Transitioning

Plan in Action

The first set of sirens went off. Looking out the window, all I saw was darkness. A subtle tapping caught our attention and the figure of a bird appeared.

"Their witch has tracked you. Get away from the window! You'll get marked, and they will use that raven to track you wherever we go."

"You said you saw a gap? We should get in position for when that time comes. The first siren has gone off, so that means the fighting has begun outside. The building is probably surrounded. How did you see us getting out? I didn't want to speak of our plans earlier."

The second set of sirens went off. The main gates have been breached.

"Outside the gate. There is a car. In my vision, I think it was left by one of the guards or something." She said, looking as puzzled as I was.

"Okay, let me pull Merwin back to us." I said placing my hand on the outside door trying to feel if I could penetrate the magical barrier.

I felt that it was working and just as I removed my hand from the door Merwin jumped into the room.

"Did you need something else dear? You have all the supplies you need right?"

"Yes, thank you. We just need you for the last thing before I give birth. Please explain Amhurst."

"We need you to teleport us to a red tree out there. Parking spot number 70 has a car parked with keys left inside."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Merwin. Please teleport us there." I said, grabbing the bag in one hand and holding the other out towards him.

He transported us to the red tree and, just as Amhurst said, there was a black car in front of us. She opened the driver-side door and put her hand under the seat to pull out the key. I dismissed Merwin, ordering him to forget everything. I got into the car with Amhurst and she sped off.

I watched the street signs and noticed that instead of going in a direction that would lead us into hiding, we were going toward the direction of the Blackhart Pack and I assumed the Coven that my ex-mate had been living in. Amhurst's aura was clouded and I could tell she was plotting something that I wanted no parts in.

"Amhurst, there should be a Walmart at the next exit. I want to stop there to gather some things." I said.

"Are you sure? We need to get away from the Council as soon as possible. I don't know where I am going but I'm driving away as fast as I can."

"And I appreciate it, but I'm feeling some heartburn and would like to stop to get some things that might help. I'll cloak us so no one will be able to trace us."

"They are tracking our magic."

"I've become very good at suppressing that to the point it will be undetectable. I got this, please stop."

Finally, convincing Amhurst to pull over in the Walmart parking lot, I put a cloak over myself and cloaked her as me with a superficial surge of energy. I completely suppressed my energy, grabbed my bag and began to walk into the store while Amhurst stayed in the car. I magically marked the car as stolen.

I didn't want to alert her, but it had become clear that her energy was not trustworthy. I knew it wasn't going to take long now before she would be tracked. I had to come up with an alternate escape route.

I walked into Walmart and grabbed a shopping cart to begin filling in with the items I had planned on taking when I noticed an older witch looking at arthritis cream.

"Don't you wish there was a magical spell or something to get rid of our aches and pains?" I asked her, walking by.

"It's hard to find fresh herbs in this part of town. I'm sure you know what I mean, sorceress."

"Wha.."

"Don't worry. I'm not with them. You did a good job with this cloak, but I'm trained to know what to look for. They'll have someone trained as well. " She said before holding on to my hand and pulling me towards the restroom. "Your father has many allies in place to look out for you. Now, first let's go into the bathroom and change your cloak. You will have mine and I will swap one of the shoppers for yours. My cart should have everything you need, and your parents gave me a list and some money. We can walk out together so you won't have to steal the items you planned on taking. Your parents will not be joining us because it is too risky, but once I get you off safely, I will notify them you are safe." She said.

"Thank you. I appreciate your help. I agree with the need to change my cloak, but I will just need you to help me get away from here, and I will continue on by myself." I replied.

"Very well," She said, waving her hand and switching the cloaks. "Don't worry. This woman just walked out of the restroom with a cloak that looked like your previous one. Her appearance will return to normal when she gets into her car, so we need to get out of here soon."

We finished shopping, paid for the items and exited the store at the opposite door from which I entered. Coming out, I did see Amhurst being apprehended by cars with the official markings of the council.

"That was very clever. I almost approached her in the car when I arrived there, but thought that would be too obvious. Your father taught you better than that."

"That will only occupy the council for a short time. I will need to keep moving. My former mate will be able to track our pup. Even if I'm disguised as an old-maid he will be able to sense his pup. I need to get away from here fast."

"Well, let us go then." She replied.

We loaded the car with the items purchased and drove off. Two hours later, we were at a cottage in the woods.

"Do you have everything you need? I can not stay. I have a family to go back to. If you need anything, we need to get it now, so I can return soon."

"Do you know how to release the spell that's on my magical aura? I need to continue on. "

She removed her disguise to reveal a female my age. "Lexi, please don't try to run off tonight. Get some rest."

"I have no time for rest. We are only two hours away from the Council's Headquarters. My mate has blood witches with him. I'm sure they have taken control there already. It's only moments before they find out that they have Amhurst and not me. That two-hour drive is only a 45-minute journey for a Lycan. The faster you leave, the faster I can. Get back to your family. Let my family know I am okay. Do not tell them that I did not stay here. I don't need them to alert anyone."

"Well, let me take you some place further."

"No, you must return home to your family. I will be fine."

"But it will be dark soon, and you're in the woods in the middle of nowhere."

"I'm more wolf than anything. I'll be fine. Now, I just need you to lift the spell and go back to your family," I said.

Her eyes lit up purple as she said the words. I felt air rush around me, then a heaviness lift off of me.

"There, it's done. They shouldn't be able to track your aura and I put a protection spell on you. Please, be careful. I look forward to meeting that active little guy in your belly."

I thanked her before ushering her to the car. As soon as she drove off, I went into the cabin and looked around until I found a map of the land. I took a moment to study it before packing what I could in a backpack and leaving out.

After traveling as long as my body allows. I found a cave on a hillside to take shelter and rest. I felt that familiar pull.

"Nicole? What's the matter?" I said, looking around the garden she just pulled me in.

There was a fountain in the middle of what looked like a maze of shrubs. The red roses reminded me of Alice in Wonderland. I had to pull through more to see who she was running from. Two, no three female wolves no, they're stronger they have to be Lycans.

"Let her go! Get off of her!" I yelled, but remembered only Nicole would be able to hear me.

They tackled her to the ground. She fought but they pulled her to the fountain. I tried to materialize but every attempt at grabbing the females off of her failed. I felt a magical blast that knocked me to the ground. They could hear me. They knew I was there. They held her down under the water. I tried to use magic to pull her up. Then, with red eyes, one of the females looked at me and sent another blast towards me, this time knocking me down. A magical Lycan? She had to be a hybrid and an old powerful one. She could see me and deliver a blast that actually left a mark on my physical body. I felt the labor pains begin but knew I had to ignore them to help my friend out.

Grounding myself, I took a deep breath and began pulling magic from the magical Lycan that was attacking her. I didn't know if it would work until I felt the surge of power fueling me. I pulled and pulled until I saw them fall to the ground, then ran to my friend and tried to transfer some of the power back to her but could not. I could not touch her. There was a barrier and I could not feel our connection anymore.

"No, no Nicki! You can't leave me like this...get up Nicki! Nicki! Ahhh..." I cried out.

The pain was enough to pull me back to my current state. With pressure in my groin, I forced myself up off my sleeping mat.

"Damn, you have some timing. Well, labor can sometimes last for days." I said, as I went to grab my bag and repack things and felt the liquid go down my leg."You made yourself clear little fella. Let momma get this birthing pool ready." I took in a deep breath and began getting to work.

I pulled out the automatic inflating kiddie pool. I only had one bucket of sterile water in my collapsible bucket. I needed a bunch more to fill this pool and I could feel I wasn't going to have time to make that trip back and forth from the creek, so I dragged the pool down to the creek.

"This isn't the most sterile, but I'll have to make due. It's just the two of us, baby boy. Please take it easy on mommy." I said to my pup, trying to ignore the next contraction as I allowed the water from the creek to fill the pool.

I stripped out of pants and underwear and sat in the pull. The water was freezing, but I couldn't focus on that. I held the moans from the pain in and put my hand between my legs to feel where the baby was and felt his toes.

"Mom..." I attempted to send out a mind-link "Mommy...I really need you right now.." I cried.

No answer. Tears started to stream from my face and panic began to take over. I knew I was going to have to do this out on the run, but never thought I would be doing this alone. My pup was breech. I had no idea how I was going to get him out feet first.

"...Mom..." I cried out with the next contraction.

"Baby, baby. Mommy is here, baby girl. Where are you? We're in the cabin, and you're not here. Are you okay?"

"No, mom. The baby is coming. I'm in labor."

"Where are you? Did you go to the hospital? Eli wake up.. Lexi is in labor." My mom added my father to the conversation.

"Mom I feel toes. I tried to measure how dilated I was and felt toes. My water broke. I have a pool and herbs, but I feel toes not a head. I can't do this." I sobbed.

"Yes, you can do this! Your pup is just breached. Honey, we just shifted. We were going to try to track you, but you masked your scent, so it may take a while."

"Hurry mommy please. Follow the creek." I cried out.

"We'll be there soon sweetpea. I can feel our familial connection. Deep breaths. Mommy and Daddy will be there soon." My dad tried to reassure me.

"Daddy... it hurts so baa-aad."

"I know sweetpea... I know. Just focus on your breathing. We will be there soon. I promise."

"Okay.." I sobbed some more.

I clenched my legs close trying to hold the baby in until they came. Deep breath in 2..3...4. Deep breath out 2...3..4.

"Oh, there you are. You really thought I would let you have my pup in that filthy pool. Get up so I can take you to someplace sterile."

"Mom.. Dad.. He found me..."