Crooked Changeling

by Samantha Bell

  “I do,” I brushed dust from my white blouse. “It’s on my schedule.”

  Maddox didn’t seem convinced, but he didn’t argue. He brushed his red hair away from his face. “This room is a disaster,” He said, looking around.

  I opened my mouth to ask why he cared but was stopped by the look in his eyes.

  The shifter began lining up the fallen easels with care. “Is this the one you wanted?” He asked, pointing to the one.

  I nodded.

  Maddox lifted it up and kicked the legs out so it would stand at the right height for me. He brought it over to the table where my paint was ready. “There you go,” He said. He paused, glancing at me for a moment.

  “Thanks,” I said softly. I felt beyond awkward. Maddox was so calm and, dare I say, kind?

  “What are you working on?” Maddox asked.

  “Nothing really,” I said, gesturing at the pile of crumpled papers.

  “Ah,” Maddox said with a nod. “Yeah, I was never much for pencils or chalk. Paint is where it’s at.” His eyes widened a little as we both realized we were having a civilized conversation for the first time since we met. “Anyways,” He coughed. “It’s nice to know that someone is getting use out of this old room.”

  “Did you do art therapy?” I asked.

  “Yeah. Years ago, back when there was a teacher for it.” He replied.

  I glanced at the box, which had remained silent the entire time. I wondered if the orb could hear us. I decided to let it be, I didn’t want to ruin this moment.

  Maddox let out a long sigh. “I’ll let you get back to it,” He said.

  “No!” I exclaimed and jerked back when he raised his eyebrows at me. “I mean, why don’t you stay?” I asked quickly. “I’ve never painted before.”

  Maddox scoffed. “You sure you want a jerk like me hanging around?”

  “You’re not a jerk,” I argued. “I never thought you were.”

  “You have every right to,” He said. “I haven’t exactly been welcoming.”

  “I haven’t done much to deserve it,” I admitted. “I understand, you know, not wanting to let people in.”

  Maddox shook his head. “You don’t understand,” He said. His voice was thick. He cleared his throat and straightened his shoulders. “Don’t worry about it.”

  I felt a twinge in my chest. Was I feeling bad for this guy who saw me as nothing but a nuisance? Then, I had an idea. I held out a paint brush. “Want to do some art therapy?”

  Maddox was silent for a moment before his face broke out into a smile. It was tight-lipped, but it was still the first smile I had ever seen on him. “Sure, why not?”

  Maddox set up an easel opposite to mine so we could work without the stress of someone watching. He selected warm, earthy colors from the limited selection of paint, burnt sienna, cadmium red, yellow ochre, and lamp black. Within minutes he had worked himself into a silent groove, leaving me with nothing but a blank canvas to stare at.

  The white canvas stared back at me. I set out some paints, looking at the selection of oils that I had to work with. As someone who had literally not painted since grade school, it felt foreign. I picked up a brush and started to make lines of black and blue, painting without thinking in every direction. I let my frustration out; it started as a trickle and quickly shifted into a roaring wave.

  I was so consumed that I didn’t notice Maddox come up beside me. “Whoa, don’t stab the canvas, you’ll ruin the brushes,” He said. He lightly touched my hand.

  I snapped out of my trance. “Oh, sorry,” I mumbled.

  “Don’t be sorry. I just told you so you’d learn,” Maddox said. He looked away quickly when our eyes met.

  “What are you working on?” I asked, setting down my paintbrush.

  “It’s not done!” Maddox protested.

  “I know. A peek won’t hurt,” I said with a smile, slipping past him to look at his canvas. What I saw made my jaw drop.

  A red wolf. Maddox had painted, in a sort of abstract style, the face of a wolf, snout point up mid-howl, surrounded by swirling flames and red, orange, and black. There was so much emotion in every brush stroke. It was perfect, like he had painted a photo from memory.

  “Wow, Maddox,” I breathed. “It’s beautiful.”

  “It’s average. And not done,” He stressed.

  “I would have never guessed you were such an artist,” I said and then added. “No offense, I mean. You just don’t seem like that sort of guy.”

  “You just think that because you don’t know me,” He said.

  “I’ve tried to get to know you,” I stepped closer, widening my eyes at him.

  “Oh, like you’ve gotten to know the rest of the pack?” Maddox smirked.

  “Yes. Wait. No!” I blushed. “That’s not what I meant!”

  Maddox laughed. “I know, I know.” His expression sobered. “Sorry I’ve been so cold to you. It’s just that,” He trailed off with a sigh. His eyes flicked over the painting. There was something more to it, something deep and painful.

  “Do you want to talk about it?” I asked.

  “No,” He said flatly.

  “You need to let go of your past in order to live in the present.” I blurted the words before I realized that they were coming out.

  Maddox paused, looking at me with wide eyes. “You sound just like the old art teacher,” He said.

  I shrugged modestly. “This room is full of inspiration, it seems.”

  Maddox let out a long breath. He stared at his painting for a moment and picked up a small brush. He began adding small details to the wolf’s eye. “Do you really want me to tell you?” He asked.

  I grinned. I grabbed a stool and slid over to his side of the easel. “I’m not letting you leave until you do.”

  Maddox chuckled and his eyes sparkled with shifter energy. “I’d love to see you try.” He went back to his work, gently painting in tiny strokes. After a few minutes of silence, he glanced my way and gave in. “Ok, fine. I’ll talk, just stop staring at me.”

  I smiled. “Told you,” I said in a sing-song voice. I nestled down watching him paint.

  “Well,” Maddox started. “It’s not a long story, but it’s hard to talk about. I’m a red wolf shifter and red wolves are dying out. All of us. There’s hardly any of us anymore. Red wolves have been leaving and breeding with other shifters because there’s not enough of us to keep the packs going.”

  “What about you?” I asked.

  “I’m getting to it,” Maddox said. He switched brushes and started applying white to the wolf’s eyes. “I never fit in with my pack. The politics and the stress were too much, so I ran away and ended up here.” He gestured around the room. “Woodlock’s helped me find my own pack, even though we’re a mismatched group, I know those guys are my real family.”

  I waited for him to continue.

  “Sometimes I can’t shake the thought that I should have been different. Maybe I shouldn’t have left my pack. I should have stuck it out the for greater good. I’m a dying breed and I’ve done nothing to help.” Maddox said. He swallowed hard and focused on the details.

  “I’m sorry,” I said finally. “That must be tough. But you can’t dwell on things that could have been, right? At some point you have to let things go.”

  Maddox raised his eyebrows at me. “So, you’re a therapist, now?”

  I rolled my eyes. “No! But I can relate to what you’re saying, in my own way. I was abandoned by my own parents, sent through the foster system, hunted down by fae, and all that time trying to survive on my own. I’ve never felt like I’ve belonged anywhere.” I paused. “I think you have something really special with your pack. I think years from now when you look back, you’ll know you did the right thing.”

  Maddox set down his paintbrushes. “Gods, I hope so.” He sighed.

  We looked at the painting for a while in content silence. We were literally watching paint dry and I didn’t complain. Sitting with him felt good.
r />   “I need to let this dry before adding the next layer,” Maddox said, stepping back. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow?”

  I grinned, hiding my giddy reaction as best as I could. I was getting through to him! “Absolutely,” I said.

  Maddox came closer to me, closer than he had been before. “I’m really glad I got to paint,” He said. “It was awesome.” He paused. “Thank you.” He lowered his head, tipped his chin, and planted a tiny kiss on my lips.

  I held my breath. The kiss was too soft and too quick. I wanted more, but I wasn’t going to push him. “You’re welcome?”

  Maddox winked at me and left with the sound of my heart drumming in my ears.

  THIRTEEN

  ————————————

  LUNA

  Just as I was shutting the door to the art room, someone came running by. I glanced up, seeing Jasper. “What are you doing?” I asked.

  “What are you doing here?” He asked at the same time.

  “Art therapy,” I said.

  Jasper was slightly out of breath. “Ah, ok, I see. I can’t talk right now, stuff is happening,” He tried to explain.

  “What stuff?” I asked.

  Jasper shook his head. “Don’t worry, just pack stuff. Nothing about you. We’ll catch up later, ok?” He kissed my cheek and ran off to the apartment.

  I watched him leave. The sound of the door slamming left me in heavy silence. “Oh… ok?” I whispered to myself. That was weird. I hesitated. Should I just do as I was told and go back to my room or should I investigate?

  I looked down at my clothes, which were covered in dust and chalk. My fingernails still had paint underneath them. Now was not the time to show up unannounced to the pack’s apartment, I decided. I forced down my curiosity and went upstairs to get cleaned up.

  I wasn’t back in my dorm room long before I heard a knock. I had changed out of my dirty uniform into black leggings and a tank top; my pink hair was done up in a messy half-assed bun. I opened the door, ready to apologize for my appearance, but my words failed me.

  Seth was there, dressed head to toe in black, with a backpack over one shoulder. He looked serious, like something bad was going to happen. It was totally sexy in a terrifying sort of way. “Luna,” He said.

  “Yes?” My voice squeaked.

  “Can I come in?” He asked.

  I stepped aside and closed the door behind him. “What’s going on?” I asked.

  Seth didn’t say a word. He closed the distance between us and kissed me hard. He held my body tightly against his and didn’t let go.

  I moaned against his kiss. “Seth, what’s going on?” I asked again through heated kisses.

  Seth stepped back. “You looked delicious, I couldn’t help myself.” He brushed his dark hair back. “But, that’s not why I’m here actually.”

  My body was hot from the kiss. “What is it?” I tried to focus, this seemed urgent.

  “We need you help, Luna,” He explained. “The pack has been trying to corner a lost Puma shifter for a few days now, but our identities have been compromised. She’s skittish and doesn’t trust us. I was hoping you could help us by talking to her.”

  I jerked back slightly. That was the last thing I was expecting. “You mean, go with the pack off campus?” I asked.

  Seth nodded. “If it’s not too much trouble,” He said.

  “Do I really have a choice, Mr. Alpha?” I smiled mischievously.

  Seth pulled me close and kissed my jaw. “You always have a choice with me, Luna. I’m just an ass to those dogs to keep them in line. I would never force you to do anything you didn’t want to do,” He said. “However, I - we- really need your help.”

  “Of course, I will. How many times have you helped me?” I said.

  ***

  Before I knew it, we were loaded up into Jasper’s SUV and on the road.

  “Are you sure I’m not going to get in trouble for sneaking out with you guys?” I asked, sandwiched between Maddox and Chase.

  “Not if no one finds out,” Jasper laughed.

  Somehow that didn’t reassure me as much as they probably thought it would. I didn’t need any negative attention, especially from the Headmistress.

  “Don’t worry,” Chase said, catching the look on my face. “We’ll be back before morning and no one will be the wiser.”

  A minute later my stomach growled. It was embarrassingly loud. Everyone looked at me and I immediately hid my face with my hands. My body was getting used to being fed on a regular basis and it demanded food on time every time.

  “Did you eat dinner?” Seth asked.

  “I was about to, but then you came to my door,” I said. “So, no.”

  With an exaggerated sigh, Jasper took the next exit, swerving into a McDonald’s drive thru with surprising grace. “What do you want?” He asked.

  “You don’t need to! I’ll be ok!” I protested.

  “What do you want?” It wasn’t a question.

  “Chicken nuggets,” I said in a small voice.

  “Oh! I want nuggets too! With fries!” Chase exclaimed.

  Jasper rolled his eyes. “This is not a field trip! We’re on business.”

  “Can I get a McFlurry?” Maddox asked, peeking around the seat.

  Jasper gripped the steering wheel so hard that his knuckles went white. “You children are going to be the death of me.” He growled.

  Five minutes later we were in the parking lot, passing around bags of McDonald’s. The entire SUV filled with the smell of fresh french fries.

  “Lighten up a little,” Seth said, waving a double cheeseburger in the wolf’s direction. “It’s just a pit stop.”

  “Thanks Jasper,” I added. He had dropped a hundred dollars to feed the pack and me. Nothing compared to a shifter’s appetite.

  Jasper’s serious facade broke when we locked eyes. “Fine, but no more stops after this.” He snatched the cheeseburger out of Seth’s hand and took a massive bite.

  “Shifter’s honor!” Chase said, reaching across and dipping some of his fries in my ketchup.

  This was perfect, in its own weird way. Sitting cramped in a SUV surrounded by the four guys, sharing a cheap meal in a dark parking lot off the side of the freeway, it was my idea of a perfect evening. I smiled to myself, nestling into the seat and letting out a happy sigh.

  Jasper didn’t relax until we were back on the road.

  “So, now that you’re full, I’ll fill you in on the details,” Seth said. “We’ve been monitoring a Puma shifter’s actions for a little while now. She’s lost and scared and far from her pack. We’re planning on bringing her into Woodlock’s until her pack can be found. Then we can reunite them.”

  “What is a puma doing this far east?” I asked, recalling comments from earlier.

  “She must have run away from home,” Maddox mused. He turned to look out the window as the lights flashing by.

  My heart twinged for him now that I knew the truth. “What if she doesn’t want to be reunited with them?” I asked.

  “Then she can stay at Woodlock’s until she’s twenty-one. Shifters adhere to the same age of majority as magic-users.” Seth explained.

  The guys were all twenty two, and thus had aged out of living in Woodlock’s as students. Now, they paid their rent by finding new kids to take in and earned some excellent karma points while doing it. They were a good group.

  The SUV pulled onto a side road. The headlights cut through the darkness in front of us. We had forest on their side of the dirt road and nothing but emptiness ahead.

  Jasper glanced at the directions on Seth’s phone. “Almost there,” He said. “It’s a small town, so a shifter is bound to get some attention.”

  My heart’s pace quickened. This was exciting. Exhilarating. “So that means she should be easy to find?” I asked.

  “We can sniff her out, but you need to approach her.” Seth explained. “We tried last night, and she ran. That’s why we need you.”

&
nbsp; I nodded.

  “Oh, maybe you should try to look a little less magical?” Maddox added, gently wrapping a tendril of my pink hair around his finger.

  My breath hitched at his tough. I looked away quickly. “Sure, no problem,” I said, taking a deep breath and letting glamor fall into place. My hair faded to a dark brown and my eyes darkened to match. I looked like a regular girl with little effort.

  “That’s so cool,” Chase said. “I wish I could do that.”

  “You can turn into a coyote,” I countered. “I think all of us are pretty cool.” I giggled.

  “We’re here,” Jasper announced. He parked the SUV outside of an empty park. “This is where we last saw her, we’ll pick up the trail from here.”

  I hopped out of the SUV, letting the cool night air wash over me. The summer humidity had dissipated while we were in the car. I could smell water in the distance, maybe we were near a lake? The park was made up of tightly packed trees and a dirt path lead to a play structure and countless picnic tables. It was peaceful in the moonlight.

  The pack got to work, tracking down the Puma’s scent. I hung back uselessly waiting for further instructions.

  Suddenly, Chase perked up. “She went north towards the lake,” He said and pointed down one of the winding dirt paths.

  “Then that’s where we go,” Seth said. “Come on, let’s go save a shifter.”

  FOURTEEN

  ————————————

  LUNA

  Seth and Maddox headed the front with me in the middle and Chase close behind. Jasper stayed back a few paces, keeping watch from the rear. The pack moved silently, not needing a flashlight in the dark, unlike me who was barely keeping it together.

  I didn’t have wolf eyes or a coyote’s sense of smell. Whatever we were talking into, I was doing it basically blind. I didn’t let my fear show, keeping one foot in front of the other, focusing on Maddox’s red hair to not get lost.

  The trees became thicker the further we went. The path became narrow and muddy. We were leaving the boundaries of the park and into the wooded area meant only for those with adventurous hearts.

  “Shouldn’t we stay on the main path?” I whispered.