Shifted (The Oblivion Series Book 1) Read online

  “What is this!?!” All that came out was a chuffing growl.

  I was on all fours surrounded by whimpers and howls. Howls of worry and acceptance, not of anger. There was a nudge at my side accompanied by a whimper that was all too familiar to me. I lifted my head to see my best friend Joshua, the only son of Ramport, at my side as he always had been since the pain first started. His worried eyes met mine and I blinked at him. I tried to speak but all that came from me was that noise again. It was a noise I’d never heard before. I shrank back from myself and fell back onto my haunches. Chuffing, I let out a long sigh. When I look up again Ramport was kneeling before me, Joshua’s wolf next to him. I blinked and gave my head a good shake. Maybe this was just a weird dream. What in the world had me so messed up here? I tried to speak but my voice was not there. A hiss replaced it. I again tried to stand but went nowhere but back down onto my haunches.

  Lost, I felt completely lost at that moment. After I scanned my new body, I surveyed my surroundings. I was still in my room. Well, I was home at least. How had this happened to me? I was a vampire, for sugar’s sake. What had been done to me would be a better question. There were so many questions now running through me that I had no clue if anyone could answer them. That voice, it replayed over and over in my head… but why? What did it mean. Run... I needed to run.

  There was a tingling sensation running through me as I tried to build enough courage to try moving once again. I wasn’t sure how to do any of this.

  “Talia, you are safe. I will not let harm befall you. This, I swear on my life.”

  I knew the voice that scanned my mind. My eyes met Joshua’s and he dipped his head slightly before he moved to nuzzle my neck once more with his muzzle.

  I instantly relaxed against him. Whatever it was, I would have Joshua and his family here to help me figure it out. Maybe it was a curse? I hadn’t hurt anyone. I didn’t hurt humans. Or shifters for that matter, so why was this happening to me?

  4

  Talia

  “Relax, Talia. It’s easy once you relax and concentrate. I promise.” Joshua’s soft voice cascaded over me only to be lost in my utter frustration with myself.

  I flopped down in the meadow where we had been for the past… well, I wasn’t sure how long we had been here. I was trying to get my two legs back. This shifting thing had only made my life a bigger mess. I had been on four legs now for what seemed like years. Okay, so maybe it was only about two weeks. But it felt like longer.

  Again, I can’t freaking tell how long. I still have that frigging tail and I’m emitting sounds that would make a grinder sound like a serenade. I let out a long chuffing sigh. I close my eyes and place my paws, yes, frigging fur covered paws, over my muzzle.

  I rumbled as Joshua sat beside me and ran his fingers through my fur. This was one way to relax me, and as he said, if I could relax, I should be able to will myself to shift back, but it wasn’t working. The moment his hand left me I would tense up and try to shift. Only to get pissed off when it didn’t happen. There was a crunching of grass and I popped one eye open and curled up, pressing my face into Joshua’s leg when I saw Ramport coming our way.

  “Still no shifting I see,” he chuckled and I growled. “Now, now, my girl. It will come to you in time. Don’t think it was any easier for any of us the first time. We’ve had years to get accustomed to the weirdness of it. You will learn to control it,” he said as he sat beside me and scratched behind my ears.

  Help me Lord, but I loved that. I was as loose as a goose in a pond when they did that. But, alas, it did nothing to help me get myself back into a place where I could shift completely. Relaxing as it was, I was still at a loss as to how I could channel this feeling and use it to keep myself in a zen state, so I could shift.

  “Come on, let’s head back. Should be time to eat soon. You’ve had a long day,” Joshua said.

  His hand tugged at the scruff of my neck until I growled my acceptance of getting up. I stood and stretched, my claws digging at the earth below me. Taking in a deep breath I stood and paced myself to match their strides as we headed back into the village. Our homes were located in Troy, Montana. A majestic, heavenly place.

  We were surrounded by mountains, rivers, and all the forest anyone could ever want. Winters sucked, though. Like, seriously sucked. Snow is all fine and dandy until the piles grow to be taller than you and so packed down that you are stranded in doors for days at a time. On the other hand, if you have a blazing fire in the hearth, an endless supply of hot cocoa - the good kind, with the marshmallows - and a good book, things could be worse, I suppose.

  Until I could become myself again, there would be none of that.

  As we entered our little village, I caught the smell of something… something that smelled so good. I turned to the east and darted back towards the smell. I heard Joshua calling after me, but I put the power in my muscles to good use. I darted in between the trees, winding my lean body up and over the felled trees.

  The delicious smell grew more potent with each step that brought me closer to it. I heard other footfalls behind me, which served to push me harder. I needed to sink my teeth into that delicious smell. That thought should have startled me. It should have, but it did nothing of the sort.

  When the clearing by the stream came into view I skidded to a stop, a roar I'd never heard before escaped me. The humans at the bed of the stream went wide-eyed as they stood from their kill. I knew them, of course, they were the people of our village. The shock on their face said I wasn't altogether in charge of my new four-legged form. I fought to push her back.

  I couldn't hurt them over the bloody carcass at their feet.

  No, they were family.

  We did not hurt family.

  My paws dug into the soft earth beneath me. The thoughts of my beast were running through my head so fast I couldn’t understand them all. I shook my head as I fought to push her back, to regain control over us both. It was almost painful due to the amount of fight my beast was putting forth.

  “Talia, sweetheart, what's the matter with you child?” The eldest of the men asked, taking a step away from the carcass as if he meant to step towards me.

  “Please don’t,” I pleaded. My voice coming out as a hiss.

  He moved closer. I backpedaled clumsily, my muscles taut with fear and a hunger that was wracking my entire body with pain.

  No! Family! We can't hurt family! I shouted it to myself. My lips pulled back over my canines as another loud rumbling growl left me.

  “Joseph, please stay back,” my head snapped to Joshua as his feather light voice raced through me. “Easy, love.”

  My front legs bunched into a crouch as my mate circled me.

  NO, I shouted as I wrestled to regain control over myself.

  Ramport had warned us that the longer I was in animal form the more the natural instincts would settle themselves into me. I wouldn’t hurt my family. I'd kill myself first. I heard Joshua growl and went wide eyed as his yellow eyes stared back at me.

  “Do not think that again, or I will put you across my knee,” he hissed. A whimper left me and I backpedaled again, this time from him. I watched him as he stalked closer, anger radiating off of him.

  “Joshua!” Ramport’s growl of his son’s name stopped him dead in his tracks.

  I was mentally screaming at my beast. This was quickly becoming ridiculous. She was refusing to relinquish her control to me. I growled in frustration at myself. I was finally able to regain some control and immediately knew what needed to be done. I laid down and rolled over, stretching my neck out to him. I wasn't really a submissive person, but I would be to his wolf.

  See, Joshua is not only my best friend, he's special to me. That feeling I get around him seems to not only relax me, but put my entire being at peace. His effect on me is even stronger on my new four legged form than it is on my two legged form.

  “Father, she was losing control,” Joshua said, not moving until Ramport gave him a nod.


  Did he think Joshua was going to hurt me? That was preposterous. Joshua would never hurt me.

  Joshua crouched down to give me the once over. He sighed before sitting down in front of me. With a smooth motion he grabbed the scruff of my neck - not harshly, or in a menacing way - allowing himself to pull me over to his lap. He buried his face in my fur and I chuffed.

  The need and want to get to the carcass at the feet of the humans on the stream's edge had faded. Thankfully.

  “Is she alright, Ramport?” Joseph asked, concern lacing his tired voice.

  “All is well. Joseph, Martin, please carry on with your business. Seems our little cub has had her first encounter of blood lust and the need to hunt. She will be fine,” Ramport said, his hand pressing against the back of Joshua’s neck. “Let's go home, little ones, dinner is ready. Your mother will be concerned if we’re late.”

  “Yes, Father,” Joshua replied. I chuffed and reluctantly got back to all fours, shook myself and lopped off into the woods.

  Home. Sheri would have something yummy to fill our bellies. After that I was going to sprawl out on my bed and hope I woke up as me again and not still in a fur rug.

  Hours later I was curled up on top of my bed, the warm, soft comforter soothing me. It was like I was wrapped up in a cloud. I shifted to get comfy and let the sleep take me. I fell into a dreamlike state. A state of utter peace and contentment.

  Then something changed.

  Tonight was different than the others had been. There was a shifting pain that lingered but quickly left me. I was needed outside. The forest animals called to me.

  I was up and out of my cabin in the blink of an eye.

  I was walking on two legs.

  How had I gotten on two legs? When did the fur leave my body?

  My feet carried me through the denseness of the forest that surrounded our village. My hands pushed the foliage before me to the side. I peered around wondering why I was here, what had called for me.

  As I gazed around the area I saw nothing. Sighing softly, I padded in my bare feet towards the water of the stream. The rolling water called to me. A shiver ran through me and I came to a stop. There were eyes on me. I could feel the heat of them on my back. Whispers filled my ears as the woods around me seemed to shift.

  The blur of motions made me jump. A scream fell from my lips as I was tackled to the ground. Snarls filled my ear as the thumping of my heart made a pain well inside me.

  “NO, do not kill her, we need her, my pets,” a voice called out. I fought the urge to fight for freedom. To run from the voice that was moving closer to me. I had to get to Joshua and Ramport. I needed to get back to the safety of home.

  A loud shriek fell from my open mouth. The pain that wracked through my body set my muscles ablaze. I jerked before clamping my lips together.

  I was slammed down when I tried to flee their grip. My body felt as if it had been weighed down and a fire ripped through me, burning my skin, causing my body to jerk with a hungry abandon.

  I would not give into the pain.

  “You belong to us, child. Do not fear us,” another voice, the difference in the cadence was the only tell that it was not the same speaker as before.

  I opened my eyes when a hand touched my cheek. My arms were being held down and I tried to shake them off. I stared up at a face that looked eerily similar to my mother’s. I had one of the only pictures in existence of her and my father on my bedside table. I knew her face, though, I had never seen it for myself. The eyes were different, but the face, it was almost the same. As the gnarled fingers of the woman before me touched my face I screamed.

  Pain unlike the pain of my change to four legs raced through me. My mind blazed with images.

  My mother, my father, the fiery pits of hell that surrounded us all.

  “Talia!” I heard the voice of my savior. My heart raced as I tried to tug free of the restraints upon me.

  “Joshua!” I cried out as someone touched me.

  A searing pain rippled through me, my body bucked as he called out to me again. The cold ground under me gave me no solace to the fire burning through me. Tears fell as I was released with a snarl. The voices around me went silent.

  “Talia! What the hell?” I was scooped up into warm arms as I shook. My heart was hammering in my chest like a beating drum. Each tear that fell from me sent my heart into overdrive again. Fear, that was what was racing through me like a demon curse on holy ground.

  “What happened here?!” I heard Ramport’s growl before he stalked into the clearing towards us. The anger written in his brows seemed to grow when he stopped and took a whiff of the air around us. He snarled, baring his teeth as he turned in a slow circle. His hands bawled in fists as he screamed out into the night.

  “You will not have her! You hear me? As the Gods are my witness, you will not have her!”

  “Father?” I could hear the panic in Joshua’s voice. It was just enough to keep me grounded, to not let the pain pass through enough to push the blackness in the corner of my vision out. I clutched at him as I whimpered out his name. “Shh, I have you, love. You’re safe.”

  “Get her home to your mother, now. Xavier, Javi, guard them. Nothing gets to either of them. The rest of you, with me,” Ramport’s barked orders were enough to get them to move. I whimpered as Joshua shifted me into a tighter embrace against his chest. His arms were tight, but comforting.

  The blackness that was pushing into me took me, but not before I heard his whispered words of comfort and love. I knew it was okay now. I was safe.

  5

  Talia

  It felt as if I was floating in a cloud. I was surrounded by a thick fog. It was fog, right? Something that was keeping me from connecting to the world around me like I normally did. After what seemed like a century, my mind slowly started coming around. I was becoming more aware of my surroundings.

  There was a sea of voices, some louder than others, and they were all close to me. They surrounded me like a warm blanket. It was comforting, and a little disorienting at the same time. When I tried to move it felt as if a vice was gripping my head in between it’s teeth. The pain was sharp, reverberating through me. It seemed to dull almost instantly however.

  There was something... someone close to me. I whimpered when I felt something brush up against me again. My body hurt more, even from that short brush. What had I been doing? Why was I in so much pain? What... who was that touching me?

  “Jos-” I whimpered again as I tried to shift, the sound cutting off my words.

  As the fog in my head cleared, images of what had happened to me down by the stream came rushing back to me. Image after image slammed into my mind. I screamed, a black cloud of pain and fear washed through me. A fire had taken over my body, burning me from the inside. I could feel it building stronger the more I tried to fight it off. I was fighting to break free.

  I didn’t want this to take me. The noise around me seemed to steal my awareness. I was yanked up, my head snapping back as a snarl filled the room.

  I knew that snarl. I could hear Joshua. Joshua! He would help me… right? The grip on the back of my neck became painful like I had been stabbed with something, then it disappeared. I felt my body shift and I was dropped into nothingness.

  I could feel the pain as it took me away from everyone I loved.

  JOSHUA

  “We have to do something to help her,” I stammered. My fear for my mate was coursing through me right along with the anger for someone who meant her harm being able to get to her in the first place.

  “We will have to let her fight them, my son. She can do this. I know she can,” Father said as he watched on.

  “They’ve marked her. Are you blind to this?” My tone was disrespectful but at present I was not of a mind to care. I would do what I had to in order to save my mate. “They cannot have her, Father. We must fix this!” I shouted, my teeth grinding together as a growl rolled through me.

  He just stood there starin
g at the woman I loved, doing nothing. Her small body lay prone on the delicate bed coverings, shining like the angel she was, even through the pain. Her body was covered in bruises, and a mark that meant nothing to me, but Father knew its origin. He’d told Mother it was the mark of her mother's people.

  Seems he felt I was not important enough within the fold to be told more than that scrap of information. He had let me hear those few words, but nothing more followed them.

  I moved to be closer to Talia. My sweet, brown-skinned Goddess was laying so very close to me, but she was still so far away. There I sat at her side, waiting.

  Hours had passed since her first screams had woken my wolf. The sound of our mate crying out in pain had pulled us both from a deep sleep and through our connection to her he was able to lead me right to her.

  She was sprawled out when I broke through the darkness of the trees. Someone, or something, had touched what was ours. My wolf and I had run to her side as quickly as our legs could carry us, but we were still too late. My mind was racing with thoughts and plans.

  I would find whoever this person was that had marked our girl. There was no way the stranger who had hurt her, in my forest, would be allowed to continue living.

  I laid my hand lightly over hers only to have her jerk up from the bed, a pain-filled scream bursting from her lungs. I lunged forward to grab her, but I was pulled back by my father. I snarled as the packs Medicine Man, Javi, moved to her side.

  “Do not fear, brother mine, I shall not harm your female,” he said, glancing at my father who inclined his head once. I stood there in my father's commanding grip as Javi injected Talia with a green liquid from a syringe.

  “What is that?!” I snarled, tugging to get loose of his grip.

  “Do not fear, my son, it is something that will help her,” he said, his teeth grinding together as he wrapped his hands around me tighter. “I promise you this.”