Sam looked over to where the twins slept tucked in together. “They’re both dead to the world — for now.”
“Kaysen will be up again in a few hours for another feeding,” Nafarius said. Unfortunately, the fact that Sam was nursing meant that she bore the brunt of getting up with the twins. Thankfully, Zane rarely woke more then once a night, which made up for Kaysen’s need to nurse every few hours. “Besides, tomorrow will be a long day — for all of us. I suggest we get some sleep.”
Sam yawned and snuggled down next to Nafarius, her head on his chest. “I love you,” she mutter as sleep claimed her.
Nafarius lay quietly, despite being tired he found himself unable to sleep. Tomorrow would reveal Sam’s true nature — whatever it was — and while the Council continued to reassure him he still worried that tomorrow’s events would set into motion some unstoppable force. He could only hope that Sam was that force and not what was coming for her.
Sam rolled over and woke alone. The light in the alcove told her that it was late morning. She vaguely remembered Nafarius getting up with the twins after Kaysen’s early morning feeding and telling her to sleep. She hadn’t argued.
Slipping into a summer dress, Sam brushed her hair and teeth and went in search of her mate.
Nafarius was sprawled out in the common area, his body acting as a barrier between the twins and the entrance to the cave. Other pack members moved around them, some stopping to touch a child gently on the head before going on with their chores.
Sam let the familiarity of pack life wash over her paving the way to calmness. Kneeling behind him, Sam leaned over Nafarius and watched her young. Kaysen lay on her stomach already trying to push herself up onto all fours while Zane lay on his back sucking quietly on a fist. “Where are the others?” she asked.
Nafarius looked up over his shoulder. Sam looked rested and ready — something he almost hated to admit. Had she looked worn or tired he would have been able to make excuses and put this whole thing off. “They’ve gathered outside waiting for you. I asked Glenis to stay with the twins.”
Sam nodded and smiled as Glenis came to sit with the twins. Nafarius stood and taking her hand walked with her out into the clearing.
Jonas, Lillian, Dresden and Maddie waited with several others, talking quietly and milling about the clearing. Those closest to Sam had come to watch, to offer support and to hope. Whether they hoped she would be able to shift or not was unique to each individual.
For his part, Nafarius wasn’t sure which he wanted more.
Sam walked towards the center of the clearing, slowly letting her hand slip from her mate’s and leaving him to stand beside Roland, Tasha and Maddie. No one said anything, they just waited and watched as only Sam knew what she needed to do.
Taking a deep breath, Sam reached out with her senses, looking both inward and out. Inside she found her wolf while at the same time sensing the energy that gave each individual around her their animal. She let that energy flow over and around her, let it touch her wolf, enveloping her in a ball of light and energy until that was all she was. Until the soft murmer of conversation faded into the background and all that was left was the warmth of the sun on her face and the cool breeze in her hair.
Sam realized that she’d been moving in a circle letting her fingers trail over each of the men and women around her. Without thought, she’d been able to identify each one by the energy that was their animal – each force as unique as scent or a finger print. Coming to back to herself, Sam found herself standing in front of Dresden. Giving him a small smile, she shrugged and stepped into the center of the circle.
Pulling her dress over her head, Sam dropped to her hands and knees. Looking from Nafarius to Dresden she said, “I hope you don’t mind,” and shifted.
Most lycan took time to change, the process ungraceful and almost brutal. Sam shifted like flowing water, the process beginning at her shoulders and rolling over her in a wave.
“Holy mother…” Roland breathed on a sigh of awe. “I’ve never seen anything like that.”
Sam stretched when always before she shook herself. Shaking was an instinctual motion that seemed to settle her into her wolf. Only today she wasn’t a wolf.
Dresden stared, understanding the smile and the shrug. Sam had changed into a panther.
Sam wasn’t finished. Nafarius felt something stir a second before she shifted again — this time taking on the shape of a bear.
Jonas gave a startled gasp and barely resisted the urge to step forward. Bears were solidary creatures but they still felt the urge to mate. Given the high mortality rate of cubs and the rarity of female lycan with the bear as their animal it had been years since Jonas had seen another of his kind.
Sam seemed to sense his turmoil and shifted again, this time taking the form of Lillian’s bird. After fluttering ungracefully, Sam shifted back into human form and stood panting. “Wow.”
“Yeah, wow.” Nafarius echoed, a touch of humor evident in his voice.
“Well,” Jonas said. “I think that answers that question.”
Everyone was silent letting the news settled. Sam slipped back into her dress and went to stand beside Nafarius. “So what happens now?” she asked. Already she could hear conversation starting around her, at first quiet whispers that turned into excited exclamations. It was only as one or two pack members broke off to “spread the good news” that Sam felt herself starting to relax. She hated to admit it but she’d feared their reaction, feared being labled different, dangerous and made an outcast. Their easy acceptence meant more to her then any one of them likely knew.
Jonas and Lillian looked at each other, a silent exchange taking place between two people that have known each other for a long time. “I think it’s time we go home,” Jonas said.
Nafarius nodded. “And once you get there?”
“We will add our findings to the file on Sam and leave them sealed in the Archives,” Lillian said.
“Sealed?” Sam couldn’t keep the surprise from her voice. “I thought you were going to release the files.”
Jonas nodded. “We had planned to but we discussed the issue and came to an agreement.”
“Thank you,” Sam said though Nafarius remained quiet.
“Don’t thank us yet,” Jonas said. “We will leave the files sealed — for now. However, should someone come looking and make a formal request we will release them. The Council serves all lycan — not just werewolves. We agree that Sam is no danger to lycans but she is creating history and could signal a change.”
“What kind of change?” Roland asked.
“It could be simple Darwanism,” Lillian said with a shrug of uncertainty. “We have shapeshifters in our past, they are in our genes and Sam could be the first of others to come.”
“The twins,” Sam said quietly, grateful when Nafarius entwined his fingers with hers.
Lillian nodded. “They may carry the gene, they may not. There is no way to know if the gene is maternal or paternal and we would definitely like to know if one or both of them turns out to be able to shift.”
Nafarius said nothing, made no commitment, just waited for the Council members to continue.
“Well,” Lillian said. “We will be leaving first thing tomorrow. It is time we got back to our own business.”