ChangingPaths by Marilu Mann

daughter with you?”
    She shook her head. “Um, I haven’t told Rain a few things
about me…I mean us. So I didn’t want her asking questions about why I had to
have this conversation.”
    The woman blinked amazingly blue eyes at her in surprise. “You
mean…she doesn’t know you’re a shifter?”
    Harmony gaped. She’d never been called a shifter before.
Everyone just called her one of the Moon-Denied if they were being politically
correct. There were worse terms that she chose to ignore. Before she could
reply, a tree walked into the hall behind Olivia. No, not a tree. A mountain. A
man so tall with a chest so broad she took a step back in instinctive fear.
    “Oh it’s okay. That’s just my husband. Come in.”
    At the gentle tug on her arm Harmony entered the scariest
place she’d ever been.
    “Micah! You’re looming. You’re scaring the poor thing to
death. Go look imposing at your desk. At least then you will be at eye level.”
The blonde shooed her husband. Harmony gaped again as she watched this woman
wave her hands at the Alpha as though he were a loose chicken on her porch. And
he moved at her motions. There was a knowing gleam in his eye when he caught
Harmony’s gaze. The wink he tossed her way went miles in making her relax.
    But her nerves fired up again when she entered the nearest
room. He might be just below eye level now that he was seated but she could
smell the power rolling off him. He was more than an Alpha. There was something
else about him but she wasn’t sure what it was. Before she had time to consider
it another scent came to her. Pine—clean and strong. Gareth had been here
recently. She smiled. It was nice to have that scent to hold on to.
    “I am glad you have come to see me so soon, Harmony Dancing
Johnson. I hold your aunt and uncle in high regard. Your great-uncle is one of
my seconds as well. Why do you come to me today?”
    He slipped into a more formal tone with the last question.
She responded in kind as she’d practiced with Willow.
    “I am Harmony Dancing Johnson. My mother and my father were
born into the People. I was born into the People. My daughter and I want to
apply for membership and residency.” Her voice only shook a bit.
    His brown eyes held a hint of his wolf as he looked at her.
He stood up then came from behind his desk. “And what do you bring the People?
Why should we accept a single female with a female cub?”
    Even though she knew the ritual by heart thanks to Willow,
the archaic, sexist words still made her angry. Some of her temper snapped out
in response. “Because I am of the People. My gift is myself and my daughter
returning to our home. I will not need charity. I am an illustrator for
children’s books. My daughter will not go begging at your door, Alpha.”
    She drew in another breath. “But she was hoping for a job.
Gareth mentioned you sometimes hired school-aged kids to work here and that you
might have an opening?”
    His chuckle brought her head up. She hadn’t even realized
she’d been looking down and away from him. “Well now. I guess you are related
to Pete. He got the same tone on that line about his ability to provide for his
family. And yes, your daughter can help out here. We will set up her schedule
later. Now let us finish this. Harmony Dancing Johnson, will you protect the
Pack? Will you run with us at the full moon and at the calling of your Alpha?”
    She blinked rapidly in surprise as the pain tore at her. “I
will protect the Pack. I cannot run with you because I am Denied by the moon.”
    There was honest shock on Micah’s face now. “Denied? You’re
Denied? But you—”
    Olivia stuck her head in at that moment. “Micah, a word?”
    “Excuse me.” Probably due to the look on his mate’s face, as
though something was definitely wrong, he left without saying anything else.
     
    “Yes, my heart?” He smiled down at her. “You realize you are
interrupting a ceremony?”
    She waved an impatient hand.