Midnight Moons

Changing Voices

POV: Hope

I allowed Tim to escort me to his car before I blurted out my questions.

"Tim, school is about to start, why are you taking me home? I stared at his handsome profile. "Is this because I kissed you? My birthday is tomorrow and I just thought...." My voice trails off as I look down at my hands.

"Baby, no that's not the reason. I love the way you kissed me." He rubbed his thick black curls and grinned at me. "If you only knew what that kiss did to me. I wanted to drag you caveman style into the back of that classroom...." His voice tapered off as he turned to smile at me. "Hope, I love you and respect you more than you know. I want our first time to be magical, special....not on a table in a classroom."

I sighed as I looked at my hands again. "I thought I was doing it wrong." I hated the way my voice trembled. "I thought...I thought you wished you had a girl with more experience. When I tried to...you know...grind on you, I hoped that you would..." I shrugged and blinked away a lone tear.

"Hope! You are everything a man could ask for. I don't want an experienced woman. Any one of these loose girls could fill that role. I don't want something that every boy or man has had their hands on. I want you. I'm going to want you for the rest of my life baby."

Shifting in my seat, I glance up at him. Tim is exceptionally gorgeous. French, Scottish, and African genes formed the most perfect man in the universe. Thick black curls and long lashes captured attention but the strong jaw and sculpted body held an onlooker captive. Sharp green eyes and a honey caramel complexion caused a stir no matter where he was. Simply put, he was beautiful.

"Take a picture girl, it will last longer." Tim quipped as I realized I had stared at him uncomfortably long. "Ready to go?"

Embarrassed, I could only nod. I turned back in my seat and let down my window. All of a sudden, I felt like my body was on fire.

The big engine in Tim's truck rumbled to life. As he expertly maneuvered out of the parking lot, I settled down but my mind raced with a dozen thoughts.

"Tim, do you remember me telling you about my VOR, my voice of reason?

"Yeah. What about it?"

"What if I told you that she's been talking to me since I turned 13?" I give him a sideways glance. "It..she has always talked me through good days as well as bad. Nothing strange but just things to either pick me up or keep me focused. You know, like an internal cheerleader."

"Babe..." Tim began but stopped.

"Tim, the voice has changed. Today she told me that my mom's bones hadn't healed properly! What is that? I mean..." I gulped in air and tried to steady myself. "It's one thing to give myself pep talks but it's something completely different to talk about unhealed bones or you leading a pack. Am I going crazy" I plead with him.

"Hope, you're far from crazy."

I notice how tightly he's gripping the steering wheel. I shift in my seat again.

"Tim, you know something! What aren't you telling me?" I hate how shrill my voice is becoming but I don't care. "Tell me what's happening to me!"

He runs his hand over his head again, then rubs his jaw. Glancing at the road, then at me, he sighs. "Hope, we are going to your house. Your parents have some things to talk about with you." He covers my hand with his. "Baby, you're not going crazy. Just wait until we are all together. I promise that all your questions will be answered."

I scrub my hand across my eyes to wipe away the tears. First Dad, now Tim. I feel like my world has turned upside down. I realize that I'm starting to mistrust everyone.

"You can trust him."

Startled, I jerk my head up and glance at Tim. His grip on the steering wheel has eased somewhat and he's given no indication that he noticed my reaction.

"You can trust him because you are his and he is yours. You are fated to be together. In the coming days, just remember that."

"Just be quiet. If I keep listening to you, I'm going to wind up in the looney bin." I hiss to the voice. Miraculously, the voice is quiet. I sense a stillness that serves to soothe and calm my frazzled nerves.

Leaning back in my seat, I resist the urge to pepper Tim with questions. In fact, I realize I'm extremely drowsy. As I drift towards sleep, I bargain for just a few minutes to close my eyes. Somewhere near me, a big cat is purring and humming. The sound is disturbing yet soothing.

"Sleep Hope. I will be here when you awaken."

"Who are you" I mumble as my eyes snap shut.

I don't notice Tim's startled gaze or hear his sharp intake of air. Nor do I see his eyes momentarily blank then flash black before settling to his normal vivid green. The only thing I hear is the soothing purr in my head. The only thing I see is a shimmery woman perched on the back of a beautiful golden wolf.