My heart beat so fast, I couldn't think. I wanted somebody to change the subject.
"How do you turn into a wolf?" I asked. My voice sounded foreign to me.
The guys gave me an awkward shrug.
"You feel the wolf stirring and moving inside you," Liam said. "It scratches, and claws, vibrating through your limbs. Instead of holding it back, you accept it, and let it come forward. The wolf then takes over."
I swallowed hard, trying to stay lucid. "That makes you shift?"
Liam smiled a little. "Yes, the wolf takes over from there. The rest you don't actually mentally have to partake in. It just happens."
"But your mind is still there in wolf form, right?" I asked.
"Yes," Liam said. He dropped his hold on my chin. "The wolf is part of who you are. There are physical differences, but once you both meet for the first time, you become one and the same. The wolf's instincts and mind are blended and mixed with your human one. As I stand here, the wolf and I are on equal ground. Or rather, in my instance, the human is equal with me." He shrugged a little. "It is why even in human form, I probably seem somewhat...inhuman."
"So you're on equal ground in both forms?"
Liam chuckled. "Yes. The only thing that changes and shifts is the physical form. The rest is blended and stays the same."
"Does it hurt?" I shifted my feet, my face hot.
He paused and I flushed cold. "The first time can be a little painful," Liam said, his face twisting. "The body isn't used to the stretching and remolding that is required for the change. During a shift, your skin, bones, and ligaments actually become flexible. There is a chemical reaction that happens in the body making them no longer firm, but tangible. It is how we are able to change physical form without everything in us breaking."
I cringed at his words.
"The first time, the body tends to resist the change. It's similar to the physics notion of a 'body in rest tends to stay at rest'. After the first time, the body accepts it, and it doesn't hurt at all. In fact, it's rather invigorating," he said with a smirk.
I nodded, numb.
"Charlotte," he said. His fingers found my cheek again. "Do you want to try? You're safe, here, with us."
"Yeah, we already consider you part of the pack," Steve said.
"We do?" Byron asked.
"Quiet," Liam muttered under his breath. He didn't look away from me. "Seriously, we're here for you. We've all been through it before. There's nothing to be nervous about."
He moved his hand to the edge of my hair, brushing it behind my ear. "I love you, Charlotte," he whispered. "I already consider you my Alpha Female." The edge of Liam's lip turned up, giving me flutters despite the situation.
"Told ya," Steve said.
Liam rolled his eyes and I heard a low growl reverberate from his chest. "Of course, there are some downfalls to having a pack around." He shot Steve a glare. Steve gave a tight inhuman yelp, and looked the other way.
"So?" Liam asked.
"What if you're wrong?" I asked. "What if I'm not really what you think I am?"
"There's only one way to find out," he said, his eyebrow lifting. "Come on. Just relax. Feel the wolf and let her come. I'll help you."
"I...I don't know, Liam." My hands started to sweat.
"Just let my wolf help bring yours to the forefront. The pheromones call to each other. It's why it's been so hard for me to stay in human form around you, Charlotte." He smiled. "Being near you brings out the animal in me."
I bit my lip. "Very funny, Liam."
He chuckled, then became serious. "Remember, you're the one not allowing her to come out. You need to let go and give the wolf permission." He leaned in close. "Close your eyes," he whispered. "Listen to my voice and bring yourself inward."
My pulse pounded in my ears, but I did what he asked. I could feel him in front of me. His fingers still rested in my hair and then his warm cheek brushed against mine. I inhaled sharply, his scent of musk and pine everywhere.
A low growl gurgled from him and everything in me went white hot. Something stirred and stretched inside me and my eyes shot wide. Liam opened his - burning gold, and I gasped. My body dropped - something else pushed through, taking over.
I freaked.
Stumbling backwards from Liam, my left sneaker caught on an upturned root, and I fell.
"Charlotte, are you okay?" Liam asked, helping me up.
I nodded, my hands trembling. "I...I can't. I can't do it."
He held my hands, steadying them. "Hey, it's okay," Liam whispered, and pulled me to his chest. "You've had a lot to take in today. I shouldn't have rushed you. I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault," I said. His embrace felt amazing, safe. How could I have ever doubted him?
"Man, I wish I had a girlfriend," Byron said.
My cheeks burned.
Flynt punched Byron in the side, and I smiled.
"Come on," Liam said, motioning his head to trees. "Let's get going. It's getting late and we need to find Aaron."
Dusk had settled in around us. How long had we been out? Ty and I left school midafternoon.
"I should call my dad," I said, feeling very self-conscious. Considering everything going on, the necessity seemed rather insignificant. I didn't want my father to worry though. I had a clear plan of what to say. I'd make it quick, and tell him I was staying at Ty's to study.
"Are you with Liam?" Dad asked with bite.
"Please Dad. It's not what you think. I'll be home soon. I promise. Everything's fine."
I winced and hung up.
"There goes my reputation," Liam said with a chuckle.
"Sorry."
"Come on, let's go already," Eldridge said, pacing the line of shrubbery. He picked up the small leather bag and stepped through the bushes. Several branches shook and crackled and then a large, slender, reddish brown wolf emerged.
I swallowed hard, it all still too new to me. In his mouth the pouch dangled. He tossed it towards the center of the group with a whine.
Liam seemed to read my expression. "We carry our clothes in there."
"Who carries the bag?" I asked.
"Usually Steve," Byron said, stretching his back. "The pup gets the tedious duties. It's a hierarchy thing. Steve's the youngest."
"At least I'm not the ugliest," Steve said with a grin.
Byron laughed. "You wish."
Liam shook his head. "Alright, let's move before Aaron has time to clean up his trail."
"Told you guys I saw tracks outside our house the other day," Steve said. "No one ever listens to me."
"That's because you whine too much," Flynt said, punching him in the side as he grabbed the bag and disappeared into the trees.
Steve looked appalled. "I do not."
Liam lifted a brow at Steve, but said nothing. He turned to me instead. "We're going to have to be in wolf form."
I nodded. "How am I going to keep up with you? Won't I slow you down?"
Liam smirked. "You, my dear," he said, pointing a finger at my chest, "are not walking." He turned from me with a smug little chuckle as he started towards the shrubs to 'change'. I jogged after him.
"Wait, what are you talking about? What do you mean I'm not walking?"
Liam grinned, giving a shrug.
"Liam, if you want to stay in wolf form, you better tell me what's going on."
"Who's the pack leader now?" Flynt said with a chuckle.
"Shut up," Liam said, elbowing him as he passed on his way to the bushes.
I giggled.
Liam shifted his gaze to me. "You wouldn't."
"I would," I said, hand on my hip.
"Fine, I'm carrying you," he said.
"Carrying me?"
"How do you think you got here while passed out? You rode on my back."
Liam wiggled his brow at me, and then stepped out of view. When he returned, his wolf-self beamed at my inability to come up with words. "Yeah well you can't talk either." I said.
Liam's lips rose over his large canine teeth, and I faked a scowl. His large head pushed into me, nearly knocking me over. With a quick, short whimper, he motioned behind him.
"What?" I asked, and then I realized he wanted me to get on. I groaned. The last time I rode an animal, I fell off the pony. Who ever heard of riding wolves anyway?
Liam shoved his big head into me again.
"Okay, okay," I said.
I took hold of his thick rusty colored coat, the soft, fineness of it surprising me. Hoisting myself up, I leaned over his back, and swung my leg to the other side. Athletic ability had never been my thing, and it showed. I started to slip. A cool, damp nose pressed into me from behind, lifting me the rest of the way.
"Hey, no being fresh," I said.
Liam's body shook with laughter and I almost lost my balance. Not a good sign. We hadn't even moved yet.
The other wolves joined us, and Liam took the lead. My fingers gripped the scruff of his neck with a death hold. I didn't have the nerve to sit straight on his back, leaning on my stomach with my legs dangling down on both sides. If it hurt Liam, it didn't show.
I could feel the movement of his muscles under me, his gate long and lanky. He had his nose in the air and Byron and Flynt scanned the ground.
My thoughts returned to Ty and I shivered. I couldn't imagine how scared she must be. We had to find her.
Liam gave a quick, short bark and lurched forward into a long loping sprint.
My knees bore into his ribcage as I squeaked, burying my head into his fur. The wind whistled in my ears and I didn't dare peek for fear of losing my balance. I kept myself low on his back, hoping the passing shrubs wouldn't nab at my skin.
The sun had set and under the covering of the trees I couldn't see a thing. I hoped the nocturnal vision of wolves was good, for Liam weaved in and out of the trees with blinding speed.
For miles we crisscrossed along paths only known by the scent and the instinct of the wolves. My knuckles and thighs ached from the knot I had them in. I prayed to be there. I didn't know how much longer I could hold on.
Liam's body twitched and then he came to an abrupt stop. The hairs surrounding me bristled and rose, as a low growl vibrated from his chest. The others halted too. A chorus of low deafening snarls erupted around me. My skin turned cold.
Straining my eyes, I tried to make out what they saw, but I couldn't see.
Liam's chest reverberated again, and he lowered himself on his haunches, stepping back. The soft sound of shifting feet moved beside me. What was going on? Why were we retreating?
A cloud passed overhead, allowing a small sliver of moonlight to filter through ... and then I saw them.