Chapter Four, Ep. 13 – "Moon of Revelation"
Author's Note – just a brief word here… Again, thanks for the reviews! I really appreciate them! Keep them coming!
I wanted to mention it again in case it had been missed at the end of the last chapter… I have a friend of mine that is selling very, VERY reasonably the copies of the Wolf Lake series…she also includes the unaired version pilot which has a completely different storyline than the original (see Luke and Sophia like you NEVER have before!!!) For those interested, please let me know, either through e-mail or review, and I'll send you her e-mail… if I don't get back to you within a few days, then that means I didn't get it, so send me another note…
I hope you enjoy the next installment of Conclusion of the Wolf Lake Series, so let me know what you think! This story has taken a life on of it's own, so even I can't really say where it's going! (laughing)
I changed the ep. Title, from "Stars of Revelation" to "Moon of Revelation"… I guess no one will mind! (grin)
Summery – Sophia establishes her position within the "Hill" kids and the Pack, while Luke makes his claim known to the other Skinwalkers… as Matthew struggles with the idea of finally "Going Native."
John unknowingly discovers the threat of the "Darkness" pulling it's shroud over Wolf Lake, and his connection to Ruby will be put to the test as he struggles to believe in the unbelievable…
So hang on to your seats, for this is going to be one hell of a ride!
And here we go…
Chapter Four, Ep. 13 – "Moon of Revelation"
John felt his heart rate pick up speed, adrenaline flooded his veins, as he pulled closer to the doors. Listening carefully. He could hear muffled voices behind one of them. Whatever it was about, the topic was obviously heated, as he made out two distinct voices. The door was slightly cracked. If he just managed to get closer he would be able to make out their words…
"I can't believe you injured her! I gave you strict orders to capture one of them uninjured!"
"Oh, yeah? Now when do you figure that I'd be able to do that, when it was trying to kill me! It ripped Carl's throat clean out! I didn't sign up for this to just get killed!"
"No! You signed up to help the Hunters track down these creatures and destroy them as is our right and calling! You were foolish."
John frowned to himself. Hunters?
He heard the other male let out a sigh. "Better to be foolish than laying on the side of that highway in a bloody mess." John could only believe that that was one of the men that had been responsible for his capture. The other man he was talking to was probably the other male that had come out of the vehicle to help the other with loading up their bodies.
"Besides," The accused male sneer was heard clearly in his tone. "It's still alive. Barely. You should be able to torture it some with those medical experiments and tests of ours before it kicks off."
"Don't be too sure." The other male snapped back sharply. "These creatures are incredibly fast healers, and considering the fact she didn't die immediately, probably means she won't."
"Fine. Then let me know when you want to finish the job, and we can get on with this."
John heard the other male start to chuckle dryly. "It's a good thing I'm in charge here, or it would be all over for the Society. This female is highly significant to the Skinwalkers. She's one of their leaders. Probably the Alpha's mate. I have no intention of killing her before I get some answers to my questions." The tone of his voice stated that he would use any means necessary to get those answers.
John shook his head. Yep. He'd been right. These guys were somehow connected to that Van Halen character. They believed in werewolves and things that went bump in the night. It looked like the town-run cult of Wolf Lake wasn't the only thing he was going to have to deal with.
These nut cases seemed to be traveling a pack of their own, and they had already twice tried to involve him in Heaven knew what type of experiment, all because he currently was living in a town he would rather leave behind… and he'd be damned before he let it happen again. To him or any other person that happened to step into their clutches.
But first he had to get that wolf out of there before they cut her open, or tried to make her into their case for whatever it was they believed in. Normally he wouldn't have bothered with a animal, but for some reason she had saved his life more than once, and had guarded over him more than he had originally realized. She must have been raised by a human to have that type of loyalty. And loyalty was exactly what John gave to his friends. Either human or animal.
Besides, there was something about her… He knew Ruby would like her. Maybe he would take the wolf with him when he found Ruby and they left this town behind… The poor creature seemed to have it just as bad as him in this strange dark place.
******
Dr. Steven Harris rubbed the sweat that dotted his brow from excitement spiced with a healthy does of fear, as he knelt over the wounded body of the white female. He didn't acknowledge the lowlife that he had been paired with in that Frankie character. The red neck youth was only as useful so long as he kept his mouth shut, and made use of his brawn, not the lack of brains that he had been shorted by since birth. He wasn't Steven's concern. Soon they would have enough information gathered by his underground Society for the Hunters, and then the Hunters would rid themselves of the ridiculous young man.
Anyone who was expendable, usually was expended rather quickly… It kept matters clean.
The Hunters had spent the centuries since the Dark Ages ridding the world of the straggler members of the Skinwalker species. And for the last 100 years or so, things had been very quiet for them. Their silence had been thick with the promise of returning with a vengeance if any members of the Skinwalkers were found… and a few months ago, when that nutcase Arthur Van Halen had popped up with his claims of werewolves that had taken control of a town in Washington… the very Earth had trembled with the suppressed strength of the rising descendants of the original Hunters. They had come from all corners of the world once again. Joining forces. This time to finally end what their Ancestors had begun. They would drive the Unnatural from the face of the Earth. And they would lift their heads in triumph as they destroyed the last remaining children of the Wolven.
Fulfilling their self-ordained prophecy.
Steven watched the breaths of the white female cause her sides to rise and fall erratically. The feverish glint of fanaticism shinning brightly in his eyes. He was at the head of another Society… One that recognized the truth in the myths. His Society had been chosen by the Hunters to aid them in their war against the Skinwalkers, and therefore allowing the Society to prove, once and for all, that they weren't a bunch of quacks and nuts that had come up with this stuff to keep themselves entertained. But that they had actually been right. With the information that Steven would gather, he could prove to his colleagues that these shape shifters actually existed. And
earn himself a place in history.
Van Halen had been a rogue. One that the Society had believed too dangerous to try to hook up with. The fool was never altogether in the brain sense, and he would have revealed the Society to his subscribers. Most of them had probably been Hunters anyway. It was probably what had warranted the sudden interest in Wolf Lake on the Hunters part. Even though Van Halen hadn't quite had all the facts… he still had enough information to keep an eye on. And enough information to condemn him once the Hunters found what they wanted. He knew to much, therefore, it wouldn't be long before he was discovered dead in the asylum that he had been sent to.
An obvious suicide, of course.
No, Steven admitted triumphantly to himself. The Hunters needed something like the Society. Someone like him. They both had pretty much the same goal. Even if their reasons for it differed.
He wanted the prestige of proving the discovery of the Skinwalkers to the world…They wanted their hearts as trophies.
And this white female was all he needed to prove to the Hunters that Wolf Lake was the place they were looking for. And the proof he needed to set himself amongst the Greats of Medical history.
Steven glanced over at his computer. The wolf's blood test had come back. It contained human blood…but not quite ALL human. It contained wolf blood…but not quite ALL wolf. He had never seen anything like it. And there was no way it could have been false, or replicated. This injured female was most assuredly one of the Wolven.
The Hunters would be very pleased. But before he let them know what he had in his possession, he wanted to run some more tests. Pain threshold, regenerative abilities, reproductive capabilities. See what kind of brain patterns showed up. See if there was any way to force her to change.
That was definitely a show he wanted to see.
******
John managed to peer into the room. He did a quick scan. There was an older man, about sixtyish. Closely cropped gray hair. He was wearing a medical overcoat. He could see that the almost completely destroyed room had been made into a haphazard excuse for a lab. Whoever was in charge of this…operation didn't plan on sticking around very long.
The other man had his back to the door and was only about 10 feet from the door John was hiding behind. He was focused just as intently on the older man's actions with the prone white wolf as the older man was himself. John quickly calculated the distance. He could probably make it to the kid long before he even realized what had hit him. And so long as the older man kept his focus on his 'subject', he should be able to get him under control as well. He just had to wait for that time to come.
John watched as the older man strapped the wolf down with two heavy duty restraints. He then picked a rather heavy duty looking scalpel. At first John thought he might try to remove the bullet. But instead, he started to edge towards one of the wolf's front legs and press down.
John watched in horror as the older man stated to cut on the uninjured limb, and he decided his wait was over.
Relying on instinct more than police training, he bolted into the room. Heading directly up behind the younger guy.
Frankie turned around at the sudden commotion at his back, just in time to watch the butt of John's pistol impact hard on the side of his head. Dropping him to the ground in a massive heap.
John swung the gun up and pointed it firmly at the older man that had turned around to watch these proceedings with shock.
"Yeah," John glowered disgustingly at the man. Unblinking eyes unwittingly glittering gold, as his finger tightened cautiously on the trigger. "It's all fun and games for you till someone fights back."
******
Sophia shyly took Luke's hand as they headed into the Diner. They had gone back to that small clearing in the forest long enough to gather their clothes after their run, and then had driven in his car to get something to eat.
It was late. Most places would be closed by now, but not the Diner. In a town run by the Wolven that ruled the night, the Diner always remained open far later than most. But you'd guess that was what you get from a place run by Skinwalkers.
Luke smiled at her as he casually pushed open the entry door. Sophia smiled back at him, silent and thoughtful about their timeless moment in the woods. She could still feel the earth beneath her pounding feet. The smell of the forest and of Luke was still strong about her. They were sensations that she would carry with her forever.
She casually glanced around the room, and felt her heart leap and her stomach sink as she glanced over at the pool tables at the group of "Hill" kids watching the entry of their Leader clasping her hand tightly in his.
Sophia glanced away quickly. A moment of panic surfacing. Luke followed her abandoned line of sight to ascertain for himself what had caused the increase of her heart rate. Luke looked back at the paleness of her features. A small frown creasing his brow, as he watched her consciously allow the thick fall of her hair hide her face from the young members of the Pack's perusal.
Sophia could feel their senses brushing over her. Probing, sniffing, confirming the scent of her recent Flip, and undoubtedly the scent of Luke all over her as well. She felt as if she was standing naked, exposed, in front of a jury. She knew that she couldn't hide from this any longer. Everyone was bound to figure it out sooner or later. It had just wound up being sooner than she had originally hoped.
"Hey," Luke blocked the view of Sophia from the rest as he quickly lifted her face to lock his gaze with her. "You have nothing to be ashamed at. You only accepted what you've always been. They can't judge you anymore. Not if you don't let them."
Sophia studied Luke's face for a moment before nodding. Luke's fingers left her chin and once again firmly entwined with hers. He led her over to one of the tables, out of view from the "Hill" kids, and sat down. Despite the distance, Sophia still presented her back to the pool tables. She didn't have to answer to them. She wanted to ignore them as much as possible. Tonight was about her and Luke. Not the Pack.
Kit was just getting off her shift, but still stopped by to drop off some menus. Sophia saw the questioning concern on her friend's face, but she ignored it. What could she say? What could she say that Kit would possibly begin to understand?
Kit studied Sophia for a moment, before minutely shaking her head and exiting the Diner.
Another one of the waitresses, this one new to the place, stopped by to get their drink and food orders.
After she had left, Luke leaned over and grinned teasingly at her. Forgetting about the other Skinwalkers trying to maneuver themselves into unobstructed view of the couple. Sophia looked at him cautiously, a small smile of her own spreading.
"What?"
Luke just inclined his head towards her, still smiling at her as if he knew a secret that she didn't.
"What?!" Sophia persisted. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing. I was just thinking…" Luke's expression was devilish at best. Sophia leaned closer, teasingly. Clasping her hands together, and leaning her forearms on the table. Bringing her face only a few inches from him.
"What were you thinking?"
Luke's smile grew, as if saw her curiosity. "I was thinking that you really seemed to enjoy yourself this evening." His tone was almost insinuating. As if more had happened between them than her running with him in wolven form.
Sophia blushed slightly, her eyes straying away from his. "I think that's an understatement. She reached out at took a sip of her soda. It had been an incredible moment for her. It had been liberating as well as frightening. She had always had such a rigid control over her life, and to have allowed herself to finally let go of all that she knew about herself… It had redefined her existence. She didn't know herself anymore. But, that not knowing, was what was so exhilarating.
Luke watched Sophia lean back against the back of the booth. Self-consciously pulling on the tips of her fingers. That seemed to be a habit of hers.
"You were beautiful."
Sophia started slightly at his off-hand comment. Her smile widening in pleasant surprise, as she met his eyes once again. "Thanks."
Their conversation was cut short as the waitress set their food down in front of them. There were a few moments of silence as they focused on eating. Finally Luke asked the question he'd been wondering about for some time.
"Are you planning on joining Sherman's class in the morning?"
Sophia stilled for a moment before swallowing her bite of burger. "Um, I… I don't know just yet."
Luke sensed Sophia's reluctance, and tried to understand it. "But, you do know that it is expected now, right?"
Sophia bit her lip nervously. "I know, I just haven't made up my mind if I want to start it tomorrow." Sophia sensed Luke's reluctance to let the subject drop, when she decided that now would be a good time to excuse herself.
Luke watched in bafflement as Sophia excused herself and headed towards the bathroom. He realized that Sophia was still having a problem accepting just how drastically her life was changing. What she would now accept in herself, she wasn't sure if others could.
He would just have to do more convincing. But not tonight. She had already taken one giant step this evening by admitting her ability to Change. It was enough. For Now.
******
( Author's Note - If you remember what Sophia looked like in "Legend of Lost Lenore" during her dream of making love with Luke in the forest…that is the way I see her as looking now since she's Flipped. Just wanted to point that out for ya!)
Sophia stood in the bathroom after having washed her hands and reapplying her lipstick, and studied her reflection in the mirror. She looked completely different now. Her normally tightly contained hair, flowed thick and full down about her shoulders, cascading down her back in loose curls. Her kohl lined eyes glittered with the suppressed wolf within, and were no longer hidden behind her glasses. Her body seemed to be fuller and curvier. Her facial structure more defined, her lips fuller and brilliant with that shade of red glistening there. She didn't look like her old self. She looked sultry, like a siren or something.
No, she corrected to herself. She looked like a Skinwalker.
All of this newness had been brought about by her Flip. Or… maybe she had always been like this. Maybe this had been what Luke had always seen. Maybe she had just tried to hide her sensuality from the rest of the world because she had thought it was directly linked to being part Skinwalker. Maybe it was. She didn't know anymore. She just knew that she didn't want to go back to being what she once was. She wanted to embrace this new her, and never let go.
Problem was, she wasn't too sure about how to go about that.
Funny how later when she thought back on this moment, that that was a question that was about to be answered.
Sophia heard the bathroom door open quietly, and then shut. Sophia locked onto the reflection of her eyes in the mirror, and watched as her eyes flickered gold for a split second, before she shook her head. Disbelieving but all the time knowing that this had been coming from the moment she had stepped into the Diner and into the scrutiny of some of the "Hill" kids. She didn't have to turn around to know who was standing there. Her wolven senses had already acknowledged that smell.
She turned anyway, and leaned her hip casually against the corner of the sink. She crossed her arms across her breasts and tilted her head coolly to the side, studying the rather pissed off blonde female standing there.
Presley had her hands on her hips as she barely managed to suppress the inner wolf from outright attacking her rival. Eyes glittering dangerously.
Sophia felt something primal within her push to the surface, and this time she didn't bother with suppressing it. This had been something that had been a long time coming. Presley thought she had some right to Luke, and whether she did or not, she was in for a fight if she thought she was going to be able to push Sophia around like she did all the rest of younger bitches of the Pack. Presley fancied herself to be the Alpha female of the "Hill" kids. Well, she was going to learn very quickly that Sophia's inner wolf didn't care too much about being dominated.
By anyone.
******
"Drop that scalpel, and take those restraints off of her." John growled softly. He watched the older man carefully. Body tensing as he watched the man's indecision. "Don't make me shoot you."
"It doesn't matter if you do or not." The man spook softly, all fear chased away from his features as he smiled almost serenely at John. "You'll never be able to stop all of us. The days of the Pack are outnumbered. What happens here will change nothing." Steven watched the human across from him, a flicker on confusion rising. The man's eyes were glowing just like a Skinwalkers' would. But his blood test had stated that he wasn't a Skinwalker, at least not yet. He had pinpointed a rather large amount of Wolven DNA in his system, but his basic makeup had been completely human. He had watched that rather ridiculous transfusion that Van Halen had completed, but this didn't make any sense. A full-blooded human could not become a Skinwalker because he had had a transfusion. The past history he had conducted had proven that. The Hunters had confirmed it. And they probably knew more about the Skinwalkers than they knew about themselves. It didn't make any sense.
Unless…
Steven looked from John's glowing eyes and the barrel of his gun to glance at the white wolf. Her eyes were struggling to stay open. Whimpers were exiting from her throat. Her watched the blood flow from the cut her had made on her leg. Her body already starting the regenerative healing process. It couldn't heal around the bullet wound, because he hadn't bothered to take it out. It had been his only insurance that she would stay down… until now.
Steven gritted his teeth as he made his decision. The wolf was his find! He would have her dead, before he would let this man/wolf take her!
John watched the steely eyed fanatic determination grip the older man as he quickly brought the scalpel up and aimed at the white wolf's throat. John didn't take a moment to think about it. Didn't let himself think about the fact that he was going to shoot a fellow human being over an animal. His aim was accurate as the bullet made impact right at the shoulder joint of the older man's arm. Shattering bone and muscle. The scalpel clattered harmlessly beside the wolf as the older man dropped to the floor, screaming in pain.
John jumped forward quickly. Firmly kicking the older man out of the way. He could hear the sound of foot steps pounding down the hallway in answer to the gunshot and screams. There had either been more people in the house than he had originally thought, or they had just made entry.
He lost precious time as he unbuckled the restraints. Deftly grapping up the wolf, he held her firmly in his arms as he looked around the room in desperation. His eyes locking on the large floor to ceiling window to his left that revealed that night had fallen outside.
He didn't bother to pause in his movement towards that window as he heard the sound of footsteps entering the room. Didn't stop as he heard gunshots shooting off around his head. He put on an extra burst of speed as he threw his body into the glass of the window. Shattering it with the force of his body exiting the room. Still holding the body of the wolf, unconsciously turning his body into the shattering window to keep her from getting any more cut up than she already was. He felt small razor thin cuts being made all over his body, but for the most part, he wasn't severely injured.
They were suspended in midair for a moment. The sound of glass tinkling all around them. The house had been situated on a hill, so they dropped about 8 feet before landing on the side of that hill. John somehow kept his balance as he landed firmly on both feet.
He didn't bother to look up at the window or figure out if there were any vehicles present. He just shot out towards the darkened forest. His feet somehow managing to find purchase on the steep, rough terrain as he carried the body of the wolf deeper into the woods. The sounds of gunshots following them.
John didn't stop running once he got out of range from whoever was shooting. He kept on, knowing that they might try to pursue him.
He didn't stop to think how he was able to run as fast as he was, carrying well over 90 pounds of dead-weight wolf. He didn't stop to think about why he felt it was so important to go deeper and deeper into the woods and away from any signs of civilization. He would double back and head towards Wolf Lake, but he would stick to the forest. He figured that whoever would try to follow him would have people searching the roadways. He couldn't risk that. He didn't know what was going on here, but, ridiculous or not, these people were serious. Deadly so. He wasn't going to give them another chance to get him.
Clutching the wolf tighter against him, he put of the extra speed required as he felt her blood soaking through his clothing. Her jarred wounds reopening.
He knew only one place he could go that might be safe. And where he might be able to get some answers.
******
(Author's Note – the use of the word 'bitch' in the next scene, is not for derogatory purposes, but for the use of describing a female dog or, in this case, a wolf. Just wanted to make that clear!)
"Well, well, well. Look who finally managed to Flip." Presley's tone was snide and caused the skin down Sophia's back to bristle. Presley slinked dangerously forward. Inhaling lightly as she circled Sophia. Sophia turned her head towards her but not her body, even though it was aching to release the tension that was building there. She could feel her temper starting to flare the way it always did in Presley's presence. Only this time, it had a little help from that wolf part of her that was willing and waiting to defend them both.
Presley had been a problem for too long, and it ached to finally put her in her place, once and for all.
Sophia didn't consciously admit it, but this wasn't just about Luke. It was about something else. Something that she didn't have the words to describe. Something within her knew that she had to push Presley from her rank, if she wished to remain comfortably within the Pack. If she wanted to truly be what she was. She didn't know it yet, but what she was feeling wasn't something that all the other females had experienced. The instincts of a white female were based on ruler ship above the other female bitches of the Pack. They were stronger and tended to be more feral when it came to defending their position. That was why being the mate to the Alpha male came naturally. For one, no other female could hope to knock her from that status. And two, only the strongest male would satisfy as a mate. Regardless of who was actually leading the Pack.
And Sophia was every inch a white female. Even if no one, including her, knew it yet.
"I'm amazed at Luke's continued interest in you," Presley continued. Either completely ignoring the rising tension within Sophia, or actually believing that a recently Flipped half-breed couldn't successfully fight of a full-blooded Skinwalker.
"Yeah well," Sophia's tone was laced with sarcasm. "I guess he's tired of taking 'out' the trash in this town."
Presley let out a hiss as she came back to stand in front of her rival. The wolf within her that thought she was Alpha amongst the younger females, bristling in anger. Her nails lengthened, ready to shred Sophia's face. No female ever talked that way to her and got away with it!
"What did you say?"
Sophia smirked. A dangerous yellow glow coming to her eyes as she stared back at Presley. The inner wolf actually gloating with assured supremacy as Sophia realized she wasn't the lest bit afraid of her. "Oh, I think you heard me."
Presley's jaw tightened. "No, I think the only thing I'm hearing is a half-breed who should have been considered a liability to the Pack when she was borne. The Pack leader should have put a mutt like you down." Presley began to laugh smugly, self assured in her belief of being superior to Sophia because of her full-blood. Honestly believing that she could defeat Sophia hands down as she watched the girl's eyes begin to flare brighter.
Presley licked her lips an anticipation. It was time to finally show this piece of zoo-bait where she fit into things. For her to move in on Luke who would probably be a contender to the Alpha position in the Pack once he reached adult hood, was almost too pathetic to be true. Despite his obvious obsession, Luke needed to learn that there was no way the Pack would accept a half-breed as an Alpha female. It just wouldn't happen. Presley was the strongest of the younger generation of the females of their Pack, and therefore her position at the next Alpha male's side was assured. Everyone knew it. She would be their Alpha…no one else. Granted, Sophia had managed to Flip. The smell of the Change was still fresh upon her skin, as well as Luke's unmistakable musk. But there was no way a half-breed could defeat her.
So fine. Let Sophia figure it out. When Presley finished with her, she wouldn't so much as look at Luke again. She was going to find out what "female ranking" meant amongst their kind. It came with the rip of claws and the snap of teeth. As if Sophia could ever even be considered part of the Pack.
Sophia just waited. The inner wolf ready to spring at this farce of a challenger.
"I mean," Presley continued, looking up and down Sophia almost in disgust. Unaware of the danger she was placing herself in. "Look at you. Look at your father! He was to be the next ruler of the Pack, and he gave it up for an ungulate. He turned his back on the Pack, for a human." Presley circled back around to Sophia's side, preparing to attack her.
"It's any wonder that she died. That "accident" probably had been planned from the beginning." Presley smile was evil. "I mean, let's face it. No human could ever get away with bewitching the future Pack leader." Presley tauntingly leaned in closer, as if whispering a secret a Sophia's ear. "I wonder… do you think that maybe your father had something to do with it? Maybe he had realized his mistake, and was simply correcting something that he never should have humped in the first place."
Something within Sophia snapped. Her inner wolf howling in triumph as it flooded to the surface.
Presley had been anticipating an attack from Sophia. Had purposely edged her closer to turning feral. But she hadn't been prepared for what Sophia did do.
Sophia casually pushed herself back up into a standing position from leaning against the sink. She turned slowly to face Presley. Eyes glowing, as a small smile spread across her lips.
Presley frowned at this response, and yanking her arm out, made a swipe at the smirking face with her extended nails.
Sophia barely blinked as one of Presley's fingernails opened a razor thin line across her right cheek. A few drops of crimson blood trickling down.
The next thing Presley knew, Sophia grabbed her securely by the neck, and flung her clear across the bathroom. Presley's body smacked hard with a sickening thud against the wall. Leaving a gaping hole in the painted sheet rock. She landed on the floor of the bathroom in a pile. Stunned shock written all over her face as she struggled to regain her breath after having it knocked clean out of her. Red marks from Sophia's fingers visible at the base of her neck. Marks that would be purpling soon.
And Sophia had just tossed her like she had weighed nothing at all. And with one hand, as if she was merely flicking away a bug.
Presley continued to gasp. Her surprise was so severe, she couldn't even force her Wolven state to the surface in retaliation. To make matters worse, three girls had just walked in, all Skinwalkers, one of which who was Sarah, who had always been a friend of Sophia's. They were standing there is shock. Eyes flying back from Presley's crumpled up choking form, to Sophia's calm stance. She looked as if she might have just been discussing the weather…if it hadn't been for the still heated yellow glow of Sophia's eyes.
They had been there to watch that… that half-breed exhibit some type of freakish strength that wasn't even possible for a full-blooded female to commit. Much less one that was part human.
Sophia barely acknowledged the new arrivals, she just glanced at her fingernails slowly. Plucking off a couple of blonde hairs that had become caught there, before she casually started to walk past Presley and out the door.
"It isn't over yet." Presley rasped out. Rubbing her throat. Still sitting on the floor trying to recover her breath. Not even able to stand up. No one could be that strong!
"Oh, I think it is." Sophia answered back. She shot back over her shoulder. "By this time tomorrow, the entire Pack will know of what transpired tonight, and it'll prove that there is a new bitch in town, and one that no one wants to mess with,"
Sophia glowered at the three females still blocking the exit. A small growl rumbling in her throat, as the inner wolf was still very much at the surface of Sophia's instincts made it's newly acquired status in the Pack clear. Her challenge heard. They hastily moved aside and out of her way in submission. If they had been in wolf form, they probably would have rolled over and presented their bellies.
Sophia turned back around as the door began to shut behind her. She watched as one of the girls helped Presley back up to her feet. Sarah stood there, something akin to satisfaction as she saw Presley publicly humiliated. Presley glared after Sophia. Sophia just smiled. Her expression almost feral, as she finished her statement.
"This Bitch."
The door swung shut.
(Soundtrack Suggestion – Econoline Crush, "You Don't Know What It's Like" from the Album Brand New History. This song is very Wolf Lakeish and very much the perfect song for this next scene. I could just hear this song playing over the speakers in the Diner! Very reminiscent of the songs heard on Wolf Lake.)
Sophia turned back around, surveying the Diner. There was a group of Skinwalkers not more than a hundred feet away. Sophia acknowledged that Skinwalker hearing being what it was, that they had heard the exchange between Sophia and Presley. And even if they hadn't, they could sense the Wolven aspect of Sophia's nature was right beneath the surface, challenging anyone who thought they could come over and mess with her to do so at their own peril.
Sophia wasn't acting like her old self anymore. She was still her, but different. She had finally decided that if things were going to be easier and more pleasant for her in Wolf Lake, then she needed to make her position clear from the start so no one would think that she could be pushed around.
Seeing as how she would have to remain here for the rest of her life.
Dismissing the group, Sophia's eyes locked onto Luke's. He had watched her exit the bathroom, and now he was waiting to see what else she had up her sleeve. His expression was dark, almost dangerous with his seriousness.
Sophia's eyes flickered briefly as she walked slowly over to where he was still sitting. She could feel all eyes on her. The Diner was suddenly very quiet a they watched her progression.
Luke turned towards her, his eyes narrowed slightly at her speculatively as he positioned himself at the end of the booth. One hand resting on the table, the other on the back of the booth.
Sophia stepped in between his casually spread thighs. Purposely swinging her leg over to brace it on the vinyl booth seating at Luke's side, she purposely reached out and placed her hands behind his neck, tilting his face upwards as she kissed him possessively. Her tongue slipping into his mouth and dueling with his. Tasting him.
She was making her claim known. From here on out, she had made it quite clear to the other females of the Pack that they kept their hands off…if they didn't, then they would get it even worse than Presley had.
Luke growled his approval, as his hand found her upper thigh, the one braced up on the booth, and rubbed it suggestively. His other arm coming around her back, and bringing her body closer to the heat of his. Making a claim of his own. His eyes glared a brief challenge to the males in the room, before he broke off the contact, reaching up to slowly lick at the cut on her cheek. Cleaning off the blood, from the already healing superficial wound. He rubbed his cheek against the curve of her throat as her head fell back. Marking her.
He admitted wryly to himself as she slowly pulled away, eye flaming gold at him, that this evening had just gotten better and better. He had known that it was going to become necessary for him to make a claim of her, he just hadn't been too sure how she would have felt about it, considering their past relationship.
But she had turned the tables by claiming him first. What a pleasant surprise. Her dominance had sprung to the surface, leaving a very self-assured and confident female Skinwalker in the place of the human shyness that would undoubtedly surface again in the morning, when she had time to think about what she had just done. But at least she couldn't blame her actions on him. He had been completely guilt free of this whole situation.
Sophia had just realized what it took to be a female of their species, if she wanted to be the type of female who was in control. Not to mention the type of role being a white female wolf would require of her.
And she was stunning in this role. No doubt about it. He honestly believed that he would rip out the heart of any male who tried to take her from him. This possessive side was new to him, and thus very dangerous until he felt sure that she was his, and only his, and he learned to get a better handle on it. If it would have him willing to reveal himself to a human male like that one she had taken out on a date a couple of nights ago, than he could only imagine what he would do to his own kind if anyone touched her.
"Take me home." Sophia whispered, looking at Luke's own golden eyes. He nodded his consent. Sophia reluctantly stepped away from him, and after dropping some crumpled bills on the table, he protectively escorted her out of the Diner.
After the door closed behind them, silence still filled the room, as the Skinwalkers looked at each other rather confused but pleasantly surprised. Some glancing towards the bathroom where Presley still had yet to exit. Sarah had already come out and had been leaning up the wall and watching these proceedings wryly. Enjoying herself.
That had been different.
******
Sherman sighed as he heard someone kicking his newly installed door with their boot. And from the sound of it, Sherman figured that this, yet again for the second night in a row, was not a pleasantry call. The last two days had felt like weeks. And he knew he wasn't the only one who felt like that in Wolf Lake.
He wasn't prepared, however, for the sight that greeted him, as he opened the door. In fact, you could say he was downright stunned.
John was standing there, breathing heavily, with the limp body of a certain white wolf cradled in his arms. His clothes were torn and stained with her blood and dirt, his body dripping in sweat and grime. He was trembling from exertion, and yet he somehow managed to keep a very firm hold on the wolf.
Sherman felt a moment of genuine panic as he saw the gaping wound in Ruby's body. But he was somewhat relieved to see that she was still breathing, if not alert.
"I need your help. And then I need answers, and I'm not leaving till I get them." John panted out, shifting the weight of the wolf within his arms. He didn't want to know how many miles he must have run to get here, he was just relieved he had managed to make it. Hopefully in time for Sherman to find a vet or something to treat the wolf. He hadn't known what had pushed him so hard, he had just known that he had to save this wolf.
Sherman nodded hastily as he stepped aside. "Bring her in, and set her down on the couch. I'll get some first aid supplies.
John didn't bother to ask Sherman about his extreme concern for the wolf, or how he knew it was a female. He really didn't want to do any thinking at all at this point. He had never felt so exhausted. Every muscle felt like jelly. Pushed to their limits and beyond.
John gently laid the female wolf down, grimacing as he arms relinquished their load for the first time a few hours. They cramped and stretched painfully. Having been held in the same position for what had felt like days.
She whimpered for the first time since their escape. Eyes fluttering open in pain. John didn't think she was too aware of anything right now. John's jaw tightened. Her pain had to be excruciating.
Sherman came back quickly with towels, a container of water, clippers, and a rather large medical kit.
John watched him start to remove some of things from within the kit, and fire up the clippers.
"What? You're going to remove the bullet yourself?"
Sherman shrugged, before answering cryptically. "Let's just say I have experience with these types of wounds." He started to shear away the fur surrounding the entry wound. John just shook his head, and gave assistance when asked. His hand unconsciously stroking back the fur along the creature's head and back, soothing it. He could feel her body tightening against the pain, heard the whimpers escape her throat, but she never once protested or snapped in retaliation. That was amazing in and of itself. Blackstone hadn't even sedated her. John was even more sure than before that she must have been raised around humans for her to be so accepting. No wild animal would be at ease like this, when in so much torment.
Sherman finally extracted the bullet and began to treat the wound. Jon became confused when he didn't start to stitch it up.
"Why aren't you going to stitch her up?"
Sherman stepped away from the wolf. Nonchalantly wiping his hands off on a wet towel, cleaning off the blood. "Because she doesn't need it."
"What?! This animal has a hole blasted into her side! What do you mean it doesn't need to be stitched up?"
Sherman seemed pleased at John's concern, but he didn't answer his question. "How about you tell me how she came about getting shot, and where the hell you've been that would have you looking like that." Sherman beckoned at his torn and filthy clothes.
John sighed and sat down beside the wolf wearily. Running his hands through his hair. He quickly filled Sherman in on everything. From him first seeing the vehicle when he was driving out of Wolf Lake, to being pelted with the dart, to watching the wolf come charging out of the woods in his defense and getting shot.
His voice became more agitated as he filled him in on the rest. Waking up in the cellar to overhearing the conversation taking place in the room where he had found the wolf. Sherman didn't laugh as John had thought he might over the ridiculous things mentioned in that room between those two guys. If anything, his features darkened, and there seemed to be a massive weight forming on his shoulders. His eyes narrowed as John told him about overhearing about a group called the Hunters, and Sherman's intake of breath was loud as he acknowledged the significance of that.
John finished with how they had escaped, and that he had run from there to here. Therefore accounting for the condition of his body and clothes. Sherman raised an eyebrow at that. Recognizing in the younger man what he had yet to recognize within himself. So Sherman's hunch had been correct… John was becoming a Skinwalker due to his transfusion with Ruby's blood. He also knew the same thing that that Dr. Steven Harris had known… A full-blooded human couldn't possibly become a Skinwalker with a transfusion. It just wasn't possible. The Skinwalker DNA wasn't strong enough to overtake human DNA. Not unless that human DNA had already been mixed with Skinwalker genes…
As in from the moment of conception.
This was get getting more and more interesting. As if the Pack wouldn't have enough to grasp with two white wolfs and an ancient enemy having resurfaced, awakening a prophecy that would have been better if it had remained dormant. But now… now they were going to have to deal with an entirely new Pack member. One who didn't even believe yet about his true heritage.
Well, that was what the Keeper was for. To subtly or not so subtly knock a Skinwalker over the head till they got the point about his or her destiny. He'd only been dropping hints for this Seattle cop since the very beginning. It was time to drive the point home.
Silence descended in the living room. John didn't like how quiet Sherman was being. As if he wasn't that surprised about talking about werewolves and fanatics and some Society that seemed hell bent on killing off a bunch of innocent people. He just stood there, studying John.
"Please tell me this sounds as foolish to you as it does to me." John stated quietly. For some reason, not very sure of himself at the moment. He sat there on the couch with his bowed head tiredly resting on his hands. Waiting for whatever cryptic remarks Sherman was going to make next. He felt the wolf shift her weight at his side, and he looked over at her. Her eyes were now open, and she was watching him. Showing no inclination of panic or the intent of getting up.
"Do you love Ruby?"
John hadn't been expecting that. His gaze shot from the wolf back to Sherman.
"You know I do."
Sherman nodded, but then his eyes narrowed at John yet again. "Enough to die for her?"
John didn't know what point Sherman was coming to, but he didn't hesitate with his answer. "Yes."
Sherman sighed as he sank down in a chair across from him. "Good, because it might just come down to that after the rest of them find out what I'm about to tell you."
John's body tensed. He realized that whatever Sherman was about to tell him was critical in his search for Ruby. "Them?" he asked quietly. Barely able to suppress himself from practically jumping up out of his seat.
"The Pack." Sherman stated quietly. A small smile spreading across his face. Watching the confusion cross John's face. "It was me, you know, that called you in Seattle to tell you that Ruby was in Wolf Lake."
John's eyes glittered at that. "What?"
"Well, I had to get you here somehow. You never would have found her on your own. That was what they were betting on."
John was starting to feel a migraine coming on. "This.. Pack that you mentioned?"
"Yes."
"What are they, some sort of cult?" That had been John's suspicion for over a month now.
"In a matter of speaking, yes. But not the kind you're thinking of."
John sighed in exasperation. "Then what kind are they?"
Sherman watched the agitation building in the younger man, and knew that he might as well let him have it all now instead of later.
"You remember after Lenore's cabin had burned down, and I told you about the legend of the Skinwalkers?"
"Yeesss." John drawled his answer out, baffled at yet another twist of Sherman's.
"Well, that legend is partially true. There are people that can change their shape, John, into that of the wolf."
John let out a sigh of frustration, about ready to rail the older man for taking another weird twist into the fantasy.
"Hey! Don't you get arrogant with me, pup! If you want to find Ruby, you will damn well listen to what I have to say!"
It was the first time John had ever seen Sherman get that angry, and he stilled, nodding his head slowly in acknowledgment for Sherman to continue.
"Those people are not what your human legends have made them out to be. They have some of the same weaknesses that we have, but they still possess abilities you can't even begin to imagine. Just as a person who was blind, couldn't begin to imagine what sight is."
Sherman leaned forward, his eyes intent upon John's. The white wolf beside him was alert and listening to the entire exchange. Her heart beating erratically in her throat.
"These people have been trying to escape persecution for centuries. Back when America was considered the New World, and people from Europe were first coming to settle here, the Skinwalkers, or Wolven if you prefer... The actual name for their species has been lost down through the ages. They are only referred to as they are in the legends. Anyway, the Skinwalkers had just been through the worst that their history could offer. They had found themselves in the Dark Ages of their people. They were hunted almost to extinction. Men, women, and children alike were rounded up and tortured. Slaughtered." Sherman shook his head sadly. "And the people who had done these barbaric killings, had believed themselves to be on some sort of holy quest to bring what they referred to as the Unnatural to extinction. It was a bloody time for the Skinwalkers, as they watched their families and loved ones die in the most painful and torturous ways imaginable."
John couldn't help but be fascinated by Sherman's tale. He felt the older man's sorrow for this species and his disgust against those of his own that could have fallen so low into such barbaric ways.
Sherman met John's eyes sadly. "Who was the animal then?" he stated quietly, shaking his head before continuing.
"They didn't succeed though. This species had been reduced from literally thousands, to just less than a hundred. Only the strongest of the various Packs and Clans survived the carnage. Most of the bloodlines were wiped out. Under most circumstances, the sole survivor from a Pack that originally had hundreds, would be a teenager, one that had been strong enough to get away from the carnage when the other members couldn't, and in some cases, an infant of their Alpha would have been rescued from their hiding place. But primarily, you had the mate or sibling to the Alpha, if not the Alpha himself, and members of the strongest bloodlines running through the clans. All of the survivors came together to create one last Pack out of desperation. You have to keep in mind that this required putting aside centuries of conflicts and social structure to pull together the way they did. To suddenly have someone fighting at your side, who just a few years ago, would have been trying to rip your throat out… well, that took some quick adjustment on the survivors' parts. But they had lost everything. And they knew the only way they would survive was if they stuck together. And so, out of the survivors, a Alpha emerged. He had at his side a mate that would go down in history as being one of the most important females in the history of the Skinwalkers. Together, they made the decision that if they wanted to survive to see the birth of their child, and to watch the Pack grow strong again, they would have to leave everything that they knew and travel to the New World."
Sherman paused before continuing. Still having John's undivided attention. "It took some work on their part, but they finally managed to make it across without the Hunters finding them. They found themselves a new place to live and they settled there. It was easy for them to do so, considering that they had the advantage of walking in two forms. And there they have remained since. Growing somewhat strong again, although they know they will never reach the numbers that they once had. Nature's cruel selective process kills off a good portion of their children when they reach adolescence. When the Change for the first time comes upon them. Maybe that is God's way of keeping them from ever being revealed to the outside world.
"And so they remain hidden from the rest of the world. Guarding their families and secrets to keep from ever happening again what happened during those dark times. And they will do what is necessary to guard their own."
"Even if that means killing innocents?" John asked harshly, having already figured out where Sherman was going with this.
Sherman cocked his head to the side. "Innocents? No, I'm sorry. The people that mysteriously come up dead around here are usually far from innocent. Despite how they seem. Besides, wouldn't you kill to protect your family? Your wife, your children? Your brother or sister? Your Pack?"
John acknowledged the truth of Sherman's words, but he still didn't believe everything that Sherman had just told him. He relied on facts…not superstitions!
"And what does this… story of yours have to do with Ruby?"
Sherman gazed innocently at him. "Well, I thought that was obvious. Ruby is a Skinwalker, John. That is why she was taken from you in Seattle and brought back here. That is why they have been lying to you, hiding her from you. That is why that white wolf that you have become so attached to, has been guarding you, protecting you. That wolf is Ruby, John."
John began to shake his head at Sherman's explanation. Fury starting to write across his face. "You…unimaginable old bastard. You expect me to believe this ridiculous story of yours?" John decided right then and there that he needed to get out of that room as quickly as possible before he did something to Blackstone that he would regret later. He'd come back for the wolf later.
John shot up and started to walk out the door.
"John, damn it! It's true! I'd have no reason to make this up!" Sherman jumped up angrily from his chair, halting John in his progress towards the doorway.
"I don't think so!" John shot over his shoulder. Furious at this game Sherman had played with him. "This little story hour of yours, in finished!"
John had almost made it to the door when he heard a voice speak his name softly from behind him. His feet became rooted to the floor and he was unable to move. The walls began to tilt crazily around him as he felt a shock of awareness run through his body. He finally forced himself to turn around. Unable to believe what he had heard, but his eyes proving it to him.
"John…" Ruby said again, trying to push herself up from the couch. Her voice was hoarse and weak. Agony and fear written in her eyes as she dreaded the possibility that he might condemn her right there and now. Knowing he might as well rip the heart from her chest if he turned against her in horror.
John studied her, the inability to process in his brain exactly what he was seeing. Ruby was curled up, naked, right where the wolf had been. She was pale and shivering from the fever brought on by the hole in her side. Her body already knitting the opening of the gunshot wound, although blood still trickled from it. Her body was coated with sweat from the exertion it had taken her to Flip back into human form. Her silver eyes were locked onto his from across the room. Her head barely able to support itself as she looked up at him. Weak beyond measure.
John felt a lump form in his throat. Afraid to blink in case this was just a mirage.
"Ruby?" He managed to rasp out, realization starting to sink in. This wasn't a dream. She was real this time. Real… and everything that Sherman had said she was. The whole damn thing had been completely real. Everything he had seen for the last couple of months made perfect sense now. It all fit together like some twisted version of a jigsaw puzzle, that he had had no chance of ever figuring out otherwise.
Sherman Blackstone quietly excused himself from the room. Knowing that the revelation had finally been made…
******
Matthew Donner turned off the computer terminal at the Station and sighed. After Sophia had left to go out with Luke, he hadn't been able to stay in the house by himself, so he had come down here to get some work done. But even here, work had avoided him. He couldn't think about it right now.
Ever since this morning and his talk with Sophia, only one thing had been on his mind. The Change.
When he had made that promise to Marie, he had known that if Sophia ever did Flip, then his right to allow the Change would be given back to him.
He remembered every aspect of it, and despite what the others had believed, he had loved it with a passion. He had loved everything there was to being what he was. A Skinwalker… a Wolf. But he had loved his human wife and part human daughter more.
But now, the decision of Sophia's future had been made. She had Flipped and was now a member of the Pack. Just as he had always been. So now, his promise to his wife no longer needed to be kept.
Sophia had given him back the right to his heritage. But that didn't mean that Matthew could stop that feeling of uneasiness from trickling in. All of his doubts rising to the surface as he thought about allowing the Change to occur after almost 17 years of suppressing it with every ounce of self-control he had possessed.
He still remembered the first time he had Changed for Marie. She had been frightened to say the least, but she hadn't run from him. When a male or female of their species loved someone, it becomes inevitable that they would have to reveal them self to that person, regardless of whether or not they were of the Pack… He had loved Marie, he still did, and he had known from the first time he had seen her, that she had been the one for him.
He still remembered the feel of Marie's fingers tentatively burying themselves in his fur in awe. Fear slipping away on the wind as he had shifted back into human form and had held her in his arms…Trust, love and acceptance filling her eyes as she had smiled softly at him. Allowing him to take her to the forest floor cushioned by moss and rich dirt beneath the trees and moonlight…
That had been the night Sophia had been conceived.
He missed her so much that he still felt that gaping hole where his heart had been ripped out by her death. He didn't think he would ever completely get over her.
Matt shut the door leading into the station behind him and locked it. Breathing in the cold air of the night. He looked up at the moon. Watching the clouds roll past. Leaving his view unobstructed.
Matt felt that call let loose from within him. The call to shift into his Wolven pelt once again. It had lain dormant within him for too long, and it wanted to be freed from this self-inflicted torture. His promise to Marie had been kept. Sophia had found her path, and now they would both have to live with those consequences.
Matt felt his eyes glitter a brilliant shade of gold, and he finally, after almost seventeen years, let the wolf out…
******
The moonlight revealed his dark, steel gray coat to the night once more. Welcoming one of it's sons back to the forest. Welcoming him Home. His feet pounded against the earthen floor in jubilation at being free. He ran for the joy of it. Darting in and out of the trees like an exuberant pup. Chasing the very wind.
He didn't know how long he had been running when he came to a clearing. An overhang that overlooked Wolf Lake. Sides heaving, he sat there and watched the town. Picking up the individual smells of his brethren, his Pack, stirring within it. Some in wolf form, other in their human skins. But all of them recognized the howl of one of their own as it began to echo across the valley.
The gray wolf stood there, singing out his cry. Announcing to their world that he had finally returned to his wolven pelt.
Every member of their species stopped to listen, as they acknowledged the presence, and began to wonder. If Matthew Donner had returned once more to his Wolven skin, then Sophia must have successfully flipped and was out of danger.
And it that was the case, then would he finally take on the responsibility that he should have almost two decades past, and be the Alpha Leader that he had been destined to be…?
The sound of the dark gray wolf's howl continued to echo eerily across the town bathed in the light and shadows cast by the Moon. Ringing out its promise to all that heard.
*******************************************
Well, did you enjoy that? Let me know! Tell me what your favorite part or parts were! The next chapter will be entitled "Stars of Passion" and I will hopefully get it finished and posted in about 7 to 10 days. Send in those reviews though, and I'll see if I can do better than that for ya!
For the fans of my Earth: Final Conflict series, I should get a new chapter posted there in the next day or so…so keep an eye out!
Thanks again for reading. So, until next time…
Sapphira
