Whoo-Hoo…. Time for Chapter 3. I'm in work, but both my bosses are out for the week so I thought 'why not write another chapter?"
Disclaimer: I don't own Wolf Lake; if I did the show would be back on the air.
Chapter 3
The gray wolf's growl tumbled from its throat as he bared his teeth in a definite sign of aggression toward Shana. Shana's eyes widened as she slowly backed up from the angry creature, being sure to keep her eyes securely locked on it in case the gray wolf decided that she was really a threat. Finally after what seemed like hours Shana's back touched the coffee table and her progression backwards and away from the predator screeched to a screaming halt. Noting her predicament the gray lopped up to her and stood snarling inches from her face.
"Luke, leave the poor girl alone." Sherman's voice reverberated though the cabin. The wolf's growling faltered for a moment, then died down completely, though it remained staring with murderous eyes at it's would be prey. "Now Shana, you'll have to excuse Luke. He's a young pup after all, and they often think not with their brains, if you know what I mean." The gray seemed to take offense from this remark and turned it eyes to Sherman in what looked like an indigent glare. Shana stared at the wolf in complete astonishment; it was like the wolf understood Sherman's words. Though she didn't in fact fear wolves in general, for her foster mother had been supervising vet over the endangered gray wolves at the local zoo, this wolf when he looked at her seemed all aggression and hate. Very unlike the wolves she used to nap with as a child. And even though she knew this wolf surly did not trust her, she had to admit that it was one of the most beautiful specimens she had ever seen. The eyes, even though they had looked at her in hate, were deep pools of color. His coat looked smooth as silk and glowed with it's own inner radiance. How Shana longed to reach out and… The wolf whipped around his head just as her hand brushed its fur.
The eyes looked at her now in confusion. She smiled unsure of herself and continued to mover her hand over the left side of the wolf's chest. Her assumption was correct, the coat was as soft as silk, but warm like a favorite blanket out of the dryer. Reluctantly, she pulled her hand out of his fur and the wolf known as Luke trotted away from her to stand by the Sheriff. The man gave her a look she couldn't place before turning to Sherman with his heart in his eyes. "Help her." His voice cracked with more emotion than she thought possible. Even the wolf looked longingly at the man both had come to see. Sherman waved them into the room and motioned for the sheriff to place the struggling girl upon the couch Shana had been seated upon not 3 minutes ago. Shana, seemingly forgotten, moved to the other side of the room to give them more room to move and so she could watch what was happening with an unobstructed view.
* Can we trust her? * Came the question floating into her mind. The sheriff seemed to see her once again and moved into a protective position in front of his daughter. *She is, after all, as Creed as Sherman said. * Sherman tapped the wolf on the nose and looked to the standing man. "Matt, leave her. Shana won't cause Sophia any harm. In fact she may even help the girl." Before anyone could object, and before Shana could stop herself, she was moving over to the suffering girl and had her hand held within hers.
Immediately, the wolf jumped in front of Shana to block the Sheriff's movements towards the girl. *I believe Sherman. Let Shana help us. We can use all the help we can get. I don't want to loose Sophia just as much as you do. * Shana looked to the wolf. "Thank you Luke." She said simply before turning back to the struggling girl. Both wolf and father jumped from the young woman in astonishment.
"Sherman did she… she heard…. How can this be?" The father rambled as he watched Shana place her right hand upon Sophia's brow. Shana's own brow wrinkled in concentration as she sought answers to the girl relief. "All will be revealed in due course. But right now, let Shana work her magic and help Sophia through the Change." As if by cue the young woman's features contorted in pain as Sophia's expression eased a bit.
"Need Luke." Shana was able to whimper though her gritted teeth. The wolf nuzzled her neck, showing he was ready to help in any and all ways. Shana raised her pain filled eyes to the gray. "No, I need Luke the young man. I need you to help her through the Change by Changing yourself with her." Shana knew not what these words meant, but she knew what needed to be done, and she wasn't about to let another wolf die…. Wolf? She looked the girl. Yes, below her human form Shana could see the wolf, and she knew her coat would shine brighter than her mate's, a hue that would put the silver moon to shame and be a beacon in the dark of night. But first, she needed to shed her human form and embrace the wild nature.
Within moments Luke the young man kneeled beside Shana and looked to her for instructions. Shana smiled at him, noting he was a beautiful in human form as in wolven. "Luke," She breathed his name out while sucking in a quick breath as she sheltered Sophia from another wave of pain. As soon as her vision cleared and she no longer saw red, speech was an ability she believed she could master once more. "I need you to join hands with Sophia and then begin Changing. I'll connect you two. This should trigger her inner body to come forth as well." Luke nodded once, completely trusting her, as he entwined his fingers with Sophia's. Shana gave a final look to the girl's face before resting her own hand upon the pair and her right upon Sophia's forehead. "Change," Was all she said before she opened her natural born ability to connect with wolves and the pain of the First Change over took her consciousness
*Daddy? * Sophia shook her head, her fur reflecting the moonlight coming from the window upon Shana's tired face. Luke, in wolven form, nuzzled Shana's neck once before looking to his mate. Yes, she truly was striking, Shana thought. Her white fur shone silver in the moonlight and brought a smile to her face. It was even more beautiful than she had seen in her vision. But it seemed that Shana was the only one smiling at Sophia's color. The Sheriff's features had darkened, while Sherman looked on with sad and heavy eyes.
"What did you do to her?!?!" Matt Donner yelled at the tired young woman. If Shana weren't near fainting, she would have slapped the man. She had saved his daughter's life and this is how she was being repaid, with anger? She tried to stand to confront him on more a face to face basis, but her legs gave out under her and she would have fell to the floor if a pair of slim, but surprisingly strong arms hadn't caught her. "Daddy, leave her alone. Shana saved me." Sophia stated so simply that all the rage left Donner in one breath. Shana smiled weakly at Sophia in thanks as the girls sat upon the couch.
"I don't understand. I would be able to smell if this young woman was a skin-walker. But all I smell is human. How is that possible Sherman?" Sophia looked to the odd man for an answer.
"That's harder to explain than you think, White Wolf. Shana is special, but also can be very dangerous. Which was why Meredith Creed sought to rid herself of the child when she was just a babe." Shana's heart contracted within her breast. So it wasn't an accident she had been put up for adoption, her family really hadn't wanted her. "Now, don't look so down Shana. She did it for your own protection. You see, Meredith had a secret; she had been cheating on her husband with a human. A human she was very much in love with. Now through her adultery, came you. You, Shana, are a very special half-breed. Your blood carries in it the abilities of powerful Skin-Walker heritage and an equally strong human heritage from Ireland. Mixed as this blood is, it enables you the link with the Skin-Walkers and regular wolves, and gives your certain advantages over full-blooded Skin-Walkers. If found, when you were born, the Alpha would have been forced, by clan law, destroyed you. But, because of Meredith, you have grown to adulthood, and with it the chance to join us. But this is all dependent upon the next Alpha, and what he chooses."
Shana tilted her head to look at Sherman. "So you're saying I'm part wolf?" The little man smiled gleefully and nodded. "Right." Shana said before exhaustion caused her to faint.
Sooooo………………????