I turn within, feeling Sage’s steady presence beside me. He’s already shifting, his own clothes discarded, body melting from human to wolf so fluidly jealous pangs trouble me. Now, more than ever, I believe he is what I’m meant to be. I’ve spent the last week and a half fearful he would become something to revile and despise, only to be shocked by his final transformation and the perfection of his power.
His magic hovers beside me, not intruding, but firm and ready to support me if I need it. The others back away, watching, Sassafras’s tail beating a steady time as he glares with a cat’s intensity. Syd is doing her best to hide her worry. The only person who seems calm is Max. He watches with his diamond eyes as I allow my wolf to take me to wereform.
This is familiar, the feel of my hybrid shape, the bend of my back legs and the thick fur on my body. My bones ache a brief moment as they always do from the shift in their configuration, but the pain is gone as quickly as it comes. I lick my chops in a nervous reaction, though my wolf feels relaxed. I embrace her with power and show her what I want her to do, the image of a blonde wolf coming easily to me. She isn’t remotely surprised and, in fact, reacts with amusement I seem to feel the need to address her directly.
She answers with a surge of power before I can change my mind, diving headlong into the magic that makes me what I am. For a moment, I’m running through a fragrant forest, the wind in my fur, crushing leaves under my paws, and then I’m back here in Syd’s basement, a sharp jerk of agony making me whimper.
And then, I’m looking up at Syd’s shocked face, my body in perfect balance beneath me. Even so, when I try to take a step, I collapse to my haunches with a startled yip at how odd it feels to be on all fours. A quick look down and my sharp eyes—at least ten times more so than when I’m in wereform—catch the minute cracks in the concrete under the pads of my paws. A rush of smells assaults me suddenly as I fully integrate, overpowering with a mix of lilacs and chocolate and dust, of magic and ancient power that has to be Max. I backpedal a few steps, feeling the fur on my ruff rise, my tail sweeping between my back legs as I struggle to adapt.
I’m a wolf, a woman no longer. Even as fear tries to take over, I settle into calm, the steady logic of my true form soothing, welcoming me to embrace it. The last of my anxiety is gone as I fully open to the creature I have always been meant to become. And find a massive well of magic energy open like a blooming flower inside me.
That, I wasn’t expecting.
I was strong before, able to tap into the power Syd freed. But the feeling I always had, how something more waited for me, is long gone. Finally, at long last, nothing stands between me and the power I was born with. This shape has freed me from the remains of the controls of the Black Souls.
His scent turns my head, tart with pheromones and familiarity. Sage stands next to me, shoulder a few inches above mine, the white crescent feeding into the faint glow around him. His green eyes flare with magic as he circles me, panting softly, nudging me with his nose.
He smells… delicious and captivating. I want to rub my full body length against him, his need as powerful as mine. I whine like a puppy, barking softly my passion for him as he nuzzles my throat with his powerful jaws.
Someone clears their throat, the vibration of the sound breaking my attention on Sage. If I were a woman, I would blush at the show of affection we just shared, at my need to be with him in this form, the animal passion driving me to mate with him. But I am a wolf at last, and such things are natural to me.
I leave him, padding across the floor to snuffle at Sassafras. The silver Persian bats softly at my nose in response.
“Dog breath,” he says.
I bark once, a laugh, sitting on my haunches, the cool of the concrete slowly making its way through my fur. Syd crouches next to me, Femke on my other side as the rest of my friends gather around and Sage comes to join me.
Syd’s fingers slide hesitantly through my fur and I sweep my tongue over her cheek in a surge of joy. She laughs, wiping at the trail of saliva before grinning at Femke.
“Well?” Syd’s eyes are bright, full of challenge. I can feel both their magicks investigating and remain as open as I can, my power locked with Sage’s as he links with me.
“Well.” Femke smiles at last, shaking her head, a bit of awe in her voice. How odd their words sound in this form, layered with so many notes, and full of meanings I’m certain aren’t meant to be ascertained. I must explore the world around me in this shape, to see what wonders I’ve been missing by holding back for so long. “My apologies, Sage,” Femke says to my love. “I had to be certain. And now, I am.” She stands, crossing her arms over her chest, her own faint glow the blue of witch magic. “I would offer the support of the European Witches Council to both of you.”
I yip a bark of joy while Sage leans happily against me and moans a soft thanks.
Something shakes the house so violently, I’m on my feet, snarling and snapping the air while Sage’s ears flatten, body slinking low to the ground. Syd swears and turns, running for the stairs, her mother on her heels. I try to follow, but Femke’s magic holds me back.
“One last thing,” she says. “Prove to me you can both reverse the process and I’ll do everything in my power to ensure your safety, including confronting a fellow Council Leader in her own territory.”
I know what a huge offer she’s making and why she’s making it. The touch of Erica’s power is so clear I can taste it, even through all the wards around Syd’s house. The Council Leader herself has come to confront us and take us away.
The thought rises Femke could simply whisk Sage and I back to Oxford with her. But she’s suggesting she take our case to the other who hunts us, to speak on our behalf and hopefully assure our safe passage if we ever return to North America. I nod, though I don’t wish to become human again, not yet. Being a wolf is so much better, cleaner, the feeling of it the most natural I’ve ever encountered.
Longing to remain in wolf form switches on my natural suspicion and shakes my calm.
Is this the danger of becoming full wolf? Not the loss of humanity at all, but the massive power and pull to remain in my intended form? Perhaps. And yet, I can’t help but doubt that’s the case as I focus and retreat from the wolf I am and into the woman’s body I’ve worn for so long. Shenka rushes forward with my clothing, eyes firmly on me and not on Sage while I wink at her, suddenly filled with joy and feeling giddy knowing, regardless my wants, I’m in control. For the first time, there are no constraints on me aside from the needs of my heart.
The power. It’s still there. I feared I could only access it while a wolf. But it lives in all my forms now, awakened and unable to be contained. I am whole at last.
Femke drops her folded arms and nods to me, beaming a smile as a massive boom overhead tells me Syd isn’t taking crap from whoever has come to call. The European leader offers her hand to me, the other to Sage and together we climb the stairs to the kitchen. Sassafras scampers ahead of us, Shenka and Max following with Quaid taking the tail. I feel him leave us, heading for the hall and the stairs, and know he’s gone to check on the kids.
I don’t wait for Femke’s urging, aiming for the kitchen door and the driveway. Bright blue light flares as I step out onto the asphalt, looking up at the ring of Enforcers hovering in the air, the center of their half circle taken by the furious and crackling form of Erica Plower.
When her blue eyes fix on me, she snarls in fury, though that snarl dies away when she realizes Femke is with us.
“Council Leader Plower.” Femke nods casually to her, pleasant tone belying the tense situation. Syd’s rainbow power crackles as she steps back and allows the European leader some space. But I can tell from my friend’s expression, if Erica pushes her any further, Syd will push back and not with happy consequences.
The Enforcers hover closer, and I realize why as I scan the sky behind them. Max stands behind Syd, glittering eyes focused on Erica, but his drach are watching from above, hovering in the dark sky in a triangle formation of watchful patience, though they have yet to engage. Miriam’s grim expression can only mean she’s convinced Syd to trust diplomacy at this point.
Erica’s jaw tightens visibly as she settles to the ground, gesturing for her threatening posse to join her. I spot Pender’s troubled face behind her as he does as ordered.
“What are you doing here, Femke?” Erica’s tone is sharp, piercing.
“Collecting a pair of long-lost residents of my territory,” the European leader says with a smile. “I’m grateful for your concern, but North American assistance is no longer required.” She shrugs. “Happy to take them off your hands.”
For a moment, Erica looks like she’s going to argue and I can only wonder why. Isn’t the whole point of her pursuit to turn us over to the authorities? It makes me anxious she has other ideas in mind for Sage and me. Surely, she wouldn’t care either way on her own.
Who is it, then, making Erica so nervous about letting us go?
A pair of werewolves slink into the light and I curse myself for not paying closer attention. Of course, she’s been speaking with Roman and Viveca. Still, what could they possibly have over the Council Leader to make her argue against our removal?
When she spots the Knox siblings, Erica almost looks relieved and I wonder if I’m imagining things after all. She gestures at Sage and me with a disdainful expression.
“Fine,” she says. “Get them out of my territory. I’ve had enough trouble over this as it is.” She glares at Syd. “You and I will have a conversation about your actions, Coven Leader.”
“And yours, Council Leader,” Syd snaps back. “And yours.”
“They are to be turned over to us.” Roman’s voice is a deep grunt of dissatisfaction as his sister snarls silently at me.
“Take it up with the Europeans,” Erica snaps at him before rising into the air. Her Enforcers join her, two in the back remaining behind as I recognize the slim shape of Gwendolyn and that of her hulking companion, Finlay. I had hoped Pender would be relieved by this change of events, but when he meets my eyes, his are troubled. I must think to pursue this further. Something isn’t right with the Council.
The Knox siblings glare in rage as Erica and her people leave. Femke snaps her fingers, the air around us turning blue. Gwendolyn and Finlay hurry forward, flanking us. But when Syd moves to join us, Femke shakes her head.
“They belong to the werenation.” This time Viveca speaks, her hateful eyes locked on me, claws extending as she partially shifts.
“New information on their status has come to light,” Femke says in her crisp, precise way, cutting the werewolves off. “I have a great deal to discuss with Wereking Oleksander.” I know she’s chosen her words carefully, that she’s aware of my grandfather’s fall from grace.
“You’ll find a new king on the throne,” Roman says, his sister smirking her angry glee.
“We shall see if he’s able to maintain his position for long,” Femke says, taking a step toward them, still encased in the blue fire she’s raised. “You might want to tell your 'king', the werenation exists at the discretion of the Witch Council. We have allowed your people autonomy to this point. Were circumstances to change, circumstances which make the Council unhappy, we would have to take steps to ensure the safety and protection of the werenation, even if that means imposing our own laws.”
The thought makes me sick to my stomach, but I know it’s just a threat. The Knox siblings, however, seem taken aback by her power-backed statement.
Without waiting for them to respond, she turns to Syd. “Thank you for the hospitality,” she says. “We’ll keep you posted.”
I don’t have time to say goodbye, only to wave, as the flames of Femke’s power flare bright and she carries us off. I draw a deep breath, grateful for the progress we’ve made. This may be a first step, but it’s a big one. And I can finally allow the hope shivering inside me to blossom and grow.
As we step out onto the wooden floor in Femke’s office, I briefly wonder about the trauma Zoe mentioned and wonder if I’ve managed to avoid it. If so, does that mean I can go back to Ukraine?
Only one way to find out.
***