next
day.
When I wasn’t being poked and prodded, I
reread Dr. Smith’s book on Shifters. I had the thing practically
memorized, but I held onto a sliver of hope it would explain how a
non-Shifter girl was able to Change. Sadly, no new chapters
magically appeared to offer up some answers.
I drove my new car down to the Base that
night. I was fully prepared to hate it because of where it came
from, but it was just too cool. After an hour of being on the road
together we had completely bonded, and I was more than a little in
love. I named him George and promised to take care of him - keep
the gas tank full, have the oil changed, check the air pressure in
the tires monthly and to never, ever let Jase leave his sweaty gym
clothes in the back seat for a month during the hottest part of the
summer. I knew from experience that a car would never be the same
again after facing such abuse.
The entire Pack was already at Gramma’s when
I arrived. They milled around the back yard where Grampa had
constructed a fire pit decades ago. I always thought it was a
rather elaborate set up for a place to roast marshmallows and
hotdogs. The pit was surrounded by beautifully handcrafted benches
made from entire halves of oak trees, each large enough to sit four
adults comfortably. They were arranged into three rows of five that
semi-circled the pit. Fifteen benches for a small family was
excessive, but it suited the needs of a large Pack of Shifters
nicely.
I made my way towards the fire pit where
some of the younger Shifters roasted hotdogs while the older ones
manned the three grills loaded down with hamburgers, chicken, and
pork chops. I had stopped by McDonald’s for a super-sized Big Mac
meal on the way down, but my stomach growled at the smell wafting
through the air. I hoped my new Shifter metabolism was doing its
thing, because otherwise I was going to weigh three hundred pounds
by the end of the week.
“ You came.” Makya stepped
in front of me, blocking my path. “You do have brass ones, don’t
you?”
I let out a frustrated sigh. “I don’t have
any at all, Makya. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a girl. Now,
for the second time today, could you please get out of my way?”
Makya’s eyes took their time traveling up
and down my body, finally affixing his leer on my chest. I felt
more naked in my jeans and the faded Journey T-Shirt I stole from
Dad’s closet than I had in Talley’s swimsuit cover-up. “I think
you’ve moved well beyond girl, Scout.” He reached out and grabbed a
strand of my hair, brushing his thumb over the tips.
“ If you don’t take your
hands off me I’m going to break every single one of your
fingers.”
“ Oh, you like it rough, do
you?”
Shifters are not preternaturally strong or
fast. Instead, their muscles are simply in the best condition
possible. Could I bench-press a Humvee or run so quickly human eye
couldn’t detect me? No. Could I pin Makya’s hand behind his back so
quickly ninja would be jealous? Damn straight I could.
“ That’s it, baby. Hurt me
good.”
Was he serious? How was I
suppose to deal with an idiot who wanted me to hurt him?
“ You do understand I can
and will break your arm, right?”
He laughed. “I’m getting turned on just
thinking about it.”
Ewwww.
“ Dude, I think she’s just
not that into you.” Jase ambled up, a plate stacked high with food
balanced on his hand.
“ Hey, man. I was just
getting to know your sweet little sister better. She is fine. I bet
you’re glad you’re not really related so you can tap that.” I moved
my head out of the way just in time. As it was, Makya clipped my
ear when his head collided with Jase’s fist. I gave his arm an
extra twist and muttered, “And I’m not his little sister,” before
tossing him face-first on the ground.
“ I fixed you a plate,”
Jase said, ignoring the litany of curses coming from his
blood-splattered cousin on the ground and the gawking stares
surrounding us.
I met
day.
When I wasn’t being poked and prodded, I
reread Dr. Smith’s book on Shifters. I had the thing practically
memorized, but I held onto a sliver of hope it would explain how a
non-Shifter girl was able to Change. Sadly, no new chapters
magically appeared to offer up some answers.
I drove my new car down to the Base that
night. I was fully prepared to hate it because of where it came
from, but it was just too cool. After an hour of being on the road
together we had completely bonded, and I was more than a little in
love. I named him George and promised to take care of him - keep
the gas tank full, have the oil changed, check the air pressure in
the tires monthly and to never, ever let Jase leave his sweaty gym
clothes in the back seat for a month during the hottest part of the
summer. I knew from experience that a car would never be the same
again after facing such abuse.
The entire Pack was already at Gramma’s when
I arrived. They milled around the back yard where Grampa had
constructed a fire pit decades ago. I always thought it was a
rather elaborate set up for a place to roast marshmallows and
hotdogs. The pit was surrounded by beautifully handcrafted benches
made from entire halves of oak trees, each large enough to sit four
adults comfortably. They were arranged into three rows of five that
semi-circled the pit. Fifteen benches for a small family was
excessive, but it suited the needs of a large Pack of Shifters
nicely.
I made my way towards the fire pit where
some of the younger Shifters roasted hotdogs while the older ones
manned the three grills loaded down with hamburgers, chicken, and
pork chops. I had stopped by McDonald’s for a super-sized Big Mac
meal on the way down, but my stomach growled at the smell wafting
through the air. I hoped my new Shifter metabolism was doing its
thing, because otherwise I was going to weigh three hundred pounds
by the end of the week.
“ You came.” Makya stepped
in front of me, blocking my path. “You do have brass ones, don’t
you?”
I let out a frustrated sigh. “I don’t have
any at all, Makya. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a girl. Now,
for the second time today, could you please get out of my way?”
Makya’s eyes took their time traveling up
and down my body, finally affixing his leer on my chest. I felt
more naked in my jeans and the faded Journey T-Shirt I stole from
Dad’s closet than I had in Talley’s swimsuit cover-up. “I think
you’ve moved well beyond girl, Scout.” He reached out and grabbed a
strand of my hair, brushing his thumb over the tips.
“ If you don’t take your
hands off me I’m going to break every single one of your
fingers.”
“ Oh, you like it rough, do
you?”
Shifters are not preternaturally strong or
fast. Instead, their muscles are simply in the best condition
possible. Could I bench-press a Humvee or run so quickly human eye
couldn’t detect me? No. Could I pin Makya’s hand behind his back so
quickly ninja would be jealous? Damn straight I could.
“ That’s it, baby. Hurt me
good.”
Was he serious? How was I
suppose to deal with an idiot who wanted me to hurt him?
“ You do understand I can
and will break your arm, right?”
He laughed. “I’m getting turned on just
thinking about it.”
Ewwww.
“ Dude, I think she’s just
not that into you.” Jase ambled up, a plate stacked high with food
balanced on his hand.
“ Hey, man. I was just
getting to know your sweet little sister better. She is fine. I bet
you’re glad you’re not really related so you can tap that.” I moved
my head out of the way just in time. As it was, Makya clipped my
ear when his head collided with Jase’s fist. I gave his arm an
extra twist and muttered, “And I’m not his little sister,” before
tossing him face-first on the ground.
“ I fixed you a plate,”
Jase said, ignoring the litany of curses coming from his
blood-splattered cousin on the ground and the gawking stares
surrounding us.
I met
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