Chapter 15

Christian was getting edgy. The van he was in was racing the sun. Or was it the moon?

The shape shifters were laughing easily. Christian envied them. They were immune to the moon's power. They knew exactly who they were and what to expect when they changed. Christian hadn't even got to ask Adam about what would happen tonight and right now Adam was in Emmi's van ahead of this one.

Christian took a deep breath and regretted it immediately. He still wasn't used to his heightened senses. Everything was a thousand times more real and it grated on his nerves, making him want to lash out at everything. The only thing that stopped him was the strongest instinct—self preservation. The Volturi, the vampires, and even humans were a danger. Werewolves were apparently immortal but could be killed more easily than vampires.

The sun was hovering over the horizon when they reached some relatively safe mountains. Christian jumped out of the van, nearly wrenching off the door to do so. Adam was already out and pacing.

"Let's go," the older werewolf said tersely. He turned and ran, becoming invisible to the human eye and blurred to the vampire eye.

I can't go that fast, Christian thought. But even before that thought finished forming, his instincts were taking over and he was catching up to his mentor.

Everything was clear as he ran. So clear it almost hurt his eyes—almost. The wind howling in his ears should have been deafining to Christian. But of course it wasn't as Christian couldn't not hear everything.

The stars were appearing overhead when they stopped.

Adam scanned the sky as he spoke to his student. "We're far from the humans. We hunt animals tonight. Understant?"

"Yeah." Christian's mouth was suddenly dry.

"I wish I could tell you otherwise, but it's going to be painful. Supposedly not as bad as changing into a vampire, but they only go through it once."

"Great."

Adam began to take off his clothes and shove them into a backpack that Christian hadn't noticed before. He did the same. Then Adam buried the bag. "It'll keep. It's remarkable stuff that fabric is made of."

"What's it made of?"

"Gnome hide."

"Really?"

"No," Adam snorted.

Christian opened his mouth to say more but suddenly felt very queer.

Adam felt it too. "She rises."

la lune pleine. The full moon.

Ice. Ice, he had been encased in ice!

Cold, so, so cold it burned!

Not burning, scorching. Melting his bones and reshaping him with fire and ice. Bones jutted out of his skin, forming claws. Screams turned to howls of agony as his skull turned canine and his speech was stolen.

Blood pounded in his ears as the ice and fire faded. The last human thought in his mind was that this body could handle his supernatural senses.

Clara woke up around 3AM. She heard quiet voices and clambered out of the van, passing her soul mate and their friends as she went.

Amy, Faith and Cody, the youngest of the wolves, were guarding the vans outside. Well, guarding meaning sitting, listening and talking. They looked up from their conversation when Clara approached.

"Where's everyone else?"

"Patrol," Cody said. "to watch for werewolves and vampires."

"The Moon Wolves lose their minds when they change," Faith said. "Or so the older one said."

"Adam said that?" Clara frowned. There was something she was supposed to remember… Adam… Adam… "Emmi!"

"She's sleeping," Amy said shortly. "Probably until you let her wake up."

There was a pause.

"Do you think she'll be different?" Cody finally asked. "Mentally, I mean."

"I don't know," Clara admitted. "I haven't done anything like this before."

A howl cut into whatever was about to be said next.

Hunger. Flesh and blood. Juicy meat. Scent in wind. Paws push earth beneath. Closer, closer. Prey starts and flees. Chase, pounce. Rip Tear.

"Do you think they'll be OK?" Clara asked. "Adam and Christian?"

"Supernaturals can take care of themselves," Amy barked a short laugh. Faith glared at her and Cody shook his head. Clara didn't understand.

Not enough. Smell air. Brother near, eating. Ah, cat! Run.

"Now isn't the time," Faith murmured so softly that Clara couldn't hear it.

"I don't care," Amy growled loudly. "I've waited too long." She glared at Clara. "I loved him before you did. Before I was a wolf. And now I can't be a friend to you because of it.

Clara was stunned. "I see."

"We used to cahse him. Literally. Faith and me. She did it first for moral support. Then she liked him. Now she's forced to be stopped. Because of you."

"Amy!" Faith exclaimed.

"IT'S TRUE!" Amy snapped. "It's only because you never truly loved him in the first place. Not with a real human love like I do!

"And I'll never stop!"

Thirsty… Listen. River. Go.

Clara held back tears, tired of being attacked so constantly. She turned and ran back to the van. She wished she could use her power to calm herself. But even if she could, she was too tired. She laid down and tried to sleep again, to find an escape. But the sound of the night was too much to do so. Rustling trees. Animals. Andrew breathing. Twins whimpering. Cody scolding Amy.

Would things ever die down?

Clara suddenly knew with perfect clarity.

No.

No they wouldn't.

Sated. Need to run. Join brother. Run.

Snap.

Challengers! Wolf cousins. Warn with growls. Opponents come forward.

Memory.

Friends.

Quil and Embry watched as the Child of the Moon turned and trotted away.

He recognized us, Quil thought.

I'ts good. It'd be better if they had telepathy, though.

Yeah.

We run to the top. Higher, higher. Closer to the mother. Life force. Settle in her light. Mother moon.