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Authors note: Thank you again for all of your reviews. A couple of you gave me some suggestions. I incorporated them the best I could. If you have any more I'd appreciate them and use incorporate them if I can. I'm sorry it took so long for me to update. I right pure romance usually and I'm trying to develop more of a story line and less fluff. But we should get to the fun stuff soon. Luke and Sophia scenes next chapter. There are a lot of mistakes in this chapter. I can't have it proof read until Thursday but thought I'd post it now and then repost the corrections later. Thanks again. Ziha

~*~ Something Is Beginning ~*~

~*~ Changing…Part 3 ~*~

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. Then the glow become murky again and died out.

"She's white now. What in the h*** is going on, Sherman" Vivian demanded.

Before Sherman was able to answer Matt put in his opinion in… "Maybe she's not white…but Vivian interrupted him… "Look at her Matt, she's white"…Matt rolled his eyes. Trying to cover up how desperate he was… "How do you knowshe's covered by a blanket? You can only see her head." …He was hanging on to any hope there was… "Maybe she's not all white".

Vivian walked over to where Matt was kneeling by Sophia and pulled the blanket off of her… "She's white Mattall over and I for one would like to know why and how. So shall we let Sherman explain"?

Sherman looked between Matt and Vivian and shrugged his shoulders… "Oh, well, d***, guess she is white, Matt. As for the rest, why does everyone always think I'm the know it all"… both turned away from Sophia so they could give Sherman either their complete attention or what was meant to be a contemptuous glance.

"Could you jest get the point? Without any jokes or sarcasm were talking about my daughter, Sherman"…a highly irritated Matt snapped.

Sherman took a deep breath and gave Matt a pitting look before he began…"I don't know if what I have to tell you is why. I need to do some more research into the historical tombs to find out for sure but I remember an odd entry about one of the healers. It said when her wolf became angry she would turn a violent red. I thought it was talking about emotion…like…'Seeing Red'I think it fairly obvious it wasn't an expression though. That it meant that her coat changed actual colors.

Matt was once again stunned to silence… the future…his daughter's future was looking grim. But not Vivian, to her the future…her sons future was looking very bright indeed…She asked Sherman… "Does it say what color she was to begin with"?

Sherman answered… "No, well, I didn't think so at first, it said she was many colors. I thought it meant she was multi colored, not that she could change colors. In fact if I remember correctly two of the other healers were said not to have any one color. Maybe this is a special gift that they have".

Sophia was even more rare then Vivian had first thought…only three, even Ruby couldn't compete with that for importance… "There have only been three female humans in the past, Sherman or have there been more"?

Sherman wondered what Vivian was getting at. He was almost positive he did but was hoping he was wrong…"Eight I believe, but before you ask…the history says five were white. I need to go over the historical tombs again, see them in this new light".

"Would you mind if I went over it with you, Sherman? I have a lot of questions also"… Sophia said from behind them.

Sherman was impatient…had so many questions for her.

Vivian was happy…'Sophia appeared to be fine".

Matt was upset; he had missed his daughter's change into wolf form and now her return to human form. But at least she was fine…better then fine in fact…she was beautiful… everything about her had changed. She was no longer human… she was a skin walker. His mussing was interrupted by Sherman questioning Sophia… "You have some questions, but I'm hoping some answers as well".

Sophia was about to answer when she felt Vivian's hands on her shoulders, felt them run over her back, then her thighs… "What on earth are you doing, Mrs. Cates"?…she… well …squeaked.

"Don't worry, Sophia I don't think you're her type…Sherman smirked… She just to make sure your still perfect. Now answer my questions".

Vivian was on her hands and knees inspecting her toes…when she started to answer… "I don't know what I can tell you, it was instinct…kinda like flipping. I knew I could do it and I did. But I think you were right, it is a gift and it has a purpose. I think the ability to change color is manly a form of protection. Being able to camouflage myself. To make myself appear like every other wolf if I feel I'm in danger. I say feel because…well I think my emotions bring on the change. When I was scared I turned black…when I was frustrated I turned red. There isn't anything else I can tell you without seeing the tombs

There conversation and Vivian's examination of her hands were interrupted when her Vivian's cell phone rang…at first she was furious at the interruption but then she remembered she had given strict instructions not to be disturbed unless it was an emergency. She answered the phone by saying… "This had better be a life or death situation""Oh, this is…Tyler Creed quite happily responded…life or death for the entire pack. Do you know what your idiot son did tonight"?… My what, …Vivian cut him off…what did you call my son… Before she could continue he started talking again… "He attacked an ungulant tonight over the sheriff's half-breed. Threw him across Tenth StreetShe may be a sweet little piece of

"That is quite enough Tyler…Vivian snapped… You need to shut up! This is what you find so important… important enough to interrupt me. I know your just trying to cause problems for Luke. I have to clean up things that are more damaging to the packs' safety everyday"

Tyler scoffed … "don't be ridiculous Vivian I'm not trying to cause him problems he did that on his own. He needs to learn where his place is in the pack. The question is who's going to teach him".

"Your to call me Mrs. Cates, Tyler and let me get this straight your threatening my son? Because he knows his place you are the one who needs to learn yours. Luke's problem can be fixed with a little intimidation, what are we going to do about your problems TylerAbout Ruby and John Cannin? Until you have an acceptable plan to deal with your crap keep your mouth shut"!… and with that she hung up and for the first time in a long while felt no fear over putting that sniveling little s*** in his place.

Vivian wasn't even done speaking to Tyler when Sophia noticed the accusatory glare she was receiving. She looked over at her father then Sherman hoping for a little support. But their expressions were almost the same. She realized they had heard the whole conversation as well. When she heard Vivian hang up the phone she felt so much tension her skin raised with goose bumps… "Is there anything you think you tell us"?… Vivian asked with a deceptively pleasant voice.

Sophia suppressed the urge to groan… "Luke wasn't completely responsible, Mrs. Cates he told me not to go out with Scott".

"But you went out with him anyways"?… Vivian gasped.

Sophia was shocked… Here she had been kind enough to try and let Luke off the hook and Vivian was trying to blame her … "I had every right to. I hadn't flipped yet, didn't know if I would. He had no right to try and stop me".

"But you know Luke so well, Sophia, You had to know how he would react"… Sherman wondered out loud.

"I knew I 'd be punished but I didn't think he would go after Scott"!...Sophia defended herself as best she could… under the circumstances.

Sherman looked at her like she had lost her mind… "He could have seriously injured you, young lady".

Sophia returned Sherman's look and said… "No, he wouldn't hurt me. He… she was going to say lusts after me but saw her fathers face and decided if Luke was ever going to be her mate he'd have to live until tomorrow at least. So she finished with… likes me".

"And you thought that would keep you safe"?… Vivian asked her incredulously.

Sophia started laughing… "Don't be ridiculous. I wouldn't trust Luke feelings for me with my safety. I would trust his interest in me thoughI mean until I sleep

Finally Matt lost it… "Why are you questioning my daughter? It's not her fault. It's the fault of your son the idiot pervert

Vivian wanted to say that her son was no different then he used to be, but only shrugged at both of their comments. She didn't want to make Sophia question her fathers past behavior … …"Your shrugging me off, how big of an incident is it going to take before he learns control"?

Sherman stopped all further conversation with… "Enough, good lord enough, let's just figure out what were going to do"?

Vivian closed her eyes, rubbed the bridge of her nose and told them… "All it should take is Luke and some of his friends to keep him quite. I'll have Luke talk to that him tonight".

Sophia thought she had lost her mind and said as much… "Are you crazy? Luke will kill him".

"Well you should have thought of that before you agreed to go out with him"

…Vivian snapped.

"I had every right to go out with him… she yelled! Until she noticed Vivian warning glare… besides Scott commented on the danger Luke presented himself".

"He what"! Sherman asked through a smile.

"Oh, Never mind… Sophia sighed…there has to be another way"!

Vivian was irritated with her… "This is the way the pack has done things for years, Sophia. But if you think you can come up with something better you have my blessing".

Sophia gave her a toothy grin… "I think I have something"… then started walking for the door. Her dad stopped her to ask what she was doing…"Some of my friends are waiting out side to see if I'm okay. I'll be back. After you all are through discussing whether or not you're going to trust me".

A few minutes later she came back in and asked… "well"… Vivian answered her…"It depends on what your idea is".

Sophia smiled at her and ran back to the door… "Sarah wait, I need you to do me a quick favor"…Sarah gave her the biggest smile…"Anything, what do you need me to do for you"?

Sophia smiled back at her and said… "Thank you so much, I need you to go to the hospital and talk to Dr. Porter. Tell him I flipped tonight and that Scott saw some of it. Tell him Vivian and my dad are hoping to keep it as quite as possible… …that meanswithout any violence. That you were sent because I wanted them both to stay with me. Have him call Scott's parents and say that several kids who ate at the pizza place have been brought to the hospital because of hallucinations, including his date. That the Sheriff found out some kids thought it would be funny to spike some of the pizzas with magic mushrooms. Only they weren't magic just poisonous and that he needs to be brought in immediately to have his stomach pumped. Have him sedated, hopefully with something that will make his memory of this evening fuzzy.

Sarah giggled a little…"No problem Soph, is there anything else".

"Yah actually" …Sophia responded… "After you talk to Dr. Porter call Mike's Garage and have him get Luke's car off of Tenth Street".

"What's wrong with Luke's car"?…Vivian interrupted.

Sophia thought for a minute, trying to find the best way of explaining it… "Wellthat is kinda when Scott saw me start the change. After Luke threw him across the street. I kinda threw Luke into the windshield of his car".

She thought that her dad or at the very least Vivian would become even angrier with her. As mad as they seemed to be at Luke but instead of yelling at her all three of them started laughing. Vivian especially, She laughed so hard she started to gasp for air.

Sherman was the first to speak up…"Well that answers your question, Matt. We should have known that even car wouldn't be big enough to knock some since into that boy". All three of them started laughing even harder.

Sophia had no idea how they could find anything about this situation funny. She may have accepted her fate tonight but it was mainly because she wanted to make Luke kiss the souls of her feet. Once the anger had worn off she had never been so humiliated in her whole life… or so scared. She could have seriously hurt Luke; maybe even killed him and the way Scott had looked at her. Now that her flip was over she would never again allow herself to be so out of control again. Or worse yet, to be controlled by anybody.

When Sophia looked over at Sarah and noticed the slight smirk on her lips and she gave her a puzzled look. "What… …What's so damn funny"? Sarah smirk became a full-grown smile. Then turned into a giggle… "He must have been pissed".

Hard pressed to suppress a grin of her own Sophia said… "No actually he was very happy about it. He couldn't stop smiling".

"Oh… come on, what really happened"… Sarah was practically begging for the gossip she thought was coming… "I'm dead serious Sarah. He was thrilled. I have no doubt he thought I was going to strip naked and run around the woods bare ass naked with him like"Every member of the pack"…Sarah put in.

Sophia let out a little laugh… "Well a girls got to have some mystery".

"Like the aura of mystery you have now"…Sarah asked…After Sophia's confused… "What"…she continued… "I hate to be the one to tell you this but your bare ass naked right now".

Sophia was about to make a snappy come back when she heard Vivian… "I hate to interrupt you two considering we started it…but you really need to get going to Dr. Porter, Sarah. Have the Doctor make sure there is proof that Sophia and …lets say… two others came to see him tonight and tell Mike when you call him to have my sons car fixed and parked where it is now by morning.

"Yes, Mrs. Cates, right away"… was Sarah's response. As she left she gave Sophia a… I'm so glad I'm not you look and mouthed call me later she ran out the door.

Sophia yelled after her… "I'll call you tomorrow before I go to workThank you so much"…Then turned to her father so he could rap up the finally details of their cover up… "Dad you need to call the pizza place. Tell them about the sick kids and that they need to take all their mushrooms to the hospital, to Dr. Porter so he can run tests to find out exactly what they are Now I'm going to go put some close on and I must say I'm not the only one how needs to".

"I don't see any need…Sherman said as he shrugged…I'm already in the police station. Every time I've been arrested for public nudity this is where I've been brought".

Matt stopped dialing the pizza place to laugh at Sherman. Usually He would have ignored him but Matt was not only starting to relax…he was starting to become happy. Sophia's flip had been so easy, she was already up and about and she was so strong and decisive. He had no doubt she could care for herself but didn't think she would have to. She had a special status in the pack and even though she was white it wasn't in the same way as Ruby. They already have a Ruby, someone who was chosen by fate to marry the next alpha. Sophia was there to be a healer.

However if Matt had known how unrealistic his thoughts were, had he known what Vivian was thinking he wouldn't have relaxed let alone laugh!

Vivian was impressed…very impressed by Sophia. Sherman was right she was just what the pack needed…what her son needed. She had been working forever to get him what he deserved. Even becoming alpha herself, a position most would have relished but she didn't.

She had been raised to be the alpha's support, to help make decision…not make them herself…not to bare the guilt of them. If Willard had lived longer she would have kept the only possession she wanted, the true beta of the pack…and because of Ruby's behavior he would have passed the leadership of the pact to Luke. As long as Willard lived it had been a guaranty…now thanks to Sophia it was again. She just had to figure out how. Luke chose very well when he became interested in Sophia, if she could only get him to behave maybe he could keep her.

Matt had just started dialing the phone again when he heard Vivian ask Sherman… "Have any of the past female healers been mated to Alphas"?

Sherman puckered his lips and let his eyebrows rise… "Why yesis there any reason in particular you're asking, Vivian".

Matt knew what was going on bur couldn't believe it was happening. He had expected it from Luke… someone he could fight but not from Vivian… maybe he should have…"Yea, why are you asking"? Matt cut in.

If Vivian was going to say anything Sophia stopped her cold with… "Because she going to give me to Luke and if I had to guess. She's not going to make the same mistake her husband made with Rubygiving me to much space or time to come to my own conclusions. Only there are three small problems she is overlooking".

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