Read Online Inheritance (The Dark Gifts) by Willow Cross - Free Book Online

them several times to move in with him.  But Jason refused.  Regardless of the weirdness of the situation, he wanted things to be as normal as possible for Sarah.  Even knowing their uncle had nothing to do with their parents deaths, she bristled under his fatherly guidance.   
    Jason was already pack leader.  The law stated the strongest among them would lead.  Anyone was free to challenge Jason and fight him to the death, but none of them were that stupid.  It was obvious his strength exceeded even the best of the pack.  Thomas had already informed the others he would be stepping down as soon as Jason felt ready to take on his new role.
    Jason wanted nothing to do with leading the pack.  He had no use for the job or responsibilities it held.  However, he had no choice in the matter.  If he did not take command, then another leader would rise up to challenge Thomas.  If the leader was with those against Jason and Sarah, he could sentence them both to death.  He wasn't worried about himself.  His size alone made him a formidable opponent.  But Sarah?  The only way to keep her safe until her transformation was to take his place in the pack and do what must be done. 
    Sarah joined her brother in the kitchen and ate quietly.  She glanced at the clock.  It was 10am and Thomas hadn’t arrived.  “Something’s wrong.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I don’t know what I mean.  Something feels off.  Something is wrong with Thomas.”
    “Okay, remember what he told you to do?  Close your eyes.  Feel the air around you.  Use your senses to get in touch with your surroundings.  Okay, can you feel it?”
    “I don’t know.  I feel…something.  I feel…I don’t know what I feel!  I just feel like something is wrong.”  They sat in silence as she tried to force the power within her to the surface.  She could feel it pooling inside her.  She drew on its strength allowing it to infuse her.  Her eyes grew wide and filled with tears.  “Don’t answer it.  Please don’t answer it.” Sarah begged. 
    “Answer what?”
    The ringing telephone blared through the silent house and Jason bolted from his seat.  His eyes moved between the phone on the cabinet and his sister’s terror-stricken face.
    “They are coming.  They've locked him up and are coming.  We have to get out of here now!”
    ***
    Trees swaying in the mild breeze gave a false impression of serenity.  Hidden in the woods encompassing Thomas' cabin, the siblings argued over what to do next.  Sarah's feeling of wrongness had grown stronger.  Unable to find an explanation, she remained certain their uncle desperately needed their help.
    “You have to change, Jason, it's the only way,” Sarah whispered.
    “I don’t think I can.”
    “Listen, you fight this all the time, the moon doesn't have to be full for you to shift.  Thomas already told you that!”  Taking his face in her hands she ordered, “Change now.”
    He rolled his eyes and groaned, “Uhgg, this is not going to work.  You haven’t come into your full power yet, and we don’t have to listen to you unless we're in wolf form.  What do you plan on doing when we get in there?”
    “We'll just walk in and free Thomas.  With you in wolf form, no one will try to stop us.  Now quit fooling around and shift.  Why is it when I don’t need you to go all big brother on me, you do, but when I need you to do it, you act like you’re twelve?”
    “Ouch!  Don’t pinch me, I hate that.”
    “Quit acting like a nine year old.”
    “I thought I was twelve?”
    “You’re regressing!”
    A commotion from the front of the house quieted them.  They had a perfect vantage point hidden in the trees surrounding the cabin.  Shana stood on the porch arguing with two men. 
    “I’m telling you they will come.  I’ve seen it.” She bellowed as she shoved one of the men out of her way.
    “If they are, what do you propose we do when they get here?” The older of the two