Chapter 59: Shifty The Shifter
1156 Words
Luna’s POV
“I see you've met my son."
A quiet gasp slipped out of my lips before I could stop it. Elena turned to look at me, her brows raised slightly, but I just shook my head. No words.
We followed the man wearing the hat inside. The house—or should I say mansion- was unlike anything I’d ever seen before.
Massive chandeliers were hanging from the ceiling, casting rays of golden light over the polished marble floors. Every inch of the place screamed power and wealth. My boots felt too dusty to be walking on such clean floors like this.
Elena glanced back at me with wide eyes. “This place is huge, I'll give them that.”
“I feel like I’m in some kind of luxury bread and breakfast home,” I whispered.
Ray didn’t say a word as he walked ahead, always silent and alert. I admired that about him—how he was always ready.
“This is as far as I go," the man wearing the hat said to us. “Just go upstairs, a maid will attend to you."
Upstairs, just like he said, a maid showed us into a room. Ray stepped inside and stopped almost immediately. I didn't understand why until I followed his gaze.
There was only one bed. A massive one, but still—just one.
Ray blinked and then turned to the maid. “Uhm, where’s my room?”
The maid bowed slightly. “Only one room was prepared. It’s for the three of you.”
Before any of us could say anything else, she turned and left.
Ray rubbed the back of his head and muttered something under his breath. “Well, you ladies get settled in. Don't worry, I’ll be sleeping outside by the door tonight.”
“No, you won’t,” Elena said, standing tall. “Do not forget that I am a warrior too. You don’t have to treat me like I’m some helpless flower.”
Ray turned to her, his expression softening. “I’m sorry, princess, but this isn't about you being helpless. It’s my duty. I did swear after all.”
“I get it,” Elena replied gently, “but you can still rest too. We’re all tired.”
Ray looked like he wanted to argue, but instead, he just sighed and nodded.
I walked further into the room and dumped my bag on a wooden table near the wall.
I carefully opened it and began pulling out the items I’d brought: herbs wrapped in cloth, a tiny mortar and pestle, dried roots, and a few vials of mixed powders.
Then I froze—sniffing something in the atmosphere.
That cold chill up my spine was back again. I looked around slowly, wondering what it was I was sensing.
It was this house.
I didn’t know where the thought came from, but it hit me like a thunderbolt. Something must have happened here. Something terrible.
“I forgot something!” I blurted out. “An important ingredient back at the palace.”
Elena turned toward me. “What ingredient is that?”
“Spiritus ignaris,” I said quickly.
They both stared at me.
“I need to see if there’s anything similar in the kitchen,” I said, still searching my other bags.
Elena blinked. “You really think you’ll find that here? This isn’t a magical realm anymore, Luna. In fact, it's more human than anything.”
I smiled. “I’ll manage.”
With that, I left the room and made my way back downstairs. The house was quieter than before.
The kitchen was dimly lit but felt warm, and the scent of freshly made stew was still hanging in the air.
That’s when I saw him.
A little boy was seated on the counter, eating a cookie, which was all there was. His feet swung back and forth, not quite touching the floor.
“Hi there,” I said softly.
He looked up at me with wide eyes, chewing slowly.
“I haven’t seen someone like you in a long time,” I added.
He grinned.
Then shifted right in front of me.
In the blink of an eye, the little boy was gone, transformed into a teenage girl with dark eyes and small cheekbones. She tilted her head and laughed.
“You’re not just some ordinary wolf, are you?” she asked.
“I could say the same about you,” I replied calmly. “You’re a shifter. Aren't you?”
She chuckled, her smile wicked. “Pretty and smart. I like it.”
Without warning, she snapped her fingers together, and a couple of knives flew right at me.
I ducked, rolled, and caught one as it grazed past me. Then I threw it back—not to cause any harm, but to make a point that two could play her game. She dodged easily, clapping slowly.
“Nice reflexes,” she said. In a flash, she was behind me, sniffing my shoulder.
“Is that ancient blood I smell?” she whispered. “You’re a healer. One who really knows the old ways. Aren't you?”
I elbowed her back and spun around. “Ha! I’m not afraid of you.”
She giggled. “Good. I hate it when people are afraid. Fear makes everything boring.”
Next minute, she shifted again, turning back into the little boy. He popped the last cookie into his mouth and grinned.
“They call me Shifty,” he said as he walked out of the kitchen. “See you around, healer.”
And just like that, he was gone.
I stood there for a moment, catching my breath and trying to slow my heart's rate.
That was weird. Just then, I remembered where I had kept what I had been looking for earlier and rushed back.
When I returned to the room, Elena was fixing her hair, and Ray was tightening his boots.
“They sent for us,” Elena said. “The Alpha is requesting our presence immediately.”
I nodded, walking over to my bag. “Give me a second.”
I pulled out a small jar of white powder.
Elena glanced at it. “Is that what you were looking for earlier?”
I smiled. “Yeah. I remembered where it was.”
She leaned closer and took a sniff. “It smells like salt.”
“That’s because it is salt,” I replied, giggling a bit.
She gave me a flat look. “You made it sound like some fancy potion. You could’ve just said you needed salt.”
We all laughed.
But I didn’t tell them that the salt wasn’t just for cooking.
It was also for protection.
And by the look of things, we were going to need it.
Everyone got dressed, and we made our way downstairs. It's going to be a long night.
- Writer
