Shapeshifter

Chapter Thirty: Reunion

I stared out the window the whole drive, a blanket of various emotions playing through my head. I was anxious, but excited to see my herd, to see my brother. It had been ages since I'd last set foot on my herd's territory.

Sebastian, Leo and Sam chatted while I stayed silent, letting my thoughts rage on. Everything had calmed down at the pack. A week had passed since everything had blown up: Fighting with Leo, Sebastian and Zac, Mark dying. And Zac joining our pack, the two former enemies becoming one gigantic community. Our packs had joined and now we were one, living at both territories. Although it was one community, there were four Alphas: Zac and his mate, and Sam and me.

Sam wasn't officially Alpha yet, the ceremony was yet to be conducted and I was excited to see him take his place as Alpha. He was excited too, but I could also tell he was nervous. The ceremony was being held as soon as we were home from visiting my herd. And before we had gotten in the car to drive here, he'd been panicking. It wasn't obvious. But the mate link gave me an insight into what was going trough his head. He was losing faith in himself as a leader. The what if's had burned through him fiercely and it was heartbreaking to watch.

Even now, as he put on the brave act, I could tell. Little details in his face, his eyes, they told me he was concerned. I wasn't sure if it was still about the pack and the future, or if it was solely because of what we were doing; visiting my herd, my brother, and my parents - who had considered giving me away.

I didn't know how I felt about that. I was sort of numb about seeing them. No love, no excitement, no anger, no fear... nothing. I just didn't care. Sam grabbed my hand and squeezed it, probably sensing my emotions through the bond. I smiled and kept hold of his hand until we arrived at the cemetery.

We all exited the car, and I inhaled deeply, crossing the road. Sam jogged after me, grabbed my hand and I leaned on him, walking through the cemetery with the three boys, searching for my sister's grave. I found it, in the section with the new ones. Her name shined in the sun. "Amelia Jenkins. Loving Daughter and Cherished Sister. Forever with the Lord, always in our Hearts." I read aloud. Sam released my hand and I walked to the grave, placing the bouquet of blue, yellow and red flowers in front of the headstone.

I blinked away tears and smiled at the small print of a horse beside her name, it was rearing, looking fierce and protective. Brave. Like my sister. "I never got to say goodbye. I never got to tell you I loved you. You were my baby sister, and I left you, and never said goodbye. I just left in the middle of the night, without you or Callum. And I disappeared. But I was safe. I was protected. I wish I could hold you and tell you how sorry I am that I left the way I did. I was scared. So scared that I'd drag you and Cal into this mess and eventually, you did. You were taken from us. I'm sorry. I should have been more careful. I shouldn't have left in the first place. I regret leaving you, but I don't regret running away." I sighed and stood up. "I love you, Amelia."

My chest tightened and I felt the tears break through the barrier, streaming down my face. Someone put their arms around me, pulling me to them and I immediately knew it was Sam. He held me, stroked my hair and let me cry. "I've got you." I cried harder. It was finally my turn to be weak. It was my turn to let it all out. And I was glad to know that Sam was there, holding me protectively, not letting anyone hurt me while I let it all go. Once I was okay, I stood up, with Sam's help and hugged him. Sebastian and Leo had left, probably to the car and it was just Sam and me.

A threatening roar erupted and I gasped, stepping away from Sam as a black horse reared and threatened Sam. With a growl, Sam shifted and challenged the horse I hadn't seen in so long; my brother. Cal's ears were pinned back and Sam's hackles were raised. He growled as Callum stamped at him and I gasped, quickly throwing myself between the two. "Both of you, stop! Sam, this is my brother Cal. And Cal, this is Sam," I paused, looking dead straight into my brother's eyes. "My mate." I finished. Sam shifted, wrapping his arms around my protectively, as though my brother would hurt me, or steal me.