Hunting His Vampire Princess (Book 6 of the Avec Series)

Chapter Nine

    Mercy spent this day like she did every year. With a small cake, chocolate with peanut butter icing, vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup, and a card with fifty dollars in it. The only difference is, she knew that this year, where ever her son was, he would be experiencing his first shift alone. She wondered what would emerge first, his bear or his wolf. Would have both? Would he be okay? She stared at the candle on the cake watching it flicker as her eyes blurred with tears. 

    Her second chance mate stood behind her and rubbed her shoulders soothingly. He wished he could do something for her. The night he had met her, the attackers had wounded her so badly in her abdomen that she almost died. He was forever thankful that she didn't. But when she woke, he had to be the one to tell her that they had to remove her uterus. It had been torn to shreds. "I swear to you, we will find him, baby." 

    She reached her hand up and clasped it. Rafael has been such a blessing to her all these years. "I just hope he shifts okay," she said. She tried to will her mind to him, to let him know that she was there for him, even if it was in spirit.

    ************

    Jade sighed softly in her sleep and snuggled deeper into her blankets completely unaware of the world around her. Tracker was thankful that his cousin was such a sound sleeper. He could feel his wolf stirring inside his mind and it was making him worry. He didn't understand what was happening, even with all the reading he did on it. He felt as if there were two animals inside him fighting for dominance to emerge first. He stood and began pacing the floor. He could feel himself growing more anxious as the night wore on. He decided it would be safer for him to leave the cottage, he didn't know how he would act once his wolf appeared and didn't want to hurt Jade. 

    As he walked out of the house he could feel a shooting pain running down his legs. "Ah," he cried. It felt as if he were being electrocuted. He walked further from the house and into the small patch of woods where he could strip off his clothes. As he was taking them off he could feel an intense burning beneath his skin, as if he were sunburned. He quickly removed the rest of his clothes hoping the irritation would go away. He was beginning to sweat from the pain flowing through his body. The black hair that began to force its way through his skin was making him feel itchy on top of the burning. He stifled his urge to scratch his skin. As the bones began to break, and shift and reform, he groaned in agony. He tried to hold on to his human side while he was shifting. He wanted to remember what was happening to him so he could Jade when the time came, but the pain became too much and he passed out. As his mind succumbed to the numbing darkness he thought he heard his mother's voice from so long ago. 

    "Just relax, sweetie. Just relax and it won't hurt as much," his mother's voice soothed from somewhere deep in the recesses of his mind. 

    "Mom?" he whispered, just before the blackness swallowed him. 

    Selene was watching Tracker with interest. His massive black and silver wolf was lying on its side. Tank slowly opened his eyes and gave his head a small shake as if to clear his mind. 

    "Hello, Tank," the familiar woman greeted. Her face was serene and calming to him.

    Tank stood on his still shaky legs and walked cautiously over to the woman. He could smell her scent and it tickled the back of his mind. His senses were so much sharper, his vision clearer. He could smell everything a hundred times better it seemed. 

    Selene reached out and stroked the wolf's soft fur, "You are magnificent. You did wonderfully, and someday you'll be a wonderful ruler." She spoke to the wolf, "Would you like to run?" 

    At the mention of running, Tank's ears perked up. He was more than ready to run! Selene smiled as she shifted. Her own wolf appearing, its white and silver fur shining as it were the moon itself. The two ran for a few miles before Tank had to stop. He was beginning to feel light-headed and that familiar burning was coming back. He looked at Selene, who had shifted back to her human form. "Don't worry, Tank, it's your other half ready to emerge." 

    At this point, Tracker was able to push through. He thought to himself, the other half? Selene heard his thoughts and smiled softly at the wolf. "How much do you remember of your mother?" Tracker's body was returning to his human form, but the excruciating pain was back. He couldn't think of anything but getting the pain to ease. 

    He shook his head, and said raggedly, "Not much."  He wished he could relish in the fact that the moon goddess saw fit to help him through his first shift, but couldn't with the pain still flowing through his body.  He tried to remember his mother, all he could recall was her smile and her long black hair. 

    "It's okay," Selene tried to reassure him, "You were young." 

    He was trying to control his breathing and remember the voice of his mother telling him to relax. Selene touched Tracker's shoulder gently, "You have to shift one more time." 

    He groaned softly, "Why couldn't I just stay as my wolf?" The itching and burning sensation had returned with a vengeance. He wished it would end. 

    Selene gave him a soft smile, "Because you will also have another gift bestowed upon you, tonight." She wished there was something she could do for all of her wards as they went through their first shift, but she had no control over that part. 

    He would have questioned her again if the pain of his bones shifting, yet again, hadn't washed over his body. If this was a gift, he wanted to see about making a return! He groaned in pain again, he wanted this to stop! He was strong, but he could only take so much. 

    Selene looked at him apologetically, "I'm sorry, and I promise that it doesn't hurt after this." She did her best to reassure him. 

    He just looked at her, he didn't care about next time, this time was killer! He gasped out, "What sort of gift is this?" His face began to change as the shiny black fur began to poke through his skin. His limbs elongated and massive paws appeared where his hands were. The sharp claws were unretracted. He stood on his hind legs and roared. This sound was nothing like the growls that came from the wolves. Tracker's mind was still present this time and he was stunned. He looked at Selene, the surprise evident on his face. He could hear so many things now! His hearing had sharpened immensely. 

    Selene smiled, "Welcome, Dubhe." 

    The black bear roared again. Tracker's own mind was racing. How? Why? 

    Selene could see the confusion on the bear's face, "Your mother wasn't a wolf, Tracker." 

    The bear dropped to all fours, he was certainly impressive as a beast. Both of his shifted forms, large and imposing. They would certainly be an asset to people if he could ever find a pack! 

    Selene could see the wheels turning in Tracker's mind, and she hoped it was for the best. As Tracker regained control and began to shift back to his human form once more, he looked to Selene. His bewilderment at the situation clearly all over his face. 

    "Tracker," she began, "There isn't much I can tell you yet. But please, keep your ability a secret. There are people out there that will take advantage of your gifts." 

    Tracker looked up at her, his body was exhausted, "Right now, I just want to sleep and get answers." His muscles were aching terribly. but he stood and began to walk naked back the way they came. "Will Jade be able to do this, too?" 

    Selene handed him his shorts and gave him a look that said get dressed. Then she shook her head, "No, her parents were both wolves." She debated on what else she could tell Tracker and decided to give him this warning. "You both will be met with a lot of decisions to make. Please choose wisely. There are great things ahead for you both.' She paused for a minute, then continued, "If you follow the right path." She walked with him until they made it to the clearing near his cottage. 

    She was shimmering away from him when he turned to her, "If you see my mother, please tell her I love her." She nodded, she didn't know what the Fates had in store for them. And if you meddled in the affairs of the Fates, they made sure you paid. And paid dearly. 

    Tracker walked back to his cottage and fell onto the sofa, exhausted. He was thankful for the moon goddess's assistance tonight. His mind was full to the brim with information, not only about himself but Jade as well. He would be able to be there for her when she shifted. He just hoped that by that time they had a pack to help her as well. As he fell into a deep sleep he let his mind go back to the faintest memories he had of his childhood. He missed his parents dearly, he hasn't felt anything from his father since the day Leah took them away. But everyone in a while, especially on his birthday he could feel her. He hoped he never lost that small connect, that tiny bit of hope, that somewhere she was out there looking for them. And that he was making her proud. 

    *********

    Dolos was sulking, the Fates were being unreasonable. They were going to tell his mother! What was he, a hundred years old? No! He was full-grown, god! He didn't want them telling her either way, but for good grief. He was just having a little harmless fun. It wasn't his fault that those wolves were easily manipulated! Some of them were very weak! 

    He needed to figure out how to get those two that were left from those packs, back to their homes. It wasn't going to be easy that was for sure! He didn't know what to do. That was why he went to Selene, she should have helped him! But she won't. He needed to come up with a plan to make her see. Or, as an idea formed in his mind, he could lead them to a pack himself. He knew of a few wannabe alphas that could use a little push. He thought about it for a minute, and then made up his mind. He snapped his fingers at the idea. 

    "Birsha!" He exclaimed, "That witch will be able to help me get these two on the right path. He's looking for power himself." 

    He disappeared from where he was and made his way to Birsha's cottage on the Isle. He hated coming here, it was so dark and dismal, but this was where he made his home! 

    Birsha looked up as the god showed himself, "To what do I owe this honor?" 

    Dolos smirked, "I need you to do something for me," he said. 

    Birsha's lifted his eyebrow, "And what would that be?" A god was asking him for a favor? Interesting. 

    "I need to get two wolves back to their packs, or that Fates won't leave me alone," he said simply. "I'll pay you handsomely for your assistance." 

    Birsha didn't care much about money or payments but he did want power. He had a small taste of it when Mavaka was alive and he wanted it again. "I want to rule a realm." 

    Dolos knew he couldn't do that, but also knew that Birsha didn't know that. This would be like taking candy from a baby. "Of course!" He agreed. They quickly set their plan in motion. He was certain this would work! It simply had to.