The Altering (Coywolf Series Book 1)

by Abby Tyson

  Savi turned her attention to Colby, who was also dressed for their date in a salmon button-down and khaki shorts. "I never heard you call her that at school when Eric -- or anyone else -- was around."

  "Savi," Hettie chided, nuzzling into Colby's broad chest.

  "Why are you here?" accused Colby. "Do you know that guy?"

  "We go way back," Baxter volunteered. "It's been, what, since January, right Savi?"

  Hettie was staring at Savi in confusion, while Colby's face hardened.

  Keeping her eyes on Hettie, she said, "I met him at the Ready4U. I didn't even know his name until yesterday."

  Understanding, and sadness, crept into Hettie's eyes. "I thought you weren't going there anymore."

  Savi was spared answering by the inner door opening. The two old men moved aside, and a person unlike anyone Savi expected to see stepped through. From her frizzy gray hair pulled back in a scrunchy to the socks covering the bottom of her mom jeans, this woman was so contrary to the frightening surroundings that Savi was too shocked to try to get a closer look at what was on the other side of the door.

  "Oh what a lovely group!" the woman said. "Seeing you kids here makes me wish I were young again, and not this wrinkled old lady I wake up to every morning."

  "You've got plenty of years ahead of you, Mama," said the biker guy.

  "You're beautiful, Mama!" shouted Baxter from the back of the room.

  She gave them each a warm smile before turning her attention back on their captives. "Welcome, children, to our home. I apologize for the manner in which you've been brought here, but we've learned that this is the best way to recruit saviors."

  "Saviors?" Savi asked.

  "Let's do introductions first. My name is Marcia, but most just call me Mama or Mama Marcia." Pointing at the biker man with the leather vest, she said, "This is my son, Thomas, but he prefers Top. You already know Baxter."

  Colby scowled at Savi.

  Gesturing to the twin men with gray hair, Marcia said, "And these two handsome gentlemen are Gabe and Gabe." As Marcia pointed each man out, his eyes lit with pride as if he'd been called out for good behavior by a favorite teacher.

  Marcia raised her eyebrows in question at the three silent captives. When no one spoke, she asked, "Shy group?"

  Pointing at each of them in turn, Baxter said, "Savannah, Hettie, Colby."

  "Short for Henrietta?" Marcia asked Hettie.

  Hettie nodded, barely.

  "That's what I'll call you then. Nicknames disrespect your parents."

  Hettie blushed as Marcia addressed the group at large once more. "I know you're all wondering why you're here so I won't keep you in suspense any longer. You are all here because you have been chosen to be saviors. Saviors of humanity."

  "Chosen?" You mean forced at gunpoint, is what Savi wanted to say, but a sharp edge lurked just beneath this woman's grandmotherly appearance, and Savi didn't want to be the one to unleash it.

  Marcia nodded apologetically. "I already said I'm sorry for bringing you here like this, but we've tried a number of recruitment techniques and this is the one that goes the smoothest. This is the only surefire way to implement the plan." She placed particular emphasis on her last two words and paused, looking around expectantly. Although they were all thinking it, none of them asked the question. None of them really wanted to know.

  Her smile faltering, Marcia asked, "Don't you want to know what the plan is?" When the room remained silent, she turned to Top. "That's a first. Someone always asks me, 'What plan?' How funny."

  She looked back at them. "We've lost our way. So few people care about our relationship to nature nowadays. Environmentalists are doing their darndest to convince people that our lifestyles need to change, but there are just too many people. No one listens. But what if humans had to return to nature? What if we were forced back to the forests and the grasslands and the tundra? Even if just for three nights per month? We would be forced to save open spaces. We would be forced to preserve forests. Perhaps people would stop breeding like mice. Perhaps a new appreciation for our Mother Earth would be instilled if we were more physically tethered to it."

  Their guards were all nodding their heads. Hettie and Colby looked as confused and apprehensive as Savi felt.

  Marcia's tone changed, and she spoke as if she were reading a story to toddlers. "Now I must ask each of you to open your minds to the impossible. You've all heard of magical creatures in fairy tales and horror stories. While you may not believe me right now, I am telling you that at least one of those creatures is real: the werewolf." She paused, letting the words float around them, enhanced by the canine sounds behind her.

  Savi couldn't take her eyes off of Marcia. Her smoldering fear flared into a wild blaze as she realized that these people were all nuts.

  Are they going to feed us to the dogs, believing they're werewolves?

  "I know what you're thinking!" Marcia chuckled. "I just love this part. No, we're not crazy. Believe it or not, those are real, in the flesh werewolves on the other side of this door. And soon you will join them. Soon you'll be saviors!"

  Colby swore under his breath, and Savi was forced to admit that for once she agreed with him.

  "I know it's a lot to take on blind faith," said Marcia, "and you don't have any reason to trust an old fogey like me, but tomorrow morning you'll have no choice but to believe. Then it will be up to you to decide to stay and become part of our mission and our family, or never see us again -- we don't keep anyone here against their will."

  Savi and Colby snorted simultaneously, then shot each other dirty looks.

  "Besides the honor of being a savior of our planet," Marcia continued, "there are many advantages to being a werewolf, including increased strength and heightened senses during Anwi's Eye -- that's what we call the day of and the two days surrounding the full moon."

  Although she knew she was risking pissing off this crazy lady, Savi had to ask, "If it's so great, why aren't you saviors?"

  "My path is to lead you to yours," Marcia said, rubbing her hands with excitement. "So let's get to it."

  She grabbed three of the hospital gowns hanging by the door and gave one to each of them. "If you want to be able to wear your clothes tomorrow, you should take them off and put one of these on. Only Thomas and I will remain in the room while you dress." The Gabes and Baxter went through the door behind her as she spoke. "He'll turn around when the girls change, and I'll turn when Colby changes. Why don't you go first, Colby." She turned around.

  Savi, Hettie, and Colby stood staring at the gowns in their hands. "I'm not putting this on," Savi said.

  "It's your choice," Marcia said, still facing the door. "But you won't be comfortable for the rest of the night after the altering, and your clothes will get all stretched out and ripped from being gnawed on, which I doubt you'll appreciate, unless you normally dress like you picked your clothes from a dumpster."

  "What are you going to do to us?" Colby asked.

  "Just a little nip on the arm," Marcia said. "Then it's all over and you're free to go in the morning. Nothing to be afraid of, and it will only take a few minutes. Now, come on, we'd like to sleep at some point tonight."

  "It'll be easier if you just listen to Mama," Top said.

  Colby leaned in close to them, whispering, "Maybe it's safer just to do it."

  "I'll take my chances in my own clothes." Savi dropped the gown on the ground.

  Hettie looked back and forth from Colby to Savi. "Me too," she said, letting her gown fall as well.

  "You'll regret this," said Top, sounding like he'd make sure of it.

  "It's just to preserve your own clothing," Marcia said to the door.

  "I think we should do as they say," said Colby, eyeing Top. "We don't want to upset them."

  "Of course you'd say that," snapped Savi.

  Hettie winced, as if Savi had insulted her instead of Colby.

  With a glare at Savi, Colby turned to Hettie and took her hands. "I don
't want you to get hurt. If playing by their rules keeps you safe, then we should do it."

  Hettie smiled as she looked into Colby's eyes. Lowering her voice to a whisper, she said, "I want you to be safe too, but what if we find a way to escape? You don't have your keys so we'll have to go in the woods. Then we'll be barefoot and wearing bright white sheets."

  Savi was surprised at Hettie's shrewd assessment. She had refused to wear the gown out of principle, and thought that Hettie had just joined her in solidarity.

  Colby's frown deepened. "I'm going to do it," he said. But then a smile crept into his eyes and he whispered something in Hettie's ear. Her cheeks flushed and she promptly turned her back as Colby took off his shirt, revealing his football player physique. Savi turned also, standing shoulder to shoulder with her best friend. When they heard his zipper being undone, Hettie turned an even deeper scarlet.

  When he finished changing, Marcia said, "Your turn, Thomas." Turning around to face the girls, she put the large white robe on over her own clothing. "You too, Colby."

  "We're not changing," Savi said, meeting Marcia's gaze.

  Deep wrinkles lined Marcia's face as she frowned. "I'm telling you, your clothes will be ruined. Everyone who decides to stay dressed ends up kicking themselves in the morning."

  "We're sure," Hettie said, although she sounded anything but.

  "Alright. Don't blame me tomorrow for not trying." The floor length white robe she now wore made Marcia look more like an intimidating priestess than a cheerful grandmother. She walked over to Hettie, who shrank back a little.

  "I will have to take these, however," said Marcia as she pulled Hettie's glasses off.

  "But --"

  "You'll get them back tomorrow. Didn't I say that already?" Marcia's expression was innocent, and her question sounded genuine, but there was enough of a hint of sarcasm to keep Savi unsure.

  She dropped the glasses in a tote bag hanging on the wall, then opened the door. A blast of barks, yips, and howls accompanied the Gabes and Baxter back into the tack room.

  Baxter handed Colby a tote bag. "Put your clothes in here and hang it on a peg." He pointed to where their white gowns had been hanging. Eyeing Savi and Hettie's gowns on the floor, he shook his head and once again took Savi's arm. "You guys are gonna wish you listened to Mama Marcia."

  "Werewolves?" Savi said to him. "This is what your glorious Alters do? Kidnap people and threaten them until they admit they believe in werewolves?"

  "Alters?" Hettie asked as she was led to the door by the one-handed Gabe. In front of her was Colby, both arms held by the other Gabe.

  "Come along, saviors," Marcia said, passing through the door.

  They had no choice but to follow.

  Chapter Ten

  Large as a church and with a thick layer of sand for a floor, it was clear that the room had originally been used as an indoor riding ring. A handful of sconces spread among the room illuminated the space, leaving long shadows stretched between them on the walls, and a strip of near darkness down the middle of the room. What Savi had thought were boxes were actually large cages covered with blankets. The room was filled with at least a hundred such cages, and it sounded like each held a barking dog within.

  They followed Marcia down a wide path in the center of the ring to the far end, the stench of the animals' urine getting stronger with every step. The sight of five empty cages along the back wall with their doors hanging wide open made Savi desperately want to make a break for the door she saw in the back corner of the room.

  Marcia stood beside a nearby cage that was isolated from the others and covered with a thick white blanket. Her casual demeanor was gone, replaced by a solemn dignity. Eyes closed, she lifted her face to the ceiling and slowly raised her arms as she spoke. "Known to us by many names but loved by us as Earth Mother, thank you for the gift of life, and for all the creatures you feed." She spoke at a steady, monotonous pace, with a formality and grandeur that matched her attire.

  She lowered her arms, gesturing to the covered cage before her, but keeping her eyes closed. "Known to us by many names but loved by us as Moon Mother, thank you for the gift of night, and for all the creatures you feed." Marcia opened her eyes and looked straight at Colby.

  Colby went as white as the ankle-length hospital gown he wore. Top whispered something in his ear, then pointed the gun at him. Without looking at Hettie or Savi, Colby let two-handed Gabe lead him to the cage.

  Marcia pulled the blanket off of the cage to reveal a wolf -- not a dog, but a wolf -- unlike any Savi had ever seen. Its silver fur shimmered like snow in moonlight. Unlike the other dogs -- or were those really wolves too? -- that filled the room with their whining and howling, this wolf was still, its silver eyes watching Savi and those around her. The wolf maintained its dignity despite a strap that looped around its upper jaw and tied it to the top of the wire enclosure, giving the wolf enough slack to sit upright comfortably, but not enough for it to move forward in the cage.

  Two-handed Gabe pushed Colby onto his knees beside the cage. Marcia reached over and opened a small square window in front of Colby, then untied the top of the strap. Gabe grabbed Colby's right arm and started to put it through the window. Colby started to resist, but the click of Top cocking the gun quieted his struggle. His fist tentatively entered the cage, but Marcia held the strap tight, and the wolf didn't move.

  Looking at the silver wolf with reverence, Marcia said, "To you who give us everything, Earth Mother, Moon Mother, the Alters present an offering of life in return. We offer you Colby. Take him, and reshape him in your images."

  "Wait -- life?" Colby's voice was full of fear. "You said --"

  Marcia tugged upward on the strap, and Colby froze. The wolf calmly leaned forward and sniffed his arm. Then, with no growl or sound to warn him, the wolf snapped its mouth open and bit Colby's forearm.

  He cried out and tried to retract his arm, but Gabe and Top leaned against him from behind, keeping him in place.

  At the same time that Hettie screamed, "Let him go!" Marcia pulled on the strap and the wolf returned to its serene state.

  Top and Gabe grabbed Colby and shoved him into the first of the empty cages. Colby was screaming, clearly experiencing a level of pain that didn't make sense for the clean bite he'd received. Hettie and Savi watched in horror, but as soon as he was locked in, Top threw a blanket over Colby's cage. His cries set off a fresh wave of howls and barks from the other animals.

  Savi couldn't move, her body exhaustingly heavy all of a sudden. It was all she could do to keep from lying down.

  "Colby!" Hettie cried. "Why is he screaming like that?"

  Marcia's only response was to stare and nod at Hettie, indicating that she was next. Top stepped over and whispered in her ear as well. Her hysterical sobbing quieted into silent tears. Turning terrified eyes on Savi, Hettie started walking toward the silver wolf.

  Savi's lethargy suddenly switched off, replaced by a surge of panicked energy. It felt like she was moving at hyperspeed while everyone else was in slow motion. She threw herself on Baxter.

  "Run!" she screamed. "Run, Hettie!"

  Heart racing, she kicked and punched at Baxter, who was holding her around the waist.

  "I got her!" he shouted.

  At that moment, Savi didn't care about her own life, but there was no way she could stand by and listen to Hettie scream in agony like Colby was.

  "Savi! Stop!" Hettie cried. "Please!"

  Glancing back, Savi saw that Hettie hadn't moved at all. Top stood between them with his gun aimed at Savi. A sharp pain on her shoulder made her fall on her stomach in the sand. Baxter pinned her there with his body.

  "Do you have a death wish, kid?" said Baxter, panting. "Top isn't kiddin' when he says he'll shoot you. And you don't seem to care, but I've got a gun too, ya know."

  "I hate you!" Savi shouted, straining against him.

  "You won't feel that way tomorrow," he said.

  A set of hands grabbed one of Sa
vi's arms as Baxter rolled off and grabbed her other arm. Together, he and Gabe pulled her onto her feet.

  Savi could only watch as Hettie knelt where Colby had been just a minute before.

  "Let her go!" Savi shouted, struggling against Gabe and Baxter. Gabe wrenched her arm upward. Savi cried out in pain.

  Marcia continued her litany, ignoring the chaos around her. "To you who give us everything, Earth Mother, Moon Mother, the Alters present an offering of life in return. We offer you Henrietta. Take her, and reshape her in your images."

  Just like before, the wolf didn't move until Marcia tugged on the leash. Then it sniffed Hettie's arm. Knowing what was coming, Hettie turned away, screaming before the wolf even bit her.

  Savi wrenched her gaze away, trying to tune out both Hettie's cries and the strange gutteral sounds that Colby was now making. Soon, Hettie's limp body was being carried to a cage, a blanket thrown on top.

  "Sounds like we've got an easy one," said Top, addressing Marcia and gesturing with his head toward Hettie's covered cage. Marcia nodded solemnly.

  "What do you mean?" Savi asked.

  "Painless altering," he said, walking over to her.

  The fact that Hettie wasn't screaming like Colby had scarcely settled in Savi's mind before Top was whispering in her ear.

  "If you don't smarten up," he said, "I'll give you a lot worse than a bite on the arm."

  He pointed the gun at her, and this time she offered no resistance as Gabe and Baxter pulled her forward. They pushed her down on her knees, and lifted her right arm into the silver wolf's cage. As Marcia began her ritual chant, Savi noted the blood marring the sparkling fur around the wolf's mouth.

  That's my best friend's blood, she thought.

  Being this close to the wolf, Savi also noticed the small patches of fur missing from the wolf's luminous coat, and the sadness in its silver eyes.