Lyall started to shift back. What had he done! Why was she in his cell? Bellowing for the clavagers he examined her. Besides the bite on her arms she was bruised and her clothes were shredded. As soon as the cell was open, he rushed out with Elspeth in his arms. Everyone was in shock.
"Call the doctor and tell Lady Kingair to come to my room," Lyall ordered. Not caring that he was naked he carried Elspeth to his room.
Randolph Lyall was doing something he never did he was pacing. Sighead came out of the room her face was not reassuring.
"She wants to see you."
He looked at her laying there, she had never looked so small and fragile. He kneeled down beside her and touched her face.
"It's not your fault," she whispered as she went unconscious again.
"Elspeth?" Lyall buried his face in the sheets.
"I think that is what has kept her alive. She did not want you to blame yourself," said she then told him what Elspeth told her.
"Did they…?" He asked.
"Yes, I have the pack out looking for those cowards," said Sighead looked ready to murder.
"I have made her as comfortable as I can but she's lost a lot of blood. I'm afraid there's nothing I can do," the doctor said as he packed up his tools and left.
Lyall stood up and grabbed Sidheag by the shoulders, "you have to try."
"There's no guarantee that it'll work. I haven't bitten anyone yet." Sidheag hung her head.
"You have to try, she will die if you don't," he begged.
Sighead set up, she closed her eyes trying to focus her thoughts. "I'll do it."
She focused on her breathing and changed into Anubis form. Lyall moved away as Sidheag stood over Elspeth. He watched as she bit and licked her repeatedly.
"Stop!" he yelled.
It wasn't working. Elspeth had gone completely slack. She was dead. Sighead switched back, "I'm sorry," and left the room.
He held her hand and he blamed himself.
After a few moments a scream issued from Elspeth's mouth and she set up. Her body started to shift, bones breaking, clothes ripping, and flesh reforming. Sidheag ran back in the room at the sound of the scream, and found Lyall looking down at the wolf in his bed.
Elspeth fur was Auburn like her hair except for the white spots on her left front flank in the shape of a bite. They took her down to the dungeons with Sighead. It took her a few nights to control the shift.
When she was finally able to join them for dinner, they had a feast to celebrate her metamorphosis. After the meal, Lyall asked if she would walk with him. They walked in silence until Elspeth couldn't take it. She grabbed Lyall and kissed him. He responded by pulling her towards him and deepening the kiss. He trailed his hand on her arm and then he reached the scar. His bite was the only thing that had not healed when she changed.
He broke the kiss but was still holding her to him. She laid her head on his chest and listen to his heart beat.
"I don't know what this is and I don't care. I don't want to lose my friend." She whispered into his chest.
He pulled her closer, "I will always be your friend."
They stood there for a while like that.
"This is nice," an unfamiliar English voice said from the shadows.
A very handsome young man walked into the light, very naked. Lyall went over to him and offered his jacket.
"Miss McCrimmon may I introduce Mr. Sandalio de Rabiffano, Beta of the London pack." Lyall was turning several shades of crimson.
"So nice to finally meet you Mr. Rabiffano. I'm sure you and Lyall have lots to talk about. I'll leave you to it." Elspeth quickly went inside.
"It's good to see you Biffy," Lyall not looking him in the face.
"Say you seemed very cozy with Miss McCrimmon," Biffy pulling Lyall against him.
"She has been a good friend." He was still avoiding looking at Biffy.
"So you haven't missed me at all?" Biffy pulled up his chin to bring the other man's face towards him. He leaned in and placed a kiss on Lyall's lips.
Lyall returned the kiss, "I have missed you. I'm surprised you would want to kiss an old man like me."
They continued to kiss as if they were not sure the other one was really in front of them. They finally came up for air when Elspeth returned with a cloak for Biffy.
"Sorry to interrupt but I thought she might want something more than Lyall's coat." She handed Biffy the large cloak. "Also Lady Kingair requests your presence after you finish catching up."
Biffy presented his arm to Elspeth and she led him inside. Lyall just shook his head and followed them inside.
"So granddad sent his pup," Sidheag barked as they entered.
"Congratulations on your first successful metamorphosis and a female to boot." Biffy said bowing deeply.
Biffy stayed for a few more nights and in Lyall's room during the day. Elspeth instantly felt a kinship with the beta. On his last evening he and Elspeth went for a walk around the grounds.
"I'm glad he has you here. He tends to keep everything bottled up," Biffy looked at her with his winning smile.
"He has been a good friend," she felt guilty about the kisses they shared.
Like he was reading her mind, "don't worry about kissing him."
"You know?"
"Yes, he told me. I love him and he loves me, but we are immortal and I have no desire to spend eternity being jealous." Biffy kissed her hand, "thank you for not letting him be lonely."
Suddenly they heard shouting from the keep. When they arrived at the door they could see what had happened. Douglas and Nigel had found. They were brought before Lady Kingair.
"I should rip your throats out now, but there is someone I want you to meet first. May I present our newest pack member."
Both men paled when Elspeth stepped forward.
"Miss McCrimmon, I leave their fate to you," commanded Sidheag.
Elspeth had to fight hard to control her shift and tear them apart. The only thing holding her back was Lyall's hand on her shoulder.
"I will give you a chance to have your life spared." She spat out the words looking down on them.
The pack erupted with protest but Lady Kingair raised her hand and commanded silence, "let her continue."
"You have a choice. You can choose to challenge a member of the pack. If you win you may keep your life, or you will be beaten and thrown in a cell with me on the next full moon."
"We are human there is no way for us to win against werewolves," protested Douglas.
"I said I give you a chance. By my estimate is about the same amount of chance you gave me. I survived, are you weaker than me?" Elspeth taunted them. "I promise whomever you challenge will not shift."
The pack responded by confirming that they had no need to shift to kill these bastards.
"Make your choice," commanded Sidheag.
Douglas was the first to speak, "I'll challenge."
Nigel also chose challenge but not as confidently.
Douglas was up first, "I choose to fight her," pointing at Elspeth.
Now before the bite she would've been at a disadvantage against the larger man but now she would have no trouble defeating him.
"Are you sure you can do this without shifting?" Lyall whispered in her ear.
She nodded and walked forward to meet her challenger. Taunting him, his anger made him sloppy. Elspeth played with him, keeping him from landing a punch while she pushed him around. Every time she knocked him to the ground the pack cheered. For a moment she lost focus and he was able to land a punch. At that point she had enough. She forced him to his knees and snapped his neck.
Now it was Nigel's turn. He looked at the pack trying to calculate his best odds. Douglas had hoped as a woman, Elspeth would not be skilled at fighting. Nigel now knew that was an incorrect assumption.
"I challenge him," he was pointing at Biffy.
"Mr. Rabiffano is not part of the pack..." Elspeth started to say.
"I accept," said Biffy.
Nigel had now also made an assumption. Looking at the dandy he only saw the image Biffy had carefully calculated. He was soon find out that he had made an even bigger mistake than his friend did. Biffy kissed Elspeth's hand as he went to face the challenger.
"Just not the face, okay?" Biffy asked of his opponent.
Nigel charged. In the blink of an eye Biffy had picked him up and slammed him down headfirst breaking his neck. The entire pack erupted in cheers.