Hunted Shadows (Book 1) In Heavy Editing

Part 12

Marcella's POV

I knew Erric had more questions about everything that was happening, and I did too. For now though all our questions would have to be set to the side. The Alpha was here to talk to me, but I would be the one talking tonight. I needed to fix the animosity around the two species. I felt something stir slightly inside my head, but dismissed it as my horse spirit.

The Alpha was talking to Abby in a hushed voiced. I could make out that they were talking about me, but I couldn't tell what. Abby looked annoyed, probably from answering her brother's questions. Mark looked tired, most likely from the emotional stress of me dying. John looked terrified as if what Abby was telling him was true.

"Alpha John, it's nice to see you." John's head snapped to look at me. If he were a human, his neck would have snapped.

"Marcella, you don't look like you were dead."

"Here's where it gets weird. Sit, we have a lot to talk about." I decided that I would only tell him of my horse form, until I knew his standpoint with my other half.

"You shifted." It was no question, just pure conviction.

"Into a horse, but that's not what I wanted to talk about."

"So if not that, what would like to talk about?"

"The ones that protect me, the shadow hunters." John looked murderous and it made me pause for a moment.

"I will not listen to this nonsense, they are nothing but evil. Nothing good can come from them." His eyes had lost their warmth, turning to a coal black. I could see the shadows shifting as my family made a move to help me. I shook my head slightly at them, pleading with my eyes for them to wait.

"Alpha John, I need you to listen to me. I need you to calm down, nothing good can come from your wolf taking control. These people that you hate, that you hunt down, are no different from you or me. The only major difference is what they shift into. You need to calm down and listen for once instead of jumping head first into your anger."

"Unless you show me a shadow hunter that isn't evil I refuse to listen." I nodded to myself and looked to where I knew my mother to be. I motioned for them to come out, I knew the Alpha wouldn't like it, but he had to know. He balked at my family with a livid anger on his face. I knew the others wouldn't come out yet, almost a third of the colony was present.

"You brought murderers into my pack?" He was all but growling now. I saw the others in the room start towards us but raised my hand, telling them that I could handle it.

"You have your rouges that kill thousands every year, they have their occasional rouge who kills less than 20 people before their shadow fades. Who is the lesser evil here? I am not asking you to accept it, I am telling you that you will. This petty hatred you have for them was caused by a rouge, the first in over a hundred years." I felt the same stir in me as before. He seemed to take my words as a challenge because he growled and his eyes shifted to a deeper black. I knew I had to stay calm, for his own safety. I wouldn't allow them to hurt the Alpha, but I would allow them to hold him in his chair until he calmed down. I felt their unease and sent out my calmness.

"You are nothing to this pack anymore! A worthless, disgusting traitor." I'll admit, that hurt a lot.

"John! That is my daughter, and your niece! Just because one or two are bad doesn't mean they all are. Listen to her, she is right." Abby stood beside me, anger and betrayal written all over her face. I put my hand one her shoulder, trying to keep her calm.

"It's ok Abby. I think we need to tell him, but only after he has calmed down. John I need you to focus, focus on the fact that you will hurt your sister if you go after me. Calm down and I will show you my horse form so your wolf gets used to it." I saw him rein in his anger, but could still see that hatred.

"Marcella I believe that is a good idea. My wolf is on edge and needs a distraction." His voice was clipped and stiff, his body tensed. I walked out of the room and onto our back patio. I heard Abby say something to someone, but couldn't tell who. I waited for them to reach me before I let the shift take over. Since I wasn't used to it yet it still hurt, it was an uncomfortable pain now though.

I shook out my fur, enjoying the feeling of my new body. From what I was told, I am a Friesian. I stand 15hh and am technically a yearling, but I'm shedding the downy coat I have. I shifted my weight, waiting for the Alpha to do something. He just stood in the door staring at me with something more than the hate he held only moments ago. I saw his eyes go black and felt my horse instincts try and kick in. I had to remain calm, if not I could end up hurting someone.

"You are not a threat, I see that, but my human does not. He thinks anything that isn't a wolf is dangerous. I do not see the problem with your people as he does. I know what you are little one, but he does not and will not. Not unless you show him. I must let him have control for now." I shifted uncomfortably while we waited for John to talk or even move.

"He lied." I looked at him with quizzical eyes. "Maxwell lied to us." I shifted back and cocked my head to the side. I knew Maxwell, but I didn't know him well.

"Sir?"

"He said you were human all the way through. Phoenixes can always tell what you are. He lied to us."

"Maybe he was protecting me, thought you might hurt me." I knew Maxwell knew what I was and wanted to protect me, but James could not know why. If he did I was scared he might go after Maxwell and end up getting himself hurt. I needed to calm him down quickly or he was going to put himself and this pack in danger.

"You can't focus on that now, not with a pack that needs to have its leader." Abby seemed to be following my train of thought. I saw his attention snap to Abby and his glare on her. I knew it didn't faze her but I still inched my way closer to her.

"Not focus on someone lying to an Alpha? Someone disrespecting me? To someone keeping a secret that could have been dangerous to this pack, to you? I'm not supposed to focus on that fact Abby?!" By the end he was yelling, Abby continued to stare passively at her brother.

"You need to calm down before you get yourself hurt or worse killed. This pack depends on you, grow up and be an Alpha. Stop letting your temper get in the way of the important things John." She stared him in the eye, challenging him to argue with her. "I will not stand by and watch you put this pack, my family, in danger. I will become Alpha if you cannot fulfill the position."

"You wouldn't, you don't want this responsibility." He was getting worse.

"No, I don't want it. But if I have to, to keep this pack safe, then I will. Don't think just because I beat you once and didn't take it that I won't." This seemed to snap him out of whatever anger he had. Or at least helped him control himself.

"You're right Abby, I would lose to you because I would never willingly hurt my family."

"Then you will forget about this silly anger. Because if you go after Max I will leave and take whomever wants to follow me. Don't forget, brother, that I am an Alpha's daughter." This seemed to take whatever fight John had left in him out. I knew Abby would never willingly leave him, but I knew she would if he was going to harm the pack in any way. I saw the sadness pass through his eyes, and his face drop. I saw the defeat in his stance and a tear roll down his cheek. I saw the hatred and pain that he felt in that moment.