Changed

Chapter Two

“He wants to take me to dinner. He says he’ll answer all my questions.” Chloe nestled in Rachel’s couch, grasping one of the worn pillows tossed to the side. “I told him I’d think about it.”

“It’s good to take your time,” Rachel said, trying to be neutral. With her upbringing, she wasn’t too keen on trusting family members. Chloe had spoken to her father a few times but wasn’t ready to meet him face-to-face just yet. To lighten the mood, Rachel offered, “You’ve got forever. What’s the rush?”

Chloe’s eyes clouded over and Rachel wanted to slap herself. She’d forgotten how worried Chloe had become, knowing Rachel wouldn’t live as long as she would. They’d only discussed the issue once and that had been more than enough. Chloe—God love her—thought Rachel should consider joining Team Furry Creatures. That way they’d never be apart. But the thought of changing into a dog wasn’t all that appealing.

They snatch children up and take them to the woods. Her mother’s voice breezed through her head. Then they let them go and hunt them down. They love the taste of human flesh. Once they’ve had it nothing else will do.

She exhaled slowly, shunning the horrific images in her mind. “I’m sorry.” She hurried to make things right. Chloe wasn’t the monster her mother would have Rachel believe. “That was a horrible joke.”

“I wish you’d just think about it,” Chloe said softly, eyes full of concern. “You’d never have to grow old and you’d never be alone. You don’t know how wonderful it is. It’s like growing wings and being able to fly. And you’d finally have a family.”

It wasn’t easy to bite back her temper. “Unlike you I don’t have a beef with nature. It’s the way life works. You’re born. You live. Then you die. And I do have a family,” she reminded Chloe firmly. Chloe’s grandparents had practically raised her. Rachel knew she’d be welcomed at their home anytime. “Gram and Gramps, remember?”

“They’re getting old, Rach.” Chloe’s sadness at the confession smothered Rachel’s anger. “Grams had to start using a cane to get around. It’s hard for her to get out of bed in the morning. Gramps does what he can but…” Shaking her head, she whispered miserably, “They’re not as strong as they used to be. I can see what time is doing to them.”

“It’s nature, Chloe,” she repeated, hammering her point home. “We’re born, we live and then we die.”

“You don’t have to be so cruel,” Chloe snapped. “I know what’s going to happen to my family. No matter how much I hate thinking about it. But you…” She formed her hands into tight fists. “You could listen if you wanted to. You could try to understand.”

Screw this. “Look, let’s not talk about all that, okay? The night’s young. It’s not like I’m going anywhere. I’ve got a lot of life left in me. We’re supposed to be having fun, so let’s have fun.” Rachel reached for the vodka and shot glasses on the table. “Turn on the movie and we’ll down a few drinks before the pizza gets here. We’re supposed to relax and have a good time. There’s no need to ruin the night with silly arguments.”

Chloe sighed and tossed the pillow to the couch. “Sounds good to me.”

As Rachel filled the glasses, Chloe turned on the movie they’d chosen—some cheesy horror flick about a deranged lunatic plaguing a small town. Usually they went for romance but Rachel insisted she really wasn’t in the mood. The last thing she needed was the memory of Declan in the garage, touching her so carefully, kissing her until she couldn’t breathe. She’d been surprised to see him with Jackson. The way he’d looked at her had sent a lick of heat from her head to her toes.

She handed a shot to Chloe. “Here you go.”

They tapped the glasses together, tapped the bases of the thick glass on the coffee table and quickly tossed the vodka back. The liquid burned like fire, cascading down Rachel’s throat. She coughed it off, laughing as she pounded her chest. Chloe grinned, taking the burn of the liquor much better than she ever had as a human.

“One more?” Rachel asked.

Chloe extended her arm, holding out her glass. “Please.”

Just like old times. Rachel refilled Chloe’s drink and then did the same with her own. The followed the same routine, downing the shots.

Since she’d already had one round, the vodka went down much smoother. She cleared her throat, glad her eyes didn’t water. The only time she consumed alcohol was when she and Chloe had a movie night. Otherwise she avoided the stuff altogether. Her mother served as a constant reminder of what happened when you got addicted to booze. Once a beautiful woman, Rachel’s mother had turned into a liar, thief and whore of epic proportions.

“So how are things with Jackson?” Rachel placed her glass on the table and reclined on the couch, deciding to talk through the opening credits of the film. “Are you digging the married life?”

Chloe snorted, shaking blonde curls from her face. “We’re not married yet.”

“You might as well be.” They hadn’t had the ceremony but it wasn’t necessary. When werewolves mated—from what Rachel knew—it was for life. “You love him. He loves you. A piece of paper doesn’t mean squat.”

“Things are good between us.” The corners of Chloe’s mouth lifted into a smile. “He’s bossy sometimes but I don’t mind. I kinda like it.”

“I bet you do.” If Declan was any indication of how werewolves were sexually, Rachel could just imagine how bossy Jackson could be. “How are you getting on with the family?”

“I’m getting along fine with the pack.” Chloe’s clarification was intentional and Rachel knew it. Sometimes—when Rachel wasn’t paying attention—she tended to act as though Chloe hadn’t changed. She generalized things to make the situation tolerable. “They’re really great. I’ve told them about you. They want to know if you’re ever coming around. You should meet them.”

Chloe and Jackson she could handle. She could even suffer Declan. But an entire room of werewolves? No way in hell. “We’ll see,” she murmured.

“It’s not as bad as you think.” Chloe retrieved the pillow and rested back. “They’re actually pretty normal. Gram and Gramps were impressed when they joined us for lunch. They like them.”

Rachel knew Chloe’s grandparents had visited the pack, so she wasn’t sure why it bothered her to hear about it. Maybe she was jealous on some level. Gram and Gramps were her family too. Yet they were now apart from her in a small way, connected to Chloe in a manner Rachel envied. They’d always been there for their grandchild, so of course they’d wanted to meet those Chloe spent so much time with.

“I’m glad.” And she was glad for Chloe and her grandparents, even if she felt a stab of envy. “You deserve to be happy.”

Chloe started to respond when the doorbell rang.

Perfect timing. The food had finally arrived.

Rachel rose from the couch and snatched the money she’d placed on the table. She’d been so busy working she hadn’t had a chance to eat lunch. Nothing would taste better than a greasy slice of peperoni pizza. Her stomach growled and her mouth watered. She quickened pace, ravenous and ready to chow down. Reaching the door, she slid the chain lock free and unlatched the deadbolt.

“Rachel!” Chloe yelled.

“What?” she hollered, cracking the door open. She turned at the sound of stomping feet and frowned when she saw Chloe running toward her. Her friend’s eyes had changed color, so bright they seemed yellow.

“Close the door. Don’t open—”

Rachel cried out as the door burst open and hit her in the center of the chest. She staggered back, unable to draw air to scream as an enormous fucking beast rushed into her house. Hitting the wall, she used her hands to keep her balance and stay on her feet. Her mind tried to process what she was seeing. The black wolf that had barged in was bigger than any dog she’d ever seen, weighing at least a couple hundred pounds. Its feet were the size of china plates, its head like a motor block. It gazed down the small hallway, yellow eyes intent on its target.

Chloe cried out, her terror evident. She took off, bolting into the living room.

Rachel watched, horrified, as the wolf went after her friend. She didn’t think, acting on impulse. Snatching an umbrella by the door, she tore after them. She entered the living room, braced for a fight. Chloe had taken cover behind the couch, using it as a barrier. To Rachel’s shock, she noticed Chloe’s face had changed. It was terrifying to watch her friend morph into something else. Chloe’s elbows bent oddly, golden hair appearing on her arms. The wolf across from Chloe slashed the furniture, ripping the cushions to shreds. It reared back on its hind legs, ready to pounce.

“I don’t fucking think so!” Rachel snarled, charging at the thing. “Get out of my house!”

She aimed at its head and brought the umbrella down. Her aim was true, striking the wild animal at the base of its skull. It shook the blow off so she hit it again, then again. The final whack bent the umbrella at the center, making the weapon useless. She tossed it to the ground, facing the wild creature that spun on its back legs to face her.

The wolf snarled. Vibrant gold eyes locked on to her.

Rachel didn’t feel herself hit the ground.

One second she was standing. The next her back made solid contact with the floor. The wind went out of her lungs, making it impossible to breathe. A horrible stabbing pain swept through her shoulder, burning like raw fire. The animal shook her like a rag doll, lifting her torso from the ground. She tried to push the thing away, shoving at its furry shoulders. Warm wetness seeped down her chest and back, soaking her shirt. Bringing her hands up, she tried to yank at the wolf’s ears and get free.

I’m going to die.

For all her brave talk to Chloe earlier, she didn’t want to die. Certainly she accepted she wouldn’t live forever but she’d assumed she had plenty of years ahead of her. She’d never done any of the things she wanted. She’d never seen the world or traveled outside of Black County. She’d never seen any of the beautiful places she’d heard about. She’d never been in love. She’d never seen the sunrise. She’d never put on a pretty dress to be like one of the beautiful girls she loathed but also envied. There were so many other things she’d wanted to do and now she never would.

She screamed when the white-hot pain in her shoulder increased, fangs ripping sideways through her flesh. Then the agonizing sensation was gone, taken away as the black wolf veered, let go and moved away from her. Growls echoed through the room, the vile sounds making Rachel tremble. Back and forth the snarls went, the awful sounds ripping through her skull. She tried to roll over, grimacing when she touched her shoulder. Blood oozed between her fingers, soaking her palm. She wondered if she was bleeding out, her racing heart pumping all of her blood from her body.

A whine pulled her from her morbid thoughts.

A blonde wolf—much smaller than the other one—had taken the black beast down. The other animal shook its head, snarling furiously, bracing its paws on the fallen wolf’s chest. Blood gushed from the blonde wolf’s mouth, winding down the black beast’s coat and dripping on the carpet. Even as the huge beast whined and whimpered the pale wolf didn’t relent, biting down, snarling ferociously.

A blur caught Rachel’s attention and she tried to turn her head.

Another wolf rushed by, its coat a dark brown color. It was larger than the other wolves in her living room, almost double in size. The brown animal approached the fighting pair. It snarled at the blonde wolf, baring its teeth. The small, blonde beast didn’t relent, lifting its eyes to glare at the other animal.

Oh God. Rachel knew those eyes. She’d gazed into them since she was a child. She’d never feared them before but she did now. Chloe.

Her head swirled, speckles dotting her vision. She blinked rapidly, fighting to stay awake. She didn’t want to die like this—on the floor, watching her best friend turn into an animal, unable to move or speak. She tried to inhale and gasped at the misery the simple action caused. Her lungs felt heavy, her body becoming cold. Her teeth rattled as she shook, her muscles drawn tight.

Blackness marred the edges of her vision, trying to take her under. She resisted, telling herself to stay awake. She watched as the black wolf’s movements became sluggish, it’s amber eyes full of panic. She realized it was dying. Just like her.

Serves it right.

Even though she knew she shouldn’t, she closed her eyes. She tried to count, to focus on something—anything—but in an instant darkness rose to consume her, wrapping her in a tight embrace. She gave up the fight, succumbing to oblivion. There was nothing left.

In her final moments she admitted she didn’t want to slip from the world.

Now—when it was too late—she very much wanted to live.

* * * * *

Declan growled at Chloe, ordering her to back off. She didn’t listen, refusing to relinquish her death grip, biting down. Then she shook her head, thrashing her muzzle violently from side to side. The wolf she’d attacked stopped struggling, gurgling as it emitted a death rattle.

Rachel. Get to her. Now.

He fought to stay with Chloe, wanting to rush to his female’s side. He’d seen she’d been hurt when he’d run into the home, smelled the rusty bitterness of her blood. He hadn’t had time to assess her wounds. His first course of action was to eliminate the threat. Otherwise his female wouldn’t be safe. He had to make sure the wolf that had attacked was dead. Snarling at Chloe and baring his teeth, he edged closer.

A loud snap ricocheted through the room, the sharp noise meaning one thing. Chloe had broken the animal’s neck. The wolf in Chloe’s hold stopped moving, its eyes rolling back in its head. Declan paused for a moment—making sure the fucker wasn’t getting back up. Confident the deed had been done, he rushed from Chloe to Rachel. His heart thudded in his chest, the wolf hungry for battle. He didn’t let the emotions deter him, making it to his mate.

Oh no. Please. No.

She was on her side, her eyes closed. Her bloodstained hand rested on the ground palm up. Blood seeped from her shoulder, her shirt destroyed and barely covering her chest. The injuries she’d suffered were severe, deep lacerations that delved to her collarbone. His heart sank, the wolf snarling in contempt. This was what he was supposed to do. His wolf was outraged at the loss. This should have been done by him, not someone else. An event this important should have bound him and Rachel together for eternity.

She’d been bitten.

Forcing the wolf aside, he bowed his head and started to shift. The animal fought, wanting to stay in control. He didn’t allow it, using all his will. The beast reluctantly receded, thrust back into its cage. It took several painful seconds as he struggled to return to his skin. Fighting for breath, he reached for her. She didn’t stir, quiet and unmoving. He pulled the remains of her shirt back, studying her wounds. Blood no longer poured from the ragged holes in her shoulder, slowing to a trickle.

Son of a bitch.

Inhaling deeply, he took in Rachel’s scent. Instantly he found what he was looking for. Fury swept through him, a rage so consuming he had to ball his hands into fists to keep from hitting something. Saliva from the wolf that had bitten her had already gotten into her system. It wouldn’t be long before she started to heal.

Rachel wasn’t human—not anymore.

In order for a werewolf to kill a person they’d infected they had to kill their prey by breaking their neck or removing their head from their body. If the bastard that had attacked Rachel had gone for her throat, she would have died. Thinking of such a thing made his chest tighten, his heart skipping a beat in fear. The wolf howled for vengeance, determined to destroy the person responsible. But there was no one to kill—Chloe had seen to that.

“How is she?” Chloe knelt beside him, a plush throw wrapped around her torso. Her voice shook, her hands trembling as she placed one on Rachel’s head. “Is she going to die? Will this kill her?”

“No, it won’t kill her.” He tried to remain calm, contemplating the various things he should say. “The bite took hold. The saliva is working its way through her system. She’s already changing.”

“Changing?” Chloe’s green eyes flared wide. “That can’t happen. She’ll go crazy.”

“No she won’t.” He wanted to pacify the female but it wasn’t easy when he felt equally off balance. “She’ll need some time but she’ll adjust.”

“Adjust? Are you insane?” Chloe choked on a sob. “Call Jackson,” she whispered hoarsely, her panic palpable. “I don’t know who attacked us but we have to leave. Rachel needs to be somewhere safe. I’ll take her home. I can look after her. She’ll recover if she’s with me. She’s going to be so scared. I don’t know what she’ll do when she finds out what’s happened. She’s so afraid of us. She hates what we are.”

“Listen to me closely,” he growled, looking at the devastated female. It was time to be honest. Chloe deserved to hear it from him. Not Jackson. “There’s something you need to know.” Taking a deep breath, he told her the truth. “Rachel is my mate, Chloe. I’ve known it for weeks. I’ve been trying to get to know her but she’s resisted me each time I’ve gotten close. We’ve been dreamsharing for a long time. She doesn’t understand what’s happening but that doesn’t matter. Not anymore. She’s changing and she’s going to shift come the next full moon. I’m her mate. Do you understand? She’s going to experience the same thing you did with Jackson.”

“What?” Chloe face paled, her lips parting and eyes growing wide. “But…she’s…you don’t know how she is. She won’t let it happen.”

“Jackson didn’t know how you were in the beginning,” he kept his words soft, his demeanor tender, “but it didn’t matter. It never does when it comes to mating. Use your nose. Smell her, Chloe. The change has already started.”

Listening to him, the female lowered her head and inhaled. It only took a moment. He knew the moment she scented the change, saw the way her shoulders tensed. She gazed at him, eyes brimming with tears.

“I smell it,” she confessed. “I’ve never smelled anything like it.”

Understandable. Changing werewolves carried a different scent. Rachel smelled human but beneath it there was a trace of something else. Until she shifted for the first time it would be easy for anyone—shifter or otherwise—to dismiss what was different about her if they didn’t pay close attention to her scent. That didn’t mean the wolf wouldn’t take hold, however. The nature of the beast would already start taking control, changing Rachel’s body and senses.

“Call Jackson,” he ordered softly. “Be calm and don’t tell him what’s happened. If you do he’ll blow through town and might end up causing a scene. Just tell him he needs to get here as quickly as possible.”

“He’ll want to know what’s going on. He won’t—”

“Hang up on him.” It was a shitty thing to do but Jackson would react instead of asking questions that would waste time. “Tell him he needs to get here as soon as he can and end the call.”

“But…”

“No buts. Do it.”

Chloe rushed away and he pivoted his body, staring at the wolf that had changed into a man. He didn’t recognize the werewolf, nor could he identify him by scent. It had to be a rogue. A wolf from another pack wouldn’t dare attack an Alpha’s mate. Ripping his focus from the male, he studied Rachel. She’d finally started breathing easier. The jagged marks he could see beneath her shirt had stopped bleeding.

He’d wanted to change her, but he’d never wanted it to happen like this.

Most wolves with human mates bit carefully, giving their other half enough saliva to force the change but causing as little pain as possible. When Rachel opened her eyes she’d sense the differences. Her hearing would improve and her vision would be stronger. With the full moon only days away she’d also feel the compulsion of the mating heat. She’d be drawn to him more than she’d ever been before. Even now his wolf sensed its mate’s beast and tried to call to it.

Just Rachel was about to get a wake-up call.

Chloe returned, her expression grim. She looked at him, her green eyes boring holes into his head. “Jackson’s on his way. I told him Rachel had been hurt and to hurry. He’s going to kill me for hanging up on him.” She hesitated and said, “She’s had a hard life. You have no idea what she’s been through. She doesn’t trust people at all. This is going to be hell on her.”

“Then help me understand.” He caressed the back of his female’s face with his knuckles. “Tell me what to do.”

The tears Chloe had held back finally fell, creating salty trails of pain down her face. “You have to show her you care for her. Prove that you mean everything you say. She had a horrible childhood. Her mother’s a drunk who stopped caring after Rachel’s father died. She’s been raised not to trust people but deep down she only wants to be loved.” With a sniff, she continued, “She’s terrified of werewolves. She doesn’t like anything supernatural. She scared to death of us. She’ll try to run when she finds out what’s happened.”

“Could you run?” It was a cruel question but he had to make a point. “After you met Jackson, were you able to leave his side? Did you even want to?”

After a moment, she replied, “No.”

“You’re going to have to give us a bit of time to work things out.”

He placed his arms under Rachel’s body and lifted her from the ground. Once he had a good hold, he rose to his feet. “Come with me,” he instructed and walked from the room. He needed to find a safe location to put the females until Jackson arrived. The wolf that attacked might not have done so alone.

He decided to use the bathroom. Once they were safely inside, he motioned for Chloe to sit on the floor and handed Rachel over. He detested the way it felt when his mate was out of his arms but her safety was more important than his needs. As soon as he knew his mate and Lupa were settled he took a defensive position between the women and the entrance to the room. Crouching down, he watched the door. If anyone tried to get in they were toast.

Jackson had better hurry the fuck up.

He could only keep a handle on his anger for so long.