Chapter Thirty-One

Amy…” a voice called out, but it sounded like it was far away. I looked around the clearing, and all I could see were Megan and Nix, patiently waiting for me. “Amy!” The voice was more insistent, closer, but still there was no one other than the three of us.

“Who is that?” I looked at my wolves, and they seemed to shrug.

“AMY!” I jumped, my eyes snapping open, and there was my father at the edge of the clearing, frantically pacing. “Wake up!” He called out again, and my eyes finally focused on his face. He was pale and sweating. What’s wrong? “Dad?” I called out, wiping my eyes.

He whirled around and pounded on a barrier that wasn’t there this morning. “Amy!” He forced his hands flat against the invisible shield. “Thank the goddess.”

“Dad?” I was still confused. “What’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong? What’s wrong? Amy, you have been unconscious for over two hours.” He rubbed his eyes. “I’ve been calling you since I got here, and this is the first time you answered.”

I stood and dusted the grass from my legs. “Why are you here?” I was still so confused.

“It’s time for lunch. I was coming to get you.” My dad knelt down and shook himself. “I never want to see you like that again.”

“I’m okay.” I stood on shaky legs and walked over to where he was waiting. I expected the shield in place, so I raised my hand to touch the invisible barrier, but I passed right through, and my father grabbed me. He buried his face in my hair and breathed.

“I was so worried.” His voice was shaky as he breathed in my scent. He froze for a minute and pulled back. “You smell different.”

I pulled back and opened my mouth, but Megan cut in. It isn’t time to tell him yet. We have secrets to unveil before we can tell them the truth.

“I think I figured out the nature thing,” I said. I closed my eyes and wrapped my arms around the white pot the goddess placed there, and I felt something zip along on my skin. He pulled back and smiled.

“I knew you would figure it out.” He ruffled my hair and pulled me into his arms. “Now we can move on to the next lesson.”

“What’s that?”

“For you…cloaking yourself.” He shifted, and I jumped onto his back, and we were running back to the pack house. I laughed as he jumped off a dead tree, and we soared through the air. The feeling of the wind in my fur was amazing. Wind in my fur… I looked down, and I saw that black fur had grown down my arms.

“Dad…” He skidded to a stop, hearing the worry in my voice, and I hopped off. I was staring down at my arms, and panic set in. “Is this supposed to be happening?”

“Calm, pup. It just means you are getting closer to shifting.” The fur rippled, and panic burst in my chest.

“I’m not ready yet.” I knew without a doubt if I shifted before I covered my scent, there would be no way I would be able to.

“Pup, it’s okay.” Loki rubbed his head against me, and I shook myself.

“If I shift before learning how to cover my scent, I won’t be able to,” I grabbed Loki’s face.

“Yes, you will. I’ve been able to.” I shook my head, and I could feel Nix come closer to the surface. My eyes shifted, and Nix was staring into Loki’s eyes.

“Listen to us. If we shift before learning to cover our scent, we won’t be able to cover ourselves. There are certain things we can’t tell you, but this I am certain of.”

“How are you so certain, pup?” Loki settled at my feet, and Nix pushed against the surface. Fur sprouted on my arms and face, and Loki chuffed. “A moon blessing.”

“What?” I choked out, my voice rougher than normal.

“You have a moon blessing on your forehead.” Loki’s snout touched my forehead, and a silver light flared at the touch. “I believe you.”

Nix pulled back, tucking herself deeper into my dark forest. I’ll have to stay far away from you, as will Megan, or else we might trigger a shift.

“Are you leaving me?” I felt my eyes shift back, and the fur receded.

Never. Her response was soft but firm.

“We will work on hiding yourself tomorrow,” Loki promised. “You already missed the training start time with the girls. I told Tina and Lynn to start without you. So, when we get back, after we eat, we can work on not shifting.”

“I’m scared.” I felt my skin ripple again. “I feel like I’m losing control.”

“You are,” Loki answered honestly. “But I can’t teach you how not to. Now get on.”