Change (The Shape Shifter Series) (19 page)

Baz didn’t answer, but Gunward could read the answer in his eyes. Anger flashed across his face. “This is my territory! Mine and theirs.” He gritted his teeth and struggled to stay calm before he continued. “These people.” He waved his hand. “These wolves and shape shifters, they don't want to live among humans. They want to have at least this one place human-free. They want to run on the mountains and hunt whenever they feel like it. Howl when they feel like it, make dens with their family without being afraid some random hiker will bump into them and try to hurt them. Or better yet, accidentally witness their change from wolf to man and sell their pictures to a science magazine or something. This…” He thumped his foot on the ground. “…
is our land. Our legacy and we should be proud of what we are instead of trying to hide our true nature from humans.”

The people around him nodded approvingly.

“We are not pets!” he shouted. The wolves howled and revealed their teeth. “We are free!” he continued. The howls grew louder and people started to pound their feet loudly on the ground. “And we’ve had enough!”

The noise grew indescribable, and for the first time Tiamhaidh was really afraid. There was nothing he could do to save Marie. Nothing he could do to save the eleven pathetic shape shifters next to him who stood against Gunward and who knows how many of his followers. Gunward was simply too powerful and his words had sunk into the others like a hot knife into butter.

Tiamhaidh locked his eyes on Marie's. She looked so sad. Like she knew she was going to die and he couldn't save her. But he wasn't going to give up that easily. There had to be something he could do. Anything. And if not, he was ready to sacrifice his life to help her. She moaned quietly.

Siobhan let go of Tiamhaidh's hand and stepped in front of him. “You're right,” she agreed, smiling lightly, and for a moment Tiamhaidh was sure she, too, had abandoned him, but then she continued steadily. “But are you really willing to put brother against brother? Gunward, I know you and I think you want to stop this madness just like we do. So tell me, what do you want us to do? We'll do it, if that helps you. You've already divided the pack, and that's not good. That's not good at all. Look around you. Can't you see that we're all suffering?” She held her hands out to him, but he didn't take them.

“You're right,” he nodded but his face remained serious. “We shouldn't be fighting and I do want to stop this, but I can't.”

“Of course you can,” she said gently and touched his arm. “All you have to do is say one word and we can forget this.”

Gunward stared into her eyes, mesmerized. Everyone held their breath. Even the wolves had stopped panting.

Tiamhaidh had the creepiest feeling and he tried to warn Siobhan, but he was too late.

Gunward burst into laughter and slowly the others joined him. “You've got to be kidding!” His low voice was something between mad and amused. “You really thought you could control my mind. I know you're the strongest mind controller here, but I'm more powerful than you can imagine. So stop annoying me!”

Siobhan blushed deeply and lowered her head.

Gunward grabbed her arm and threw her aside. “Now, if you really want to end this, hear me out,” he hissed. “I want him out of here, and not just him, but all the humans. I want to revive the old ways and I want to do it now. Not tomorrow or someday in the future, but now, today. If you agree to my terms I’ll let everyone that are willing to go free. I give you my word I’ll not hunt you or try to harm you in any way in the future.”

“And that's it?” Tiamhaidh asked bitterly.

“That's it,” Gunward confirmed.

“What about Marie?” Tiamhaidh looked at him challengingly.

“What about her?”

“Will you let her go?”

Gunward knelt down and let his hands slide over Marie's soft fur. “Would that mean much to you?”

“You know it would,” Tiamhaidh whispered. He knew Gunward could break Marie's neck in a second.

Gunward closed his eyes. “I see she is a part of you like Sofia is a part of me.”

Tiamhaidh nodded, unable to speak.

“Once I considered you my friend, and I'd like to think we might still have a chance of being so again. So yes, I'll let her go.” Gunward unleashed Marie and pushed her forward. “Take better care of her than I did with Sofia.”

“Thank you,” Tiamhaidh whispered and pulled Marie close. He hugged her tightly and buried his face in her fur. Marie licked him and thrust her wet snout into his arms.

Gunward stood up. “You see,” he said, aiming his words at Faol and Baz. “You never understood what Sofia is to me. If you had, you would've dragged her back to me and ended that man's miserable life.”

“And you'd be okay with that?” a voice said from somewhere behind him. “You'd just take one life away and never think about it again?”

Gunward closed his eyes and a slight satisfied smile played on his lips. “Sofia.”             

“Hello, Gunward,” Sofia said softly.

Gunward didn’t turn but the look on his face was almost painful. Tiamhaidh turned his eyes away, as he couldn’t take the feelings that were radiating from him anymore. A part of him understood Gunward perfectly. Just a minute ago he had been sure they were lost and the thought of living in a world without Marie had crushed his heart. But on the other hand, Gunward had done horrible things, and Sofia had made her decision, which he should’ve respected.

Tiamhaidh buried his hands in Marie’s fur and looked at Sofia. Her eyes were gleaming dangerously and a small, cruel smile played on her lips. Tiamhaidh swallowed. He had never seen her like this. Lethal and ready to strike.

“Did I miss the party?” she asked.

Gunward shook his head slowly. “No.” His voice was raspy. “You’re just in time to see all the fun.” He turned and his dark, golden eyes locked onto hers. “What took you so long?”

She didn't answer. She let her eyes move slowly over his face and body. Some might say she was trying to gather herself before confronting her enemy, but others, the ones that truly knew her, saw the sorrow and pain in her eyes and knew she wished she could be anywhere else but there. She did love Gunward, but what he had done was unforgivable. A wind blew behind her, ruffling her hair. She inhaled the fresh air and focused her eyes on his.

Gunward swallowed. He lifted his hand and took a step closer. Sofia lifted her hand, too, and for a second everyone thought they were going to rush into each other's arms, but then she let her hand drop.

“Care to explain what’s going on here?” She glanced around and wondered if she said boo everyone around him would jump or attack. Gunward seemed paralyzed, but she knew better, so she continued quickly before he could act. “I heard rumors, nasty ones, but they can't be true, can they?” She stepped closer.

The others backed away, making a clear circle around Gunward and Sofia.

Gunward stepped closer to her, too, but didn't dare touch her.

They stood so close to each other that Sofia could feel his warm breath on her face, and all she had to do was lift her hand to touch him. But she didn't. “You didn't answer me,” she whispered, mesmerized by his intimate gaze.

“No. No, I didn't,” he breathed and carefully touched her hair.

She slapped his hand away, annoyed. “Don't even try. I came here to find a cure for my daughter and what did I find? A bunch of rebels who wanted to destroy my family. And that wasn't even the worst part.”

He stared at her, fascinated, but didn't try to touch her again.

“You know what really hurt me?” she asked, and he shook his head slightly. “They all waited for you to come, like you were some kind of savior and would solve all their problems just by snapping your fingers. You hated my family, so they hated it, too. They didn't need any other excuse or explanation. They followed you blindly and you used them! Did you sacrifice a single thought for them? Did you care about them at all? You knew your actions would divide the pack and break the elders' hearts. How could you? How could you do something like that?”

He didn't answer. He just stared at her.

She was furious. “What happened to you? I thought we had an agreement?” She nearly spat and her eyes looked heartbreakingly sad.

“Oh, we did.” His eyes gleamed viciously. “But you broke it by bringing him here.” He spat the last two words and she paled. “I didn't have to think of you with him when you were away, but bringing him here destroyed this place. Sofia, this was our place. We met here. We fell in love and made our vows here. What were you thinking when you rushed here with him? Or did you even think at all? It's no use blaming me, Sofia. You did this all by yourself. You didn't need my help in this, and if you look deep inside your heart you know I'm right.” Gunward lowered his eyes wearily and his voice was nothing more than a soft whisper in the night. “How could you break me like this?”

Sofia could feel the questioning eyes of the others looking at her. Gunward had every right to be mad, because he was right. She hadn't thought. She hadn't sacrificed the slightest thought for him. She had been so worried about Marie that she had forgotten him completely. How could she? She had humiliated him in public. She had brought the living proof of her betrayal there and forgotten about her inheritance. Some of these people had been there when she had promised herself to him. When she had sworn she was his forever. So if he had gone mad earlier and done terrible things, she had done something at least as bad. She had divided the pack. She, not Gunward. And they had every right to be angry at her. She tried to swallow the ugly lump in her throat. “You're right. I didn't think. My mind was a mess because of Marie and I forgot everything else,” she said quietly. “I’m sorry.”

Gunward eyed her cautiously. He lifted his hand and touched her hair again. This time, however, she didn't slap his hand away. “I believe you are, but it's not enough.”

“What do you mean not enough?” She looked at him suspiciously. “You can end this madness right here.”

“True. But I don't want to.” He smiled devilishly. “I want to do what I should have done a long time ago.”

Gunward pulled her close to him and Sofia was sure he was going to kiss her, but he didn't. He let his lips wander close to her cheek, her ears, her neck, but didn't let them touch her skin. She could feel his warm breath on her. She closed her eyes and a half purr slipped from her lips. She felt weak and betrayed by her own body, as she didn't want him to stop. He nipped her ear and she sighed with pleasure. The voices around them had faded and they seemed to be alone in this world.

“
Mom?”
A weak voice tried to push through her mind. Sofia couldn't answer.
“Mom!”

Sofia opened her eyes and shook her head a few times. Shit! She should stop this. She was better than this and she couldn't let him win.

She felt a shiver of fear inside her. She could sense most of the others nodding approvingly and how anger was starting to grow inside them. “Gunward, I'm begging you. It doesn't have to end like this,” she whispered. “I don't want to fight.”

“Why do you think the most powerful shape shifters came here? Why did they decide to be in the same pack instead of making their own? This is not such a beautiful place. Not so special. I've seen
better around the world,” Gunward whispered into her ear and took a step back. “No, they came here to make this one particular island their own place. A human-free zone, where wolves could live in peace. Free from all rules except the ones the pack leader gives them. We want to rid this place of pitiful mortals and restore it to its old-time glory. Build a place where wolves are allowed to be wild animals again. Not pets or prisoners in zoos.”

“You mean especially from this one pitiful mortal. A man that I love so much, I chose him instead of you.” Sofia wiped her lips softly on his cheek.
She had found herself again and felt the strength coming back to her.

“Yes,” Gunward sighed heavily. He had closed his eyes and it seemed to be hard for him to breathe. One small step and they would embrace each other again.

“So you would settle for him leaving Senja and never coming back, would you?” Sofia's voice was like honey. “You would leave all the other humans be and you wouldn't touch them?”

“Yes,” he whispered, his head all messed up. Suddenly his eyes flew open. “No! What are you trying to do to me, woman! I don't care about that man anymore. This is bigger than you know.”

“Really?” She stepped back and lifted an eyebrow. “You would really force the humans to leave this place?”

Gunward growled quietly.

“And how did you plan to do that?” Sofia asked mockingly. “Are you going to scare them or will you use your mind control over them? They’re not cattle you know. You may get them to leave, but they’ll come back. And if not … well … there are always others willing to explore this island.”

“I have my ways,” he muttered and looked like a guilty little boy.

“I’m sure you do,” she spat. “The same way you handled my child?”

“I did nothing to her!” Gunward thundered. “She's better now than she was before!”

Sofia moved quickly and knelt down next to Marie. She pressed her hands to her head and closed her eyes. After a minute she got up and walked back to Gunward. “True, you did help her, but that doesn't change the fact your minion kidnapped her and tried to hurt her. And not only once but twice.”