Read Online Change (The Shape Shifter Series) by Jennifer Loiske - Free Book Online

as the handwriting was messy, but the message was clear: Gone hunting, love you, T. A slow smile spread over her face. She pressed the note against her chest and sighed happily. He loved her and that was all that mattered. She could get used to being alone and she shouldn’t worry about the future. These few hours in Senja had given her faith. If she felt this good this soon she could only imagine how she would feel after a couple of weeks there. And then you’ll die, her subconscious reminded her. She swallowed. She knew that she would die eventually. If it wouldn’t be her disorder killing her she would die of old age. But she also knew that there was a slight chance that she would survive.
    Adam had said that she was a shape shifter, too. Sure, so far the only thing proving his claims to be right was the yellow in her eyes, and that wasn’t likely to save her. But she had to cling to hope or she would go crazy. Even the thought of the world without Tiamhaidh was unbearable, so she didn’t want to think about what her death would do to him. She glanced at the note again and smiled. She really should stop worrying. Live, she ordered herself. Live and don’t think about tomorrow. Tiamhaidh loved her and she loved him, and even if their relationship was far from the traditional dating pattern, she shouldn’t complain. He gave all of himself to her during the daytime and hunted only at night.
    She sat on the lounger and closed her eyes. It was so peaceful. No sound of cars and traffic. No lights of the city. Only animals rustling outside and the quiet whistle of the wind. She nestled deeper into the lounger and leaned her head on its side. The rustling got louder and she opened her eyes lazily. Maybe it was a mouse or some night bird. An owl or something, she thought, but was too tired to take a look. She would probably be too slow anyway to see even a glimpse of it. And besides, if she was supposed to stay there longer she should get used to the nightly voices and learn to ignore them. However, the rustling got louder minute by minute and soon she was sure that something was scraping at the door. She got up and hesitated. Could it be? No. Probably not. She was just about to slump back onto the lounger when she heard a quiet howl from the door.
    “Tiamhaidh!” she yelled happily and rushed to the door.
    “Do not open the door!” Mom's voice yelled in her mind. A picture of a beautiful golden-brown wolf flashed in her mind and everything about it screamed a warning. Marie took her hand away from the doorknob and swallowed. If it wasn't Tiamhaidh, who was it? Who would come to their door uninvited? Especially when Tiamhaidh was away. And why did Mom sound so panicked? The scratching noises were really clear now and started to sound more like someone was savaging the door. Marie pressed her head to it and heard a tiny, desperate whine.
    “Who's there?” she asked timidly. She felt stupid. She was quite sure that it was a wolf, so whoever it was probably wouldn't answer her. The wolf howled again and this time she could hear pain in its voice. Maybe the wolf was injured and needed help. Maybe that was the reason it had come to her door. She ran to look from the window, but saw nothing. If there really was a wolf that needed help, shouldn't she open the door and at least try to help it? She went to the door again.
    “Marie! Get away from that door!” her mom howled in her head.
    She stopped. What should she do? She felt better. Stronger. But she was still too weak to communicate with her mom. She weighed the options in her mind and tried to figure out what harm it could do if she opened the door. If there was an injured wolf, it couldn't hurt her. And if there was something else, she didn't believe it could hurt her unless it was bigger than a bear. Doubt crept into her mind, but there was no one who could advise her. Tiamhaidh was who knows where and her mom couldn’t possibly know what was behind that door. She was