Chapter 11.
Supernatural
"He's not feeling well, so he went to lie down in Seth's room. I think it's probably got something to do with the flying today combined with all the pizza he ate tonight. I'm sure it's nothing." Lora seemed satisfied with her understanding of it, but Kyle went to check on him anyway. I listened to Mom and Lora go on about different tribal customs, comparing their history and legends, and laughing over the silliest traditions. They were both crazy about history and could pull the stories right from their memories. I was happy to see Mom finally taking it easy at least for a few hours. Friday would be our day to pull everything together and finish up all the details.
When Kyle didn't come back out I went to see if everything was alright. I found him sitting on the side of the bed holding an ice pack to Akiak's head. When Kyle looked up at me he seemed almost angry as well as concerned. "You know, I almost forgot about the fever it's been so long ago."
"I remember." I looked at him and smiled sadly. I don't even know who changed first, me or Seth, but Mom thought we had the flu and she was running back and forth to check on us both! When she called around to see if anyone else was sick Sam came right over and figured out what was really happening. If I hadn't been running such a high fever he wouldn't have believed that I was affected too. He took us for a walk in the woods and by morning we knew what we were."
"Okay, that sounds like a plan. You stay here Leah, let your mom know in some private way what's going on and I'll take Akiak outside so he doesn't destroy Seth's room. And keep an eye on the lovebirds for me too, okay?" He seemed more worried than I'd ever seen him as he sat a confused seventeen year old boy up in bed.
"Are you sure that's what this is? I mean he could just have the flu." I was trying to hold out hope that this was all normal.
"He pegged the thermometer at a hundred and eight point nine, and that's as high as it goes! Come on Akiak, let's go for a little walk." He pulled him up and he leaned heavily on Kyle. "Don't worry, you can leave your shoes here for now." They headed for the back door and I went back into the living room
"Seth, why don't you come over here and tell Lora all about the Quileutte school while I talk to Mom about something that I forgot about the wedding!" She hurried to my side as soon as she saw the look in my eyes. We slipped off to my room and I closed the door and explained to her what was going on with Akiak. While I had her attention I dropped the bomb about Seth imprinting on Ahnah and she sat down on my bed, hard. "Kyle's taking him out for a walk so he doesn't hurt anyone when it happens. We've also had a chance to talk to the kids about their future."
"I knew something was up with those two! Oh Leah, why can't your father be here!" She looked like she was overwhelmed and I sat next to her and put my arms around her shoulders.
"It's going to work out Mom. I mean for so long I thought that being like this was a curse, but now I see it's just being who I was always meant to be! And I'm getting the best man in the world for a husband because of the imprinting curse! Lora has a lot to learn, but it seems she's found a good friend to help her through it. Now we should get back in there and make sure Seth and Ahnah don't sneak off to be alone!" We stood up and I heard a strange howling off in the distance. We both looked at each other. "I guess it wasn't the flu."
I took Ahnah and Seth to the kitchen while Mom sat back down to talk with Lora. I didn't know if she would tell her everything tonight, or wait until morning. I decided to tell Seth and Ahnah about Akiak so they would be able to help Lora when she heard the whole story. I couldn't tell who was more confused, Seth because it was one more who wasn't a member of our tribe; or Ahnah since it was her own brother and she'd only just learned of the existence of shape shifters. "Am I going to change too Leah?" I didn't know how to answer her question since I didn't know why I changed. What surprised me was that she didn't seem worried; she just wanted to know what to expect.
"I wish I could tell you, but unless you feel feverish I'd have to say at least not right now. I think we should all go get ready for bed. No matter what happens tonight, tomorrow's going to be a big day. And Saturday is going to be crazy." I smiled at the thought of Saturday even though our situations were crazy already.
With Ahnah tucked into my bed and Seth in his, I checked on our moms. They were on the couch deep in a serious discussion and I knew the truth was coming out tonight. I slipped in and sat on the hearth and Lora seemed distracted by me. "Did you know this was going to happen?" She looked at me and I felt a sense of guilt even though I didn't do anything to deserve it.
"I didn't know when I invited you to the wedding. I just wanted Kyle to have someone here for him." I smiled. "I am happy that you haven't turned your back on him. He didn't ask for what happened to him; none of us did. We've only been dealing with this ….issue for a couple years, and aside from legends and stories passed down, we have very few ideas how everything works. Kyle guessed what happened to Seth and how he ….fell for Ahnah. He's sensitive to that connection since he feels the same for me. Once it happens it's too late to prevent it; like lightning striking. And as far as Akiak's change, I was worried when I saw him eating so much....but I don't know him well enough to know what's normal for him. He also seems like he's grown a few inches since I last saw him, so it was on my mind. But again, once the change starts we don't know how to stop it. I can tell you for myself, I'm glad no one could stop it; I'm very happy the way my life is turning out. I can also tell you there are about sixteen others just like me and Seth who are proud of their ability and wouldn't change a thing....well, maybe that's only fifteen since the first one had to go through this all alone."
Lora looked like any mother would when faced with the unknown. "So you think my children will be okay?" I saw all the hope and fear looking out from her eyes and I smiled.
"They're not just going to be okay, they're going to be better than okay. It's not always going to be easy for them, but this is a good thing!" I heard that strange howling outside and I could feel the hair on the back of my neck stand up. "I think I'd like to go see if Kyle needs any help." I stood up and headed for the door.
"Can I come with you Leah?" Lora stood up suddenly. I need to see for myself how it happens.
"Sure, but let me run back and change clothes first; you'll understand better if you can see the whole thing." I ran to my room and pulled out something I didn't care to wear again and put it on. I carried my other clothes with me as I stepped into the hall wearing a mini-dress and not much else.
"You're going out in that?" She looked a little surprised at what I had on. "It's freezing outside won't you get cold?"
I grinned. "I've got so many outfits like this from my wilder teenage years. Trust me, this isn't coming back after I change. We have a tendency to shred whatever we're wearing; but there are some exceptions. And you'll notice we tend to be much warmer than normal now. Akiak won't need his coat as much as before; he may even want to sleep with the window open. Are you ready to go yet?" She put on her coat and I lead her outside and beyond the shed. I advised her to stay out of the way. "Don't be scared, it only looks painful." I changed as gently as I could and stood for a minute so she could see me clearly, then I ran into the woods picking up Kyle's scent almost immediately.
"Leah, be careful out here, Akiak is still a little disoriented." I could hear Kyle in my head and I knew where to find him even in the dark. I ran with all the speed of the wolf and heard again the strange howling, closer than I expected. I caught my first glimpse of the newest shape shifter as he bolted over a hill and disappeared. At first I thought it was a wolf, but something wasn't quite right. I joined Kyle where he was following Akiak's trail at bear speed through the woods. "Leah, his change is somewhere between my first and your first. He's a wolf/husky mix! I know there's a few back in the village that raise them; it's the most intimate animal he knows! Can you hear him? He's trying to learn what he can do, and he's apparently in our pack. It might be good if you could run with him and show him how to....be a wolf."
"But I'm not a wolf uncle Kyle!" I heard the exhilaration and giddiness in his thoughts. I saw where he was through his eyes and I ran that way.
"Akiak, it doesn't matter if you're only half wolf, there are some things that are the same. I'm coming to you and we're going to do a little tracking, and maybe a little hunting." I thought he would wait for me, but he was all over the woods, checking scents disturbing ground burrows and not paying attention to where he was going. When I finally caught up to him he tried at first to outrun me; which he wasn't able to do. "Akiak, calm down and stay with me. Can you smell the trail? You need to think; there are still dangers out here no matter how big you are!" I had to chase after him again as he bounded off after a rabbit he'd dug out of it's burrow. "Akiak! Your going to be sorry if you scare up a skunk! Calm down and stay with me!
When I heard Kyle again it was the alpha voice. It was stunning in it's power even though it wasn't directed at me. I saw the young half wolf come scooting back my way with his tail tucked and I came along side him as we ran together. "Everything has a scent. You'll learn to follow not only the thing you're chasing, but you'll become aware of what else is out and about. You need to stay close to me; there's another of my old pack out in the woods, and he doesn't know you. We ran, eventually picking up the scent of a herd of deer. "You'll need to learn to hunt and eat what you kill. There's a reason for your change and it's not just so you can play." I heard Sam's advice coming easily to mind as I tried to teach the new one. "You need to learn to be a guardian to your pack and your people. Sometimes that might mean staying out in the wild for a long time." We hunted the herd and as soon as he calmed down he was able to listen to my directions. He was the decoy that drove the herd my way and I easily took down a deer.
I expected Akiak to be right with me, but he ran off chasing a large buck through the woods. I made my kill then abandoned the deer to chase after him again. I caught up to him just in time to see a huge russet wolf barrel into him, knocking him back hard. Akiak barely made it back to his feet before the wolf was snapping and snarling at him, walking toward him stiff legged with the fur standing out from his body. The smaller animal backed toward me still not ready to give up the challenge. "Back away Akiak." I whispered in his head. "This isn't a challenge you can win. Don't look directly at him and come my way." I could feel the fear coming from him and I stepped between him and the other wolf to allow his retreat. "Go back toward Kyle, I've got your back." He didn't take much convincing before he turned tail and ran. I could hear his thoughts screaming about the massive werewolf he'd been attacked by. I walked over and greeted Jacob in the way of wolves. It seemed strange not to be able to hear him in my head, but I could see the wolf smile on his face and knew he didn't intend any harm to Akiak. I woofed softly at him then turned to head back to my new pack.
I caught up to them both where I'd left the deer. Kyle was trying to show him how to eat in his new form. I could see Akiak had some of the same inhibitions as I had once had. Eating something raw, warm, and bloody was just not what he wanted to do. "Akiak, just give yourself fully to the animal you've become. Don't think it, just do it. It's a choice how much of yourself you allow to become like the animal. To eat, you need to become more fully the animal." Kyle had already devoured half the deer and I encouraged Akiak to do what he needed to learn.
He took his first nibble of the deer, but Kyle snatched it and walked away from him, then sat down to gnaw on it a bit more. Akiak went after him, but as soon as he took another bite Kyle repeated his game of keep away. It happened three or four times that way until I could tell Akiak was getting angry. On his last attempt he grabbed hold of the deer and didn't let go, growling and snarling he claimed his part of the kill and tore into the animal just like a wolf. Kyle let it go and Akiak continued to eat. Any time he seemed repulsed Kyle would try again to grab it from him. I sat back and watched, amazed at how easily Kyle had gotten him past his squeamishness.
As Akiak settled down he finished off the deer, still with the appetite of a teenager. Kyle came to stand by me and if anyone would have been watching they would have seen the strange sight of an enormous bear licking the muzzle of a huge wolf. I thought to him, "How do you feel about taking him to visit the other supernatural creatures? It's possible he could run into some of them any time he's hunting."
Akiak perked up, "What do you mean other supernatural creatures? You mean there's more than just us and that werewolf?" I could hear Kyle laughing in my head.
"We can go, but you must stay with us and stay calm. On the way, I want you to tell me what you smell and how it feels. Every scent can tell you something and you need to be aware that your nose is more important than your eyes. And even more than your nose, your instinct can save your life." We walked along, taking our time and listening to Akiak tell us about every smell, every trail and every sensation he came across. At one point his hackles rose and he slowed; communicating to Kyle something wasn't right. I smelled him long before Akiak noticed, but I was glad to see his caution. Jacob came out of the trees, and fell in beside Kyle on his left with me on the right. Akiak seemed confused until I let him know that he was a friend.
At the boundary line I could see Jacob pause, obviously put off by the smell. Akiak slowed down as well, letting us know that he sensed a difference but he had never smelled anything like it before. I noticed too, but I could have missed it entirely if I didn't know what to look for. "Stay alert Akiak, there could be predators in these woods that would make a meal of you as easily as you did the deer." I was trying to be serious, but Kyle's laughter in my head was accompanied by the image of him sitting on Emmett and squishing him flat. I sent back an image of the Volturi, and the fear on the Cullen family's faces. I could feel Akiak's confusion at our thoughts.
Jacob picked up speed once we crossed the boundary and Kyle raced to keep up, with me by his side. Before we were close to the house Jacob howled into the night. I thought it appropriate so I did too, and Akiak followed my lead. Kyle laughed mentally and his loud roar put us all to shame. As the house came in sight Akiak was again describing the smells. "Something feels very strange here. I wouldn't come here if you didn't say it was alright. I would circle wide around this place!" He followed after us slowly and as we came up through the yard I could see them out on the porch. Jacob circled around the house at a run and came back around changed and dressed. He locked eyes onto Akiak and made sure he knew just who he was, then ruffled the fur between his ears. Jacob then jumped lightly to the porch to scoop up Nessie who had her arms out waiting for him. Bella and Edward sat side by side like two statues carved from stone. When they moved I could feel how startled Akiak was. In minutes the door opened up and Emmett and Rosalie came out. Akiak slipped behind us both as Emmett ran our way. He gained speed and rushed Kyle, grabbing him around the middle and tackling him to the ground. Akiak yelped and dodged out of the way and Kyle's laughter was the only thing that kept him from fleeing into the woods.
Rosalie followed Emmett and grabbed him by his collar and pulled him physically off of Kyle. "That's enough of that! You're not going to make a mud pit out of the lawn! Kyle stayed where he landed and Rosalie unfolded a blanket and tossed it over the bear, almost covering him completely. I laid down on the grass and she came my way and did the same, then she grinned and rearranged the blanket to cover my tail. Akiak stayed planted, guarding the space where he stood as she came toward him.
"Just give him a minute please, Rosalie." Kyle was himself, standing up and wrapping the blanket around him. He stepped over to Akiak and squatted on the ground in front of him. "They are not what they seem, but they are our friends and you will be safe here as long as you're not aggressive toward them. If you want to change back I can introduce you, or you can stay as you are."
I still hadn't changed myself so I could hear his thoughts. He felt safer as an animal than as a teenage boy, and he wanted to wait and see. When I changed I told Kyle what he was thinking. He introduced our newest shape shifter and Jacob seemed surprised. "That's two now from your family; we need to look up your tribe and trace their roots. " Renesmee reached up and laid her hand against his face and he smiled at the pictures she showed him. "She wants to pet the dog. That's okay right?" She didn't wait for permission, but climbed down from her perch as Jacob reluctantly let her go. We all waited as she stepped lightly over to Akiak. Kyle and I both had a hand on him and as he watched her his tail started to wag. She smiled brightly up at him and reached her small arms up to him.
Akiak laid down and she happily threw her arms around the 'dog' and hugged her face to his. Akiak's tail curled like a husky and it was swishing a wide path as Nessie made friends. When she laid her hands on his face we all caught our breath wondering what pictures she was showing him. I looked to Edward who smiled slowly until he was almost laughing with his arm around his wife. "She's quite the historian. She just introduced herself and the whole family to him. She showed him all about us easier than we could have explained it."
When she let go of him he actually licked her face and she laughed sweetly before she turned and launched herself into Jacob's arms again. Akiak inched closer to the rest of us gathered on the porch and Kyle asked him if he was ready to change back. He woofed and wagged his tail and Rosalie tossed a blanket over him. I turned away to allow him the privacy I'd rarely had in the old pack. The night was calm and cold, but no one seemed to care as we sat on the porch talking about the newest shape shifter, and how Seth imprinted on Ahnah. When we mentioned that we had to explain just what that was all about to Akiak since he had missed the first drama. Jacob was embarrassed that Nessie was listening to Kyle's explanation like she understood. We left out the part about Jacob imprinting on Nessie.
"So what time can we expect you tomorrow?" Emmett sat down next to Kyle on the edge of the porch and threw his arm around my fiance's shoulder. "If you're getting married you at least need to have a bachelor party!" Rosalie groaned, and I tried not to giggle. I couldn't imagine what that would look like since all the traditional vice was not an option for Kyle; and the Cullen's too for that matter. He wasn't interested at all in looking at other women, he didn't drink so he wouldn't lose control of his ability, and he didn't have a lot of male friends to carouse with. But maybe that's what Emmett was getting at; a male bonding experience.
"How about you come by at sunset and we'll see what kind of trouble we can get into! And bring any of the pups that want to come too. Let em know to bring their old comfortable clothes their wives, girlfriends, and other women in their lives won't let them wear. We'll start off with a little hunting then come back and play a little poker. Edward will of course have to sit out, and if it gets too dull, we can …." He glanced up at Rosalie and smirked. "....find something else to get into! I'm serious, if you don't come, you'll force us to drive to La Push and ruin a lot of good peace keeping to kidnap you! I already know Jacob will be here, but you need to decide who you want and get the men together.
Kyle looked my way for a rescue, but I smiled and shrugged. Of all the people I thought he would make friends with, I never thought it would be Emmett. I seemed to remember someone mentioning that he'd been mauled by a bear before he was changed, so it seemed even more unlikely. But I wasn't going to stand in the way of a friendship since Kyle had been without any close friends for way too long. "I think it's a great idea." I stunned Rosalie with my statement. "My only concern isn't what you'll get up to, but how long it will take. It's Thursday and it's already late. I don't know how much sleep we'll get tonight once we get back home. Tomorrow we have a whole mess of problems to sort through as well as wedding preparation. If you have a bachelor party and stay out late you'll be very tired on Saturday." I smiled sweetly. "I don't know about you, but I plan on getting married at noon. Then there's this reception thing we have planned. I'm not sure how long that will last, but sometime afterward someone promised me a honeymoon. " I looked up at him and played my ace. "I'm not sure if you plan on flying us to wherever that will be, but if you do you'll need some rest ahead of time. Because I guarantee there won't be much time for rest when we arrive!" I heard the lightest of vampire chuckles at the last statement and Jacob covered Nessie's ears.
Kyle looked from me to Emmett. "You heard from the boss, I guess we'll just have to forget about it! Spending time with a bunch of stinky guys isn't worth risking my honeymoon over!"
"I'm not ready to concede defeat yet. How about this plan....you tell the guys to show up here at sundown; make that six just in case there's some disagreement about when that is. We'll have six hours of man time, then we'll call it a night at midnight and send all the pups home. You stay here with us so you can observe that age old tradition of not seeing the bride before the wedding. We'll take you to your wedding ourselves and you can see each other for the first time as soon as she walks down the aisle!"
I was about to try to come up with some kind of protest since the idea of him spending so much time away from me was more than I wanted to deal with, but I didn't get the chance. "That sounds like a lovely idea!" It was Rosalie's delighted voice that preempted my protest as she floated over and sat delicately next to Emmett. "I think it sounds sweet to keep the bride and groom apart! Such traditions are lost these days, but it was so much nicer when there was an element of anticipation that came along with a wedding! I can remember that notes were passed between brides and grooms because they weren't permitted to see one another and many brides kept the notes as long as they lived." She looked at me expectantly. "Oh Leah, you've got to agree! I promise I'll make sure the party ends on time myself! Not only will we make sure he's on time, but he'll be dressed and ready with time to spare. Come on Leah, you won't regret it!"
Just one.... if just one blond joke had come to mind I might have been able to resist, but I was bowled over by her enthusiasm, which I knew was a rare thing from all the time I'd spent at the Cullens'. "I don't tell Kyle what to do, so if he wants to agree then I have no problem; bachelor party and sleep over are unopposed." She hugged her husband like it was a done deal and since Kyle didn't protest, it soon was. Jacob agreed to invite the wolves of both packs but he also thought many of them wouldn't come.
"I want to come." Akiak spoke up for the first time since changing back. He seemed so earnest it was hard to believe he was only seventeen. "I saw what was happening between Seth and Ahnah right from the beginning, and I don't want to hang around watching that for one minute longer than I have to! The only good thing is he's not under your leadership Uncle Kyle; listening to your thoughts about Leah are bad enough!" That got a laugh from everyone and I was pleased that it was intentional; Akiak had a good sense of humor.
Kyle looked at his nephew and asked with a grin, "So what does she think about me?"
"Oh, she's a lot more reserved than you are. I got the feeling she was used to guarding her thoughts....but you just gush like a schoolboy with is first crush!" There were more laughs at that.
"Now wait a minute; talk about uncomfortable thoughts, I seem to remember someone running in terror from a vicious werewolf! I didn't think it was possible to tuck that curly tail of yours, but you did it!" I could see Akiak was embarrassed and I wanted to say something but Jacob beat me to it.
"You know that was me. I'd been watching you crashing through the woods for a while and you didn't even pick up my scent. I knew Leah was trying to help you control yourself, but you weren't listening to her. I couldn't hear what you were thinking, but I know what kind of training Leah has had. We've all had to learn discipline, it's the only thing that keeps us alive when we face real enemies. I was just giving you a little wake up call." He smiled his white smile and Akiak smiled back. "Ask Seth or Leah about newborn vampires some day. Or when you meet Sam Uley take a look at his pretty wife. It's critical that you learn self control and discipline; listen to Kyle, he'll teach you. He's been changing longer than any of us and he has more control than the rest of us." I was surprised to hear Jacob speak about Kyle with such admiration. A lot must have changed in the last couple days. He continued with a grin, "But then again he's so much older than the rest of us, so if he's having a schoolboy crush, maybe we need to keep the old man away from her!"
I heard Bella laugh behind me as she kissed her husband knowingly. Jacob smiled again as he tickled Nessie affectionately and winked at me. Obviously age didn't matter much to supernatural people. Soon Bella and Edward got up and gently took Nessie away from Jacob. "It's her bedtime now. We're glad to meet you Akiak; you're welcome to visit whenever you like and please do come to the party." Bella spoke for them both and she reminded me of Esme at the moment. I hated to admit it, but being vamped seemed to be good for her. They left the porch and walked toward the river barely seeming to touch the ground. Akiak watched them go and his eyes grew wide as they effortlessly jumped the river.
"How do you get used to everything?" He looked at both of us in wonder and confusion. "Are there any other....supernatural things I need to learn about?"
"Well, there are the real werewolves!" Emmett grinned, "but even we haven't seen any; I'm told they're near extinct. There are a few more like Nessie, and then there are likely newborn vampires; they're meaner and stronger than those of us who are older. Most vampires would kill and maybe even drain you if they were really thirsty. Our diet is different, we only hunt animals but it's still a temptation. That's the reason Jasper and Alice didn't come out this evening; we planned on hunting tomorrow so the wedding won't be a problem for us. He's starting to feel the edge and we didn't think it was a good idea to have him so close to an unpredictable new shape shifter."
"So, he stayed away from me because....he was afraid of..." Akiak was trying to work his way through it when Emmett burst out laughing.
"He's not afraid of you pup! He's afraid of how upset everyone would get if he couldn't resist feeding on you! He's just a little too thirsty for pleasant company, and you three aren't covered under the treaty, so you're not repulsive! The only thing to fear from you is that you might put up enough of a fight he could get blood on his shirt!" I heard Kyle growl a warning low in his throat and Emmett looked his way with his piercing dark golden stare. "Oh calm yourself, I'm not going to hurt the pup! But he needs to understand what the other packs already know; we're dangerous killers. It's only a choice of restraint that keeps us from ripping your throat out just to see what you taste like! Just like an alcoholic can drink water for their whole life, it only takes one slip to cause a lot of damage! Just be glad that Jasper has decided to lock himself away from the liquor cabinet!"
He smiled then, suddenly bright and pleasant. "Tomorrow at six. I think we should call it a night; my bride is getting irritated with me. She doesn't like being referred to as a bloodthirsty killer or an alcoholic." In the blink of an eye they stood and waved goodbye as they stepped into the house leaving the four of us alone.
"What was that he said about the treaty?" Jacob wanted to know the details, so I explained it as best I understood it. He looked thoughtful.
"So, if the treaty is voided then the aversion scents go away? The boundary won't be a barrier anymore? And just by leaving the pack you're no longer covered? Leah, you at least should always be covered, just because of your lineage."
"No Jacob, I chose to be with Kyle. By the standards of the treaty, I'm not only in a different pack, but a different tribe. It makes sense that a wife would go with her husband, even if that is a bit old-fashioned. I'd love to see what happens down the road when Renesmee comes of age if the treaty is still in place." I could see he wasn't finished wrestling with the concepts at work in the treaty.
"So you don't smell bad to them anymore? And they don't stink?" He looked at me like I'd told him the moon was made of green cheese.
"I don't smell them much at all. I can smell what's layered around them, like perfume, shampoo, and new clothes. And if I'm very close I can smell what Bella was always talking about; a kind of sweet pheromone. But mostly it's nothing. It's a little scary since I could be standing in the middle of a coven and not know it; except by the absence of human smell. I think Akiak picked up on that when we got here. He said he wouldn't come near the place if we didn't say it was okay for him. On their side they think we smell great. Rosalie said Kyle reminded her of 'eating apple dumplings on the front porch swing.' And Jasper said I smelled 'heavenly, like magnolia blossoms and fresh oranges.'" I smiled at the memory and Kyle pulled me closer to him.
"Alice said there was something about us that was a little odd, and it would make them not want to seek us out unless they were truly thirsty and there were no other choices. She compared it to cookies made with saccharine. I got the feeling she thought we would be nutritious, but not delicious." I saw Jacob grin at that.
"And that's if we didn't put up so much of a fight to make the meal too much trouble! I think I'm ready to change and get out of here. Leah, do you mind?" He made a little turning motion with his fingers and I turned my back on him. I didn't see him, but I felt his change and turned back to see him racing off through the woods.
Akiak watched him go, wide-eyed. "He's so fast! And impressive...."
"Yes he is. It's my guess that it won't be too long before he's the leader; not only of the whole pack but maybe the tribe as well." We watched him disappear, then Kyle kissed me.
"How about we both go next, and you can change and catch up to us." Kyle smiled and I nodded, stepping up onto the porch. I curled up and pulled the blanket over me and concentrated on changing as gently as possible. Now that I wasn't so angry and bitter all the time I was trying hard to control the violence of my changing. It took more thought and concentration rather than the strong emotion, but I was seeing some positive results. I was pleased when I poked my wolf head out from under the blanket, which hadn't shredded. I leaped off the porch leaving the blanket fluttering behind me, and took off after Kyle and Akiak. They were easy to follow since they were running straight home, and I realized Kyle had chosen his wolf form. I could hear Akiak questioning him about how to choose a different animal and I tried to stay quiet and let Kyle teach. It was easier to guard my thoughts, by simply tuning in to the animal senses. The feel of the wind and the scents it brought were more than enough to keep my mind busy. I only wished I'd learned that sooner. Once we made it back home I changed and dressed to slip back inside.
It was early morning, but Mom and Lora were still awake and sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee. "Mom, you need to get some sleep! You're going to be a wreck tomorrow!" I was whispering to keep from waking Ahnah and Seth.
"You should talk! You do remember your getting married in two....make that one day?! You can't be running around all night long!" She scolded me and I hugged her and kissed her cheek.
"I just thought you'd like to know that Akiak is fine." I grinned. "He doesn't quite change into a wolf....he changes into a wolf/husky mix. I think it's funny since Kyle actually transformed into a sled dog the first time too! Now he prefers the bear. You don't need to worry Lora, he's learning what he needs to know, and Kyle's probably only going to be a little while longer before they come in."
"Will he be....an animal?" I could see her trying to prepare herself for what her son had become.
"No, he'll be himself. He may need some clothes depending on how quickly he changed, but you won't be able to tell the difference....except he may hit a growth spurt. They – we usually start before the change, and grow quickly after the first time.
"Oh my....does it hurt?" She looked scared for her son.
"I don't remember any pain, but I think there was some discomfort in getting used to it. Like learning to drive a stick shift can be hard on the transmission." I smiled and she seemed relieved. I was about to head off to my room when Mom got my attention.
"Leah, I wanted to show you something if you're not too tired." I was tired, but I knew how important it was to her if she would keep me up later. I pulled up a chair and looked at the papers she'd been doodling on.
"Lora and I were just trying to figure out what's going on with all these changes. I mean if we can trace it back to the three leaders; Black, Ateara, and Uley, then why so long since it happens again? It's easy to dismiss an old legend until part of it comes true. But what got us thinking was actually Embry Coll. I was wondering if any of Lora's brothers could have....met his mother. Then we got to thinking about how difficult it is to trace the purity of a family line. Especially when you take into account no written records and no genetic testing. So I pulled out my old family tree and started to look to see if there were any that were unaccounted for; any distant relatives that might have left to go further north and weren't heard from again. That's when I noticed this."
She turned the page to show me and I stared without seeing what she wanted me to see. "Leah, they didn't trace lineage through women; only men! It's always been in the back of everyone's mind that Embry's father was cheating on his wife. But that's because we never expected there were more shape shifters outside of our tribe, and they didn't trace lineage through the women! Because only the sons; the warriors were counted, you can imagine that there were just as many uncounted female children born! Leah, you and Seth can trace your lineage back to Ephraim Black through your father, but if you look here," she pointed at one name on the page, "My grandmother was briefly married to Levi Uley's brother! It's not told that he shape shifted, only that he left the pack, and abandoned my grandmother. My father was born not long after she married Grandpa....you have to look closely at the dates, see? "
I had to do the math and realized that either Grandpa was premature at seven months, or Grandma was pregnant before they got married! "Leah, don't you see? My dad was a Uley! You and Seth get this from both sides of the family! It explains so much for you Leah! Why you are the only woman to change? Why did Sam not imprint on you? You have the trait from both your father and your mother, Leah! And you are close enough related to Sam that whatever it is that causes the change rejected you because of your family ties to him! You're already third cousins if I've got it right! All this time you've been worried that you can change because you're flawed in some way, but you're not, you just have too much of whatever it is, in you to not change!"
I was trying hard to follow what she was saying and I still didn't see why it would make a difference if I had shape shifter blood from both sides of my family. It seemed impossible that in all the generations past, I was the only one.
"Honey, don't you see? There's nothing wrong with you! You're not menopausal or deformed. You should have no problems becoming a mother when you and Kyle decide you want to start a family. And unless I missed my guess, your children will have your ability; whether they're girls or boys!" She looked startled for a second and looked at Lora. "And if Seth and Ahnah get married and have children....they're children will have it from both parents too! Leah, how likely is it that all this happened accidentally?"
"I could have told you there was no accident at all." Kyle leaned in the doorway so quiet we hadn't even noticed him. I jumped up and hurried to put my arms around him.
"How long have you been there? We didn't even hear you come in! Is Akiak alright?" I looked up into his serious face.
"He's fine, he's getting ready for bed in Seth's room. We just got back a few minutes ago; he's pretty tired." He looked at the three of us. "So, you're starting to figure out that this....supernatural trait has a mind of it's own? I could have told you that! I'm not just being romantic when I tell you I've waited for her for half my life! I've had a chance to see so many of the 'imprinted' males of your tribe, and it's definitely not accidental! There's so much about this I used to think I understood, but with Leah's help I'm realizing that we've only just scratched the surface of what it really is! She's so intuitive about how it works and who she is; it makes perfect sense that she has twice what most of us have! There seems to be almost a sort of primal intelligence at work here." He smiled down at me. "And you thought I wasn't listening when I was teaching Akiak!"
Akiak came in to reassure his mother that he was alright. She stood up to hug him and he was already taller than he was at dinner. His pajamas were a couple inches too short in the legs and arms and she looked at me and Kyle and shook her head. "I don't know how I'm going to explain to his father that his youngest son is going to need all new clothes!"
He stretched then, lengthening the distance between his wrists and the cuffs of his shirt, and laughed. "Cool!" He looked down at his mom and smiled. "I know you're worried about me, but I'm loving this! And don't worry about the new clothes, I'll get a job this summer. I've got a lot to look forward to! He yawned and rubbed his eyes. "I think I need to get some sleep. I hope Seth doesn't snore." He hugged his mom, said 'good night' and slipped off to bed.
a/n: I hope you enjoy the revelations about shape shifters. I had a great time dreaming it up and there are still more secrets to be revealed! Please keep reading and don't be afraid to comment; I'm a sucker for reviews, even bad ones. I've slowed down my updating since I can see the end in sight and....I don't want it to end!