Hello readers! Just a warning that things may get more sexual from this point on. But since I've put this on the Rated R page, I guess that's to be expected. Hope you enjoy.

Let me know. Thanks.

Chapter 4: Homecoming

Three weeks had passed since Sophia had become skinwalker. She thought at first she could suppress her wolf as she had promised her aunt and uncle that fateful day. But the need to flip and become her wolf pressed on her senses more and more each day. The smell of meat and blood would cause her teeth to elongate and her mouth to water. The smell of trees would send her feet running.

Worst of all was her libido. She would see guys she was attracted to and find herself imagining all sorts of interesting things. At times she would strike up conversations and flirt with boys she barely knew. The old Sophia never did such things. If it weren't for Paulo's watchful eye, she probably would have gotten herself into trouble.

It was then she realized that she needed to go home. At night she would dream of the lake and forests she left behind. She would dream of the wolves running through the forest and of one wolf in particular, a large dark gray, who would sit on the pier waiting.

So now, just three weeks later, she found herself sitting on a plane, flying home. What would it be like to be home again, now as a skinwalker? How will the others treat her? These thoughts were foremost on her mind when she heard the voice, "We will be landing in Seattle in twenty minutes, please fold any remaining trays up and make sure your belongings are safely stored under the seat in front of you."

Excitement raced through her as she thought of her father waiting for her at the airport. She had not seen him for seven months, though she had just talked to him last night. He was extremely happy she was coming home and she knew he had been cleaning and filling the house with her favorite foods.

She looked out the window and watched the rain pelt against the thick glass. Not even the storm outside would get her down today.

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Matt Donner sat at gate 9B, waiting for Sophia's plane to land. He had arrived an hour ago, just in case her plane came early, he reasoned. He had missed Sophia so much. Since Marie had died, it had been just him and Sophia caring for each other. He hated being alone and had filled his time with extra shifts at work. Now his little girl would be returning and he would see her smiles, listen to her corny jokes, and resume their Friday night movie marathons again.

Of course, now she was also skinwalker, so some things would be different. His little girl would need more meat and, he smiled at the thought, they could go on some runs together. Matt had not told her that he had returned to skinwalker ways yet. It was going to be his little surprise for her.

Finally the plane landed and Matt stood and waited anxiously for the plane to disembark. He looked at the crowd of people filing through the doorway, waiting for the kid with the goofy smile on her face. But she did not come. There were only a few stragglers left now and he began to worry that he had the wrong gate until a woman's voice said, "Dad?"

Matt turned to look at the person next to him and an expression of shock came across his face. It was Sophia, but not the Sophia he had expected. This Sophia was older, this Sophia was no longer a kid. She was a young woman. "Sophia?"

"Dad!" she smiled brightly and flew into his arms. The shock wore off and he hugged her tightly, lifting her off the ground. "Sophia! Welcome home sweetheart." He placed her down and backed slightly away to get a better look at her. She smiled proudly and smoothed out her Italian leather mini skirt.

"Well, what do you think? Do I look cosmo or what?" she laughed.

"My god Sophia. I didn't even recognize you! You grew up on me while you were away!" He looked at her hopeful face. "Sweetheart, you're absolutely beautiful."

"Yeah, well your looking pretty good yourself dad."

"Well, I've got some news for you too." he smiled. "But first let's get your luggage and hit the road." He placed his arm around her as they walked toward the baggage claim area.

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Matt had told no one that Sophia was coming home that day, preferring to have her all to his self. They filled each other in on every thing they could think of and chatted happily away all the way home.

As they approached the "Welcome to Wolf Lake Sign", Sophia noticed a large, dark gray wolf sitting under it. It struck her that this was the wolf from her dreams and she turned her head as they passed it. It seemed to watch her as well. A feeling of warmth filled her mind and she heard a male voice say "Welcome home Sophia."

That must have been Lucas she pondered. It sounded like him and she did remember his pelt color from long ago.

"Dad, I thought you said you didn't tell anyone I'd be coming home today." Sophia found herself saying.

"I didn't." he looked at her. "But I see that you're being sensed out all ready." He sighed deeply. "Well, I guess it was to be expected. A new skinwalker entering Wolf Lake territory will cause a stir."

"But I'm not new dad. I've lived here all my life." she frowned.

"Sophia the human lived in Wolf Lake before. Now Sophia the skinwalker is arriving. There is a big difference. The whole pack will take an interest in you and where you will fit in" Matt started to look serious.

"This brings up some important things Sophia. You realize that other females may not take to you right away. An unmated female skinwalker is more competition to the other unmated females. They will want to know where you fit in the hierarchy and if you pose a threat to their positions in the pack."

"Dad, I don't want their positions! I don't care about all that status stuff."

Matt wasn't surprised she would say this, seeing how he had raised her, but he knew that her attitude was unrealistic. She really had no idea what being part of a pack was like and that certain things were just part of their nature. It bothered him that she would most likely have to learn the hard way. They all had to.

"Just be careful sweetheart. Remember that you have your own strength now." he didn't know how much detail he should go into right now. He supposed they would have to just take things one day at a time.

"As for the males..." Matt ran one hand through his hair. He had no idea how to talk to her about these things. After all, it was skinwalker mothers that trained their daughters in that area.

"Dad, stop worrying. I already know about that stuff." she rolled her eyes and laughed.

"You do? How?" Matt was surprised.

"From Sarah and ... well... other friends who have flipped. They told me a lot already."

"They did? What do you think you know?" he asked.

Now Sophia felt embarrassed. It was one thing to talk to friends about this stuff and another to talk with your dad about it.

"I know that you can only get pregnant in your wolf form."

"That's it?" Oh God! Matt knew she would have a lot to learn and she had better learn it fast. "Sophia... teen skinwalkers... well..." he struggled with this.

"I know, I know, they have a lot of sex!" she said turning red.

"Sophia!" Matt just had to laugh, the tension was too thick. "O.K., yes, they do. Not having to worry about pregnancy and disease, it's always been that way. However, it's not just that simple."

He had her full attention now.

"O.K." he began, "You know how males cannot force unwilling females? That it's against our laws?"

"Yes, I know that"

"Well, that doesn't stop them from trying to make females willing. Seducing females is a major past time with young males. They will release their musk around you while flirting and this alone causes some females to return musk. Once you return musk, they go in for the kill, so to speak."

"Dad, you sound like a wild kingdom documentary." she laughed.

"What I'm trying to say is... you have to learn to control your responses to the males or you'll... well... "

"End up on my back a lot?" she joked.

"This is not funny!" he tried not to smile. "I don't want you to have a lot of pressure to do things you may not be ready for." He gave a frustrated sigh. "God I'm terrible at this!"

"It's o.k. dad. I understand what you're saying."

"I'm not sure you do. I feel like your going into a bullfight with a red dress on."

Sophia laughed. "Don't worry so much dad. I'll handle it."

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Sophia felt joy when they pulled up to her house on this Tuesday evening. It was good to be home! She ran in through the familiar kitchen doorway and noticed that her father had hung up the sketches she had sent him from Florence. These sketches told the story of her time away and it touched her that her father had hung them up in order.

Suddenly the phone rang and she heard her father call her, "Sophia, it's Sarah."

Sophia grabbed the phone, "Sarah!! Oh my God! Hi! ... Yes, I had an awesome time ... No, I'm not busy right now. Want to meet at the diner? .... O.k. I'll bring some of my pictures. O.k. see you in about fifteen minutes. Bye."

Matt felt a little disappointed that she'd be going somewhere already, but she was really excited about seeing Sarah again so he didn't make an issue of it. "Can I drop you off? I should stop by the station for a little while anyway. I kind of took off without telling them my whereabouts." he smiled.

"Sure dad, that would be great." She went to her luggage to search for her pictures.

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They pulled up in front of the diner and Sophia could see Sarah was there already, sitting in a booth by the window. They waved at each other excitedly.

"I'll swing by in about an hour to take you home. Will that give you two enough time?"

"I think so." she leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Bye dad."

Matt watched Sophia walk up to the diner. She no longer looked or walked like a kid. She was stunning and he feared for her. He scanned the area to see whom he could sense nearby. It seemed a quiet night at the diner. She should be fine, he reasoned. He pulled away and drove to the station.

The two friends sat across from each other and Sophia seemed to find endless things to tell Sarah. Sarah listened raptly to Sophia's trip, knowing that she would probably never leave Wolf Lake herself.

They finally got to discuss Sophia's flip and Sarah was amazed at how Sophia's human relatives helped her through it.

Sophia's old co workers at the diner all welcomed her home as well and asked her if she would be wanting her old job back. She said she would think about it.

She really didn't know what she wanted right now. Maybe when things settled down for her a bit, she would return to work. She didn't want to think about that right now. The old Sophia she had left behind in Italy just didn't appeal to her. She felt different and knew that her life would be different from now on.

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Lucas Cates lay with his back against a log in the clearing of the forest that the teens used for their nightly raves. His friends were all relaxing in close proximity to him; some were drinking and listening to music, some talking to each other, some in various stages of seducing the females.

Presley lay with her head on his lap, slowly running her fingers along his thigh. Lucus barely acknowledged her as he thought about the glimpse he had of Sophia coming home today. He expected she would be spending time with her father tonight. He closed his eyes and concentrated in the direction of her house. His eyes flew open.

No one was home, he realized.

He shut his eyes again and scanned the police station. Sheriff was there, but no Sophia.

He tried again, this time concentrating on Sophia, and saw images of her at the diner, with Sarah. An excitement began to build in him at the images flashing through his mind. He could see long, shapely legs, and brown shiny hair with blonde highlights. She was skinwalker now. An unmated skinwalker female. Instincts as old as his species began to take over. He felt a haze in his mind forming, his eyes flashing and fangs lengthening.

Presley lifted her head and looked at his face. She started to musk and said in a husky voice, "Mmmm Lucas... you want to fuck me, don't you?" She turned onto her back in a submissive gesture. Lucas sprang to his feet, his body tense. The others all looked at him in alert. What was their leader sensing?

Stay here.

He projected these words into their minds. Presley sat up and frowned. What is he doing? She watched as Lucas took off at a run towards town. Her musk hung heavy in the air and she had not noticed that Randy had crawled up behind her until she felt his arm pull her against his body. "Don't worry Pres, I'll take care of you tonight." Presley growled with pleasure.

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There were very few customers in the diner that night. All of them were skinwalkers, including the employees. This particular diner did not attract many humans as they felt uncomfortable there. The skinwalkers liked to be around their own and the diner was a social place outside of church to meet.

Sophia and Sarah sipped their coffees and chatted happily away. Sarah was now telling Sophia about what she had been missing at school when suddenly she clamed up. Her face began to have a stricken look and she gazed around the restaurant at the other skinwalkers. Sophia felt a change in the atmosphere as well, but she did not know what it meant.

Everyone in the diner looked disturbed and nervous. Sarah said, "Do you feel that?" Sophia tried to concentrate on her feelings. Something was building and growing, there was something powerful approaching.

Sarah suddenly jumped up from her seat, upsetting her coffee and Sophia stood too and looked around.

"What is it?" she was frightened now and she didn't like the look on Sarah's face.

"Oh god Sophia. Did you hear that? He said "Get out!" I've got to go."

Sophia watched Sarah grab her belongings and start to walk out. She yelled, "Sarah? Who said it? What's going on?"

Sophia's head whipped around in all directions as she noticed everyone else had hurried out of the diner. She was about to gather up her pictures and leave too when the lights went out.

Rain clouds had covered any moon glow that would have normally been present and even though Sophia could see better than she used to, her fear added to the sense of blackness. Her heart began to beat wildly and she slowly began to notice that a figure of a man was standing on the far side of the diner, near the back door.

She turned in the opposite direction, fear making her bump into tables and chairs. She felt two arms wrap around her from behind and the will to struggle against them drained out of her as the overwhelming power of the moment took over.

One strong hand rested softly against her flat belly as the other hand dropped to the bottom edge of her skirt on her side. Sophia's heart beat loudly and she still shook with fear, but somehow she knew she must not struggle.

The hand on her belly started making slow, caressing circles and pushed her back against his hard rigid body. An excitement started to build in Sophia, mixed with her fear. The other hand caressed her leg and then slowly trailed up along her hip and up her arm to her shoulder. She felt him gather her long hair together and put it over her other shoulder, leaving the side of her neck exposed.

This was too much to bare, Sophia's body screamed out for something, something she couldn't name. Her senses became overwhelmed as she felt his hot breath on her neck and he whispered, "Shhhh... it's all right baby. I've got you." He seemed to be regulating her heartbeat with his, trying to calm her body and her fears.

His fingers pulled the collar of her shirt open and away from her shoulder, leaving it exposed to his hot breath. Sophia was breathing hard and her mind drifted in a fog, she lay her head back, against his chest and a feeling of warmth and security began to replace her fear.

Then she felt his teeth sink into her shoulder and hold her still. The pain was sharp, but she found it was not unpleasurable. Her body jolted with the power she felt entering her through his contact. She felt herself musking as he continued to pull on her, his tongue licking the drops of blood and the salt of her skin.

Her arousal shot through him like an arrow and he gave a husky growl, pressing her backside harder against his own arousal.

His senses suddenly became aware of her father driving to the diner at breakneck speed. He must have sensed her distress, Lucas thought as he gave Sophia's shoulder one last long lick. "Don't worry Sophia, we'll continue this soon." He released his hold on her and slipped quickly out the back door.

Sophia turned around and reached up to her shoulder where she had been bit. The fog in her mind was starting to clear. Oh god, what had just happened, she thought. I just about had sex with Lucas Cates! She looked out the window and noticed her dad pulling up in the parking lot. She grabbed her things and ran out to the truck before he could get out of his seat.

"Sweetie, is everything all right? What happened?" but his senses were already drawn to her shoulder. He reached up and pulled the loosened shirt from her shoulder. Matt stared at the wound and then looked at Sophia's confused face.

"I don't know what happened dad. Well, I guess I do, but I don't know why he would just come in and do this." She shook her head and tears formed in her eyes.

Matt Donner sighed heavily and sat back into his seat, staring straight ahead. He knew exactly why Lucas did this and he wasn't sure he should kill the kid or thank him. His hand went out to Sophia and grasped hers. He sighed again.

"Dad?" Sophia cried softly, "Please say something."

"Well honey, the young alpha male has officially accepted you into the pack."

She stared at him, waiting for more explanation.

"By giving you that bite," he continued, "he has given you his acceptance and protection."

"What exactly does that mean?"

"It means that you won't have such a hard time being accepted by the others now. If Lucas accepts you, they have to as well."

"You're not mad at him?" Sophia was surprised.

"I'm mad that he frightened you, yes. But I'm not mad that he is preventing my little girl from getting into fights." He could see she was still confused. "These are skinwalker ways and whether or not I like it, he did do the right thing."

Sophia had a lot to think about on the way home. She now knew that she had a lot to learn about controlling her musk. He overpowered her too quickly and she was determined not to let herself be so easily affected again.

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