Changed (21 page)

“
What will Shelby do now? What happens to her and her mom?” I asked, unsure as to why I even cared, but knowing I wouldn’t be able to stop wondering if I didn’t ask.

“
Either she’ll back off and become a regular pack member now or else I’ll force her and her mother to leave. I will not tolerate her attitude and disrespect toward you anymore.”

“
Oh,
now
you won’t tolerate her attitude and disrespect toward me, huh? What about before?” I teased, raising my head to meet his eyes.

“
Well, now I can do something about it. I couldn’t then,” he answered.

“
Uh-huh, right, like you couldn’t have stood up for me before…” I continued to rag him.

“
Tessa, you know how things work.” His face softened and guilt washed in. “I couldn’t have done—” I cut off his words by pressing my lips to his.

“
I know; I understand,” I said in between kisses. “Well, sort of,” I added with a grin, enjoying watching him squirm a little too much.

“
Come here you,” Jace growled, flipping me beneath him. “I think I may just have bit off more than I can chew with you,” he said, as his lips brushed across mine before detouring to move down my neck.

My hands traveled the length of his back, and I inhaled his scent—that spicy cologne I’d grown to love. “Oh, it’s possible.”

EPOLOUGE

“
This is so untraditional. We should be on our first run with the pack as Alphas right now,” Jace muttered from beside me.

I laughed. “Right, because you’re
so
all about doing everything the traditional way.”

“
For the most part.” He winked.

“
Yeah, well, you did agree I could do this a long time ago. Besides, I’m sure the pack will be fine without your profound leadership skills for one night,” I teased, slipping out of my jeans and dropping them on the damp, frozen ground.

Warmth began to flow through my veins as I glanced around me and my surroundings, taking in the familiarity of the woods that had been behind the house I’d lived in since I was a little girl. My brain grew fuzzy and I held my breath as I waited for the burning sensation I knew was to come next. Nervous butterflies broke into flight in the pit of my stomach, but not due to anxiety from changing. It was due to the thought of who was waiting for me beyond the edge of the woods and what their reaction to seeing me in my other form might be.

My muscles grew tense as the pressure began to push on my bones, forcing them to shift. A heavy fog clouded my mind and for a split second I forgot why I was here. My skin began to ripple as the bones shifted into place beneath, my eyes locked on Jace’s. Before I knew it, I was on all fours and Jace’s thick, golden pelt was nuzzling up against mine. Each time I shifted, it seemed to be easier, smoother, than the last.

Do you want me to go with you?
Jace’s voice, soft and concerned, filled my mind.

Can you just hang back for a little bit? I’d be scared enough just seeing me, two wolves might be too much for them
, I answered, hoping he understood.

I’ll be waiting at the edge of the woods for you then.

Slowly I started to make my way through the trees. Emotions and fear seemed to have crippled my body once I reached the bordering edge between my backyard and the overgrown woods though, because I paused.

After a few minutes, I forced myself forward and noticed the exact moment when I became clearly visible to those waiting for me. Three pounding heartbeats greeted my ears as shocked expressions met my eyes.

I inched toward them slower now, counting my steps as I took them…
one, two, three
… wondering when I would be close enough to keep everyone’s comfort level still intact. Thoughts of the first time I saw Jace in his wolf form and I knew what he was flooded my mind, but I was sure it was nothing in comparison to what they were all thinking and feeling at this moment because I had been a wolf, too, they weren’t.

I stopped when only a few feet remained between us. It was more for their comfort than mine because I knew I wouldn’t hurt them. Slowly I shifted my eyes from one face to the next. They all looked terrified of me, all except for my mom—she looked heartbroken—and I wondered in that moment if this had been such a good idea. Maybe Jace had been right and this was too much for them to handle.

I stared at my mom as her eyes began to swell with tears and guilt hit me so hard I could barely breathe. This had been the one thing I thought I had needed in order to feel some selfish sense of closure from this part of my life, but all I was doing was hurting those I loved most. I hadn’t taken into consideration anyone else’s feelings beside my own, something Jace had warned me about before hand, and now I was completely aware, but it was too late.

I’m so sorry
,I said to them, even though I knew they couldn’t hear me.

I should have never done this. It was worse than the goodbye I’d had before. There was no sense of closure here, only pain brought on by the frightened look in their eyes.

“
Tessa?” mom whispered.

I nodded my head in acknowledgement and her lips formed a thin smile.

“
This is un-flipping believable,” Rachel muttered with a shaky voice.

“
It’s all true, isn’t it? Every word is true,” dad insisted. From the sound of his voice I gathered he was trying to convince himself just as much as he was trying to convince Rachel that what they saw was really me.

I started to take another step forward, but saw my dad flinch backward slightly so I dropped to my stomach instead. Mom was the first to move toward me. I could sense her hesitation and I tried my best to remain perfectly still. When she finally reached me, she extended her hand out, and I slowly raised my head to meet her fingers.

“
Oh, my God,” she muttered.

“
This is
crazy
!” Rachel said. “I mean, I can tell it’s you… there’s something about your eyes. They don’t belong on an animal.”

My dad dropped to his knees behind Rachel then, and I shifted my eyes to him. Tears flowed freely down his face as he stared at me. “I’m not crying because of seeing you this way, if that’s what you’re thinking. I’m crying because this is a little much to take in.” He paused. “Elizabeth, I’m so sorry for doubting you.”

“
I understand,” she said, leaving me to go to his side. “Believe me, I understand.”

Rachel moved to sit beside me, folding her legs beneath her. “I cannot get over this,” she said, staring at me fixedly. “This isn’t going to be the last time I ever see you, is it? I mean, you’re going to come back and visit sometime as a human, right?”

I laughed, but I knew all she heard were grumbles and groans, and I noticed her shift back slightly startled.

Of course
, I answered her, wishing she could hear me.

My eyes flickered to my parents. They sat wrapped in each other’s arms, crying. I stood and made my way to them.

Dad reached out and stroked my face lightly. “I love you, Tessa, no matter which form you’re in.”

And just like that, any desire I may have had to seek out my biological father evaporated into thin air. There was no need to. After all, he hadn’t given a damn about me and whether or not I lived or died… and I didn’t need him anyway. Bill Morganton was all the dad I could ever need.

Tessa?
Jace’s words flowed through my mind, echoing the pain that I felt.

I know, it’s time. This goodbye is harder than I thought it would be
, I answered, my eyes never leaving my parents.

“
We love you, honey. Jace is waiting for you. Go, we’ll be okay,” mom said, nodding toward the woods.

I love you, too
, I said, before turning to leave. My heart burned with sadness and my chest tightened as my eyes blurred with tears.

“
Call me, okay?” Rachel said as I walked past her. Her voice had been shaky when she spoke, but when I glanced at her there’d been a slight smirk on her face.

“
I expect you to take care of her, Jace, just because you’re a damn werewolf doesn’t mean you’re indestructible,” dad yelled out after us, and I heard my mom chuckle. “What? I’m serious.” He laughed through his tears.

My dad’s final words had meant more to me than he could ever know. They’d meant that even after all of this—after what I’d become—everything was going to be okay between us all. Because no matter what form I was in—wolf or human—I was still just me and they all realized that.

It’s not forever, you know? I wouldn’t do that to you
, Jace said as we retreated back into the woods, leaving my family to process what they’d just witnessed.
We can always spend a few days here at the farm house when you’re feeling homesick, especially when it’s not a full moon.

I know, and I’m going to hold you to that, but it doesn’t make it any easier right now
. Sadness echoed through my words, even though they weren’t spoken aloud.

I glanced over my shoulder at my family one more time before they completely disappeared from my view. The three of them stood huddled together, watching the woods with tearstained faces.

I love you all
, I said to them.

They know
, Jace whispered.

We continued through the woods to enjoy the remainder of our night together, but a part of me stayed back with my family. A part of me always would be here, with them.

* * *

They say a person’s life can change in the blink of an eye. That in one tiny fragment of a second, one snap of a finger, your entire life can become altered. Those people weren’t lying when they said that; they were telling the truth.

My life changed with one bite, but now, looking back, it was for the better. It made me realize change wasn’t something we should always fear… in some situations we should just embrace it.

~THE END~

Also by Jennifer Snyder:

Marked (Marked Duology Book 1)

Shattered Soul

Touch

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:

The list of thank yous has not grown much, but my meaning when I say those words here has. I have some amazing people who support me in this journey of mine and sometimes thank you doesn’t seem like enough.

I’d like to start with my mom again, because without her, Tessa’s story would still be sitting in my nightstand gathering dust. Thank you, mom!

Thank you to my little sister, Heather, for reading more than half of “Changed” in one sitting and loving it!

Thank you to my husband and two kids for letting me make it through yet another round with these imaginary friends of mine while not criticizing my lack of house cleaning at times.

Thank you to Mrs. Becky for being so excited to find out what happened to Tessa and Jace, she couldn’t stand it! This book is dedicated to you for that reason!

Thank you to Katrina for helping me with the names Nicolas and Kale years ago when I first put pen to paper with this story.

Thank you to H. Danielle Crabtree for her amazing editing skills. Without you this duology would have been full of comma splices and horrible punctuation errors!

But most of all I’d like to thank YOU, the readers, again! I’m so glad that you all have enjoyed “Marked.” The response I’ve gotten from that novel has been mind blowing and I only hope you have loved “Changed” just as much! THANK YOU, READERS, from the bottom of my heart.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jennifer Snyder writes Young Adult Edgy Contemporary novels as well as Young Adult Paranormal Romance novels. She resides in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina with her husband and two children. Jennifer finds great joy in blank notebooks and a smooth writing pen.

Feel free to visit her blog at:
http://jennifersnydersblog.blogspot.com