Jacob was constantly on edge and every time a car drove past their hotel room quickly, he jumped to the window to watch it speed past them and away. Ansuya spent her time going over the exercises Jacob had taught her. They were hardly a comfort; she knew that in another night or two, she would change again. She wasn’t fearful of the event; it was the pain that made her reticent and a little scared.

Two nights later the moon was a perfect crescent and Ansuya changed.

The pain was incredible and Ansuya tried hard not to cry out. Her insides twisted and she moaned softly with the pain. Hot electricity shot up her spine and through her whole body as a deep fire raged and burned her skin away.

Jacob was with her the whole time. Grasping her convulsing hand in his and holding it tightly. He was a Healer and it was all he could do to take some of the pain of her transformation away. He bit down hard on her wrist and the pain ebbed but her body was still consumed with fire. He wished he could do more for her but during the change, until she learned to control her abilities; she must ride the pain every time. It was a small miracle she had survived that first change, if he had been a few minutes earlier or later.. that didn’t matter now though.

When it was finished, Ansuya stood up and looked over the hotel room. Her senses were sharp, her eyes focused, and her mind clear. She swore that day to conquer her abilities, to learn how to control them, and to use them to guide her people back to the path of usefulness and health. The people that defeated Alexander would be feared and disciplined again. She would show them how.

Four days later they were on another plane to Tokyo Japan, and from there they would fly to California, and make their way to the City under the Mountain.

Here, in Kenneth’s basement, Ansuya drew a deep breath as she had pushed herself to her limit that day. She leaned an arm against the cool metal of her cage and wiped her brow as best she could. She was disgusted that this small activity took up so much of her energy and precious time.

Her memories and dreams blended together now. The drug held its sway over her body, but her mind was breaking free, little by little. Her memory dreams were telling her something. It couldn’t be a coincidence that she was reliving her first moments as a werewolf. How her subconscious was constantly reminding her of her promise to learn what she could and come back to India to teach them how to be better through discipline and meaningful work, and loving supportive family structures. Her dreams rarely came about through coincidence.

She hadn’t changed her plan, but something had changed. There was a reason she decided to accept the title of Elder of the City. She wasn’t quite as old as Huan Li but she was close and she didn’t look more than a few years older than William. That had been a topic of many discussions with the rest of the city Elders.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

The basement door opened and Ansuya quickly and easily resumed her former comatose position before a foot fell on the first step. She breathed deeply and easily as whoever approached her. The needle plunged into her thigh and the steps retreated. Ansuya counted the steps and heard the door shut firmly and opened her eyes. She sat there, exhausted as she waited for the drug to take her.

“No, I will not,” she said coldly into the silent chamber.

She was standing before the City Elders in the top room in the Tower in the center of the city. She had seen a few of her friends die in the Whyte Plain. There was only three left from her original pack.

She had been called here to discuss her lack of aging. She hadn’t aged a day since her arrival. The Shape shifters keen eye sight and sense of smell could detect the minute details of aging in people around them, but Ansuya showed no signs of this. It was a trait that had only existed in legends. This only seemed to heighten her value to the city.

“It’s not a cause for debate or concern, Ansuya. You have a very special blood trait that will help our people and give us an even footing with the vampires,” remarked one of the elders calmly.

“You want me to give up my body, mate with someone and become a brood mother because I don’t age. And that my progeny, hopefully, will acquire this trait and give us Shape shifters a longer life span and even the playing field with vampires.” She looked evenly at the Elders sitting in front of her. “I will not mate until I am ready, regardless of the reasons.” Ansuya stood calm and defiant.

“We won’t force you, Ansuya,” a female Elder said with a touch of impatience. “I only hope that you will find someone that interests you and be happy with. We only want what’s best for our people. We have to be stronger; you have a gift that can go a long way in helping us do that. You understand that don’t you?”

She had thought that it might end there, she was wrong.

Every year or so some Elder or other came up to her and questioned her about her prospects and if she was “happy.” The conversation always drifted to her mating. It was infuriating to her. She was not a tool to be used by the Mountain or anyone else.

She had fought and lost many friends and pack mates, both human born and wolf born. It saddened her deeply and she often took walks through the underground temple, among her Gods and the Gods of ancient civilizations. She would not break her promise to herself. She would marry for love and for no other reason.

She stood in front of the statue of Ganesh, his benevolent eyes looking down on her as she prayed to him. Why was she given this trait, what had caused it, and why was she the only one? She wanted to be the best, to stand out and be respected. Had the Gods cursed her for her vanity and hubris?

Ganesh offered no answer, only a small comfort that she wasn’t alone. Looking at his elephant trunk nose, and his large elephant ears, Ganesh stood alone as being blessed as well. It might not be a curse. Maybe it was a gift from the Gods. She would use it as she saw fit. If the Gods chose her, then she would choose for herself who she would share that gift with. She silently thanked him pressing her hands together and bowing toward the God.