Raber Wolf Pack Book Two (3 page)

“What happens during this change?” Information is the key. That’s what Grams always taught me. I need a phone so I can call her. She’ll know if this is really true or not. She always knows everything.

“We don’t
turn
humans. We have strict rules on that, but as in the human world, not everyone follows those rules. I’ve seen it twice in my two hundred years and both times, it wasn’t pretty. First, we need to feed you. You need your strength and will burn a lot of calories in a short period of time. Your body will heat to the point of boiling then you’ll have cold shivers. Your libido will be out of control, but no worries there because there is one hot wolf that will help you out in that department. When you finally change over, your bones will break and crack. You will physically turn into a wolf.”

“Holy shit,” I whisper. Fear tightens my gut then releases just as fast. She can’t be right. She just can’t. Seems the more I tell myself that, the more convinced I am that she is right. I don’t want to be a wolf.

“It’s getting back to your human self that is key after your first change. The humans who have undergone the process had a difficult time changing back. I know this is scary and I’ll help you in any way I can. But you have to remember the purple light.”

Huh? “Purple light?” This is all too much. Too damn much. My head spins with all this new information.

“When you are a wolf, to get back to your human self you must follow the purple light and walk right into it. This will make the change happen. You cannot forget this, Kenly. It is the most important thing for you to remember.” I don’t believe this. This is just so off the wall and too much to even try to take in. Too strange in the movie-is-my-life way. Crazy. If she’s a wolf, I need to see it. Really see it.

“Change into a wolf,” I demand. It’s the only way I’ll believe all the mumbo jumbo coming out of her lips. If she wants me to believe she isn’t a total loon, she needs to do this.

Puzzlement crosses her features. “Are you sure you want me to?”

Why
,
can’t do it
? I want to challenge her, but refrain from using a five-year-old’s taunts. “Yep. If you want me to believe that I’m going to change, I want to see it.”

Lily steps back to the far corner of the room and pulls her shirt over her head with all the confidence of a trained stripper, her stunning body filling me with a bit of self-doubt regarding my own. “What are you doing?” I ask on a gasp.

She unhooks the clasp of her baby-pink bra and her full breasts spill out—or, perk up, I should say. What is she doing? This woman doesn’t know me for shit and she’s just stripping in front of me like she doesn’t have a care in the world. She unbuttons her jeans, pulling them off along with a small thong she had underneath.

“I have to undress to show you,” she says calmly. “Are you sure you want this?” she asks again, like a parrot repeating her damn self.

“Yes. Considering I can see your entire naked body and all.” It’s like a car accident. I want to look away from her beautiful form, but am powerless to do so. A magnet and I’m so attracted to it I can’t help but watch.

“Don’t be scared. I won’t hurt you. I’ll stay over here and will not come up to you,” she warns, eyes connecting with mine, and a cool blast of calm flows through me.

In seconds, a blur of action happens. Popping, cracking, and small grunts fill the air as Lily’s beautiful body transforms before my eyes. Her arms and legs grow long blonde hair. Her hands and feet turn into paws. Her ass turns into the rump of a wolf complete with a large tail, and her chest is now completely covered in fur. Her nose and mouth contort into a large snout and her beautiful face disappears. A blondish-brown wolf stares back at me, shaking her fur rapidly.

I sit here stupefied. What in the fuck did I just see? I blink my eyes, just knowing this is all a dream, and willing myself to wake up so it will all be gone. But it doesn’t happen. I am still staring into the same eyes as before, as the wolf sits back on her hind legs. She doesn’t move from the spot, just as she promised. It’s one thing to turn around to men one moment and wolves the next. But to witness a woman change right before your eyes…

“Lily?” I call out, why I have no clue. She obviously won’t be able to talk.

The wolf nods her head like she can understand what I just said, but how is that possible? I rise from the bed, compelled to walk over to the large animal. In a few tentative steps, I stand right in front of the wolf and the fear that should be spiking to record levels doesn’t come. I reach out and touch Lily’s side, allowing my fingers to trail through her blonde fur. Shit. Fur. She does not move the entire time I do this, but I can feel her slow, even breaths.

Is this really happening? Her fur is very soft and this is all totally surreal. I move a few steps away from her. “Please, change back.” Right in front of me, the fur retreats into her flesh, her snout turns back into her perfect nose. The wolf is completely gone and a naked woman stands in front of me instead. “This is nuts,” I say, stepping backward.

“But, you believe now?” She reaches for her clothes, putting them on as I gape at her. Do I believe her? I don’t know. Do I? I’m so damn confused.

“I’m really going to turn into
that
?” She nods. “Seriously?”

“Yes, Kenly. You will be turning here in the next couple of days, maybe a week.” This is too much to process. A wolf, me?

“How many of you are here?” I ask as it hits me—how in the hell am I going to be able to be around a
pack
of wolves for any period of time? What if they come after me? How do I protect myself?

“Total there are around sixty.” My stomach plummets. “But none of them are a threat to you.”

“How do I know that?” After what I’ve just been through, how do I know for sure that they won’t attack me at first sight?

“Because I’ll never lie to you. I swear it.” Why do I have to believe her…but I do. Damn.

“Do you have any humans here?” I choke a bit on the word
human
. “That have turned into a wolf?”

Darkness clouds her eyes and my stomach falls further, this time twisting into a knot. “Of the two that I have seen, neither one were able to survive the change.”

Fear chokes my throat. They died? Oh lord. Am I dying in a couple of days?

“Why me?” Why, out of all the people in the world, did these wolves come after me? For a meal? Did they want to turn me? Why?

“Alpha and Beta will figure it out,” she says, with all the confidence in the world, but something tells me she’s holding something back. “Come, we need to feed you.”

Lily grabs my hand and even with the fear of death looming, she calms me. I’m thinking I might have to keep her near me so I don’t go totally nuts.

Kenly

LILY LEADS ME THROUGH a massive amount of corridors. The smell of animal, that I now recognize as wolf, permeates the surrounding air. It’s not a bad smell at all, but it’s definitely different than what I am used to. The fluorescent lights above cast a glow through the walkway, illuminating the space. Wood paneling lines the walls, with doors on each side every so many steps, though they’re closed. I wonder what’s behind them.

I follow up two flights of stairs. Are we underground? Two large wooden doors stand in our path and Lily stops, turning to me. The sound of voices fills my ears.
Lots
of voices. Shit, and these are all wolves?

“Kenly, I sense you’re scared and you have every right to be, but Alpha has ordered the other wolves that no harm will come to you. You need to trust in his authority, and that Beta wouldn’t allow a hair on your head to be hurt.”

Trust in men I’ve never met that happen to lead a group of wolves?
Uhm
…not really on my to-do list. I nod but say nothing. At least that’s not truly lying. Right?

Lily opens the door and steps inside with ease. I follow more hesitantly, each step tentative, my hand holding up my oversized pants. The chatter in the room ceases as I take in everything. We stand in the most exquisite kitchen I’ve ever seen. Stainless steel appliances, rich Mahogany cabinets, and a beautiful black and gold-speckled marble countertop line the room. A huge kitchen island sits in the middle with an enormous spread of food. My stomach rumbles, but I pay it no mind.

Six or so massive tables that probably fit twenty to thirty people are lined up, bringing to mind my middle school cafeteria. But these are not those plastic ones like back then. No, these are solid wood with bumps and dings in them that I’m pretty positive have been around for a lot longer than I have. They are absolutely beautiful. Chairs surround each table, filled with several men and women, their focus directed on me. Wolves. My legs shake as Lily places her hand on my arm, sending me the calm I so desperately need at this moment, and I breathe out. The fear subsides, and thanks to Lily, I can stay upright.

“Hi.” I wave my hand quickly then put it back down. I mean, really? How the hell do you greet a pack of wolves for the first time? Some snarl, some smirk, and some are assessing me from top to bottom, eyes lingering a bit too long. Some gasp, no doubt from all the dressings covering my exposed skin. Fuck it. I have to be me. “Do ya’ll have any Diet Coke? I’m a bitch until I have my fix.” The wolves stare at me. “The caffeine and all.” I wave nonchalantly.

Several beats pass and I shuffle my feet in an attempt to stop the butterflies that form when no one speaks. Any one of them could turn wolf and kill me flat out. Chuckles, snickers, and full-out deep laughs fill the wide open space. My body relaxes a bit at the sound. At least they don’t want to eat me.

A beautiful woman with long blonde hair barrels up to me. “Hi! I’m Jewels and over there,” she points to one of the wolves, who in turn raises his hand in a wave, “is my mate Ross. We’re all kinds of nervous about your change, so bear with us.”

“Why would you be nervous?” That statement leaves me uneasy. They are all powerful creatures, why would little old me make them any sort of nervous?

“Well, in my little over a hundred year life…” These wolves look damn good for as old as they are. Will I be the same? “…I’ve only seen one human try to change.” She looks away sheepishly and my stomach drops. That human didn’t come back either. Fuck. “It’s just, we’ll all be here to help you.”

“Thank you?” It comes out in a question rather than a statement. While I appreciate all of their help, I’m not sure what any of them can do in this situation. Well, other than Lily, of course.

“Everyone this is Kenly,” Lily announces to the men and women who begin to rise. I step back automatically, their sizes very intimidating. “Everyone have a seat,” she continues. “She’s already not sure about all of this. We need to give her time.” Some nod and sit back down, some just sit. Thank God.

“Here.” Jewels hands me a plate. “Grab some food and come have a seat with us.” Jewels is very nice, same as Lily. Very welcoming and I feel very safe around them. I give her a small smile and start to look at the food. There are several meats: bacon, sausage, steak, hamburgers, it’s like everything a meat lover would want and more. “And I’ll get you a Diet Coke. We always have them in stock for Zara.” Jewels says before bouncing off. Zara? Who’s that? Lily stays next to me as I place food on my plate, not letting me even a few feet away from her.

“Come on,” Lily says, and I feel every eye staring at me as I walk to the table. Something stirs inside of me and I almost feel sick. A male rises and I halt, watching him. He pulls out a chair and motions for me to sit. Gentleman wolves? Hell, I don’t even get that from humans. Listen to me, still calling myself human. How much longer can I claim that? Maybe I’m just going seriously crazy.

“Thanks.” I place my plate down and sit, and he pushes my chair in just a touch.

“No problem, darlin’. I’m Sam.” Sam is so very tall and has a charming face. A t-shirt stretches across his broad shoulders, covering what I assume to be a muscular chest considering his arms are ripped. Short brown hair and deep green eyes roll him up in a nice little package.

“Nice to meet you.” I pick up my fork and dig into my food. The entire time, I sense eyes on me, watching, but try to shake them off and focus just on the food. It is seriously strange to have a pack of wolves sniffing the air and know that they are sniffing you. Lily sits right next to me, and God knows what would happen if I really freaked the hell out right now.

It’s like none of them want to talk, like I’m the one they are scared and unsure of. I know Jewels said they are nervous, but not that much. Are they? I’m just a human, no superpowers to change into a wolf like these guys, so shouldn’t this be the other way around? I pop the top of my soda and drink long and hard. Damn, I’m thirsty. I look over to Lily and raise my brow and she shrugs. The dark liquid dances in my stomach and I feel a slight bit of normalcy.

Okay. I breathe out, looking around, and suddenly feel the urge to say something. “Ya’ll can talk or whatever it is you do. Surely you’re not this quiet all of the time.” I sweep the room and can see the tenseness in their postures. Their shoulder muscles are bunched and their brows are drawn in confusion. Am I really that much of an unknown?