Shiftless: Tuatha Series Book 1

by Linton Bowers

  I moved cautiously to the pedestal picturing a giant boulder rolling out from the wall as I did. Either I watched way too many movies or modern media was filled with a bunch of cautionary tales. I would know for sure in a moment and decide if I needed to cut back on the T.V. watching or ramp it up.

  The glittering object turned out to be a golden medallion on a gold chain. A howling wolf head was carved into the medallion. It was a little too plain looking to be an object of power in my opinion.

  I stretched out my hand index finger leading the way. Just as my fingertip broke the column of light I closed my eyes. I didn’t want to see it get burned off if this was the trap I expected. Nothing happened. I opened my eyes to see I was wrist deep in the light. I let out a puff of air.

  Just as slow as before I lowered my hand until my index finger tapped the medallion. Once again nothing happened. I tapped a couple more times a little harder. Still nothing

  “Oh fuck this!” I scooped up the medallion and nothing happened. I laughed, tossed the medallion into the air, and caught it. “Cake and pie,” I said.

  I took a step in the direction of the stairs. Something hit my foot and there was a couple clicking sounds. I screamed and ran for the stairs. I was on the first step in an instant. I looked back to see what devious device I triggered.

  The room was the same except for one little detail. A chunk of the grey stone sat next to the pedestal. I must have kicked it which meant the doppelganger was telling the truth. I let out a sigh and made my way up the stairs.

  The stairs let me out into a small room covered in a thick layer of dust. As I moved to the wooden door on the other side clouds of the dust puffed up from under my feet filling my nose with the musty stink. I had to stop and survive a couple of sneezing fits.

  The room was maybe half the size of the mirror room making it about fifteen feet across. I wondered why this room was in such a state when the rest had been spotless. The door creaked and groaned but swung open easily.

  Tabitha stood on the far side of a room identical to the dust room minus the dust. Miranda was next to her and her face lit up into a wide grin when she saw me. We ran to each other and stopped in a tight embrace.

  “You were amazing,” she whispered in my ear.

  “You saw me?” I asked in obvious confusion.

  “Yeah, the whole place is rigged with cameras. We watched all of it,” Miranda said.

  “We?” The question came out in a growl. I released Miranda and stepped back fixing my gaze on Tabitha. “About that we thing.” I snarled.

  “Wait!” Miranda put her hand on my chest. “You need to hear her out before you go all uber killer on her. The situation is a bit more complicated than you know.”

  “I don’t care. She…”

  “I know,” Miranda interrupted me. “Please, my alpha, just give her a moment before you act. Please?”

  I let out a breath and felt some of my tension melt away. I didn’t know what kind of alpha I was going to make if I couldn’t tell my wolf no. “Alright, I’ll listen.”

  Tabitha took that as her que. She stepped forward and dropped to her knees. Then there was darkness. Tabitha was still before me kneeling but she wore nothing. The skin covering her slender frame was prickled like she was cold but I didn’t feel any temperature in the mindscape. I looked down and saw that I was just as naked.

  “Please forgive me,” Tabitha said.

  “Tell me why you put me through those tests,” I demanded.

  Tabitha raised her head to look up at me. She must not have liked what she saw because her eyes snapped back down. “I’m the last of my clan, the last guardian of the Wolf’s Pack Metal. I swore on my life to keep it safe until one capable of passing the test came. I…” she sobbed.

  I waited for Tabitha to regain control. “I didn’t know if you were strong enough, but I couldn’t just hand it over to you and I feared that Arnold might be strong enough. I had to do it.” Her voice broke with the last words.

  The nude beauty kneeling before me hadn’t hurt my wolf and I was okay. Her test showed me what I was capable of and gave me access to a powerful artifact. I was still angry, but more out of not being told the particulars of the test than anything else. I knew then that I had already forgave her.

  I looked up from her to the darkness around us. “Why are we here?”

  “Miranda told me this would happen. She said this is how your kind accept pack. That the usual ways didn’t work for you.”

  “Accept pack? Tabitha, are you asking…”

  “I know I don’t deserve it after what I did, but I am begging you. I have no one and no clan. Please don’t turn me away, Terry.” Her cries turned to deep, body shaking sobs.

  I bent down and grabbed her shoulders to guide her to her feet. She covered her face with her hands and refused to look at me. I wrapped the wereserpent in my arms and held her tight. We stayed there until she was cried out then longer in silence.

  I broke the silence. “Tabitha.” I gently moved her hands exposing her red eyes and tear streaked cheeks. “I’m sorry about your family, your clan, but you’re not alone. You are pack, and you are my serpent.”

  Tabitha smiled and a new lonely tear rolled down her cheek. “Thank you, master. I will serve as no other could.I swear to give my life to you and your cause.”

  I chuckled. “I’m no one’s master. You call me Terry. All I need you to do is worry about mending the pain Arnold caused you. We will work out the rest.”

  Tabitha stood on her toes and pulled me down by my neck. Our lips met for a moment, then we were back in the underground complex.

  “I knew you would take her into our pack,” Miranda whispered to me.

  “Seemed like the right thing to do,” I said.

  “That it was. And now we grow stronger through you and you grow stronger through us,” she said.

  “What does that mean?” I asked.

  “No one knows for sure,” Tabitha said. She must have stood while Miranda and I were talking. I was amazed to see the same red rimmed eyes and tear streaked face from the mindscape. She must have cried here at the same time she had in there. She wrapped her arms around my left bicep and rested her head against my shoulder. “It’s been so long since your kind has walked this world that we have all forgotten what you are capable of. We know now that you can bring together all the Lycan species.”

  “I look forward to seeing what else you can do,” Miranda said. “These are exciting times we live in. Thank you for letting me be a part of it.”

  “Don’t thank me,” I said. “I wouldn’t know anything if not for you. Thank you for bringing me out of my humdrum life and showing me what I am.” I looked from one beautiful face to the other. “This is more than I could have ever thought possible.” Both of my Lycans smiled at me.

  “Tabitha,” I said. A new concern came to me that needed to be addressed. “What can you tell me about this” I held up the Wolf Pack Metal for my women to see.

  “I don’t know much,” Tabitha said. “A wolf who is strong should know once they touch it. I thought since you had a wolf it would work for you. Do you not feel anything?”

  “No, Tabitha, not a thing,” I replied.

  Miranda plucked the amulet from my hand and inspected both sides before returning it. “I got nothing,” she said. “It’s just a gold medallion.”

  “That is od,” Tabitha said. “My tribe spoke of wolves showing incredible ability due to the amulet. It should do more. I hope they didn’t die for a lie and a trinket.”

  “There has to be more to it than that’” I said. We’ll figure it out.” I held it up by the chain and inspected it for a moment. Still nothing. I passed it to Miranda. “You can have it, Miranda. You are a wolf after all. It only seems right that you keep it. Maybe you can find out something about it and make it work.”

  “Yeah, ok,” Miranda said. She touched it and pulled back. “Oh!” Her eyes went wide.

  “What is it?” Tabitha asked.
<
br />   “It tingled. It felt like I touched a nine volt battery to my tongue.”

  I poked it but felt nothing. “Still nothing to me,” I said. “Take it and let's see what happens.”

  “Easy for you to say,” Miranda said.

  “True, but we’re right here. If anything happens I will pry it out of your hands,” I said.

  “I don’t know about this,” Tabitha said. “This is powerful magics we are dealing with and none of us understand it.”

  “Hm.” I thought about it for a second. “I think if it was going to hurt you, Miranda, then it would have. I am willing to bet that it’s safe enough for you. I feel it in my guts,” and I did. “Will you trust my gut feeling?” I asked Miranda.

  She smiled. “I would go to war for you, Terry.” With that she wrapped her hand around the amulet. “Oh,” she said. “Oh wow!”

  “What?” Tabitha and I asked in unison.

  “I feel it. I feel the power of it. It wants to get in but can’t unless I let it. It is not mine, but yours.” She looked at me. “I am the steward of your power if I accept.”

  “Should you accept?” I asked. I was beginning to fear for my wolf. I didn’t know what I would do if I lost her.

  Miranda took a deep breath and looked me in the eye. She was a woman of good posture that dominated any room she entered, but at that moment her presence became so much more. Like her intent was being pressed out of her and forced upon the world. “I accept, Terry.”

  The Wolf Pack Metal flared with golden light. Miranda screamed. My heart beat increased tenfold and my skin tingled. I reached out for my wolf but my muscles locked up before I could touch her.

  Searing pain flared across my chest. Tabitha’s screams joined Miranda’s shortly followed by mine. I fell to my knees. The pain felt like a thermite grenade burning its way to my very core. The burning grew so intense it started to feel cold. I screamed until my throat was raw and flecks of blood flew from my mouth.

  The last thing I saw before blacking out was the worried faces of my beautiful women.

  Chapter 15

  A dull throbbing pain at my temples woke me from sleep. My eyes fluttered open and I saw the same gray stone on the ceiling and wall next to me. A look down my body told the story of a bed complete with comforter, sheets, dark brown wood foot board and extra pillows.

  “You are in the catacombs still,” came a raspy voice to the left. My head fell to the side so I could see the speaker. An inky black silhouette with dark blue swirls flowing through it stood not far from me in the shape of a man.

  “Who, or what, are you?” I asked. My voice was harsh and speaking hurt my throat.

  “I am, or was, the instrument of the second test. Now I am free. You may call me Bale.”

  “You were part of the test? I don’t understand,” I said.

  “There is cool water on the table next to you. I will explain while you drink.” I sat up and grabbed the glass. As the blankets fell to my lap I noticed my lack of clothing.

  “When you bound the amulet to yourself and your pack I was still connected to you. The magic broke my bonds and freed me,” Bale said.

  “If you’re free, then why are you here and not somewhere else?” I asked the shadow.

  “The world is lacking in places where I might be welcome. So I have decided to stay and lend a hand.” The shade stepped closer and crouched so we would be eye level if it had eyes. “I owe you a debt, Terrance. And I choose to repay it by training you to be a real warrior. If you agree, I will teach you to do more than flail about and dick-punch your foes. That will eventually lead to you and your’s becoming the laughing stock of the night. Will you accept my help?”

  “Sure, why not. I could use some training to become strong enough to protect my pack,” I said. In my mind I marveled at how quickly I was becoming accustomed to the situation.

  “It’s part of what you are,” Miranda’s voice said in my head. “With the acceptance of what you are, your true self can shine.”

  “Where are you?” I thought back to her.

  “Tabitha and I are preparing food. We’ll be there shortly. I hope you’re hungry.”

  “Starved,” I replied. “Do you know there is a shadow in this room talking to me?”

  A laugh echoed through my head. “Yeah. That was unexpected, but it seems to genuinely want to help. I think you should let him,” she responded.

  “I was thinking the same. Speaking of which, it is just crouching here next to me not talking. I will see you in a few.”

  “Yes you will my love,” Miranda replied and I felt the warmth of her love through our connection.

  “Can you…” I started to say.

  “I can hear your thoughts and communications with the she-wolf,” Bale said. “I will wait to be addressed unless something pressing comes about. I understand how unsettling this must be.”

  “Yeah, thanks for that. So where do we go from here?” I asked.

  “That depends on you, Alpha. But as for the training. After you get some rest we can begin. For now, I will take my leave. I believe you have company.” He pointed at the door.

  Tabitha and Miranda entered the room. I looked back and Bale was gone. “That’s what I need, some Batman disappearing act in my life. Oh well.” I turned my attention back to my women. “Hello, ladies. How are you?” I asked.

  “The question is how are you, Terry?” Tabitha asked.

  “I feel fine,” I said.

  “Have you looked at your chest?” Miranda asked me.

  “Yeah, I glanced down…” my voice trailed off as I saw what she meant. Over my heart there were two marks that looked like healed brands. One was the same wolf head from the amulet. The other was of a cobra's head with the hood open. It looked so much like the symbol for Cobra from the old G. I. Joe cartoons that I was afraid of a copyright infringement lawsuit if the wrong person saw it.

  “Bale thinks the magic used symbols that were familiar to you,” Miranda said.

  “This is crazy,” I said.

  “Oh it gets better,” Miranda said. “Look at this.” She pulled her blouse apart allowing me to see the same wolf head over her heart. “Show him, Taby.”

  I looked at Tabitha as she pulled the collar of her t-shirt down enough for me to see the G.I. Joe Cobra symbol on her. “That’s not all,” Tabitha said.

  Both Tabitha and Miranda set trays of food on my bed. They glanced at each other then shifted. Miranda was taller and thicker than she had been. A streak of golden fur ran from the top of her left eye up and over her head and out of my sight. Tabitha was also bigger but she now sported a cobra hood much like the symbol on my chest. She also had gold running from her left eye over her head. The cobra symbol on her chest was gold like the streak. I took a good look at Miranda’s chest and saw gold colored fur in the shape of the wolf head.

  “That’s so fucking cool,” I said. “Are you guys stronger and faster now?” I asked.

  “Much stronger and faster. Not only that but we are both more ourselves than beasts,” Miranda thought to me. “And Taby can spit venom like the little dino from Jurassic Park.”

  “And Miranda’s howl is so loud it almost collapsed this place on our heads.”

  “Tabitha? You too?” I asked. That was the first time I heard her in my head.

  “My research said only one packmate could bond like this to you and communicate mentally, but now you have two,” Miranda thought at me. “We still have so much to learn.”

  “You truly are strong,” Tabitha thought. “I am lucky to be in your pack, ma… Terry. Thank you.”

  “Thank you for joining us, Tabitha and giving us the key to these new abilities. I am glad you are with us.” I thought.

  Miranda was the first one to shift back and I got to enjoy her in all of her naked glory. As Tabitha shifted Miranda picked up a tray and set it on my lap. Miranda and Tabitha remained in their birthday suits while I ate. They did most of the talking as my mouth stayed full. My appetite had seriou
sly increased lately.

  Halfway through the contents of the second tray, which was mostly pot roast, Miranda left and returned with a large glass bowl, a whistling tea kettle, and some hand towels.

  “What is this?” I asked.

  “Our girl here has taken it upon herself to clean you,” Miranda said.

  “That’s not necessary,” I said. “Just leave the stuff here and I'll clean myself.”

  “No,” Tabitha said. “You will allow me to do this for you. It's my apology for not informing you of what was coming.”

  “I’ve forgiven you for that, Tabitha. There is no…”

  “I must do this for my honor,” Tabitha said. She dropped to the floor and pressed her forehead to the stone. “If I do not make recompense then I'm not worthy of you, Terry.”

  “Serpents are like samurai when it comes to their honor,” Miranda thought to me. “You should let her do this. It shows her how much you value her and respect her honor.”

  I let out a deep sigh. “Alright, Tabbitha. Now please get off the floor and help me.”

  Tabitha rose with the biggest smile I'd seen her wear. She was gorgeous. She grabbed the kettle and poured hot water into the glass bowl, then scooped up a bar of soap. She poured the liquid soap into the bowl mixing the water as she did. With a white washcloth she dipped it then rubbed it against my chest.

  We didn’t talk as she worked. I stared at her pretty face and smiled along with her. Tabitha lathered up my chest and stomach, then washed it clean of soap. She moved to my back then my arms. From there she moved to my feet and worked her way up. Not once did her smile waiver.

  Never in my short life had anyone done that for me. Well maybe when I was a baby, but that doesn’t count. A part of me felt weird, like I’d done nothing to deserve treatment like that. A bigger part knew this was right. I was alpha and I deserved treatment like this. It was I that made my women stronger and I would protect them. Why shouldn’t I be a little spoiled?