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~*~ Something Is Beginning ~*~

~*~ Changing…Part 2 Continued ~*~

Marie…he could still smell the perfume she was wearing the night they met. Could hear her laugh; see her hips sway as she danced. She was standing at the bar waiting to be served…He did what he always did when he wanted a woman's attention. Stood by her, smiled a little and waited for her to come to him. Needless to say she didn't, barely even looked at him. He was stunned. He was never ignored. Women fell at his feet, gave him anything he wanted, fought over him. They never ignored him.

After an hour and a half of watching he finally went up to her. Instead of asking her to dance, he used a very bad pick up line… "You should stop drinking…he took her raised eyebrow as interested and continued… because your driving me home later". He was expecting her to at least laugh, she didn't… "It's Pepsi and I'm not driving you anywhere" …He was speechless…he had never had to put this much work into getting a girl…and she shot him down…cold.

She continued with a question…"Your from the hill aren't you"

Matt barely answered…"Ah, Yahwhy"

She finally laughed…only it wasn't because she thought he was funny, it was at him… "Because all the guys from the hill are shocked when there turned down. Why don't you ask me again? After you learn how a woman should be treated. Many of the hill boys have come back for a second try but none for a third ".

She shot him down three more times before he simply asked… "Will you dance with me"? She laughed again but this time not at him… "Well it's a start I suppose"…They danced all evening… he did even get a good night kiss but she fit so well into his arms as they swayed together. He knew he would give up what ever he had too, in order to keep her. In the end it was everything he knew and everything he had planned for his future. It had been well worth it.

Now Sophia had issued her own challenge to a alpha and he knew it would turn out the same way. She had used almost the same words as Marie… 'how I deserve to be treated'. They are so much alike…No wait, they would have been so much alike but Marie was gone… he had not only lost her he had broken every promise he had ever made her. And now he was losing his daughter to someone just like him and she deserves so much better. Much to his surprise and annoyance he let out a howl of pure frustration.

Matt hoped the noise he heard from her was a giggle. He didn't want to know how much pain it would take to make a moan sound like that. He realized she was talking… "It's not as bad as all that. Luke's just pissed because he didn't get his way".

It was as bad as all that but he let it go…"Come on sweetheart, we need to get you to Sherman's"…But instead of pulling away, he pulled closer and wrapped his arms even more tightly around her. He never wanted to let go.

Sophia hugged him back and started laughing… "It's to late daddy. It is almost complete".

He pulled away confused… " What's almost comple…was all he was able to say before he saw her…stunned silence was what followed. She was not only half way through the change and smiling at him but her skin was...well he wasn't sure what, but his daughter was beautiful, radiant. He had always found the in between human and wolf to be rather ugly (think Presley in the back of Luke's car during the first episode. Yuck) and she would have looked like any other skin walker if it hadn't been for the fact that the color and glow of her skin matched her eyes, both were a shimmering gold.

Her smile grew bigger "Don't look so stunned. I'm o.k. Most of the pain left with my fear. It's not as painful as everyone said…not as bad as seeing Sarah. It was unspeakably painful at first but now I just ache. It will be over soon…her smile was starting to dim…her eyes starting to close… but I am starting to get tired ". He realized she didn't know what was going on. He was trying to find a way to point out the fact that she was glowing without scarring the crap out of her…when she stood up.

Sophia started walking toward the cells in the back… Slowly striping her close off, letting them fall to the floor…Matt followed behind her, picking them up as he went. He was completely astounded…her skin was…he couldn't take his eyes off of it, she was exquisite…and as she unsnapped her bra he realized completely immodest. He had to laugh…she had always been paranoid about her modesty…she wasn't even a full wolf yet and she was already acting like one…self assured and some what brazen. He wondered when she was going to become aggressive.

By the time she reached a cot in one of the cells she was completely naked. She laid down and curled into the fetal position… "Come on Sophia, what are you doing. We have to get you to Sherman's".

She was breathing deeply hoping to control what was left of the pain…"I'm going to rest for awhile".

Matt dropped the clothes and went to kneel by her; he covered her with a blanket, and started to run his fingers through her hair…"Sweetie, I think your sick. We have to …Before he continued; she snapped at him…"Be quite Daddy, I'm trying to restbesides he is already coming here. Mrs. Cates isn't far behind him. They should be here soon…she looked up at him with a confused look on her face…can't you hear them"

He concentrated on listening for a second before he did…"Maybe I'm a little out of practice or is it that your hearing is better than mine". She gave him a small laugh and he was very glad to hear it again.

It wasn't more then a five-minute wait when Matt turned away from Sophia. He had heard Sherman walk in, didn't even notice that he was as naked as the day he was born. Just quickly got up and practically ran to where Sherman stood by the cell door. Matt very quietly, so he wouldn't scare Sophia, said…"Sherman, she's glowing".

"Yep she's glowing alright"…was the most irritating response Matt had ever receive from Sherman and he had received some duties.

Matt could have straggled him…"Sherman, I don't understand. What's going on?"

The answer Sherman was about to give was interrupted by an equally naked Vivian Cates's voice behind them… "Um, have either of you noticed that Sophia is glowing".

Sherman replied…"Yes I have and I must say she took her sweet time getting around to it. I was stating to get a little worried".

Matt and Vivian yelled… "What"…in unison but quite when they heard Sophia screaming. Matt's first thought was that that pain was returning until he started to be able to make out her words. She was sitting up, glaring at them, yelling…"I thought I told you to be quite. Your yapping is making my head ache and stop talking about me like I'm not hear, like I can't hear you, it's annoying. Would you put some cloths? Oh, and tell thatthat thing to leave, his sent is foul and I just know he's going to start peeing on the building to mark his territory and I'm not his territory. If he doesn't leave, if he doesn't stop acting like I'm his, I'm going to rip hishis thing off and stuff it down his thought.

Vivian's eyes got large as she watched Sophia in disbelief. She never thought she would see this mild mannered girl behave in such a way… "Is she talking about my son"?

"I'm afraid so, I think they had a falling out"…Matt answered with no small amount of sarcasms. He guessed he just found out when she was going to become aggressive…He addressed Sophia… "We'll try to be quieter and I'll go tell him to leave Sweetheart".

Much to their surprise Sophia stopped screaming, after a few deep breaths she gave them what would have been a beautiful smile if she hadn't looked like a deranged, deformed ape and calmly said… "Why thank you DaddyI'd appreciate that". Then laid back down and pulled her blanket back up around her.

Matt walked out of the holding cells to the front door and spoke to what seemed to be no one… "Son, you had better leave. She can smell you and isn't happy about it". A second later they heard Luke skulk off again.

They continued to stand by the front door without saying a word. The silence was uncomfortable until Sherman finally spoke up. He acted as if nothing unusual had happened… "As I was saying, I've been waiting for her to flip for along time. I noticed a while back she had some gifts the clan needed. She's like me, only better. She's a keeper of history and a healer".

Vivian shook her head no in disbelief… "She's aa…Matt cut her off with… "A half breed"

Vivian gasped…"Matt you know full well I've never thought of Sophia in that…He cut her off again…"Then what were you going to say".

Vivian closed her eyes in order to gain control of herself. She knew what she was going to say was just as bad… "I was going to say thatwell thatshe is a woman".

"OhWell that's less insulting"…Matt replied sarcastically again.

Sherman looked at her as if she had lost her mind… "So are you Vivian and you're the alpha…Now come on, back to business… haven't either of you wonder why Willard survived his stroke, Why I was able to remove the bullet from your side when you refused to change, Matt. Why Sarah was able to flip, hours after all hope was gone. Because Sophia was there. She's a healer and not the first woman by the way. They're rare because of how much stronger there abilities are then male healers. They only come when there needed. She was prophesied along time ago. She'd be of two worlds, able to heal with her presents before her flip and shine when she did. I thought it was Ruby at first but only because she was white. I couldn't make any of the prophecy fit. She's not from two worlds, she's not a healer, she didn't shine. There had to be someone else and there is now, Sophia. She'swellShe's my replacement. A better healer for the clan and a new keeper of our people's history. She's our hope".

Matt and Vivian were staring at Sherman during his speech. Taking in every word he said but he hadn't taken his eyes off of Sophia. He was the only one who saw the glow become murky and die out as she changed into a cream wolf with very light colored markings of gold, tan and red… "Holy **** she's not white"!

Both of them looked from Sherman to Sophia. White, Matt had barely started thanking god that his daughter would not have the added problems of being white when Sophia started to glow again. Matt quickly bent down beside her to pet her coat when Sherman piped up… "She's only returning to human form, Matt. She's fine, even if she's not white".

Vivian asked… "Does that change what you thought she was".

Secretly Matt hoped that it would and was gravely dissipated when Sherman answered… "No, I was just hoping. It would solve so many problems".

They stopped talking when they noticed instead of legs and arms, instead of a human form emerging her coat started changing color, First to a deep onyx black, then to a carrot top red, then finally to a pure snowy white.

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