The Shifter's Choice

by Jenna Kernan

  Sonia cried out in pitiful little moans that grew louder and more frenzied. She raked his back with her nails and tossed her head from side to side.

  Go ahead, he wanted to say. Go ahead. I’ll follow. But he could not say anything because he was so close. He gritted his teeth and held back, closing his eyes for a moment to try to retain the control that slipped away like water in his hands.

  She arched and howled, crying out his name as the contractions beat inside her. He felt them grip him and cast him into mindlessness. He came in a mad rush of heat and power, the pleasure pulsing out from his core and burning along his nerves like fire.

  Sonia went slack and her eyes dropped closed. Johnny fell to his hands, holding his weight off her before collapsing down at her side. He had just enough strength in his trembling arms to drag her against him. She nestled, one leg sprawling over him like a boneless cat.

  “That...was...wonderful.” She sighed.

  He brushed the hair from her face, kissed her mouth and wondered what he had ever done to deserve a night with Sonia Touma.

  When her skin grew chilled, he dragged the comforter over them before drifting to sleep. He woke as the moonlight stole across their bed, leaving her to walk to the window and stare up at the silver orb ringed in a yellow haze. When he returned it was to find her half awake and reaching for him again. They made love more slowly this time as he explored her body from toe to fingertip, becoming familiar with each curve and the arousing cocktail of her body spray mixed with her desire. Late in the night, long after the moon had set, she woke him again, pressing the third condom into his palm.

  The woman was trying to kill him. But as they say, what a way to die. Werewolves had great stamina. He just never knew that included sexual stamina.

  He dozed with Sonia tucked close to his side and dreamed of running in the woods after vampires. The scent of them was heavy in his nostrils. He growled and felt Sonia stir beside him.

  “Johnny!”

  The panic in her voice brought him instantly awake. One deep breath told him there were no vampires here. But she was shaking him and calling his name.

  “Johnny!”

  Why was she so little? He reached out to stroke her face and ask her what was wrong. But his voice failed him. He froze at the sight of his own hand covered with black hair and tipped with thick curling claws. He startled and fell out of bed then scrambled to his feet, staring down at himself. It was morning and he was once again a werewolf.

  She was crying now, her voice bereft and full of pain. “Was it because of what we did? Strong emotions, they said. Johnny, did I do this to you?”

  * * *

  Sonia’s heart thudded painfully against her ribs as she scrambled out of bed, taking the bedsheet along with her. She clutched it to her body as she stared at Johnny who was now covered in black fur and his face had distended into the elongated shape that was neither man nor wolf.

  “What happened?” she cried, the tears already welling so his image swam before her. Guilt lashed through her stomach, tearing her apart inside. Oh, God, was this my fault?

  His feet slapped the floor as he staggered back against the wall and patted his own hairy chest as his mouth gaped showing long, dangerous teeth. The strangled sound he made left no doubt that he attempted speech, but that ability was gone with his handsome face and form. He stared at her, his brow wrinkled in confusion. Then he started signing.

  Don’t know. Why didn’t I feel it?

  “Maybe you’re learning to change. Maybe you just don’t have control over it yet.” But in her heart, she knew something was very wrong. This wasn’t supposed to happen. The change had to be called. That was what the captain said. Deep inside herself the panic began creeping up into her body, clouding her mind. It threaded through her like the roots of some invasive plant. She had not felt this panic since her childhood, but she recognized the darkness growing stronger. Johnny stood before her, his nostrils flaring as he waited. For his sake, she reined herself in. He needed her. She couldn’t fall apart. But she wanted to scream, “What is happening?”

  I dreamed of vampires, he signed. Could that cause the change?

  “I don’t know. Maybe.” Sonia reached for the phone. “I have to call the captain.”

  He lifted a hand and waved it.

  Give me a minute.

  Johnny sank to the bed and cradled his forehead in his hands. Sonia wound the sheet tight about her and rolled the top as she would with a bath towel and then she sat beside him. She wrapped one arm around his waist and rested her head on his shaggy side and whispered into his pointed ear.

  “They’ll figure it out.”

  He lifted his head slowly as if it were suddenly too heavy to bear. His yellow eyes were bloodshot and red rimmed. He moved his hands and she read his words.

  Step back. Let me try to change.

  She moved away and watched him as he closed his eyes but nothing happened. He glanced up at her and then cradled his head in his long, clawed hands. Finally his arms dropped to his sides and he looked up at her. The defeat was clear in the hunched shoulders and woeful expression.

  I can’t.

  Sonia grabbed the phone and made the call. Thirty minutes later she was dressed and they were back in the underground medical facility. Doctor Zharov looked grim and the captain’s bright pink complexion showed he was clearly livid.

  Sonia listened carefully to the doctor speak to Johnny, who sat still and silent on the examining table.

  “This happened with a small portion of the test subjects. Involuntary change.”

  Johnny signed his question. It was a full moon last night. Does that matter?

  Sonia translated and the doctor answered. “No, the moon has no effect on your condition. Superstitious nonsense. Possibly people were more likely to see werewolves in the moonlight. But it doesn’t bring a change.”

  Sonia asked the next question. “Johnny and I were together last night.”

  Zharov’s brows shot up as he looked from one to the other.

  “You said strong emotions can trigger change. Was it because...because...” Words failed her.

  Zharov rubbed his chin and considered. “I’m not sure, but I doubt it. I have some tests to run. Then I’ll know better how to answer your question.”

  Johnny was signing now. Sonia waited and then turned to the doctor. “He says there was no warning.”

  “No. Had you been awake there would have been. Dilation of the capillaries just prior to the change would make you feel flushed, perhaps light-headed.”

  Johnny signed again and Sonia spoke. “Why can’t I change back?”

  The silence in the room was deafening. Sonia felt brittle as glass as she looked from the doctor to the captain and her hope died. Zharov clasped his hands behind his back and rocked from heel to toe. The captain scrubbed his bristly jaw with his knuckles and winced.

  “Answer his question,” she said, her voice a feral growl. The news was bad, obviously, but he was entitled to hear it instead of being kept in the dark. She inched closer to Johnny’s side.

  The captain glanced at the door as if he wanted to be anywhere but here. Then he gestured with his head and Zharov backed away and out that same door. Sonia’s chest felt tight as it did when her mother left them alone in the apartment to go out. The air seemed thinner as she tried to breathe.

  “You better go,” he said.

  She shook her head. She was staying. The captain nodded his acceptance of her decision.

  The captain’s mouth went flat and grim. Johnny braced, gripping the edge of the table as he waited for his captain to speak.

  “It’s my fault. I wanted you human again, so I told him to go ahead and give you the injection. Zharov said he couldn’t guarantee it. He’s working to make it right. But it looks like you are one of the fifteen percent that doesn’t hold his shape. That means you can’t change back without another injection.”

  Sonia’s blood flashed hot. “Don’t you think you should
have told him this was a possibility before you gave him the treatment, instead of making the decision without him, sir.” She spat that last word, turning it into an insult.

  Johnny motioned for the captain to bring him another shot. Sonia’s ears began to buzz as she recalled his reaction to the first one.

  “No,” she said and grasped Johnny’s hand. “We have to wait until they get this right. Until they can be sure that you’ll stay human.”

  “That might be a while,” said the captain.

  “We’ll wait,” she said, making the decision for both of them, as if she had any right.

  Johnny shook his head. She met his yellow eyes and read his thoughts before he even signed to her. He was going through with this.

  His fingers moved and his hands swooped. Not waiting. Bring the shot.

  She repeated his order to her commanding officer.

  “It isn’t that simple,” said MacConnelly. “Diminishing returns, they call it. You were human for four days. The next time will be less.”

  Johnny straightened and began signing.

  “How much less?” she said, repeating his question but finding her voice a strangled thing.

  “We aren’t sure.”

  Johnny was signing again.

  Sonia cleared her throat but her voice still cracked. She was coming apart inside stitch by stitch. “He asks, ‘Is there anything that will make me stay human?’”

  The comrades exchanged a long look. Finally the captain said, “I’ll arrange another shot but that’s all I can do. But first they are going to need to run some tests on your blood the way it is now.”

  Johnny started signing and Sonia’s eyes went wide. She felt her ears heat as the words poured out of him.

  “Slow down,” she said.

  “What is he saying?” asked her captain.

  “He’s angry. I don’t think—”

  “Tell me what he said. You’re his translator. Not his damned editor. So translate.”

  Johnny now had his arms folded over his chest and was glaring at MacConnelly.

  “He said that you need him like this to defend Brianna. You don’t want him human. That you’re just like...” She glanced at Johnny and he spelled the name for her again. “Just like Colonel Lewis?”

  The captain’s face went red and his hands curled to fists. Sonia blinked as she noted that his blue eyes were changing color. The captain was fighting off the transformation. She knew it and instinctively stepped closer to Johnny. His arm went about her waist for a moment and then slid away as he began signing again.

  “He says he’s not your dog anymore and if he has to die to be human than he’ll die. At least his mother can bury him in a casket instead of dumping him at the vets.” Sonia clasped her arms across her chest as she waited for the captain to speak but he didn’t. Instead he just spun in a half circle and marched out of the room.

  She looked at Johnny. “Do you really believe that he would do that to you?”

  Johnny didn’t hesitate before shaking his head. He began to sign. He wouldn’t. But I can’t stay like this anymore, Sonia. I can’t be a monster.

  Sonia felt her throat burning and knew she was about to cry. She threw herself against him and he gathered her in his arms.

  “You’re not a monster. Just wait. I’ll wait with you. I’ll be able to stay now. We can be together. I’ll live with you. You can cook for me and...we can go home.” Tears choked her as she realized what they’d both lost and threw herself into his arms. He held her for a little while and then set her aside so she could see him sign.

  It’s not our home.

  “Please, Johnny.”

  I want the shot.

  Sonia began to cry.

  Chapter 13

  Burne Farrell waited for his chaser to return. Chasers were those whose job it was to track and capture their females as soon as they became sexually mature. Most females tried to run. But up until Brianna Vittori, none had succeeded for long. It was a sore spot with him and with his best chaser.

  Burne didn’t like Hawaii. Since his arrival, the stars and the moon were too bright and the lack of cloud cover meant it never grew truly dark. The cities here were small and lacked the amenities to which he was accustomed. A creature who moved only in darkness needed a place with 24-hour services and plenty of people venturing out at night. New Orleans, now there was a city that understood the pleasures of the night. He hoped Hagan had finished his sweep of this wretched little volcanic disgorgement so they could continue to the next godforsaken upheaval of rock.

  Burne stood on the balcony of the Palm Breeze Hotel inhaling the scent of roasting pig. It seemed they were always roasting something and banging those infernal drums. He saw Hagan Dowling race across the pool deck below, moving at a speed too fast for a human to perceive anything more than a slight breeze. But Burne could see him clearly. His legs pumping and his cadaver-like white arms flashing at his sides. A moment later Hagan knocked on the door of his eighth-floor suite. Farrell had to rent the room wearing the stretchy elastic beige face covering worn by burn victims, a tactic he disliked but was sometimes forced to employ in public.

  “Enter,” he commanded and his chaser let himself in, lifting his sensitive nose and then following it to his superior on the balcony.

  Hagan’s ghostly composition already showed the telltale road map of blue veins on his arms and face, the pulsing blood vessels engorgement indicating that his chaser had stopped for a meal.

  Irritated, Burne scowled.

  “Good evening, sir,” said Hagan. “I have heard from Richard Gould. He reports strong signals of a female on the island of Molokai and also the presence of two male werewolves.”

  “It’s her!” Burne could not resist pumping his fist in triumph.

  “I agree, the signs are good. But he withdrew without visual confirmation, as you requested.”

  “Thank God one of my chasers follows orders.” He paced the balcony as his mind raced. “We go in force. Every available man. How long until they are assembled?”

  “I can have six chasers here within twenty-four hours. If you are willing to wait forty-eight, I can call in our men in Europe and the Middle East.”

  Farrell rubbed one palm over the other. His greed for her urged him to hurry. And the more vampires that knew of her the more he would have to battle for her custody. Still she had evaded six before with the help of her two shaggy protectors. “Call them all. We go when we have a dozen. Two werewolves, even U.S. Marine–trained fighters, cannot possibly handle so many.”

  “True. But Gould says they have defenses. I suggest tunneling. The volcanic rock is riddled with existing channels. We could expand them to gain entry well past their perimeters.”

  “Fine.”

  “I will notify you when we are assembled. Would you like me to make a visual confirmation? I have seen her and would recognize her appearance.”

  “No. I don’t want them tipped off. They would move her and we’ll lose her again.” Were all his men so reckless?

  Hagan’s mouth went thin and tight. Suspicion stirred in Farrell, rising like filth in a cesspool and he inhaled, finding the scent of a male who was sexually ready. Ready at just the mere mention of her. Was Hagan planning to steal her before he could assemble his team?

  Farrell stared and Hagan swallowed. Did his chaser recognize that his master read him so easily? Hagan had best take care that his master didn’t decide to open one of his chaser’s arteries.

  “Would you like to relocate to Molokai, master?”

  “I’m going to lead the damned raid.”

  Hagan lowered his head and nodded. But not before Farrell saw the narrowing of his eyes and the threat burning in their depths. So he had another rival for Brianna. He wondered if he should kill Hagan now or wait until after the capture.

  “We will be honored to have you lead this chase, sir,” said Hagan.

  And I’ll be honored to water my peonies with your blood, thought Farrell. He glanced at h
is chaser with speculation. It seemed doubtful that Hagan would live long enough to see his skin turn the color of a ripe plum.

  In a fight, one should always put his money on the old dog.

  * * *

  Despite Johnny’s insistence, Zharov refused to give him the shot until after all tests were completed on Johnny’s wolf blood and the doctor had a chance to study the results. The following morning the tests were in.

  Johnny and Sonia waited in silence in the medical facility for news of what was happening. Johnny knew Sonia didn’t want him to take the shot and she’d done all she could to convince him. But damned if he’d stay like this. He only agreed to wait to could see if his blood work would reveal anything that could help maintain his human form.

  It seemed hours before Dr. Zharov arrived in the examining room carrying a thick file folder. He was trailed by Mac, Brianna and Major Scofield. Johnny’s skin prickled at the assemblage.

  Brianna moved to the far corner of the room. Johnny knew with one glance at Brianna’s face that the news was bad. Mac, more controlled, still showed a definite tell that Johnny recognized. Whenever he ground his jaw like that, Johnny knew he wouldn’t like what came next.

  “Well, it’s not good,” said the doctor without preamble. “Your body’s immune system recognized the invading protein quickly and mounted an attack killing the agent you need to remain in human form.”

  Johnny signed a question and Sonia repeated it.

  “He wants to know if he can have another dose.”

  Mac and Zharov exchanged looks. Brianna folded her hands and studied her white knuckles.

  The major stepped forward and lay a fatherly hand on Johnny’s hairy shoulder. “You can, son. But the result will likely be the same and faster this time, as your body has this particular protein on its hit list. It’s a search and destroy with a known target. You understand?”