by Jeff D Ellis
Chloe’s mouth hung open. “Yes! Do you know what he meant?”
“Oh, that totally makes sense to me now! In a way, we are cousins. You are a Shapeshifter as well, just not a Wolf.”
“Are you saying what I think you are saying?”
“If you are thinking that your mother must have been a Coyote Shapeshifter, then yes.”
“What the hell? That can’t be right.”
“My Wolf says you are a Coyote. You need to learn to talk to it and how to shift. I thought the Pack would have a problem with you being a Vampire, but now it’s really going to hit the fan.”
“Why?”
“Wolves and Coyotes hate each other. They compete over the same resources and Coyotes are normally driven off by us. I don’t think my father would ever let a Coyote mate with me.”
“Do you hate me now?”
“I don’t hate you. My Wolf already mated with your Coyote. If it doesn’t have a problem with the situation, I don’t have a problem. But it’s going to be an uphill battle with the Pack.”
“Maybe we can keep it between us.”
“Once you change for the first time, the Pack is going to know.”
“What if I don’t change?”
“You have to. Your Coyote has been woken up and what you felt today is going to get much worse if you don’t learn to accept it and change soon.”
“You are okay with this?”
Mark burst out laughing. “I love the idea! Now we can run together in the forest and be a bigger part of each other’s lives!”
She could feel his happiness and excitement. This was some serious shit. She never had a real family before and learning to be the referee between her inner Vampire and Coyote was something she was not ready for. Then it hit her: maybe she could have kids! What would they be, and would anybody allow it to happen?
What would her grandparents and their people think about her mating a Wolf?
***
Chloe looked out the window in silence on the drive back. She could tell Mark needed more.
She let out a sigh. “I feel like I messed up your special day.”
He looked at the road ahead. “It’s not your fault, Chloe. None of us could have known you had a sleeping coyote that would be awakened by the ritual.”
“You must have thought about this day most of your life, and then I come along and push aside the women of your Pack and risk it all with my problems.”
“Chloe, stop that. Yes, the situation had added risk, but it also has its own rewards. I’m yours now. The risk is now to our bond and your bond to the Pack.”
“When we get home, I want to consummate our bond.”
“Are you sure you’re up to it? I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Grandfather said I need to finish our mating, so it must be safe now.”
Chloe looked closely at his face; he still looked worried. It was sweet that he put her needs over the long-term bond they could have. She put her hand on his leg. “I want to do this, but let’s keep it soft and gentle.”
He grabbed her and interlocked his fingers with hers. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
She could feel the honesty of his words through her connection with him. She was a little confused over how much love and concern she could feel from him. He hardly knew her. What did he feel from her?
She must have dozed off on the drive. Mark was pulling the car into the garage. She almost laughed at the thought, that now it was time for him to park his car in her garage. She was a little nervous, like a virgin on her wedding night. He held her hand as they walked to the bedroom. She started to get undressed.
“Not right now, let’s have a seat on the bed together and take it slow.”
He sat beside her and looked into her eyes. “You’re my mate now and forever. I will always come running when you need me. You’re my family now.”
She started to cry.
He kissed away her tears and held her head on his shoulder.
She kissed him and could taste the salt of her tears on his tongue.
He stroked her hair. “We are partners together and that is all that matters.”
“You are all that matters to me.”
She kissed him again and felt a tender need rise up in her body. She slipped his shirt off. “I want to feel your skin against mine.”
They finished undressing and lay back on the bed in a full body embrace. His erection pushed against her crotch, but they ignored that for now. Her world was in his touch. She stroked his arms as she kissed him. He nuzzled her ear and his warm breath sent shivers of pleasure down her body. They rolled over so she was on top, giving up control of their lovemaking to her. She looked deep in his eyes and only found love for her. Chloe reached down and guided his erection into her waiting wetness. A moan broke the silence, as she took him fully inside. The energy of his kiss had a sweetness that was almost overpowering, like a fine chocolate melting on her tongue. Chloe had never tasted such a delicious energy before. She slowly moved up and down on him savoring each stroke, feeling the energy build between them moment by moment. This wasn’t sex, for the first time in her life, she was making love. She could feel her spirit entwine with his as their bodies became one. Mark glowed beneath her. The hunger she had lived with since puberty almost purred from their soft energy. They kept eye contact as their bodies moved as one. Their time for release was near, it started as a rumble and ended with a feeling of joy shooting deep inside her.
He rolled her onto her side gripping her in a full body hug. “Rest in my embrace for now. I want to bask in our afterglow.”
Chloe rested her head on his chest, feeling the warmth of their bodies together.
He brushed her hair past her ear. “Sleep now, you have a long day tomorrow.”
As if by command, she drifted off to a dreamless sleep.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Journey
CHLOE WOKE UP feeling more like her old self. If it weren’t for the blue eyes staring back at her in the mirror, she might have chalked it all up to being a dream. Her body was starving from the fast, but her hunger was sated from last night’s lovemaking. Normally she would have called it sex, but last night was something more than that. For the first time in her life, she actually had hope. She had the chance to be something more than a loveless Vampire with a husband and family she never knew.
She looked over at Mark and smiled.
She nudged him. “Good morning, husband.”
His eyes lit up when he saw her. “Good morning, beautiful wife.”
Then it hit her and she laughed. “Just think, if I had red hair I would be your dream woman now.”
“Huh? You’re my dream woman.”
“Back on our first date you said the woman of your dreams looked like me but had blue eyes and red hair. Now I have blue eyes.”
Mark chuckled. “Yes, you do, but you are the woman I dream of no matter what color your eyes and hair are. Do you dream about me?”
“Just erotic dreams.”
Mark looked at his watch. “Look at the time! We better get moving.”
“It’s going to be a busy day today. I am sorry they didn’t invite you to the ceremony. What are you going to do?”
“I want to be there with you, but I understand. I will head into the office and make sure everything goes as planned with the hardware installs at the nightclub.”
“It’s smart to make sure things move smoothly on our day jobs.”
Stroking her hair, he requested, “Once you are done, I want you to call me and I will drop everything and be right there. I would like to meet your grandparents and then take care of your every need.”
Chloe felt herself blush. “I promise I will call you the moment I can.”
He kissed her head. “You better! I will be worrying until I hear from you.”
“Why, what do you know?”
“Between the fasting, heat of the sweat lodge, and the drugs, it’s going to leave you weak. The people there will keep you
safe, but it’s my job to worry about you.”
She snuggled against his warm chest. “You’re so sweet, but that is another reason you should go into work and try to keep your mind off things.”
“You should go take a bath and soak. You need to go in with a clean slate, ready for whatever may come.”
“Grandfather did not say anything about that.”
“It’s something I’ve heard. Maybe he expected you to know about it, or maybe it doesn’t actually matter.”
“I guess it can’t hurt.”
“You should dress in something comfortable that you can sit and sweat in for hours on a dirt floor.”
“Good idea. You should get ready for work as well.”
“I will go take a quick shower in the guest bathroom. You take all the time you need.”
He leaned over and gave her a kiss. “Love you.”
Chloe wondered at first if she’d heard him right. He said he loved her. She wasn’t sure if she truly loved him yet. She cared for him and he was sure looking to be a great partner. She enjoyed spending time with him. But did she love him? It wasn’t just words to him. She could feel love and worry from him.
“I love you too, now get going!”
Better to say it than to break his heart at this point. Maybe if she said it often enough she would come to truly mean it. Her non-Vampire side gave her hope that she could love him and maybe change her life forever.
After getting into the bath, she let the world drift away into the water and cleaned her body and her mind.
She didn’t have the right clothes for this. Her normal clothes were too fancy and her workout clothes were designed to be flashy. Chloe felt they were not appropriate for a situation like this. She found some clothes that she would normally clean her apartment in. They were a little on the baggy side, but were clean and in good condition.
“Chloe, we should be going!”
“Okay, I am ready.”
It was a quiet drive to Grandfather’s house. He parked in front like yesterday.
“I wish I could go and protect you.”
“I wish you could share in this as well, but I don’t want you sitting around worrying. We have no idea how long this is going to be. I will call you the moment I can though!”
“I will come running when you do.”
She gave him one last kiss before getting out of the car and watched him drive off. She looked around and noticed an older woman waving at her from the head of a small path. She walked up to her.
“You look like my Sarah! You must be Chloe.”
“Pleased to meet you…”
The lady held her arms open for a hug. “Sorry, where are my manners? I am your grandmother, Maggie.”
Chloe hugged her back and felt herself get all choked up.
“No need for words. I need to take you back to the ceremony. We will have plenty of time to talk afterwards.”
Chloe got a little bit of control back. “There is so much I want to know about you and my mom.”
“I know, child, and I will get to each and every one of your questions about them in time. We have so many years to catch up on.”
Maggie grabbed her hand and brought her to a structure covered in animal skins and blankets. Grandfather came out of the structure, nodded at Maggie and ushered Chloe inside. She had to bend low to enter. She noticed several older men already inside. Grandfather motioned her to take a seat.
He kneeled in front of Chloe. “I am your sponsor for tonight. Is that all right with you?”
“Yes, thank you for sponsoring me.”
Grandfather nodded. “You will be going on a journey that many have taken before you. You may find a guide on the other side, or you may not encounter anything. Whatever happens, you must trust yourself.”
Chloe nodded to show she understood. One of the men had a drum, another tended the fire, and the third man seemed to be in charge of the ceremony. They all looked like they were in their seventies and had lived hard lives.
Grandfather gestured to the third man. “This is the Road Man and he is responsible for making sure nothing interferes with the ceremony and that you are protected here while you are on your journey.”
He motioned to the first man. “This is the Drum Carrier. He is the advisor to the Road Man. This is the Cedar Man. He will keep the air purified for your journey, and finally this is the Fire Chief.”
The Road Man said something to the Fire Chief, who got up and closed the flap. He received some items from the Road Man. He lit a bundle of sage and did a purification on himself using its smoke. Each man in turn took the sage bundle and waved its smoke around their bodies until finally the bundle was passed to Chloe. She repeated what she saw the other men do. When she was done with the sage, the Road Man nodded and motioned for Chloe to pass the bundle on. The Fire Chief pulled out a long wooden pipe and pouch of tobacco. The pipe was covered in carvings. It was similar to the carvings found on a totem pole. The Fire Chief loaded the pipe, lit it, and took a puff, which he blew into the air. Each man did the same and passed it along.
Grandfather used the pipe and held it out to Chloe. “Focus your intentions and let it out in a prayer of smoke. Let the smoke carry your prayer into the world.” Chloe took the pipe.
She focused on her need to find her true self and balance in her life. Chloe inhaled from the pipe into her mouth and then blew it out again and passed the pipe. The Fire Chief set the pipe back down where it should’ve been safe, and stoked the flames of the fire. Chloe watched the sparks rise up and exit out a hole in the ceiling. Grandfather had a cup in his hand, and after making sure Chloe was watching him, he took three sips from the cup and handed it to Chloe, and motioned for her to do the same. Chloe raised the cup to her lips and took a first sip; it wasn’t too bad. She hardly noticed anything. The second sip was bitter and tasted horrible. She almost spit it out. She did her best to try and not look sick. She shut her eyes and forced herself to take the final sip. The third sip felt like fire running down her throat as she swallowed it. Chloe quickly handed back the cup before she dropped it. She took a few deep breaths to regain her composure, and started to feel a little better. The drummer started a slow steady beat on the drum. He and the others began to sing in their native language. The room felt warm and took on a golden glow about it. The nausea was passing and she was starting to feel better. Chloe let herself drift in the sounds.
She was starting to feel nice, but it didn’t seem to be working. She hoped Grandfather would not get disappointed for wasting his time. Chloe decided to just watch the sparks float up from the fire above and out. When she looked back down, everybody was gone. Chloe was confused and wondered if she had fallen asleep and the ceremony was over. The fire was still going and the items from the ceremony were still there, but the people were gone. Chloe pulled back the flap and moved outside. She found herself in the middle of a forest.
There were three paths leading from the lodge. After randomly choosing one to follow, she felt eyes on her and got a little scared. She desperately looked around for the source of the feeling.
It was then she noticed her hunger was gone. She felt Human for the first time in her life with no presence demanding to be fed.
Up ahead, a coyote walked onto to the path and sat staring at her. Chloe was not scared; it felt familiar, as if it was a long lost pet. The coyote’s eyes were the same ones she had been seeing in the mirror since yesterday.
“Hello?”
The coyote cocked his head to the side. “Hello, Chloe.” The coyote had a very soothing female voice.
“How do you know me? Do you have a name?”
“You can call me Coh. I have been with you all your life. Being ignored and unloved got lonely.”
“I am so sorry, Coh! I did not know you were there.”
“You listened to that other thing.”
“I was raised by Vampires to recognize and feed it. Maybe if I had been raised by my mother, I would have known you instead.”
“I would have hoped so!”
“I am here now. Teach me.”
“After all these years, why should I care about you?”
“I promise to love and honor you alongside my hunger.”
“I should be enough for you, but understand this is a special case. It will have to do.”
“Then you will teach me?”
“I offer you my protection, the thrill of the hunt, and love of the wolf you have chosen to be my mate.”
“Will I be able to become a coyote the same way Mark can become a wolf?”
“I will teach you that, and with it, the joy of being a wild spirit.”
“Wonderful!”
“First lesson. Come here and feel me.”
Chloe knelt before the coyote and ran her fingers through Coh’s fur, then hugged the coyote feeling the fur against her face.
“Remember what you feel right now. Soak it all in until you can picture me in your mind.”
Chloe studied Coh from every angle until she could picture the coyote in her mind and feel what it must be like to be in her fur.
“You have what you need. Practice it until you can easily change. When you want to go back, do the reverse and remember what it feels like to be in your own skin.”
“Is there anything else you can teach me?”
“Learn to love yourself, and you will love others. Your grandparents will teach you more.”
“Will I be able to see you again?”
“Listen and you will feel my voice. Ignore me too much and I will go away. It’s time for you to wake up.”
She lost track of Coh and decided to head back to the sweat lodge. As she grew closer, she could hear the drum and songs again and felt like she was being pulled back. Then the drumming stopped. Chloe opened her eyes and saw Grandfather watching over her.
“Grandfather, how long have I been gone?”
“You never left this spot, but I could tell when you were no longer in your body. It has been six hours. We have been taking shifts watching over you to keep you safe. Have you found what you were looking for?”