avoid the other. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize that I was still in complete human form, allowing the first knife to slide across the skin of my hand, which caused a huge gash. My adrenaline was racing, and I was doing what I could to remain calm, even though I had just learned that Adrienne was responsible for my mother’s death.

  “Adrienne, you’re about to find out just what I am capable of.” I changed to the hybrid, seeing the expression of utter disbelief cross over her features, before she finally pulled out a device and fired it point blank at my chest. As the prongs made contact with my skin, I felt electricity running through my body, and if I hadn’t had those meditation exercises, I could only imagine what would have been the result. As it was, I was still able to hold onto my sanity, and not allow the beastly apparition to take control.

  “Ahhhhhhhhh.” I was pretending to be in more pain than I was, hopefully lowering her guard and allowing her to make a mistake.

  “That is exactly what I used on your mother, then I took her head before she had a chance to react.” The blade came out of nowhere, almost like it had materialized out of thin air. She held my head back to expose my neck.

  However, when she swung the blade in an arc around from behind her back, I suddenly straightened up and put both hands together against the blade, essentially stopping it in mid flight. I could see on her face that she wasn’t expecting this. I think for the first time, she wanted to back down, but it’s too late now.

  I leapt in the air, still holding onto the sword, breaking her contact with it and sending it flying deep into the wall. I flip until I land on the other side of her, reaching my hands back and holding onto her human neck, knowing full well that she was going to change back to the panther in order to unleash the beast from within.

  “I don’t think you’re going to be able to do that, Adrienne. I have learned that there is a way to stop the transformation from happening, as long as I can put enough pressure on your neck and shoulders.” I basically lifted her off her feet, hearing her gurgles of anguish. If I killed her, it may have stopped her, but they would no doubt send.

  “How…how is this…possible…I am the strongest…the warrior.” She was choking on her words, and it didn’t make me feel very happy about taking her life, but it was a necessary evil, considering that she was going to do the same thing to me.

  “Let’s just say that I have learned how to harness the power, and, you are certainly not the strongest anymore. Keep in mind…ahhhh…. I don’t take any pleasure in this… but you left me no choice.” I could feel that her fingers were digging into my hands, but my hybrid skin was way too strong for her to penetrate. Her breath was getting labored, her mind no doubt shutting down, and her body soon coming to the end of its cycle.

  It was the snap of her neck that told me that everything was done and over with, I let go and hear her fall like a sack of wet cement. I couldn’t bring myself to turn around and see what I had done. I realized, now that I had to control and use the power, had to take responsibility for my actions.

  “ARGGHHHHHHHHHH.” The animals were fighting in the distance. It soon became apparent that Sean and Sheila were in the mists of their own struggle for supremacy.

  Andrew was lying on his side, blood pooling underneath his head. It looked like he had tried to get into the middle of this, only to have himself hurt in the process.

  The white Bengal tiger and the panther were now growling and twisting and turning on the floor. Their jaws were going after each other, tearing off pieces of flesh and ripping into each other with everything they had. I ran over in my half human and panther side, grabbing them both by the scruff of the neck and pulled them away from each other.

  “That is more than enough.” I then turn my head towards Sheila who was dangling in the air. “I killed Adrienne. You can take that back to the others. I will not be returning with you, and even though I can’t kill you now, doesn’t mean that I won’t be able to the next time we face each other. Go home and lick your wounds, then think seriously about what you’re going to do next.” I toss her into a pile of cargo containers, hearing her whimper and soon back away with no other choice but to make her exit.

  Coming back to human form, I bend over Sean, turning him over to see that he was looking at me with no life left in his eyes. He had protected Andrew and I.

  There was nothing that I could do but feel the immense pain of grief strike me in the chest, making me fall down on to my knees with my head raised. The panther inside came forward, letting go of the anguish that was now drowning me, as I howled with every bit of energy I had left. “OWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.” It was the only way to properly grieve for a fallen comrade and lover. This was the type of love that was eternal, and even in death I would never forget him.

  Feeling the hand of somebody on top of my shoulder, I remembered Andrew. As I looked up into his face, I saw he was visibly distressed about what had happened. “I’m sorry… Tina…I tried to help, but unfortunately, I was just no match for either one of them. They didn’t back down. I was very impressed with how Sean was so willing to put his life on the line for me. He was doing it for you. I think he wanted to impress upon you how much you meant to him. I think he knew that my death would hurt you terribly, but now his own sacrifice is going to haunt you for the rest of your life.”

  Getting up on my feet, I turned and took his hand, walking away and making one final glance towards Sean.

  “He didn’t have to do that. If he had only waited a few more minutes, I would’ve been there to make sure that this didn’t happen. That man has always been stubborn; you would tell him one thing and he would do the other. I suppose that’s one of the reasons why I loved him so, because he had his own mind and didn’t just agree with me. I think that’s the one thing you two have in common, and it is that commonality that made it impossible for me to choose either one of you. It looks to me that that decision has been made for me.” He was holding the back of his head, but at least the blood had stopped.

  “You know that I didn’t like him, Tina, but I did admire his dedication to you. I couldn’t do what he did, so he stepped up to do what had to be done.” I felt this black hole in my heart, but when I turn to look at Andrew, I knew that I was safe. It was then that I realized Andrew was no longer calling me Gail, that he was using my real name.

  As we walked by the spot where I left Adrienne, I saw that her body was no longer there. I hoped that Sheila was the one that gathered up her remains. In either case, my mutation would never allow Sheila to stop hunting me. She would come again; it was just a matter of time. I would have to be ready, and this time I wouldn’t have Sean, the warrior Bengal tiger to help. This was not something that I was looking forward to, and maybe it would’ve been more prudent to deal with her now instead of later. Sighing deeply, I would need time to heal and grieve, while still having that Damocles sword swinging above my head.

  The End

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>   Tia Archer

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