The Altering (Coywolf Series Book 1)

by Abby Tyson

  A framed embroidery of William Wordsworth's poem The World Is Too Much With Us distracted her briefly, but the first thing to still her swirling thoughts and shaking hands was a picture on the nightstand. It was of a much younger Marcia sitting on a couch with a blonde-haired boy around maybe nine or ten on her lap.

  George. Savi had to admit the likeness, although she still couldn't believe it. A man sat beside them with a stern expression, but Marcia was grinning like a proud mother should, her cheek pressed against her son's. George stared open-mouthed at the camera, his lanky legs dangling beside his mother's, his skinny arm reaching up around her neck.

  Savi almost smiled at the sweet picture, until she remembered that this little boy was already friends with her father. If George and Monty were the same age, then it was just a year or two after this picture was taken that her dad was altered.

  By Marcia.

  All of the questions and confusion that had been swirling like a tornado in Savi's mind since she came back to the barn dropped to the ground as a single thought rose from the debris.

  This woman killed my father. George's mother killed my father.

  Her eyes fell on George again in his striped t-shirt and bare feet, and suddenly another gap in his story sprung into place.

  George had said he knew about the Alters, that he had seen what they did. That was certainly an understatement -- his mother was the ring leader. And if his own mother had altered his best friend, and if he and Monty spent as much time together as George claimed, there was no way George didn't know her dad was a werewolf. He must have known.

  But he didn't tell me. Savi stared into little George's blue eyes, his mother's eyes. Why didn't he tell me?

  "My little Glenn."

  Savi jumped at Marcia's voice behind her. "I didn't hear you come up," she said with a nervous laugh. Savi glanced at the closed trap door. "Is that guy, Jameson, okay?"

  Marcia gave her a tight-lipped smile and nodded, then picked up the photo. "Thomas always refused to be in pictures."

  Ignoring Top's huff from the couch, Marcia continued. "We were visiting my parents in Maine. They both passed soon after. Glenn was a great comfort during that time, back when he cared about his mother's happiness." Her voice caught, and she brought her hand to her lips.

  Savi was unmoved. Although the revelation about how much George knew about her dad had thrown her, when she looked at Marcia, all she could think was, You killed my dad. She wanted to scream at Marcia, accuse her of murdering her father and brainwashing her best friend, but Pearl's words rose above the clamor.

  Make them believe it.

  Forcing the thought that was so detrimental to her mission from her mind, Savi made herself rub Marcia's shoulder. She didn't trust herself to speak though, so she just gave her what she hoped was a supportive smile.

  Marcia patted Savi's hand, then wiped her eyes. "Enough of this sad talk." She put the picture face down on her nightstand and walked briskly to the other side of the apartment. Savi followed slowly, hoping her aching thirst wasn't obvious as she watched Top down the rest of his drink in one gulp and walk into the cage room. Marcia stood with her back to Savi, rummaging through a basket. Savi caught a glimpse of something metal in Marcia's hand, but it was out of view before Savi could get a good look.

  A gun, Savi thought, her feet suddenly riveted to the floor. She doesn't believe me. Now that she has my blood, she doesn't need me anymore.

  "Let's step outside," Marcia said, heading to the door. Her large button-down shirt was untucked and hung loosely, hiding the gun.

  Savi's legs moved on autopilot as her mind collided with the certainty that she wouldn't be able to follow through on Pearl's plan. She would have to try and escape. Praying that Ebony would still fulfill her side of the bargain even if she came back empty handed, Savi followed Marcia into the night.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Caught between her fear that she might lose her chance for escape and her hope that Marcia might tell her something about why she didn't alter, Savi walked beside her, but kept out of arm's reach. She scanned the moonlit clearing for the best escape route, wondering if Marcia's gang was out there waiting, ready to hold her down so Marcia could finish what Top had started last night.

  Marcia seemed oblivious to Savi's nerves, meandering about the clearing without any apparent destination. She gazed at the cloudless sky, the pinks and oranges of sunset replaced by black, cavernous space. Savi matched her leisurely pace, all the while inconspicuously scanning the ground for a large stick or rock that she might be able to use as a weapon.

  At last Marcia broke the silence. "Jameson is the savior who bit you last night."

  "But..." Savi looked up at the moon, just a sliver away from being whole.

  "He's been complaining all day that he felt off. Nothing sounded right, he felt weak. I believe that bite is the reason he didn't alter tonight. You turned him back into a human."

  All thoughts of escape fell away as Savi's need to understand why she was different consumed her. "How?"

  "I've heard of people like you -- hollow ones, they're called -- but frankly I didn't believe in them." Marcia chuckled. "As mythical to me as werewolves once were." She took another few steps -- an eternity to Savi -- before saying, "But I don't know for sure. That's what I'm hoping you'll help us figure out. Through tests and experiments, we can determine the cause scientifically."

  "Science? Tests?" The concept was both unappealing and disappointing on every level. "I thought this werewolf stuff was all..." Savi couldn't make herself say it.

  "Magic?" Marcia's smirk was illuminated by the bright moon.

  Unable to prevent her indignation from seeping into her voice, Savi said, "You certainly make it about more than science, with your whole incantation and robe and Mother Moon and everything."

  Marcia's voice was as calm as her pace. "Everything has its traditions, even this. And until science can explain it better, I'll let magic take the credit."

  "What's a hollow one?" Savi asked.

  "Everything I know -- that I know for sure -- you know too. However, I have heard a few different legends over the years, saying hollow ones can change a werewolf back just by touching it, or by looking at it, some say even with just a word. I've heard that hollow ones can never be altered, and that you can alter into any animal."

  "Hollow," Savi muttered, not liking the title. Ebony had asked her about the hollowing, and what happened to the wolf that had bitten her. This must have been what she suspected as well.

  Marcia stopped walking, closer to the trees than the barn. "Look at that sky," she said. "Just a few layers of gas between us and that." She swept her arm across the arc of the night. After a moment of reverent stargazing, she looked back at Savi. "Do you think you'll ever have children?"

  The question jarred Savi out of her thoughts. Was this some sort of segue into Savi not having a future because Marcia was about to kill her? Running her foot over the grass and trying to look casual while resuming her search for a blunt object, Savi said, "Not until I'm married."

  "When Glenn was born -- he's oldest -- I didn't love him right away." Seeing Savi's reaction, she quickly continued. "Oh, I felt a strong, visceral need to care for him, but I didn't love him. How can you love something that does nothing but take -- sleep, milk, blood, bones, time -- children take it all from you. The baby gets what the baby needs, my mother always said. And at first, I wasn't getting anything in return. Sure he was cute when he slept, but all that did was remind me that I wanted to sleep too. Babies are just high-maintenance pets -- stupid pets, that you can't let out of your sight."

  Marcia sighed, her eyes almost completely hidden by shadow. "But one day, after a few months, something changed. He was lying on the floor, watching the ceiling fan, and even though I had dishes to wash and laundry to fold, I lay down beside him."

  A distant smile touched Marcia's lips. "I don't know how much you know about babies, but ceiling fans are baby TV -- they'll watch tha
t sucker for hours if you let them. I was half expecting to fall asleep beside him on the floor, but instead, he turned to face me. I looked into my son's eyes, and for the first time, I felt like he really saw me. Not my breasts, or my hair, but me."

  Marcia paused, sniffling. "It lasted maybe five seconds, and then he went back to watching the fan, but from that day on, I felt like a real mother -- a mother to a human person. I loved him so much. I started thinking about the world he was growing up in, and how terrifying it is. I knew I had to do something to save this beautiful son of mine, and his children." She chuckled weakly, unsmiling. "Not that either of them have made any headway on that front."

  She resumed her stroll, and Savi followed, finding herself at a loss for words once again. This woman didn't sound like the passive-aggressive and self-centered Marcia she despised. This was a mother, full of a grief so palpable that Savi couldn't bear to look at her.

  "Now my son's turned against me, just like we've turned against our Mother Earth. Too many of her children may not be listening, but eventually they'll hear the truth in her message. That's why I'm doing this, Savannah. That's why I'm an Alter. I've made mistakes along the way, and I'm sure I'll make more, but at least I know my cause is unimpeachable. I don't want us to hear her too late. This planet is full of beautiful babies who haven't done anything to deserve this world of garbage and drought and greed."

  Marcia stopped and unflinchingly took Savi's clammy hands in her own. Marcia was facing the moonlight now, and Savi could see her wet eyes clearly. "That's why I'm so grateful you've come to our family. You're unique. And you'll be instrumental in helping us understand how to save our world. We can't do this without you."

  Savi couldn't deny it -- she wanted to believe. She wanted to be this unique, instrumental, purpose-filled savior Marcia said she was. The promise in Marcia's eyes called to her, making the anger about her father's death seem distant and childish. She had never known him, so what did his death mean to her, really? He'd had thirteen years to be part of her life. He didn't deserve her loyalty.

  Baxter's words from the other night at the convenience mart rang through her mind. Once you go, you'll never question your place in this world again.

  He had found his place at this barn, just like Hettie and Colby. Why couldn't she?

  Just as Savi was on the verge of giving in and confessing, Marcia let go of Savi's hands and stepped back, reaching into her pocket.

  The gun!

  The temptation to join the Alters in earnest vanished. Savi staggered back a few steps, ready to run, then froze when she recognized the object in Marcia's hand.

  "Baxter grabbed this from your campsite last night," Marcia said, holding out Savi's cell phone. "Have you called your mother today?"

  Her mother. Savi hadn't checked in. Her mom had probably already called the cops.

  She shook her head as she reached tentatively for her phone.

  "Call your mother. I'm sure she's worried sick." Squishing Savi's arms between them with a quick hug, Marcia said, "Meet me back in the ring -- that's what we call the room with all the cages -- when you're done. I'd like your help with something."

  Is she for real? Savi thought, watching Marcia walk back to the barn.

  Savi had expected to come back and be chained in a dungeon or locked up in the stall all night. But instead, Marcia had explained why Savi didn't alter, without any quid pro quo like Ebony demanded; she'd left Savi alone outside, where she could run away if she wanted; she'd given Savi her phone back, and asked her to call her mother. Savi could tell her mom everything -- or at least that she'd been kidnapped, since her mom would never believe what had actually happened.

  Marcia was trusting Savi. Could she trust Marcia?

  Once again she wished for something to dull the shrieking voices inside, and at the same time hated herself for not being strong enough to handle it on her own. Savi felt like she was going to burst from all of the conflicting emotions and voices and desires battling within her.

  Turning her phone on, Savi sat on the grass, hugging her knees. There was a missed call from an unknown number, and two missed calls from her mom. Without listening to the voicemails, she called back, resting her forehead on her arms.

  "Hello there."

  Savi smiled. Her mom's voice -- angry though it was -- quelled the storm inside her.

  "Hey, sorry I'm calling so late."

  "I called twice," her mom said. "You know better than to have your phone on silent when you're out of the house."

  "I know. I'm sorry."

  "Why didn't you tell me about the robbery?"

  Savi's smile tumbled. She considered playing dumb, but decided against it. "I was afraid you wouldn't let me go camping."

  She had hardly finished her sentence when her mom started talking -- make that shouting. "A police car pulled up in front of our house just before dinner. Dave had to answer the door because I was too hysterical. You hadn't answered your phone all day, and I thought something had happened to you! You do not do that to your mother!"

  "I'm sorry, Mom. I already said I'm sorry."

  "They said they tried calling but you weren't answering your phone, and that they needed to talk to you about being assaulted and robbed at work. Why wouldn't you tell me about something like that?"

  Her mom's voice faded, and was replaced by a man's.

  "Hi Savi."

  Savi resented his you-know-how-your-mother-gets tone, as if it were a shared joke between the two of them.

  "Dave." It was more of a question than a greeting.

  "How's camping? Did Hettie ever join you?"

  Although she preferred her mom's scolding to Dave's casual yet forced conversation, Savi contemplated the best way to answer. Her mom was angry enough to make her come home, but maybe she'd be lenient if she thought Hettie had come after all. Savi recovered her smile, hoping it would make her lie more convincing.

  "It's great. Hettie did end up coming. She brought Colby. It's the perfect way to end the summer before she leaves until Thanksgiving. She actually said she may be too busy to even come home then, so I'm really glad we reconciled."

  Laying it on too thick?

  She could hear muffled voices, and pictured Dave with his hand over the receiver, hoping to score points with Savi by being the good guy and convincing her mom to let her stay.

  "What time will you be home tomorrow?" he asked.

  "I'm not sure." How long did turning three werewolves back into humans take? "Probably after lunch?"

  A scuffling sound told her the phone was being passed back to her mom, but no one spoke for a few seconds.

  "You will be home by noon, sharp," said her mom. "And the three of us are having dinner this Friday night at 6:30, sharp."

  "I'll have my schedule tomorrow night --"

  Her mom cut her off. "If you don't have it off, you're taking it off."

  Savi was about to object, but caught herself. "Okay. I'll see you tomorrow."

  "At noon."

  Rolling her eyes at the starry sky, Savi repeated, "At noon. Bye Mom."

  "Savannah?"

  "Yeah?"

  "Don't lose yourself."

  Savi nearly laughed, but was cut off by a wrenching sadness that was so sudden and so physical she couldn't breathe, let alone reply.

  "Savannah?"

  Managing a strained, "I'm right here, Mom," her throat closed with a silent sob.

  "I love you."

  She wanted to tell her mom the same, but didn't trust her voice through her tears. Watching the phone as her mother disconnected the call, Savi imagined her mom's fear and panic at the sight of a police car. She couldn't help but equate it with what Marcia had told her about George -- Glenn, that is -- which only served to drown her further. Guilt, grief, anger, loneliness, fear -- Savi had hurled these and countless other emotions into the abyss within herself, watching them drop like stones until they passed into darkness. Now the world was upside down, and they were spilling out, piling on top
of her, burying her, and all she could do was break under their crushing weight.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  The grass was long and cool on her face. Savi nestled into it, wishing she could cry herself to sleep and wake in her own bed, this weekend drifting from her memory like the nightmare it was.

  "Savi!" someone called in a loud whisper.

  Praying that she'd imagined it, Savi buried herself deeper in the grass. An emotional breakdown was harrowing; someone witnessing her emotional breakdown -- that was humiliating.

  "Savi!"

  The voice was closer, and she thought she recognized it.

  No. Please, no. No, no, no.

  Savi peered over the grass in the direction of the voice. A dark gray silhouette was running towards her.

  Marley.

  She stood and turned away from him to wipe her face on her shirt, but she was unable to calm her jagged breathing before he reached her.

  "What's wrong?" he asked, looking from her to the barn and back. "Are you hurt?"

  His concern, and the memory of how they'd parted, bulldozed the meager wall she'd started to erect. She tried to talk, but all that came out was a fresh wave of quiet sobs.

  "Come on." He grabbed her hand and ran towards the nearest treeline.

  The shock of electric warmth that pulsed through Savi's body at Marley's touch startled her into silence. She knew she should let go, and tell him about the plan to capture the silver wolf, but the heat was a much needed comfort.

  A few steps into the woods, Marley stopped and turned to her, his hands on her shoulders. "What did they do to you?" His face was almost hidden by the heavy shadow of the forest canopy, but he was close enough for her to see him scanning the clearing behind her. He took her chin, studying her face with worry. "Did they hurt you?"