Change (The Shape Shifter Series) (18 page)

Isabel giggled and clutched onto him. “And I know what's best for me.”

“Hmm, we'll discuss that later,” he said and plucked at the leash. “Now we have more important things to do.”

“Later then.” Isabel licked her lips. “Let's take this mutt to her mommy. After all, it's her you want.”

“That's right,” Gunward said darkly. “It's her I want.”

The healing cave was in chaos. There was a rumor that Gunward was back in Senja and no one knew what to expect. People were running here and there like headless chickens and no one seemed to know what to do next. Tiamhaidh looked at them and shook his head in disbelief. If this was supposed to be Marie's rescue team, they were so dead. These people were shocked and scared and would be no trouble for Gunward. Baz and Faol were trying to calm them, but every time they succeeded with one, another escaped.

It was still hard for Tiamhaidh to think of Gunward as a ruthless killer. He had known him for years and he just wasn't like that. Yes, he could be as cold as ice, and yes, he would probably be the scariest nightmare as an enemy, but he didn't walk around killing people for no reason. So if he did it now, something must've really pissed him off.
Something other than Sofia being married to David. Tiamhaidh felt a hand on his back and turned quickly.

Siobhan was standing calmly behind him, looking at him with her dazzling green eyes. “You can't blame them,” she said and smiled. “They're afraid of him and they're lost. Now, with the elders split up, they don't have a leader and they don't know who to follow.”

“So? They chose their side and now they should deal with it.”

Siobhan touched his hand softly. “Righteous Tiamhaidh! It's not always so black and white, you know. They were forced to choose their side, and there's a big difference.”

“Still.”

“Oh, I wish we had more men like you! But seriously, look at them.”

Tiamhaidh looked at the panicked people. She was right. Without a leader they would never rise against Gunward. The second he showed up they would kneel and surrender. He felt all the hope draining away from him. Gunward would easily wipe them out and take the lead. He would take what he came for and there was no one to stop him. No one but him. He hadn't heard from Sofia for hours and he couldn't count on her help. Heck, he didn't even know if she was okay. He felt a mad rage growing inside him and closed his eyes.

Siobhan put her hands to his cheeks and he could feel the warmth flowing in him.

He opened his eyes in amazement and noticed he was staring into her eyes. “You should be their leader,” he said and tried to shake the image of Siobhan's beautiful eyes from his mind.

Siobhan's laughter was like silver rain. She closed her eyes and lifted herself on her toes. She kissed him gently and laughed brightly. “You do know that I can see into your soul.”

Tiamhaidh blushed and pushed her away.

“Don't worry, your virtue's safe. Your soul is the purest and most honest soul I've touched.” She stepped closer and kissed him again. “I would make the worst leader ever.”

“No,” Tiamhaidh said, stunned. “No, you wouldn't. I mean look around. You're like a calm waterfall compared to them and they trust you. I think you would be a great leader.”

“Thank you, saighdear,” Siobhan whispered, smiling and leaning in to kiss him.

This time, however, Tiamhaidh put a finger between their lips. “If you really saw into my soul, you know it belongs to Marie.”

“I know that.” She spun around
gracefully. “But your lips are so delicious.”

“Funny,” he grunted. “Seriously, what are we going to do?”

“I already told you that. I think you should be our leader.” She puckered her lips.

“I have a leader. And besides, I'm not staying here, and this place can't survive without a leader.” He rubbed his neck, stealing a glance at Baz. He seemed to know what Siobhan was asking from him and he nodded approvingly. Tiamhaidh growled and turned back to Siobhan.

She smiled warmly. “So, maybe you should stay here.”

“Are you flirting with me?” he asked sharply. “Because if you are―”

“I wish I were, but I'm not,” she sighed. “Look, we obviously need a leader here and I can't see any reason why you and Marie couldn't stay.”

“Well, I can and that's the main reason,” he snapped. “Sofia,” he continued, as Siobhan didn't seem to get it. “She would never live here. Not after what happened.”

Siobhan raised her eyebrows. “But I didn't ask her to live here, did I?”

“No, but I could never live here knowing it would cost her Marie.” Tiamhaidh managed to smile. “Besides, Marie would never agree.”

“But what about your needs?” Siobhan's voice fondled.

“I want what's best for Marie. Speaking of which, did you find any trace of her?”

She hesitated. “No, but I found something else.”

“What?”

Siobhan sighed and lifted her hand apologetically. “I found a scent of Isabel. And when I talked to the others, some of them had seen her sneaking in earlier.”

“And you didn't tell me this before!” Tiamhaidh shouted. Some people stopped and stared at him.

“I'm sorry.” She bowed her head. “That's why I came to you in the first place. I just got lost with other things.”

No one needed to tell them what other things she meant. Siobhan was a beautiful woman and Tiamhaidh had noticed her before. But so much had happened since and he could never even dream of living without Marie. Marie was a part of him. She was his soul and more. He couldn't explain it. It was like being with her made him whole, and Siobhan … well … she was nothing more than beautiful. In another time and place they might have been a couple, but here, never.

He nodded. “Apology accepted.”

Siobhan nodded, too. She tried to hide the pain in her eyes, but he was too fast for her. He grabbed her chin and smiled. “Hey, it's really okay.”

“I didn't mean to kiss you,” she whispered.

“I know,” he said and pressed his lips softly to her cheek. His kiss was as soft as a butterfly's wing, but it meant the world to her. “You're special and you know that. I'm not going to waste our time telling you you'll find someone that's perfect for you. Someone better.”

“Thank you.” Siobhan wiped her eyes. “I don't even love you.”

“Ouch! That hurt!”

“But I can see what might have been between us and that makes me cry. We could've been perfect,” she sighed.

“No, Siobhan. No, we couldn't. Marie is perfect for me, so let's just stop this, okay?”

“Okay,” Siobhan breathed. She brushed her hair with her fingers and sighed deeply. “Right. So, here's what I heard―”

A wolf howled outside the cave. Siobhan went pale.

“What?” Tiamhaidh asked and tried to listen to his surroundings.

“We're too late. It's begun.” Siobhan pressed a hand to her mouth, looking horrified.

For a moment he was confused, but when the wolf howled again, he knew that the time for talking was over. It was time to fight.

Tiamhaidh grabbed Siobhan's hand and ran to the middle of the cave. Everyone froze and listened to the howling.

“Listen to me,” Tiamhaidh shouted. “Now is your time to choose. If you're with us, stay, but if you choose not to fight, leave and we will not count it against you. But you'll have to choose fast.”

People started to whisper and glance at each other. The wolf let out a long howl and this time it was much nearer. It was like a sign that people were expecting. They started to run out of the cave and in the end there was only a handful of people standing next to Tiamhaidh and Siobhan. Those who stayed looked like frightened children.

Siobhan looked around. “Twelve,” she whispered desperately. “Only twelve. Tiamhaidh, I think we should give in. There's no way we can beat whatever’s coming for us.”

“You're right,” Tiamhaidh said aloud. “We can't beat Gunward and his group, but I'm not going to stand and watch as he destroys us. If he thinks we're easy prey, he's wrong. We will fight! And if it destroys us … well … at least we know we didn't run. We didn't betray everything we believe in.”

“That's right!” Baz shouted. “I'm not a coward and if he wants to beat me, he'll have to fight!”

“Yes!” the others yelled. “We will fight till the bitter end.”

“True,” Faol joined in. “But we must first remember who we are.” She looked gently at the others. “Agnes and Colin.” She touched their hands. “You've lived here as long as I have and you know that fighting is the last option.”

“You speak wisely,” the red-haired woman called Agnes said. “But sometimes you can't get peace without war.”

“But if you can, isn't that better than to give up everything you ever believed in?” Faol held her gaze.

“What are you saying? Should we just wait for Gunward and do nothing?” Colin thundered and put his arms around his partner.

Faol sighed. “No. That's not what I'm saying. You know Gunward. He hasn't always been like this and I think we must remember the playful, bright young wolf before the hunter he has become.”

“Faol, he's not a puppy anymore,” Tiamhaidh said softly.

“I know that,” Faol snapped. “I'm just saying that we can't forget our past and that somewhere deep inside of him is that same young wolf we used to know.”

A grey-haired man stepped forward. “I think you're wrong,” he said. “I saw him after Sofia left and he was nothing like he was before. The darkness has poisoned his heart and I think Sofia is the only one who can get through his hard shell.”

Tiamhaidh felt a cold hand pressing on his heart. If the man
was right they would be doomed without Sofia. He tried to think of her. His mind screamed her name, but the only answer he got was an echo of his own voice in his mind. Wherever Sofia was, she couldn't hear him.

Siobhan glanced sharply at him. He knew she had sensed what he had done, but still she said nothing.

“We can't expect Sofia to save us,” she said and Tiamhaidh nodded to confirm her words. “This is our fight and we have to figure out our own way to survive.”

“True,” Baz said. “I suggest we stop worrying and see what comes to us. After all, it might turn out that Gunward has no intention to fight, and if not, we'll deal with it the best way we can. We have powers, too, you know, so we have to stop being afraid and concentrate on what we have here.”

Baz pressed his hand to his heart and Faol pressed her hand on his. “And that is what we'll do. No matter what happens, we chose a good path and we won't have to regret that later.”

Tiamhaidh wasn't completely satisfied with their decision, but what could he do
? He wasn't going to force anyone to fight.

“Don't worry,” Siobhan whispered. “What you see here
are the most powerful shape shifters I know, so we're not completely helpless.”

Tiamhaidh sighed deeply. “I know that. I'm just afraid it's not going to be enough.”

Siobhan squeezed his hand and smiled encouragingly. She opened her mouth, but before she could speak a shadow covered the entrance to the cave, and soon the cave was so full of wolves and people that they were forced to step back.

Two men that looked like bodybuilders shooed them away and Gunward stepped into the cleared space. He glanced at the twelve rebels from beneath his long dark hair and smiled in amusement. “Feasgar math,” he said politely.

“Gunward,” Baz answered and bowed his head a little.

“Why do you look so scared?” Gunward asked. “Don't tell me you're afraid of me?”

“Should we be?” Faol asked and stepped forward.

Gunward shook his head. “I mean no harm to you; you know that.” He wrung the leash in his hand and the wolf next to him howled quietly.

“Then why do you have my grandchild tied to a leather leash like a slave?” Baz asked and tried to keep his voice steady.

Faol reeled, but Tiamhaidh got there before she fell.

“I'd like to know that, too,” he said sharply. “She's done nothing against you. So why don't you release her?”

“Believe me, I want to, but I can't. This has gone too far and someone has to end this
.” Gunward petted Marie's fur absentmindedly. “Look around, Baz. Do you see happy faces?”

Baz glanced around and was surprised to see so much hatred on the people's faces. He had thought they were his people, his pack, which was satisfied most of the time, but he had been wrong. The hatred was almost tangible and he and his little group could never win. He shook his head in disbelief.

“You see, old friend, your first mistake was to allow Sofia and David's marriage. The second was to let her bring him here, and the third, and maybe the worst, was to ask me to go away,” Gunward said and grinned.

“But you were okay with it,” Faol said, stunned. “You didn't fight against us earlier and you did leave Sofia with David when she asked you to go. So what changed?”

“Nothing changed,” Gunward spat. “I was never okay with the situation, but I knew I couldn't force her to be with me. However, I thought she would come to her senses eventually, but instead she brought that human here.” He stopped and shook his head slowly. Tiamhaidh took a step closer to him and Gunward looked at him sharply. Tiamhaidh stopped and their eyes locked for a moment before Gunward turned to Baz. “Why didn’t you stop her?”