The cryptic message left by Jack on my answering machine had me on edge all day. It didn't help matters that all my calls and texts to Mady, Nate, Dmitri, and Mason have gone unanswered or returned. For the past couple of days they all seemed to be quiet and distant. Mady said things were going to be fine with Dmitri, even though when we had talked things were tense, words guarded almost empty. 

Leaving one last threatening message on Mady's phone, I finally got a text back saying they would see me at Jack's tonight. Relieved I heard from Mady, finally, though it didn't help with the knots that built up in my stomach over the hours. I couldn't put my finger on it but whatever was going to happen tonight was going to be big. As in life changing big.

Pulling up to Jack's it reminded me of the barbeque but with even more cars. Vehicles all on the lawn, soft chatter of people in the back but this time it had a whole other feeling. No laughter or kids playing, just a nervous and intense vibe.

Every step I made the volume that came from the back yard lowered. I wanted to throw up. I wanted to run in the opposite direction. I did not want to be here. Whatever this was about it was not good.

Rounding the corner every pair of eyes turned my way. I wrapped my arms around my midsection, as if it helped to hold myself together. The first pair of eyes I met and held were the beautiful ocean blue eyes of Dmitri. Staring back, giving nothing but blankness and unease. Uncomfortable, I looked for a friendlier pair of eyes of my friend Mady only to find Mason next. He too held the same expressionless eyes and face as Dmitri.

Before I had a chance to look away, a gentle hand pressed lightly on my lower back. Letting out an embarrassing screech, the self-defence classes Dmitri had taught me flooded back.

Elbow flying up to connect with whoever was behind me in the throat, was quickly stopped with a firm hand followed by Jack's boisterous voice.

"Whoa, it's just me Sam," Jack said, with a calm reassuring voice.

"You scared the shit out of me," I gasped, clutching my chest, feeling the strong frantic beat of my heart.

"Hey," Dmitri's voice, now inches away.

Startled from his closeness I jumped back only to trip over my feet and to be caught by Mason. He grabbed hold of my arm preventing me from embarrassing myself further. Pulling out of his grasp immediately, dumb founded. "What...where...?" I stammered. Seconds ago, they stood over 25 feet away and now they were just feet away and that was only because I continued to back away.

Looking at the hurt in Mason and Dmitri's eyes, I felt ashamed on how I reacted. "Sorry. You both just startled me and how the hell did you move that fast?" I asked, completely confused. Still shaken up and not too pleased on how I was getting the cold shoulder over the past couple of days I took another step back. No matter how much I cared for these people and didn't like to see the disappointment on their faces, right now I needed space.

Mason took a slow step forward. "I need you to believe me when I say everything will be OK. You trust me so remember that," his words were soft but held doubt.

Taking another step back, so I would have room if I needed to get away. His words just added to my unease.

Jack captured my attention. "Come Sam," he gave me his arm in a gentlemen fashion, "It's time to talk."

"I'm good here, thank you," This scene reminded me of something that would happen in a horror flick. One of those vampire movies where all those innocent people were invited to a bar just to be slaughter.

Jack seemed to understand my reluctance. "Everyone back up and give Sam some room."

That helped a bit as Mason and Dmitri backed away. Still not comfortable to move closer, I held my ground and didn't move. I felt a little silly standing by the corner of the house but my feet would not move an inch.

"What did you feel when you touched any of us for the first time?" Jack asked nonchalantly.

My mouth dropped open. I was positive I had never told anyone about that. Hell I wasn't sure if it really happened half the time or if it was just nerves. I stared at Jack tight lipped.

Jack smiled, but kept his distance. "We now you felt something. It happens every time you touched one of us. Especially the first time. We will not think you are crazy, Sam," he said. I still refused to say anything, so he continued, "We also know that you feel differently towards us as we do with you. Your bonds are deeper than they have ever been with anyone besides Mady. What do you feel?"

Mady walked through the group with an encouraging smile. That smile was the only thing that helped me gain just enough courage to possibly believe that they might not think I was crazy. Plus, I had a very strong suspicion that they would not let me leave until I spilled my guts. "Fine." I looked at Mady for support before I continued, "I get the feeling of ants crawling up my skin, an electric jolt where my hand touches your skin, shivers down my spine and sometimes if feels like the air is so thick it takes a second for me to breath," I explained. I waited for the laughter but all I heard was the crickets.

As if it all made sense to him, Jack jumped right to the next question, "What about with Nickoli and Matt?"

I narrowed my eyes wondering what they have to do with this, I cautiously answered, "The same shock and shiver, but instead of ants the temperature drops drastically. All of it only last for a moment in both cases and the first time is always the worst. After that it barely registers." I hated to admit it but by getting this off my chest it felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my chest.

I watched Jack as he digested all that I just confessed before he spoke. "There is a term, more like a name we refer to people with your abilities. Tlazolteotl, without going into all the details now, but I will soon, you can sense our kind."

Still not moving but slightly more relaxed, it was my turn to ask the questions. "I don't have a clue what you're talking about so why don't you tell me now what a...whatever you said and also what do you mean by, 'our kind?'"

Jack sighed, "Tla sol TE otl," the short version for now is it comes from the Aztec mythology. The Tlazolteotl was the goddess also known as "She of 2 faces." The simplest and best term I think should be used is that people like you are of a dual nature. For example the goddess was said to be able to cure disease as well as cause one." He could see I still didn't have a clue why he was telling me this, so he went on, "OK, you can sense us through touch and I do believe you can also sense what we are feeling especially with the ones you have become closest to. You might have noticed that you have also had a stronger connection with our unmated males over everyone else."

I stood there stunned, Jack had hit the nail on the head a few times. I didn't know what to say, never mind what any of it meant.

Jack went on while I tried to figure things out in my head. "Here's where the problem might lie. You have the power to make my pack stronger or tear it apart and just to let you know I will not let you do that."

The threat didn't even phase me. I still had no clue on what he was saying and the more I went over it in my head the more confused I got. A few words kept popping back in my mind, ones that I never heard beside in my fantasy books. "Jack? What do you mean by unmated males and pack," I asked. Now I was thinking they were some kind of cult and one I wanted no part of it. I took a slow step back, trying not to gain any further attention. That was when the threat finally caught up to my brain. Now I was pissed off. "I would never hurt any of you! How the fuck could you say I would tear you apart?" My anger pushed all the nervousness and fear away.

Jack gave a nice genuine smile. "I believe you Sam. I do not think you would hurt anyone here but I had to tell you what you can do," he answered, "This will all make sense in a moment."

"Well get on with it because I went from scared, to confused, to pissed off all in about two minutes," I said impatiently.

"We're Shifters. To be more exact we are wolves," he said with a straight face.

Anger shifted to amusement, eyebrows rising, corner of my lip twitched, and said, "You're telling me you're werewolves?" I lost the battle, and laughed aloud at the horrendous explanation that came out of his mouth. "That I can sense you and have this power shall I say, over you," I made out between laughing.

No one else was laughing, which sobered me up fast. "What are you people smoking? Never mind I don't want to know. I got to go so..." Waving to Mady, "I'll...uh, talk to you later," I said, as I began to walk briskly to the car to get as far as I could form the crazy people.

"Stop," Jack ordered.

"Sam, please just listen," Mady begged.

Her pleas didn't touch me in the least. She too, had been sucked in by this cult that I wanted nothing to do with. Her voice did stop me from running though.

"Just think about it Sam. You have seen things that didn't make sense before, but if you really think about it, it does now," Jack raised his voice.

That comment made me turn around. "Yeah like you are all crazy and there is no damn way you are bringing me down with you." This time I did run. I ran as fast as I could to get to my car.

"Dammit Sam," Jack sounded frustrated, "Quinn, stop her!"

I made it only a few feet before Quinn slammed into me. Arms like vice grips grabbed me around my waist. I squirmed, kicked and screamed but nothing helped. He had me tight up against his body.

"Sam, stop fighting. You're going to hurt yourself," Quinn said, closing the space even more. Face buried in my neck, "Mmm, you do smell good," Quinn no longer sounded concern, but more with lust.

I wasn't sure if it was his breath hitting my neck, his voice or his warm firm body against mine that stopped me cold. The fear I felt a moment ago was turning into desire. The anger that came from another voice quickly reminded me what needed to done. Before I could react that was when all hell broke loose.

"Get your hands off her now!" Dmitri's voice sounded more like a growl then human.

That growl didn't scare me in the least, I did the opposite. Nipples hardened, tremor went down my back. I couldn't stop myself. Quinn had let me go enough that I was able to turn around and grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him close. The intense need to kiss this man stopped me cold a second before Quinn's body was torn away. Surprise turned into fear and the need to run. Run far away from this place and these people!

Before my brain had a chance to tell my legs to move, familiar arms wrapped around my waist from behind. "Please Sam," Dmitri begged.

I begged, "If you have ever cared for me in the least bit you will let me go." I tried to squirm out of the iron hold. I failed.

"Dmitri, bring her here," Jack's strong voice echoed.

Not saying a word, Dmitri picked me up and did what Jack asked.

I was now in front of Jack, he said, "Bare with us a few more minutes than you can leave. If you promise not to run again Dmitri will let you go."

"Like I would make it far even if I did." I shook Dmitri off me. I did not want to be touched at all.

Dmitri let me go and stepped back. Movement caught my eye, Mady had taken a step closer. Her hand stretched out to me and I moved out of the way. I knew the look I gave her was not a pleasant one. The hurt in her eyes broke my heart, but this was no longer the Mady I knew. It was someone else.

"Braydon," Jack's boisterous voice made me jump. "Please demonstrate to Sam what we are."

Braydon a few feet behind Jack started to take off his shirt then followed with his pants. I was still too pissed to care or even acknowledge what was happening. Naked and on all fours I realized that my eyes were watching but my brain did not comprehend what was happening. Braydon's hands started to form into claws. His back arched, bones cracked then realigned, fur sprouted from his skin. His face began to take a new form, ears grew into points and his nose elongated. Within a couple minutes were Braydon stood was an enormous wolf.

Locking my knees before they gave out, taking slow deep breaths to settle my stomach my body seemed to be a step of my brain. I continued to stare into the eyes of the wolf that stood feet away. The weird thing was I knew Braydon was still in there.