Change (The Shape Shifter Series) (20 page)

“I'm sorry for that,” Gunward said and looked straight into her eyes.

She sighed. “So, David is already gone from this place. Are we done here?”

He was quiet. Everyone held
their breath. Whatever he was about to say would change their lives.

“Gunward, we did have an agreement and I can promise I will never bring him here again. That was a mistake that will never happen again. Nothing is really ruined, so let’s stop this now,” she pleaded.

He seemed to be struggling inside. His eyes burned and his jaw was tight. His eyes wandered behind her and stopped at Adam and Clarissa. He grinned, pleased, but neither of them returned his grin and his eyes moved back to Sofia.

“Gunward, mo gaol?” Sofia touched his hand.

“No!” he hissed. “I can't let you be with him.”

“But...” Sofia swallowed. “You were okay with it before. You've waited almost two hundred years. I'm sure you can wait a couple of decades more.”

“You see
, that's the problem. Last time I didn't know where you were. This time I do and I also know that you're not alone. So no, I claim you to be mine again.”

Sofia could hear some soft cheers around them. Was he really serious? Did he expect her to leave everything?
To forget and start living with him again? If so, he was so wrong. She could feel the power inside her. It was like a stormy lake as it swayed in her veins. “And if I'm not okay with that?”

“Then you can blame yourself. You admitted it before. It's your fault this pack is divided. You did this, not me.”

Sofia glanced around. She could see people leaning on each other. Wolves looking at her with their trusting eyes. They did not want to fight, but her choice might make them. She closed her eyes. Her pack was behind her and she knew they could win. Even if they were only a few against Gunward’s many supporters, this new, unbelievable power inside her felt invincible. The problem was that now she knew what to do and what she might be capable of, she wasn’t sure she wanted to do it. The power was tingling in her fingertips and she felt connected with everything around her. She knew that she only had to decide and the others would kneel before her. But was she ready to do it? Was she ready to make them suffer? She knew for sure there was no going back. Whatever blocks there had been in her mind before had been there for a reason, and if she let the power flood into her she might not be able to stop it. She swallowed as the images of Gunward ripping the throats of humans flashed into her mind. What if by unleashing these unknown forces she turned herself into a monster? Turn herself into him? She opened her eyes and looked at Marie. She met her gaze steadily.
“Clarissa?”

“
Right behind you.”
Clarissa’s voice echoed in her mind.

Sofia looked at Gunward again and peace filled her. Yes. She could do this. Even if it hurt the others, she could do this, as this was the only right thing to do. “Very well,” she sighed and reached her pack in her mind. “Remember that I didn't want this. I love you, but I love my family more, and I can't let you hurt them.”

Gunward looked stunned. A quick pain flashed in his eyes before he revealed his teeth. “Suit yourself then, but remember, you can stop this at any time.” He lifted his face and howled. More than a hundred voices howled with him.

Sofia smiled and raised her palms. Her pack gathered around her and the remaining elders joined them.

“I hope you know what you're doing,” Faol muttered.

Sofia laughed. “Oh, don't worry, Mother. I know who I am now and I know exactly what I'm doing. Tiamhaidh and Siobhan, help Marie. Adam, help Clarissa.”

They nodded in confusion.

Sofia took a deep breath and looked at them apologetically. “I'm sorry,” she said.

“For wh―” Tiamhaidh began. He, together with everyone around Sofia, went white as the pain hit
their brains. It wasn't the severest pain they knew but it hurt all right.

Sofia looked focused. Her eyes were full of light and she looked like a divine creature. She let the power fill her. She absorbed it from their souls, from the hidden shadows of the mountains surrounding them. She opened her mind to nature and let her power flow inside her like a mountain stream. Her lips were moving, but she made not a sound. It was so easy! How could she have ignored it? The newly found power was better than ambrosia, not that she actually knew what that tasted like. She was completely in control and she felt stupid
for ever being afraid of her powers. She knew that the others would never know what hit them. They would never see her so clearly to realize how much power she held within her. She looked at Tiamhaidh. His blue eyes were as clear as the sky, but she could see the pain behind them. She inhaled calmly and smiled at him. It was almost time. She didn't want to drain her pack, but she knew she needed a lot if she wanted to defeat Gunward.

Gunward's people had surrounded them and looked ominous. Sofia thought about water.
How manifold it was and never quite the same. A clear stream that flowed easily down the mountain. A still lake in the evening, and the stormy sea. How it could change in a second if the wind blew from the right direction. She let the image of its pureness fill her body and felt calm. She lifted her hands and their attackers fell to their knees. They held their heads and screamed as her mind took over theirs.

Gunward was the only one still standing and he, too, held his head. “Stop,” he hissed.

“Will you give in to me?” Sofia asked softly and smiled.

“Never,” he snapped and straightened his back. With enormous effort he focused his eyes on Sofia's pack.

She tightened her grip on his supporters' minds and they moaned even more.

Gunward managed to smile. “You can't win and you know that,” he said.

Sofia heard Faol breathing sharply. She glanced at her and saw she was about to faint. She poured in more power from her pack and felt tears in her eyes. “I don't want to do this, but you're forcing me to,” she said to Gunward.

The people around Gunward started convulsing like they were dying. Their eyes bled and they begged her to stop. She hardened her heart. This human hunt had to stop. And it had to stop now. She would do what was needed and hope that one day they would forgive her.

“You're playing dirty,” Gunward said quietly. “I didn't want to do this, but you give me no choice.”

Sofia didn't understand what he was talking about until Marie howled desperately. She had fallen and Sofia could feel her life force leaving her. Gunward had focused all his powers on her and was literally sucking the life out of her. Sofia knew she only had seconds to save Marie, so she cleared her mind and pulled everything out of her pack. The power rushed into her. Her pack had enormous powers and together with the powers of some of the elders, nothing could stop her. She started to walk towards Gunward and her power swept the ground before her.

Gunward tried to control his people. He tried to suck power from them, too, but they were already too weak, and by doing so he had to let go of Marie’s mind just enough to allow her to live.

Sofia stopped in front of him. “Let
-Go-Of-Her.”

Gunward clenched his teeth and shook his head.

“Let go of her, now!” she yelled, but he didn’t obey. She closed the last inches between them and pressed her fingers on his shoulders.

A pain beyond human knocked him down. He was a tall man, but now he had to kneel in front of her.

She breathed on his face and every breath was like hellfire. “You should've left Marie alone,” she cried and pressed a bit harder.             

He flinched, but didn't yield. The wolves around him howled in pain and the people begged him to surrender. The pain inside him tore him apart as he glanced at Marie. He knew she only had seconds before she would be dead, and Sofia would never forgive him for that. This was the time to decide. He could either admit Sofia had won or kill Marie and hate himself for the rest of his life. Damn that woman! Time seemed to slow down. His mind reached for Sofia’s, but her mind was totally closed to him. His dark eyes locked on hers, but she didn’t turn her eyes away. She didn’t even blink, and he knew it was time to surrender. He let go of Marie's mind slightly and cursed.

Sofia stared at him demandingly and he let go of the rest of Marie’s mind. Sofia nodded slowly and he sighed. Her tears had left wet lines on her cheeks and he wanted to wipe them away, but there was no way he could’ve touched her. Not now. Maybe never.             

“Fine. You won,” he managed to nod, and Sofia let go of him instantly. He stumbled up and looked dizzy.

Sofia ran to Marie and held her head on her lap. “I'm so sorry, sweetie. Are you all right?” Marie blinked and Sofia kissed her muzzle. “It's going to be fine, I promise. You can change back to a human now.”

Marie looked sad.

“I don’t think she knows how to do that,” Tiamhaidh said and pulled Marie into his arms.

“It's okay,” Sofia babbled. “Rest now. I'll help you later.” She looked at her pack. They looked okay. A bit pale and shaky, but definitely okay. “Close the entrance,” she ordered.

Adam nodded. He took Gavin and Jonas with him and they blocked the entrance so that no one could get past them.

Gunward stood in the middle of the cave surrounded by his people and looked beaten. “Satisfied?” he asked and lifted his arms. “I'll go and you won't have to see me ever again.”

“Oh, I won't let you go that easily. We'll have a proper meeting with the elders’ council and seal this matter for good,” responded Sofia.

“You would challenge me?” Gunward asked, stunned.

“I think I just did. This is about more than just me and you. You fooled these people and almost managed to start a war. I want to know that the people who stay here are safe. And not only when I'm around, but for good. I want to make them choose, and if they can't live among humans they can leave, but this can never happen again.”

“You would exile them just like that?”

“No. They did it themselves when they chose to follow you.” She sighed wearily. “Look, I don't wish them any harm, but I need to trust that my loved ones are safe. That Senja will become the asylum it used to be.”

“And what about us?” Gunward whispered.

“There is no us anymore. You destroyed us.”

He cleared his throat. “Sofia, I'm begging you. I will do anything, anything you ask, if you just give me another chance.”

Sofia felt her heart soften, but she pushed the feeling aside. “I think you did enough already.”

“But…” he stammered.

“It's not nice to see a big man cry, so stop it,” she snapped.

He looked like she had slapped him. He nodded and swallowed hard.

Isabel wriggled next to him and took his hand. She led him aside and started to pet his hair. Sofia felt a quick stab of jealousy, but it passed as quickly as it had come. Her life with Gunward was over. There wouldn't be any future for them. After David was gone she would be alone, and that was fine. She didn't need a man beside her. She didn't need Gunward. Her soul screamed from pain. Maybe if she let time pass, she thought. But no. Not even then. She felt his silent plea in her mind and ignored it.

Gunward looked at her, surprised. This day hadn't gone the way he wanted. Instead, he had managed to destroy their love, and even though she felt thin strands between them, she couldn't forgive him. Not now, and probably never.

The table was lit by candles
and most of the chairs around it were full. Baz glanced around, looking serious.

“Shall we begin?” Faol asked.

Baz nodded. “I hereby call the council meeting ready to commence,” he said formally and sighed. “If anyone has any complaints, he or she should speak now, otherwise I'll see that this meeting is valid.”

“As a matter of fact I do,” Gunward said. “I think you should gather more people so that the council is full. You can't possibly guarantee a fair trial with these people.”

“This is not a trial,” Baz said wearily. “We are gathered here to discuss your future and your actions, and I think this council is more than entitled to vote.”

Gunward growled.

Sofia jumped up. “You should be happy we're even having this conversation,” she snapped. “Look, you did a horrible thing, but as my father said, we're not here to judge you. We want to hear your side of the story before we decide anything.”

Gunward jumped up, too. “And by we, you mean you,” he hissed.

They stared at each other with burning eyes, and everyone could see the electricity radiating between them.

Sofia felt her soul yearning but pushed it aside. It would've been so easy to slip back to what it used to be.
To forgive everything and slide into his arms. She shook her head and tried to clear her mind. “By we I mean us,” she said, gesturing to the people sitting next to her. “So sit down and stop acting like you’re the victim here.”

He sat down and crossed his hands over his chest. He wanted to sulk, but annoying as it was, he knew Sofia was right. He wasn't exactly the victim, and if he chose his words wisely he could still win this battle between him and that human, David.