Switched

One: Andromeda

My name is Andromeda Fowler and I come from a long line of hunters. I was raised to be an assassin of creatures that take human form, but become monsters at night. I was the most skillful hunter in my class, yet I never made a kill. My father and head of the council refused to let me hunt, for fear my love of creatures would make me blind and get me killed. I earned my title as a hunter and began training the classes that came after me. One day I convinced my father to let me go on a hunt and prove myself, so that I might become a better leader.

That day started like any other, I woke up at dawn for my training. That morning however I felt a sickness. I ignored it though, because I knew if my father thought I was sick, he'd never let me hunt. My body ached but I took some medicine and ignored it. I trained for three hours before going to my father's study where he was going over final plans for tonight. A pack had been sighted in the woods and we were going to visit them.

The house was filled with men in uniforms that day. Hunters in every room getting ready for the night. This pack was supposed to be strong, which is why my father supposedly let me tag along, because they needed my strength. Before I had only helped with interrogation. So as I got dressed in my room I couldn't help but be anxious. I had just pulled on my socks when the door opened and I looked up to see a pair of serious grey eyes reflected in my mirror watching me.

"Hello Tamlen, shouldn't you be with your brother getting ready?' I asked tugging on my shoes next as my childhood best friend came into my room. Tamlen was the son of my fathers second in command. So naturally we grew up together, I was the only one in our class who had beat him.

"I came to check on you, your first hunt and you're leading a group. Are you sure you're ready?" He asked running his gloved hand through his messy black hair. As he did his sleeve came up revealing small circles under his warrior mark.

I walked over to him grabbing his arm and pushing up the sleeve to reveal his tattoos, his score. "I'm sure Tamlen, I'm ready for my own." I let go and turned away, but as I did he stopped me. Tamlen held a hand on the small of my back and pulled me into a hug.

"I know you are, just be careful. Don't forget, we're gonna get married once I rank up." He laughed holding up his gloved hand to reveal an "X" stitched in blue on the pinky. When we were kids, we had ranked the highest in our year. Our parents decided we were supposed to marry, and we have been betrothed since. If Tamlen earns an officer rank, he can marry me. Those were my fathers terms, and Tamlen's parents gladly agreed.

'Tonight's the night. I'll make her mine once I bring down the alpha and his dirty little pups.' His voice rang in my head but I ignored it. I was used to hearing the voices of those around me and at this point used it to my advantage. He'd been my best friend, until I heard his thoughts and realized how sick he could be. Yet I knew I couldn't defy my father's wishes.

I pulled away to finish getting dressed inn my closet. By the time I had finished he was gone. Usually phones were left behind and ear pieces were given out. For this hunt we were using our phones along with Bluetooth ear buds and smart watches.

I had strapped my phone to my thigh before I dressed and it was visible below my shorts. There was a knock on my door and a moment later my father walked in dressed for the long night we had ahead of us. He nodded and I followed him into the basement where everyone else waited. My father gave everyone their assignments and went over everything.

A more experienced hunter and I were to lead two small groups to check ahead of the others. The pack was ever moving, but we had air surveillance and would check in on the phones. He'd take one path while I'd take another, and we'd report back when the paths were clear- taking care of any trouble on the way. If more help was needed, we'd radio in. If we were to get taken, we were to make our heart rates drop. This would send a signal to the others. Keeping our last known location continuously updated as long as we kept the watches or phones on us.

"Once they've cleared the paths to the Alpha's house-" In that moment a sharp pain spread shot up my body. I cleaned my teeth together to keep from making any sound. I glanced at my watch and noticed my heart rate start to spike. I took it off and slipped it onto Carla. She was the only girl that didn't seem to hate me, and one of few other female hunters. We'd been close friends since puberty. Most of the girls in my class seemed to dislike me. After I beat Tamlen, things only seemed to worsen. While the guys respected me, the girls ostracized me. They'd do as much as they could without leaving any marks. If my father found out, they're families would be punished. Carla thought I was bad a$$. She saw them one day as they cornered me behind the school and scared them off. I had been a little wary, but she quickly became my closest friend.

'What is she doing?' Her thoughts ran across my mind as I clutched my stomach pointing down. Signaling I was on my time of the month. Her mouth formed a small 'O' before she nodded turning her attention back to my father. My periods always messed with my heart rate, which I shared with Carla as she was the only one I could talk to about that stuff. My mother had passed away when I was younger, before I hit puberty.

"They're supposed to be having some sort of ceremony. All the high ranking and civilian wolves will be in the house or the garden. You should mostly face their guards and a few stray civilians." My father looked around the room, making sure everyone was paying attention. His eyes softened for a moment as they caught mine before he continued. 'I hope I'm not making a mistake. I don't know what I'll do if-No. She's ready. She's 18 now. She's more than ready.'

After the briefing we all headed out in separate cars. Each group in two vans would park away from the pack territory then go on foot. The pain I'd been feeling all day was only getting worse, but as the leader I was able to stay ahead of the group. Carla came up to me at one point before we entered the territory, "You sure you don't want this?" She'd asked holding up the watch. "I'm sure. If he saw my heart rate, he wouldn't have let me come. Plus I still have my phone. Now please, we have to be ready for anything." She nodded, knowing how protective my father could be, and got back into line.

We stopped before the edge of the territory. Knowing what lied ahead. I checked the surveillance BEFORE signaling everyone into place. We spread out into the woods with our weapons drawn and moved forward, out of sight from each other.

I knew I had reached territory lines when I felt someone watching me. Something. I froze in place, holding up g*n in one hand. The other on my knife as I waited for my enemy to make their move. 'Fresh meat....No ...Rogue.' The words came first, followed by the strong scent of something earthy. I rolled to my right as a large grey wolf came soaring towards where I'd just been standing. I could hear gunshots in the distance as I looked up at the beast. Their ears flattened and I knew. The battle had started.

As the wolf rushed me again I slid under it sticking out my knife to slice his belly. He yelped but recovered quickly turning to attack again. 'This b|t¢h will pay.' When he rushed me this time, I charged back at him. I managed to knock him down and shoot him a few times before he stayed down.

My father's voice rang over the headset, "What's going on? Andromeda, it's showing you're in two different places? Are you with Carla?" "No, I just made my first kill, but I'm not done yet. We're still approaching the house." "Why-" As I cut the transmission, I heard a growl in front of me. In that moment the pain from before came back in full force. I fell to the ground, feeling as if my bones were breaking.

'A hunter?.... No.... Rogue? They're not so stupid." I bit back a cry and wiped the sweat from my face before getting back to my feet. "I know you're there!" I spat in the direction of the scent that was starting to surround me. 'This one's a fighter....too bad you stink like Hunter.' A larger grey wolf sulked out of the shadows, growling as it approached.

"I would hope so. It's a shame you stink like wet dog." The wolf snarled at me after a slight pause. It was all I needed to get my first shot in. I managed to hit his side as he ran and I followed after. 'She can hear thoughts? This is no rogue!'' I smirked increasing my speed. Ignoring the pain that was shooting through every fiber of my being. I caught up and jumped on his back, he started to knock into trees. Trying to knock me off. I held on by hooking my arm around his neck. Once I had a clear shot, I dug my knife into his throat, slicing upwards.

I fell with him and rolled over, taking one last look to make sure he was dead. I looked around, realizing he'd led me further away from the others. I started to walk back when I fell once more. This time I couldn't hold back the scream that ripped through me. My body was on fire and it felt like I was shattering. 'What was that?' 'Rogue' 'Is someone hurt' A million different thoughts echoed through my mind and I tried to follow them by dragging myself.

When I realized I'd make too much noise, I mustered all my strength to climb a tree high enough to get a look. A few hundred feet away, was a big house. Several of them were in the garden in their human forms. There was one on a stage that caught my eye, I couldn't explain this feeling as if I knew him from somewhere. His eyes snapped in my direction and I hid back into the tree.

They were so far away, yet I could hear everything clearly. "Don't worry," His voice boomed as everyone fell silent. "The border patrol is reporting an attack, but nobody has breached the border yet. Everyone will take refuge in the house. The warriors and I will take care of them and we can continue after." 'An attack?' 'Hunters or rogues?' 'Why would they attack today?' Everyone's thoughts swarmed through my mind as they made their way towards the house.

"Dad! I saw them! They know we're here. Everyone's headed inside the house." I whispered into my headset as I started working my way down. "Of course, but that just makes this easier. I'll have the other group start the fires once they're closer." The transmission ended and I continued working my way down. I was halfway down when the pain came back, causing me to lose my grip. I fell the rest of the way down and lay there trying not to make any noise.

My body was on fire and it felt like my bones were breaking through my skin. I couldn't take it anymore. I tore off my clothes and screamed. The sound that came out sounded almost... inhuman. 'That scent...Where is it coming from?' The voice of the man from earlier reached my mind. I whimpered knowing he was close. I grabbed my g*n as I continued to writhe in pain. I wouldn't go down without a fight.

As the pain became worse I found myself scratching at my skin. My hands came away b****y and my nails seemed sharper than before. I realized I was tearing myself apart and screamed again.

'MATE' The voice boomed in my head again. This time louder. More urgent. I couldn't fight the pain anymore. Each scream sounding more animal than the last. "Try to relax." A voice whispered from nearby. I could barely move but I tried to lift my head to look at him. Knowing it was the man I saw on the stage. "Don't move." His voice got closer and I gripped my g*n tighter with my free hand. "D-don't...come....any.....c-closer," I managed to choke out.

'Is she a rogue, or just clueless?' His thoughts were loud and I couldn't help but wince. 'A rogue Hunter? That doesn't seem right. I don't think she's done this before.' "Shut.....up," I croaked, c*****g the g*n. His hands felt cool against my skin as he pressed them to my face. My body jerked and I squeezed the trigger, firing into a tree. He quickly pulled it out of my grip and tossed it away from me.

Next thing I knew he was standing over me. Silver eyes staring back into mine. In that moment I felt a calm rush over me. 'Can you hear me?' I nodded slowly, still struggling to fight the pain. 'I need you to relax. You're going to shift.' Shift? Into what? My head was spinning and I couldn't breathe as everything seemed to intensify around me.

'You're going to be fine. Just breath and stop fighting it. Go with it.' I felt a tear slip down my cheek as I continued to scream louder and louder. I could hear snapping and felt my body jerk involuntarily. Then the screaming turned to howling and the ear buds and phone fell away.

The pain came to a stop and I got up trying to run away. 'Hey, don't rush it. You just shifted for the first time. You did good.' He was now towering over me and I fell backwards even more confused. All I could smell was blood and something else. Something...sweet.

Next thing I knew there was a wolf in front of me where he'd been standing. Beast! My instincts screamed, causing me to....growl? I stopped growling unsure of why I was making that sound. My body felt so.. foreign.

'Follow me. I won't hurt you.' I followed, unsure of why I was listening. We reached a river and he motioned for me to come closer. 'Come on, take a look.' When I looked in, I nearly fell.

Looking back at me, was a wolf.