Call of the Goddess

The Shift

It’s dark, which I’ve been dreading all day. Dark means we can shift. Shifting means a lot of things I’m not ready for in Dalton’s presence.

“What are you doing?” I ask as Dalton makes a move to unbutton his pants. We’re still in the clearing in the woods, but the compass has calmed down and is now pointing us in what I think is the direction of the road. I really hope it’s not leading us to part 2 of the horror film we just witnessed, I don’t think I can handle seeing the betrayal of any more people I trusted. What’s next, my mom kicking puppies?

“Getting ready to shift, o wise, fearless leader,” Dalton says with a smirk. “We have a lot of ground to cover, it will be faster if we shift.”

“Well, yes,” I agree, “but… fast isn’t everything, you know. We could miss something important, you never know when the compass will want to send us on another side quest.”

“Not tonight it won’t.” Dalton is slipping his pants off at this point and is standing in only his boxers. I avert my eyes, my cheeks turning pink.

“How do you know?” I’m staring at my shoes.

“Look at me, Sutton.”

I lift my head to meet Dalton’s gaze, being careful to keep my eyes on his face. He’s so confident, even when standing there practically naked right in front of someone he barely knows. “I don’t shift in front of other people,” I admit.

“Yeah, I got that vibe. You know you have to get over that.”

“I know.”

“People are literally going to die if we don’t break this curse fast.”

“I get it.”

“We don’t have time for your modesty.”

“I understand.” I sigh. Dalton’s right, of course, but knowing this doesn’t make it any easier. “But I don’t know how to just ‘get over it.’”

Dalton puts a hand on my shoulder, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear with his opposite hand. I take a deep breath “You are a warrior hand-selected by the goddess Aluna to lead a mission to save our pack. It’s only me here, and I will not judge you.”

I smile in spite of the situation. “What happened to me being an Omega and unfit to lead?” I tease.

“Look where we are. We’re here because, unlike me, you know how to listen. Aluna spoke, and you listened. I may be the muscle, but with Aluna as our guide, I need you to lead me. I see that now, and I’m sorry I ever doubted you.”

Despite the coolness of the evening, Dalton’s words make me feel warm. “Will you at least avert your eyes while I… disrobe?”

Dalton grins, removes his hand from my shoulder, and turns around. I slip out of my clothing, stuff them into my bag, and moments later I’ve transformed into a big, black wolf with a butterfly hair clip.

~~~~~~~~~~

I can’t believe I’m running through the woods in my wolf form with Dalton Evers. Of everything that’s happened to me in the past couple of days, somehow this is the thing that feels the craziest. And the biggest surprise of all is that I actually kind of like it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s completely nerve-wracking. What if I accidentally say something embarrassing during a mind link? It’s not like I can try to take it back or talk my way out of it later. You can’t lie during a mind link. But on the plus side, it turns out that as amazing as running through the woods in your wolf form is by yourself, it’s also really great with company. Or maybe it’s just the quality of my current company that makes it so great. Either way, I don’t hate this.

Dalton, who had gone just ahead of me, slows down so I can run up beside him.

I’ll race you to that rock up ahead. 

I shake my fur, unafraid of a challenge.

You’re on.

We both take off at top speed. Logically, I’m fully aware that Dalton is way faster than me and that I have no genuine chance of winning this race. But to his credit, he makes it an interesting race, allowing me to take an occasional temporary lead from time to time.

I gain speed, really digging my paws into the dirt as I slowly close the gap between myself and Dalton, who is just ahead of me. As he dodges around a tree, I pounce, jumping in front of him to block his path for a second, causing him to change course, slowing him down just enough for me to run ahead, darting for the rock. Just as I think victory will at long last be mine, Dalton comes out of nowhere and leaps atop the big rock, howling to the moon to announce his victory. I jump up to join him atop his makeshift victory podium and playfully try to nudge him off. He joins in and starts nudging me gently with his snout. After a few moments, the nudging somehow morphs into nuzzling, and without thinking, I lick his face.

Absolutely mortified, I pull my head away from Dalton and freeze up, having no idea how to explain that. Dalton seems startled, but I’m not sure if it’s from my sudden, jerky movement or my out of control tongue. To my surprise, he returns the gesture, his soft tongue grazing the side of my snout before he hops down from the rock and continues on his way in the direction of the road. I follow, my mind spinning. Did I just have my first kiss? Does that count? Did that mean anything, or was he just trying to be nice? Elsie’s going to kill me.

~~~~~~~~~~

Back on the road.

I nod in response to Dalton’s mind link message. Neither of us have mentioned my weird tongue slip, for which I am very grateful. I know full well that I can’t actually date Dalton. Not that the goddesses would ever mate an Omega like me with a guy like him, but even if they did, he would reject me for Elsie. With Elsie he gets to be an Alpha. I have nothing like that to offer him. He should be with Elsie, the match makes perfect sense. Besides, a relationship would just complicate the mission. I can’t believe I’m even entertaining this idea, and over a stupid lapse in judgement of a wolf kiss.

As Dalton mentioned, we have finally made our way back to the road and are continuing north. It’s getting late, I’m growing tired and my stomach is starting to growl. Somehow, Dalton seems as strong as ever.

Are you hungry?

Dalton glances at me after I ask. He pauses before asking.

I… am a bit.

It seems difficult for him to admit he’s a mortal being with needs, but he’s forced to admit the truth.

The Redrock Pack territory is up the road a bit. We could stop for the night.

Dalton nods. The Redrock Pack is allied with Starborne, and therefore will undoubtedly provide us with some food and a place to stay, especially with Dalton being a Beta’s son.

After a short run down the road in our wolf forms, another road leading to the Redrock Pack branches off to the right. Dalton and I turn, and it isn’t long before we catch a glimpse of the main part of town. I duck behind a tree to shift back into my human form and put my clothes back on. Once Dalton and I are human and fully clothed, we set off for the packhouse.

The packhouse of the Redrock Pack is even bigger than ours. Two big wings are built onto the center building, which towers over us with 4 stories. I should feel intimidated by such a large display of power, but I don’t. I feel like a mighty warrior, not just some rankless Omega. Like I have a right to call on the most powerful member of a neighboring pack unannounced.

“Shall we?” Dalton asks, offering me his arm. I accept, and I walk with him into the packhouse like a proper high-ranked lady wolf. The inside is just as grand as the outside, if not more so. The entryway has black and white marble floors, a high ceiling with a large chandelier, and a curving grand staircase. “The main office is this way.” Dalton has clearly been here before, undoubtedly for some political functions his dad brought him to. He leads me through a door to the left, and we step into a decently-sized office with plush green carpets, a large wooden desk, and a comfortable looking couch along one wall. A woman with graying hair is sitting behind the desk, typing at a computer.

Dalton and I approach the woman. “Good evening, Margery. It’s been a while.”

The woman looks up at us and smiles politely. “Dalton Evers? It’s a pleasure to see you as always. I heard about the trouble with your pack. Nasty bunch, those witches. Alpha Henry wants us to help as much as we can, we’re sending any resources we can spare your way.”

“I know, we really appreciate the help, I can’t say how much,” Dalton says. He doesn’t correct her about the witches, even though we both know that their anger toward our pack is justified. “This is my associate, Sutton Sanders.”

I smile and wave. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Margery.”

“We’ve been sent on a mission to plead to the Great Witch to help us break the curse.”

“The Great Witch?” Margery echoes, her gray eyes widening in shock. “All the way on top of Mount Killingtague?”

“It’s the only way, I’m afraid. We’re both willing to do what it takes to help our pack, but we’ve still got a way to go before we reach the mountain. I hate to ask, but do you think Alpha Henry would be willing to extend his gracious assistance to a night of hospitality? It’s getting late, and we’re both a bit weary.”

“I’m quite confident that that can be arranged,” Margery says. “Please have a seat, I’ll alert the Alpha to your presence at once.”

Margery hurries out of the room while Dalton and I move to sit on the couch.

“I hope you don’t mind. Me taking the lead just now, I mean,” Dalton says.

“Not at all, you’re the diplomatic one, that’s one of your skills you bring to the team. I’m no good at that kind of stuff. Besides, you already know these people, I don’t.”

“Well, I guess we just make a good team.”

“Yeah, we do. Great team. If I make it back, I’ll be honored to have you as my Alpha some day.”

Dalton turns to look at me, his eyes softened. “You’re going to make it back, Sutton. We both are.”

“You will.”

“We will.” Dalton lifts a hand and looks like he’s going to place it on my shoulder, but quickly moves it to his head and smooths back his hair as Margery comes back into the room.

“Okay, everything’s sorted,” Margery says. “We’re having a guest room set up for you- or would you prefer 2 separate rooms?”

Dalton and I look at each other, my cheeks turning red. “Um…,” I mutter.

“Two’s fine,” Dalton says.

“Two’s perfect,” I say. 

“No problem, I’ll let the staff know,” Margery says before leaving the room again.

“I just figured… I know you like your privacy,” Dalton says.

“Yeah, thanks, I appreciate it,” I say. We sit in awkward silence for a minute before Margery reappears.

“That’s settled,” she says. “They won’t be too long. Once you’ve settled into your rooms, the Alpha would like you to join him in the dining room. We’ll have some food prepared for you, I’m sure you’re both starving.”

“Thank you, Margery,” I say, my mouth watering at the mention of food.

“We would be honored to join the Alpha,” Dalton says.

~~~~~~~~~~

After a short wait, I’m led to a guest room on the second floor of the packhouse that will be my living quarters for the night. It’s decorated with a lot of red; red rug, red curtains, red blankets and pillows on the bed. There’s a nice-looking wooden desk in one corner that seems to match the bed frame, bedside table, and dresser. The small closet is mostly empty except for some extra linens and pillows, and there’s a connected bathroom complete with a porcelain toilet, stone basin sink, and a clawfoot tub. I will likely take the chance to have a bath later, as I have no idea when I’ll get another opportunity to do so. It will be unbelievably embarrassing later on in our quest if Dalton has to deal with my disgusting body odors.

I drop off my bag on the bed before rejoining Dalton in the hall so we can go down to the dining room together. The thought of dining with and Alpha makes me a bit nervous all of a sudden, but I’m hungry enough to put on a brave face. Dalton leads me down the stairs and to the dining room, where he’s had several meals with Redrock Pack’s Alpha Henry. When we arrive, the Alpha stands up from his seat at the large dining table and shakes both of our hands and introduces himself to me before Dalton pulls out my chair. I sit, feeling more like a proper lady than I ever have in my entire life.

“It’s an honor to host you both tonight,” Alpha Henry says once we’re all seated. He seems like a kind enough man, and handsome too with a symmetrical face and dark red hair.

“It’s an honor to be hosted,” Dalton says. He and the Alpha laugh. I join in.

“Go ahead and serve dinner, I’m sure our guests are quite hungry,” the Alpha says to a member of his staff, who nods and leaves the room. The Alpha turns back to us. “I’m actually glad to get a chance to speak with you. With most of your leadership having fallen ill, I haven’t had a chance to get the details from anyone about the horrible invasion.”

A few men come in carrying plates with baked chicken, mashed potatoes, and side salads, as well as glasses of ice water. I’m eager to dig in when my food is placed in front of me, but I manage restraint and politely wait for my dining companions to start eating. Unfortunately for me, they seem too focused on their conversation to eat.

“I’m happy to tell you what I know. Sutton and I were actually in school at the time of the attack,” Dalton says.

“Oh my, that must have been quite scary,” Alpha Henry says.

“It was pretty scary,” I agree.

“From what I gathered from my father before his illness got too intense, the witches showed up unannounced in the middle of town, cackling and waving their wands, flying on their brooms. People outside in the streets ran for cover, schools and businesses went on lockdown. A team of warriors went out to confront them, very brave men and women. But there wasn’t anything they could do, it would seem. You know as well as I that dark magic is a terrible foe. All they could do was bear witness as the witches did their spellwork, casting a terrible curse over our pack before flying off,” Dalton explains.

Alpha Henry shakes his head. “Just like a cowardly witch. Unwilling to stand on mutual ground a face a foe head on, and always running off with those broom handles between their legs. I offer my deepest sympathies, to you both and your pack.”

“Thank you, Alpha. We are forever in your debt after all you’re doing for us,” Dalton says.

“I know your pack would do the same for us. That Alpha Jarod of yours is a fine man,” the Alpha says. Dalton and I exchange glances. “But does anyone have any idea why the witches attacked? We’ve had a peace treaty with them for over a century. It’s terrifying to think that they’re willing to throw all of that away. I can’t help but wonder if this is actually the end of it, and that my own pack could be next.”

“I don’t think you have to worry about that, Alpha,” I say. “We actually-”

“We will be appealing to the Great Witch to help us break the curse,” Dalton says, cutting me off. “No doubt she will be willing to help all who are innocent in this incident.”

“I’m sure you’re right,” Alpha Henry says. “Eat, please, we have quite the talented chef here.”

Alpha Henry doesn’t have to tell me twice. We all dig in, and the food is delicious. It almost distracts me from Dalton’s sudden need to protect the traitorous Alpha Jarod.