Take A Walk In My Skin

Chapter 1

    Emma's POV

    I'm not like most girls. Hell, I don't even know if I can call myself a girl.

I mean, I've got the image locked down. Beautiful fair skin, perky smile, teddy bear brown eyes, the norm. But I'm not a girl. Truth be told, I'm more of an animal than a human. I'm a skinwalker, a shapeshifter. I can transform into any breed of dog I want, whether it's a golden retriever or a pug.

Though I prefer the German Shepherd. It's just something about them that makes my skin crawl.

I'm Emma. Just Emma. No middle name. No last name. Not even a permanent address. It's not like I'm invisible or dead to the world; I'm just...hiding.

If you think being a skinwalker is the best thing imaginable, think again. It's hard being what I am when all I have to show for it is the fur rather than the skin.

I had no choice, except to thank my parents for the gift they have given me. Only I don't think it's a gift, I think it's a burden.

I was born to Sheila and Frank. They were also skinwalkers. In fact, they were awarded as one of the best. They turned countless humans into what we are, not considering their choice in the matter or the dangers that would soon invade their lives. No, they did whatever was necessary to reach top rank, following whatever orders were given to them.

The thing is I hated them for it. I was disgusted by the amount of lives they ruined and how they would sit at the dinner table with huge smiles on their faces like they had done nothing wrong. It was torture to be in the same room with monsters such as themselves.

At that time, I had no clue I was to be just like them. I had prayed every night I wasn't, only my prayers were never answered. I was to be a monster, a predator, seeking out the innocent just to give them our burden.

It just wasn't the life I would have chosen for myself.

And for a minute there, I thought I escaped. I thought I left that wrongful life of injustice and cruelty. I thought it was gone for good.

But again, my prayers were never answered.

College was the life I wanted. It was my choice to become a student, to live in a world where I can be whoever I wanted to be. I could become a lawyer, a teacher, a mad scientist, and I chose to become...a medical assistant.

I thought what better to ruin lives than to save them.

I wanted to be everything my parents weren't. I wanted to be better than them, and this was the best way to make that happen.

While walking along campus, I noticed how much younger everyone was. To be twenty five years old and finally going to college was a nightmare. Everyone kept glaring at me.

If only they knew what my parents were and how they tried to keep me out of school, they would understand. My parents were harsh and mean. They never let me go anywhere with "school" in the title. They thought it was best to keep me locked up and teach me all the basics themselves.

I honestly don't think they knew how bad of teachers they were until it came to knowing the reproductive system.

But I worked hard to get here. I went behind my parents back and went to school without them knowing. I signed the papers in their name and everything just so I could get an education and someday run away.

I studied hard in school. I would go to the library every day just to keep my nose in a book.

As soon as I got the letter confirming my acceptance into the University of Medicine, I was free.