Shifting Love's Hunger Read online

  Mark followed the clay path. The cool breeze felt nice on his naked body. The path ended at a doorway carved into the face of the wall. He pushed, then he pushed harder and it gave way all of the sudden causing him to stumble into a room. The door slammed shut with a loud bang. It was sealed shut with him inside. The room was round and he was unable to locate another exit.

  Something tickled his butt, he slapped his hand down knocking away a muzzle. On hearing a startled yip, he spun around and saw a coyote!

  She looked like Chloe in her coyote form and had the scent of being in heat.

  He held his hand out to his sides. “Now where did you come from?”

  The coyote bared her teeth at him and snarled.

  Mark said in his most soothing voice, “Chloe, is that you? It’s okay. I won’t hurt you.”

  The coyote didn’t seem impressed.

  Mark held out the back of his hand for her to sniff it and quickly drew it back when she snapped at it.

  “That wasn’t very nice of you. I just want to be friends.”

  The coyote looked and smelled like Chloe, except for the being in heat. In all his years, he had never smelled a Shapeshifter in heat. There were stories of Shifters that had sex in wolf form, but it required giving more control to the Wolf than he was willing to give.

  Mark tried to use his connection to Chloe to connect to the coyote, but it was not there. In a panic, he tried to connect to his inner Wolf and only felt emptiness in its place. Waves of loneliness washed over him, where was his Wolf? It was as part of him as his eye color. He slumped to the ground and sat with his head in his hands.

  The fur of the coyote brushed against his arm. He gently petted her as if she was a lost dog. Eyes looked up at him full of understanding. Leaning over, he touched his head against hers and she licked his face.

  He smiled at her and softly said, “Thanks, I needed that.”

  She sat next to him, pushing her body against his.

  “You sure you don’t know a way out of here?”

  She cocked her head in response.

  “Guess not … what if I could become like you?”

  She nuzzled him again. Maybe that was the lesson, but he didn’t know how, it takes a connection he did not have. Panic was setting in, but waves of comfort radiated off the coyote. She had to be part of his test, and her being in heat was also a clue. No way in hell was he going to have sex with her, while Human, a transformation to coyote would be required.

  Everything important he knew about wolves was from being one, shifting was all about connecting to the inner wolf. It was about feelings. He knew a little bit about how Chloe felt as a coyote from the connection he had with her, but that was not enough. This coyote looked and smelled like Chloe’s coyote.

  “Are you Coh?”

  She nuzzled his arm.

  “I’ll take that as a yes. You must be my path to my inner coyote.”

  She nuzzled his arm and then shoved her head at his crotch.

  “I’m not having sex with you like this.”

  She cocked her head.

  Mark grinned. “Are you trying to tell me the connection is on the most primal level?”

  She rolled onto her back. That was a sign of submission in wolves and he expected it was also with coyotes. Rubbing her belly, he noticed her scent was stronger than before and it was turning him on. He closed his eyes and focused on her scent while searching his feelings for his love of Chloe and the passion she felt for him. Life was empty without her. What he needed was to recreate the feelings between their inner selves. Mark searched his soul for Chloe, her scent, her touch, her energy. It flowed through him and consumed him, becoming his world until he felt something stir inside.

  The coyote moved away from him. Mark opened his eyes from a fresh perspective. It was like being a wolf, but different and strange. He stretched and adjusted to his new coyote body, which seemed to be focused on the need for sex. Coh waved her ass at him, but every time he came close she moved away. What a tease! She took off running and went through a hole in the wall he had not seen before. With a snarl of frustration, he blindly chased after her and was confused to find he had lost her. As he ran faster down the passage, it got smaller and darker. The air felt thicker and harder to move as he went. Clearly, it was important to keep going. At one point, it took all his strength to push through into a blinding light.

  ***

  Chloe was sitting alone at Onyx’s house when she felt like her heart had been ripped from her chest. She had gotten so used to feeling a connection to Mark, that when it disappeared, it physically hurt.

  Onyx had reported that Mark had been by The Second Circle looking for her. She had felt through their connection he still loved her and needed her, but she didn’t feel ready to talk to him yet. Logically, she knew that she’d pushed too hard, but she still felt betrayed and in danger of being abandoned. Now she knew what that felt like. He needed her help and she would not let him down.

  She checked the Find My Friends app on her iPhone to see where he was. She had turned it off when she got mad at him and she hoped he was not as childish. His phone was on and was last seen in North Bend. She zoomed the map and knew exactly where he was. The map was not very detailed but she knew it was Grandfather’s house. She needed to get there right away. He should be safe with Grandfather, but this wasn’t at all right.

  It took her about thirty minutes to get out there. No one answered, when she knocked on the door. Down the path she could see the sweat lodge and watched steam-filled smoke rising from the vent at the top. Mark must be on some sort of spirit journey. Was this what it felt like for him when she had gone on hers? Something felt wrong, there was no chanting or drumming. It might be dangerous if she interrupted whatever was going on.

  Maggie came down the path and waved for Chloe to come. “You must have felt it! Mark is being tested. Come inside and we can talk more.”

  They entered the building used for tribal meetings.

  “Chloe, please sit down.”

  “What is going on? It’s some sort of test?”

  “I don’t know all of the details, but Grandfather sent for me and told me to wait for you here. He said Mark would be tested today and you might need family to comfort you.”

  “Why would I need comforting? What sort of test is it?”

  “The life or death type.”

  Chloe gasped. “When I went on my spirit journey, I had Elders to help protect me.”

  “Mark is not on a trip to the back side of the moon. What he is facing is much more dangerous and can only be done on his own.”

  “Is this related to what Sin-ka-lip' was offering? I thought that wasn’t so complicated.”

  “Mark is trying to connect to his Coyote heritage on his own and has to prove himself worthy or die trying. I didn’t know about this until today, but his Pack used to be Coyotes like we are, but found a way to take on wolf form. When they did, they rejected our ways and went on their own path. It’s lore that has been lost to everybody but Grandfather.”

  “Then Sin-ka-lip' was offering a shortcut to something Mark could do on his own?”

  Maggie nodded. “You must remember Sin-ka-lip' is a trickster. In a way, we are as well. It could also be that Sin-ka-lip' meant for things to happen this way. All I know is, if Mark lives, he will be a member of our tribe and accepted by us all. He will have also proven he has the strength of will to guide the Coyotes to a new future.”

  “Then what Sin-ka-lip' offered me is true, just not as easy as he let on.”

  “That is the way of old ones.”

  “How can I help him? I feel like something died inside.”

  “Do you really want to help him?”

  “Yes, I can’t let him die for me.”

  “Come with me. There is a couch over here in the corner for you to lay down on.”

  Chloe got comfortable.

  “Now send your inner coyote to guide him.”

  Chloe closed her eyes.
<
br />   Coh, I need you.

  No, Mark does. My connection to his Wolf is so weak I almost can’t feel it.

  Can you follow the connection to find Mark and help guide him? He is trying to become a coyote like us and it could kill him.

  What a stupid man. I can try to guide him the best I can, but I can’t guarantee he will listen to me.

  Will you be all right? If he dies, what happens to you?

  As long as things don’t take too long, I should be fine. There is only so long I can be separated from you without causing you harm. Hope he listens to me before I have to return. You will be in a deep sleep until I return.

  Please help him.

  Chloe dreamed of Mark giving her a warm hug and saying he loved her.

  Chloe, I’m back and Mark is safe. You should feel your connection to him again. Don’t be surprised if he feels a little different.

  Huh? Coh, is that you?

  Chloe opened her eyes and saw Maggie and Ted watching over her.

  “Mark is back.”

  “Be careful, honey. You have been out cold for hours.”

  Chloe sprang to her feet and almost fell over.

  Ted reached out and helped steady her. “What did we just say?”

  “Leave her alone, Ted. Can’t you see she is excited to welcome her man back?”

  Ted shook his head. “Women.”

  ***

  Mark wondered if he was dead, but the smell of the fire helped bring him back to his senses. He looked around and saw Grandfather smiling.

  “I see you live. Death was close.”

  Mark tried to answer, but all that came out was a bark. Looking down, he saw the paws of a coyote. It was time to change back, he focused on what it was like to be Human, and transformed back. When warm air rushed past his hard cock, he blushed and grabbed for his clothes to cover up. It was one thing to be naked in front of others, but this was the first time he was hard and naked in front of another man.

  “You must have had an interesting trial. Details I need not.”

  Grandfather quickly left the sweat lodge.

  Mark quickly got dressed as he searched his feelings. His connection to his inner self and Chloe was back, but his Wolf felt different. It was less defined than before. He needed fresh air. He went out the flap to the outside world.

  Grandfather was waiting. “Welcome to the People. You are one of us now.”

  “The People?”

  “Others call us many things, but to us, we are the People. In time, you will learn the rich heritage of your ancestors. For now, you need to eat and call your mate to you.”

  Mark started to pull out his cell phone and stopped when Grandfather waved his finger at him. He understood what he meant. Suddenly, he felt a little stupid for not doing it before.

  He felt across his connection to her. Chloe, I love you, please come to me.

  Grandfather waved for Mark to follow him to the building where they had held the feast for Chloe after her spirit journey. As he approached, the door flew open and Chloe came running out to meet him with her arms wide open. He hugged her as if it was his last action on earth.

  Mark whispered in her ear, “I love you and never want to be away from your side ever again.”

  Her tears joined his running down his cheek.

  She whispered back, “You became a Coyote for me. I have never felt so loved.”

  “I think I’m more than that. I think I still have a lot to learn, but Grandfather says I am part of the tribe now.”

  Chloe smiled. “Come inside. You need to eat and we can talk more later.”

  She grabbed him by the hand and led him inside. The smell of food never felt as welcome as it was now. He also smelled something else.

  Maggie and Ted came to greet him.

  Ted held out his hand. “Welcome to the family, son!”

  Mark reached out to shake his hand when Maggie pushed Ted out of the way to hug him. “Let me welcome you as well to the tribe. I can see now you are one of us.”

  “Thank you both for your warm welcome. I wish I had known before where my family came from.”

  “It’s not your fault. Much lore has been lost over the centuries and it took your being the bridge to the past for us to believe it. We are sorry for not giving you a proper welcome before.”

  “I am honored to find my place among your great people. I will not let you down.”

  Chloe pulled him over to the table to eat. Mark was too tired to actually want to eat anything. There were too many questions running through his mind and he needed to be clear headed as to the new dangers that faced them both. Now, he didn’t have to face them alone.

  Mark gave her a tired look. “Chloe, I need to sleep now.”

  “I can take you home and we can come back tomorrow for your car.”

  “Home’s not safe.”

  “Don’t worry, I will take care of you.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  A New Man

  CHLOE BROUGHT MARK back to Onyx’s apartment. It would do for the night and Onyx wouldn’t mind. Mark had snoozed some in the car on the trip and already looked better from that little bit of rest. She guided him to the guest bed she had been using.

  Chloe pulled back the sheets on the bed. “You can sleep here. Let me help you get undressed.”

  “There is so much I want to tell you.”

  Mark’s naked body was almost too much for Chloe. She pushed him back under the covers, kicked off her shoes and lay beside him.

  “If you are up to it.”

  Mark pulled her close and started to tell her about what it was like.

  “Then a coyote somehow appeared behind me and was sniffing my butt. It looked like your Coyote form.”

  “I expect it was Coh. When I found out what you were doing, I sent Coh to the spirit realm to help you. I was passed out in the tribal meeting room while she was gone.”

  “I have to tell you, Coh is a bitch in heat! I could smell her from across the room.”

  “She must also have some of my Vampire in her. It makes sense that she and my hunger are really parts of the same inner self.”

  “Your inner self wanted me to have sex with her while I was still human and then when I managed to become a coyote, she waved her ass at me and kept running away until I found myself back in my physical body.”

  “She must have known the only way to lead a man was appeal to his baser instincts and you proved it worked.”

  Mark laughed. “It worked all right. I would like to think I would have worked it out, but I’m not sure I could have changed and gotten out of the room without her help.”

  “It’s the least I could do. You decided to give up your Pack and family for me.”

  Mark teased with a smile, “You mean you wouldn’t have helped otherwise?”

  Chloe laughed and punched in him in the arm. “You really have to ask?”

  Mark kissed her. “No, I didn’t really need to ask. We do need to talk about where we go from here.”

  “Why did we have to stay away from home?”

  “The moment I come close to anyone in the Pack, they will smell that I have changed. We will have to find a new place to live. That house is property of the Pack.”

  “I thought your parents owned the house.”

  “The Pack owns my parents’ house as well. I expect Sam will move in when he becomes Alpha.”

  “What happens to your mother?”

  “It’s all up to Sam, but I expect he would let her stay on in the house or maybe when he learns about us, he will move her to our house.”

  “I guess we need to find a new place to live. I can look around for a place where we would have access to the outdoors. What do you want to do with your life now?”

  Mark kissed Chloe. “I can think of something.”

  Chloe giggled. “I know you can, but you should rest more before going there.”

  “Okay. I think it’s best if I finish what I started with Greta. I’m also interested i
n learning the old Coyote ways from Grandfather or whoever knows them. What do you want to do?”

  “I can’t leave my job with Greta, unless she releases me from the Clan. We should meet with her and decide our next steps. It is going to complicate things with your Pack working security.”

  “It does and I don’t want to tip the Pack off until we are ready.”

  “I know a back way into The Second Circle. We sealed up the one entrance, but there is a way in that is only known by a few of Greta’s most trusted people.”

  “She trusts you that much?”

  “No, but Onyx knows and she can help us. Why don’t you take a nap and I will give her a call.”

  Chloe left Mark to rest and closed the door behind her so as to not bother him.

  “Hey, Onyx. Mark and I are back together and he is now a Coyote, but that causes issues. We need to meet with Greta, but if Mark goes past any of his old Pack members, they will know he has changed and we don’t want them tipped off yet.”

  “I think I know what you are asking. It’s lucky you’re at my place. There is a hidden entrance to the underground there.”

  “It must be miles from The Second Circle!”

  “It shouldn’t be an issue for a couple of Coyotes. Let me know when you are on your way so I can open the door from the inside for you.”

  Onyx gave Chloe detailed instructions on how to find the entrance and what they needed to know in order to not get lost in the underground.

  A couple hours later, she heard Mark moving about.

  “You feeling any better?”