Change (The Shape Shifter Series)

CHANGE

by

JENNIFER LOISKE

Part Three of The Shape Shifter Series

MCLEAN TWINS SERIES FOR TEENS/YOUNG ADULTS

Black Diamond

SHAPE SHIFTER SERIES FOR YOUNG ADULTS

Imminence

Seduction

IMMORTAL BLOOD SERIES FOR MATURE YOUNG ADULTS

Club Number Five

ANTHOLOGIES

Tales of an Old Wizard; Charity book for 9+ readers

Sizzling
Summer

All rights reserved

www.jenniferloiske.com

www.roguehouse.net

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without written permission from the author.

All characters and events in this publication, other than those clearly in the public domain, are either purely fictitious or used fictitiously, and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Any Gaelic language used in this book may have many different versions or meanings depending on the area from where it originated or where it is used. Therefore any mistakes in the grammar are the author’s.

Cover design by Eveliina Tommola 2013

Copyright © Eveliina Tommola, Viima Graphics

Published by Rogue House

All rights reserved

To my daughters Anna and Iida

One is a true fighter

One had to grow up in a blink

There are no words to tell you how much I love you both

CHAPTER 1

An old black Jeep stood in the middle of the yard. Clarissa pushed the last bags inside and sighed. She glanced at the house and wished she could turn back
time. Not long ago she had just been a normal teenager with a normal family, whose biggest trouble had been what to wear and who to date. But in a flash, everything had changed. First she had found out that her mom, Sofia, was not a human but an immortal shape shifter. Then she had discovered that her mom was not the only one of her kind. There were others like her. And not just a few, but a lot. She didn't know whom she could trust anymore. Any boy she flirted with or girl she talked to might not be who she thought they were. After all, she hadn't had the slightest clue her mom was not who she claimed to be. And that felt odd. Somehow, she felt she should've known.

And like that hadn’t been enough, she had also discovered that her mom had a history with a man called Gunward. And by history s
he meant a really, really long - like two hundred years long and partly not so nice - history. Then, out of nowhere, Gunward had appeared on their doorstep and demanded Mom be his. He had said that he and Mom belonged together, and in a way Mom hadn’t denied it. And that had brought some major problems between her and Dad. Mom had turned Gunward down and said she had a right to decide her own future, but he hadn't come alone. He had brought a bunch of disturbingly stunning young shape shifters with him, and what did they do? They kidnapped Marie, Clarissa's little sister, who had severe epilepsy and who could die any time. Luckily, Marie had survived by discovering she could communicate telepathically with one of them, and in a blink they had fallen in love.

But even that wasn't enough. Oh no
. Clarissa had discovered that she was a shape shifter, too. And as weird as it sounded, her sudden awakening had tempted twelve gorgeous shape shifter males to come to her and start an odd competition to win her heart. Which, by the way, she had already lost to Adam, who had been a part of Gunward's entourage.

Not bad, she thought, and smiled a little. Her life was a total mess. And it sounded like a really bad joke, and yet here she was, packing a car so that Marie could go to the
island of Senja in Norway. Mom was sure that if anyone could help Marie it would be the shape shifter elders. And who was she to argue? So she had glued a fake smile on her face and pretended it was okay to stay home. Okay, to watch the others go and feel like an outsider. As if...             

She
laughed miserably. She leaned on the car and closed her eyes. She knew she had to be brave and stop whining, as it did no good to any of them. She pressed her hand to her eyes and inhaled deeply, gathering herself together before confronting the others. When she felt calm enough, she opened her eyes and blinked. They were full of tears and all she really wanted to do was slump on the ground and weep; but she couldn’t, so she straightened her back and looked at Marie.

She missed her already, but this was her only chance to survive. If Marie stayed
she would die.
The social workers would put her in an institution and lock her up for the rest of her life, as
they didn't understand her sickness. They only saw a young girl with relapsing epilepsy and doctors who couldn't help her. A family who tried to do everything they could to keep her alive, but didn't understand it was all a waste of time and energy. She knew that the social workers’ intentions were good, but their ignorance would condemn Marie to death, and nothing could convince them that they were wrong. Only a few days ago her family might have given up and fled with Marie, as the situation looked so helpless. But then Adam had discovered that something strange was going on with her. Every time she got a seizure she didn’t technically change, but for a nanosecond there was a hint of gold in her eyes. None of them knew what that meant, as normally, shape shifters keep the color of their eyes during a change; well, everyone except Clarissa and now Marie. But it meant enough, and there was a chance they would find a cure for her epilepsy in Senja. So, fleeing or staying home was out of the question. They had to find out if the elders could give them some answers, or maybe even know what was going on with Marie.

Clarissa swallowed. If only Mom had let her go with them. But no, she had decided the fewer the better and she wasn’t included in the ‘going’ group. A part of her wanted to scream in her mom’s face, but another part understood that she would only be in her way there. But still. There had to be something she could do to help Marie. And if not, at least she wanted to meet all the elders. She had accomplished her transformation. She was as much a shape shifter as the others, so she deserved to go with them.             

She
glanced at Adam, who was talking to her dad on the terrace. Adam looked dangerous and deliciously attractive, and she was still amazed that he was hers. He was the most stunning creature in the universe. His black leather jacket covered his toned shoulders, and his black jeans clung to his long legs. His dark, messy, shoulder-length hair covered his eyes. Luckily, Clarissa only saw him from the side, as she could never resist his dark, hungry eyes. She felt her mouth drying and licked her lips nervously. Her hand rose to her hair and she brushed it with her fingers, half unaware of what she was doing. Time seemed to slow down and she held her breath. One nod from him and she knew her knees would give way. As always. She shivered. 

That nod never came,
but he must've sensed her, as he turned and looked straight at her. He flashed a slow, lopsided smile and his black eyes burned with a promise. She blushed.

She had tried to convince herself that staying home with Adam was far more fun than going to the cold mountains of Norway. They would have the whole house all to themselves. Well, almost, if they didn't count the four other shape shifters that were staying with them. They'd have an unlimited amount of time to play home; so yes, this was a good thing. And yet it felt so wrong and cruel. They were a pack and a pack should stay together.

When Mom had told them about her decision, the others had strongly protested. But that hadn’t lasted long. One sharp look from Adam and they had all quieted down. Technically, Tiamhaidh was their beta leader, and Clarissa had expected him to at least interfere, but the look on his face had only been curious, and as far as she could tell, he had no intention of stopping Adam. So Adam had looked deep into Sofia's eyes and they had seemed to have a private telepathic conversation. If he had been searching for answers, he had obviously found
whatever he was looking for, as he agreed that Sofia's decision was the right one. The others didn't always trust Adam, but on this they did. The arguing had stopped as if it had hit a wall, and that was strange. Clarissa had expected at least some mild grumbling, but under Tiamhaidh’s approving eyes they had stayed quiet. She had even tried to search their minds secretly, but that hadn't worked. She had bumped into a wall wherever she turned and finally she had given in.             

Clarissa was sure that Adam was hiding something crucial from her.
She was sure that he knew exactly what was going on, but she was so tired that she didn't want to start a fight and dig the answers out of him. She tried to swallow her tears and ease the sickening feeling that had settled in her stomach the minute she had started to pack the car.

A warm hand touched her shoulders lightly. She turned and was pulled into her mom's warm arms. “Why?” Clarissa spluttered.

Sofia knew exactly what she meant. Her daughter had earned the right to come along, but she couldn't let her. She would be much safer here with Adam and the others. She brushed her daughter's hair and pressed a soft kiss on her forehead and sighed. “Because we don't know what we'll face there,” she said. “The elders might be unpredictable, and I can't worry about anything other than getting Marie better.”

Clarissa lifted her head and looked at her. What did she mean? Shouldn't they be perfectly safe with the elders? Especially when her mom's parents were their leaders. Gunward was not there, so what could be so big of a threat that Mom insisted on her staying home?  She opened her mouth, ready to press her, but the weary shake of her
mom’s head stopped her. Clarissa was stunned. How could she have missed the blackness under Mom's eyes? Her slumped shoulders? She had never seen her so tired. Not like this. She looked beaten.

Clarissa straightened up and smiled hesitantly. “Okay. What do you want me to do?”
             

“Keep Adam out of trouble and stay safe,” Sofia said softly.

Clarissa nodded, smirking. “Yeah, right. Like I could stop him.”

Sofia flashed a quick smile and her eyes laughed. They both knew that was a mission impossible. Clarissa tried to force away the growing lump in her throat and keep smiling. She touched her mom's warm cheek and the smile died on her face.
She would miss them badly.

“And you never know,” Sofia said carefully, “Marie might recover faster than we hope.”
Neither of them believed that. “And practice. You can learn so much from Adam.” She brushed a stray tress back behind Clarissa's ear. Clarissa blushed and her mom punched her playfully. “I didn't mean it like that!”

Clarissa laughed and found herself inside a pair of strong arms. “Dad,” she breathed.

“And don't do anything stupid while we're gone!” David laughed. “I mean more stupid than usual.”

Clarissa hugged him hard, and when Tiamhaidh appeared next to them announcing the others were ready to go, she let her dad go, defeated.
                           

“The plane leaves in a few hours, so we have to go if we're going to catch it in time,” Tiamhaidh said, glancing at her apologetically.

Clarissa nodded and turned to her mom. She wanted to press herself into her warm arms one more time and breathe in her strength. She had a bad feeling about their trip, but she had promised herself not to say anything and to stop being a jinx. But no matter how hard she looked, she couldn't find her. Weird. Only a minute ago she was standing beside her, and now the earth seemed to have swallowed her. She steeled her senses and started to sense small clips of conversation. And then she found her. Mom and Adam were talking quietly on the porch. Adam looked deadly serious and Mom's cheeks were gleaming with tears. She sneaked closer.

“Are you sure you know what you're doing?” Adam asked in concern. “You have no idea what you have against you. Times have changed since you were there, and the elders are not a nice group of old people. They are highly dangerous and very unpredictable.”

“I know that. But this is Marie's only chance. If there is a cure, I’m sure it's in Senja, and I'm going to find it,” Sofia said softly and touched his cheek.

“Still. Let me come with you. You know I can protect you the way the others cannot.”