“He begged for her intervention. ‘Witch, I promise you all the gold I have, and more, if you would get my wife back for me.’
“The witch replied, ‘Shepherd, no one can retrieve your wife, but you.’
“The man knew he was no match for the warrior. So, he begged the witch, ‘Please, I’ll do anything.’
“The witch thought it through and made the shepherd an offer. ‘I can make you strong enough to kill the warrior.’
“The shepherd’s eyes blazed with the fire of revenge as he paced the old wooden floor. ‘Yes, Witch. Make me strong. And stealthy! And cunning!’ He turned to the witch and smiled a smile which held no happiness. ‘And deadly,’ he added.
“The witch nodded and stood. ‘I must warn you, Shepherd, all magic comes with a price. Are you willing to pay it? Whatever it is?’
“The man nodded vigorously, ‘I will do anything,’ he vowed.
“The witch closed her eyes and began to sway back and forth. She reached her arms out, palms held flat, and chanted softly under her breath. He started to feel a tingling sensation all over his skin from head to toe. His eyes widened as he watched thick gray strands of fur shoot out of his skin.”
I gasped. “She made him a werewolf?”
Callie nodded. “He opened his mouth to yell to the witch, but as his nose, and mouth elongated, his voice caught in his throat. Bones cracked, and shifted, muscles bunched, and reformed. His skin tingled and stretched until he stood on all fours a couple heads shorter than the witch.
“‘There. I’ve made you into the fiercest hunter in the world; the wolf. No man can contend with your strength and speed. You’ll be unstoppable.’
“The shepherd-turned-wolf examined his new body before spearing the witch with a glare and cocking his head to the side.
“‘Oh, you can turn back into a man anytime you like. Just imagine who you used to be, and so you shall appear.’
“The wolf closed his eyes, and moments later, the shepherd stood once again, although this time he was bare. The witch chortled as the man tried to cover as much of himself as he could.
“‘So, that’s it? I can go now?’ the shepherd asked.
“‘Yes you may go, but remember my warning: all magic comes with a price. I hope you’re prepared to pay whatever it costs.’
“The shepherd nodded at the witch and transformed back into the wolf before bounding out of her cottage. He sprinted to the warrior’s house and broke through the front door. He was shocked to find the warrior in bed with his wife. Rage consumed him as he lept for the warrior and sunk his teeth into the man’s thigh. The warrior fought back admirably, but was no match for the enraged wolf. Fury blinded him as the shepherd struck over, and over again.
“Only the sound of a high-pitched scream was enough to pierce the bloodthirsty haze clouding his mind. He turned to find his beautiful bride cradling her arm, a bright red bite mark marring her light brown skin. The wolf tipped his head back as a howl of anguish ripped through him. In moments, the shepherd stood where the wolf once was.”
I gasped again. “Oh, no. He bit her?”
Callie nodded. “He picked his wife up and ran home. Her wound was treated, and only days later, completely healed. The shepherd was so happy to have his wife back, and well, that he forgot all about the price he still owed for the magic of the wolf.
“It wasn’t until the next full moon that the shepherd learned what that price was, for as soon as the last rays of light disappeared, his body forcefully transformed back into the wolf. He tried, and tried, but could not get his body to shift into that of a man again. He panicked when he heard that same high-pitched scream he’d heard from his wife weeks ago.
“She was shifting wasn’t she?” I asked, my voice low, and scared, as if I were living through this tale myself.
Callie nodded again, her face solemn, eyes wide. “When he got back to their cottage, he found his wife writhing on the floor, somewhere in the middle of the transformation from woman to wolf. Brown fur covered her arms and legs, legs that were bent at odd angles, and uneven. Her screams turned to howls, and back into screams as the wolf stood there, helpless once again.
“As the sun rose the next morning, the wolf involuntarily shifted back into the form of a man, and his wife took her last breath.”
“Oh no,” I whispered again.
This was what awaited me.
This was my future.
“The shepherd’s grief overwhelmed him, and his body once again shifted without his consent. The wolf took one last look at his beautiful, dead wife before he ran out of the cottage, and into the village.
“There he savagely attacked anyone he came upon until he made it into the woods. The shepherd was never seen again.”
“Never? What happened to him? What happened to the villagers?” I asked.
“Half of the villagers who were bitten died just like the woman, halfway between the shift. The other half became as the shepherd; half man, half wolf. They later found that the wolf magic passed down to their children. As times changed, so did the magic. It transformed over the millennia to make the wolves bigger, and stronger as well as allow mental communication while in their wolf forms. The price they pay for the wolf magic has always remained the same. Every full moon, they must become the wolf again until daybreak. Like I told you earlier, the magic has deteriorated over time. It’s not as strong as it once was. Now, instead of half of all bitten wolves living through the shift, it’s closer to a quarter of them.”
I sat there quietly digesting the story as I finished the last of my wine. Placing the empty bottle on the table, I sat back on the couch, and ran my hands through my hair.
“Is that a true story?” I asked.
Callie shrugged. “No one knows for sure. I’ve done a lot of research, and as far as I can tell it’s true.”
My wine-filled brain struggled to make the connections because something wasn’t adding up. “But, wait, how do you know how the shepherd became a wolf if he was never seen again?”
Callie smiled. “It’s hypothesized that he reemerged at some point and told his story without revealing his identity. There are even some who believe he’s still out there somewhere.”
“Alive?!” She only nodded “How is that possible? He’d be thousands of years old.”
“He holds the origin of the wolf magic. There’s no telling how strong that is, considering how strong it still is thousands of years later. A force like that could very well keep a person alive for a sustained period of time. Look at how fast we heal, now imagine that our magic is many, many times over diluted, and really, anything’s possible.”
I sat there stunned silent, which was a really uncommon thing for me. The shepherd’s sad story played over, and over in my head. What he must have felt to ask the witch for something so costly. How anguished he must have been after causing the death of his wife. And, all he’d wanted was her. In the end, she was the first thing he lost.
Knowing what I do of heartbreak, even as infinitesimal as mine is compared to his, I hoped he wasn’t still alive. I could barely stand the idea of living these next three weeks without Abraham, I couldn’t imagine a thousand lifetimes without him.
Callie stood abruptly and snagged my empty wine bottle off the table. She eyed it before shooting me a reproachful glare. “Have you got this out of your system?”
“I drank everything I had in the house, is that the same thing?”
She shook her head exasperatedly, but a small smile curved her pink lips. “No, it’s not. And it’s late, you should get to bed. I have a feeling things will look better in the morning.”
Chapter 32
Callie was wrong.
Things did not look better in the morning. Because, instead of just a broken heart, I was also nursing a killer hangover.
“Turn the lights off!” I yelled, wincing at the sound of my voice. I pulled the covers over my head and curled into the fetal position.
“I can’t turn off th
e sun, Elizabeth,” Callie responded dryly.
My moan was muffled beneath the blankets. “Then close the blinds.”
Callie tsked and took a seat beside me. “No. It’s time to get up. I’ve made us breakfast, and we need to eat and get on the road soon.”
“Why are you doing this to me?” I whined.
Callie pulled the covers back until she could see my face. I squinted at her through blurry eyes. “Because, I refuse to allow you to mope around the apartment all day. While I’m out here, I’m going to test some water samples in the area, and you’re coming with me.”
I sat up a little. “What water samples? What are you testing for?”
“We’ll be visiting some lakes, and rivers in Chatham, Lee, and Moore counties. Thousands of acres have been leased to fracking companies, and I’m part of a coalition that helps monitors the fresh water near these sites to make sure they haven’t been contaminated. If they have, we’ll try to get lawmakers involved, but at the very least we can warn the people who might be affected by the contaminated water.”
“Fracking?”
She nodded seriously. “It’s a controversial new way that companies are using to extract oil. They claim it’s safe, but there have been repeated instances of groundwater contamination near fracking sites.”
“What happens if the water is contaminated?”
“There have been sensory, respiratory, and neurological damage reported in cases where fracking contaminated water has been ingested. It can also cause nausea, vomiting, and disrupt both fetal, and childhood development. That’s just what we know of, but there are still studies being done. There’s also air pollution, soil contamination, and potential earthquakes that can occur because of fracking.”
Callie’s eyes were lit with a fire I hadn’t seen from her before. It was clear this meant a lot. I flipped the covers off my sluggish body and crawled out of bed. “Give me ten,” I croaked.
She patted my shoulder and left the room. I used the time to take the hottest shower I could stand, braid my hair, and throw on the first clothes I found.
While I worked on making myself appear human, I also tried to divide up everything that took place yesterday, and file it in its appropriate place.
First, Abraham, and I had taken our relationship to a new level. We’d been dancing around this inferno between us and finally taken the plunge. It was magical, and amazing. More than I could have ever hoped for.
Which brought me to my next point. This sexy man I couldn't get my mind off had lied to me. Kept important information from me. And, Callie could say he did it for the right reasons all she wants, but I also see how he benefited from my ignorance, and I can’t pretend I don’t.
Would I have been up for a date if I’d known I would die in three weeks?
No.
Would I have been hanging out and getting to know the pack if I’d known how little time I had left?
No.
Would I have spent one of my last weekends, in a dive bar dancing, and singing like I had no other care in the world?
No, I would not.
So whichever way you slice it, Abraham lying to me had given him an advantage, and I couldn’t forget that.
And, finally, the worst of all, I’d learned I would die. That these changes I’d been going through were all leading up to a shift I wouldn’t live through. I’d die horribly, half woman, and half wolf just like the shepherd’s wife.
My whole body quaked at the notion. How long would it take for me to die? Would it hurt? Was there someone that would put me out of my misery? Perhaps the doctor would euthanize me before I had to suffer through malformed limbs and half-shifted bones?
That idea brought me up short, and I stopped to stare at myself in the vanity
mirror.
Had I really just considered assisted suicide?
Did I want to die?
Did I want to just give up?
My spine straightened, eyes flashing with the fight I’d learned to harness a long time ago.
The answer was NO.
I didn’t want to die.
I wouldn’t give up.
If Callie says there’s a chance I can make it, then I’ll take that chance. I’ll do whatever I have to, whatever I can to live through this because, as I’ve had to remind myself in the past, Elizabeth Montgomery was a fighter. And, if I was going to die, I’d do it kicking, and screaming until the very end.
With newfound determination, I finally made it to the kitchen, and found Callie sitting at the table with a couple plates of eggs, bacon, tomato, and an entire pot of black coffee.
I made a beeline for the caffeine and filled a mug to the brim before burning my mouth on its hot contents. She slid a glass of water in front of me. “This might help too. Why don’t you drink it while the coffee cools down? I don’t have time to take you to the hospital with third degree burns in your mouth today.”
I reluctantly set the coffee down and chugged the glass of water. Surprisingly, I felt a lot better after that. I filled my plate with as much food as it would hold, and dug in while Callie split her time between looking at her phone, and eating.
I’d been avoiding my cell. Too afraid there’d be a message, or call from Abraham. And, even more terrified there wouldn’t be. My chest tightened thinking about him, and I tried to rub the soreness out of it.
He’d betrayed me.
Lied.
I can’t forgive that.
And, yet I couldn’t stop thinking of the afternoon we’d spent together. How could that have just been yesterday? Not even twenty-four hours had passed since he’d talked me into jumping into that freezing cold lake with him. Since he’d warmed me with his big hands as I stood shivering. Since he’d admitted in that scared broken voice so unlike his own, that he wanted to kiss me.
Wanted me.
My legs clenched under the table as my mind unwillingly ran through the time I’d spent pressed against him. Legs around his waist, arms around his neck, mouth, and body, and heart, and soul, open to him. Like I’d never been for anyone else in my life.
And, I’d felt his body respond to mine. His heart beat for me. His soul ache for mine. Felt it all as if it’d been inside me the whole time. It had felt like I’d lived as one half of a whole my entire life, and I’d finally found my corresponding piece.
And, it was all over.
All of it.
Done.
Because I couldn’t trust a man who would lie to me. Couldn’t open my heart again to a man who used me. Couldn’t allow myself to fall for someone who I couldn’t rely on to catch me.
Callie’s words had planted the seeds of doubt in my brain last night, but I blamed the wine for my willingness to believe her. Of course she would say nice things about her brother. They all believed Abraham hung the moon. And, I had too for a little while. But, that illusion was shattered the moment I found out about his deceit. There was no coming back from that.
“Are you done?” Callie asked from across the table.
I set my fork down and sealed up the last wall surrounding my poor abused heart. “Yep. Completely done.”
It was dark by the time we made it back to my apartment. I helped Callie lug in the water samples before collapsing on the couch. We’d visited several nearby counties, testing as many freshwater sources as we could. And, I was beat.
Callie, with her endless energy stored her samples in the fridge before rummaging through my cabinets, and pantry. “You barely have any food here,” she called.
I pulled my sore body upright. “That’s because Evey’s not around.”
At the mention of my friend's name, a sharp pain shot through my chest. I really needed to call her and apologize.
Callie came into the living room, thin arms akimbo. “You mean to tell me you only have food in this house when my sister is here?”
I shrunk a little. These women made me feel like the worst kind of homemaker. “I order out a lot,” I explained.
She sigh
ed and took a seat next to me. “Well, it looks like we’ll be having takeout tonight. I’ll try to get to the store tomorrow while you’re at work, but I can’t make any promises.”
I pulled my phone out, surreptitiously glanced at the notification bar, and sunk a little lower in my chair when I saw I had no missed messages or calls. Shaking off my disappointment, I pulled up my Postmates app, and scrolled through our options. “What are you so busy with tomorrow?”
“Visiting a few local beekeepers.”
“Beekeepers?”
She nodded. “I like to visit those working on the front line before working on proposals. It gives me more motivation, and material.”
I shook my head in wonder. “You’re really into this environmental stuff, huh?”
She rolled her pale blue eyes. “It’s not ‘environmental stuff’, it’s the environment. It’s our planet. We only get one, and if we don’t take care of it, we don’t get a new one.”
“I didn’t even know about most of the stuff you talked about before today.”
“That’s the biggest problem. If people don’t know about these issues, they can’t care about them. We need to educate the population and get them interested in things like banning bee-killing insecticides. We’re up against huge agricultural companies that fill politicians’ pockets and get them to turn the other way when bills or proposals cross their desks. But, the politicians are there to work for the people not corporations. It’s their constituents they’ll have to answer to come election time. But, like I said, it all begins with education.”
I shook my head again. “You’re pretty amazing, Callista McCoy. Anyone ever tell you that?”
Her pale cheeks reddened, and she looked away. “I’m nothing special. Just trying to do my part.”
“You’re doing more than your part, Callie. I’d say you’re doing a few people's parts at least.” That gave me an idea. “In fact, if you ever need legal advice, let me know. I’d love to help if I can.”
Shift (Southern Werewolves Book 1) Page 25