Page 77 of Rogue Wolf

Ash shrugged. “You’ll get used to it.”

Tamaska felt a change between them, like some invisible tension had eased.

“I’m sorry for using your laptop, truly.” she said. “I just had to do something. I couldn’t sit alone and twiddle my thumbs all night.”

“I’m pretty fucking sure that’s what Channing does.” Ash grinned, and she smiled back. “And I know you’re sorry, you’ve told me a million times and, well…just don’t do it again.” Ash inhaled slowly. “It’s not straightforward with you.”

She waited, like she stood on a mountain of shifting, broken glass, for Ash to continue. One wrong move and the pile would give way and that would be that. So she just waited, holding her breath, not moving.

“I’ve been researching, actually.” Ash met her gaze. “I don’t know about transforming you, or if we should because I don’t know how your wolf genes will affect the transformation.”

“Surely for the better?”

“Maybe. To be safe, we should proceed as if you’re fully human and change you during the full moon.”

“That’s, what…five days away?” She stopped. How the fuck did she know that? She’d never bothered to look at the moon before. Somehow, she just knew the day.

“Yes, and we might not have five days to wait. The vampires want to use the Blood Opal to turn you.” Ash picked up her computer and read over something. “At least that’s what I make out. I stumbled on a sub-reddit and it’s coded but it’s shifters, talking about browns and the cursed stone. I’m sure that’s the opal. They say the one who has it can control the one who bleeds. It’s all jokes and assholery, but there’s some nuggets in there. It’s gonna take me a long time to go through it and follow what links people put in, or…you know…”

“You mean when they go on tangets about something else that ends up being related? Been there done that kind of rabbit hole,” Tamaska said. Of course for her it was about a book she’s read. But she got it.

“So I don’t know what to do.” Ash sighed. “Not without Kodiak.

“Then take the risk and change me now,” Tamaska said. “I’m fully aware of the risks. I’m willing.”

“I can’t.” Ash looked away. “This isn’t my choice. It’s Kodiak’s right as our alpha.”

“Or Onai’s, until Kodiak gets back.”

“Onai won’t agree to change you.”

“Wouldn’t sooner be better? Then the vampires can’t use me as a weapon.” It made sense, and she saw that Ash agreed, so what the hell was the problem? What weren’t they saying?

“Yes, okay? Yes it would.” Ash looked at her and set the computer back down. “But we need to wait until Kodiak gets back, which will be before dark. It’s not much longer, now.”

“Fine,” Tamaska said, knowing she couldn’t force it. But it sucked.

“This is all part of existing within the pack’s structure. You’d better get used to it. Stop fighting it, and things will go a whole lot more smoothly for you.”

She sighed. “I’ll try.”

“It’s not as bad as you think. You’ll see.”

“Thanks.” Tamaska exhaled heavily. Ash was trying to help, and Tamaska had adapted to so many changes in such a short time. Maybe it was better not to rush into her transformation.

“I’ve been told to go and rest,” Tamaska said. “So…I guess I better obey.”

“Good, you should.” Ash rolled her eyes. “Rest I mean. Roan is a great healer, you should listen to him. I’ll come get you if anything changes.”

“See you.” Tamaska left the room, satisfied the rift that had come between them over the laptop incident had been bridged.

She stepped through the back door and glanced toward the graves beyond the fence. She sent her silent gratitude out to the fallen pack members. Then, she headed around the left of the main house and followed the rocky path to the long, rectangular dormitory.

Each pack member had their own room—some even had private bathrooms. No one owned anything beyond their necessities. After having had her place ripped to shreds by Amdis, sge knew she would adapt easily to the shifters’ minimalist lifestyle. Other things would be much harder: like following the rules, being submissive, and figuring out what the fuck it would feel like to become a wolf.

Her mind turned to her ancestors. What had life been like for the first generation of shifter-human hybrids? Did the fusion even change anything for them? When had the wolf genes fallen dormant? So many questions, no one to ask.

She had half a mind to ring her parents, but they probably wouldn’t even know what she was talking about. Even her grandparents probably hadn’t known. Surely they wouldn't have sold it if they’d known the value of the Blood Opal?

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