Shapeshifter's Struggle

Chapter 14: Getting A Call

"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson¸ American poet

I woke the next morning to a loud pounding on the door. I bolted out of bed, wincing as my sore body protested the movement. I heard the door downstairs open. I was still completely dressed. Evidently, whoever had carried me up the stairs had just laid me in bed. I was grateful since it had probably been David, since that's who I'd fallen asleep on. He'd done it before.

"Samantha!" My name reverberated up the stairs. Blinking myself more awake, I hurried downstairs to see who was yelling at me. When I got downstairs, I found it was James who was yelling like a banshee. And he was furious. "You conniving little snake!" He shouted at me. I was startled at this new approach.

"What?" I asked.

"Your alpha called. He wants his favorite little finding team home," James sneered. "He's worried that you've been away from home too long. He has a project he needs David and Rachel for. You put him up to it, you manipulative coward!"

I just stood there and let him rant. Logan was in the middle of the living room. If James made a threatening move, Logan would be all over him. Jared raced into the room then, followed by Peter and Leslie. I noticed vaguely that the door had been left open.

"Adam called?" I asked. "Did he want to talk to me?"

"No," spit James. "He said he'd already talked to you. He said he wanted you to leave this morning. As if we didn't have any plans. As if we could just be ordered around like dogs!"

"I did talk to Adam last night," I said. "He said he wanted us to come home. We've been gone nearly a week. We all have jobs to maintain. Plus, he did mention wanting David and Rachel specifically, although he did not say what for."

"He wants them so we can't keep you!" James screamed at me. I heard David and Rachel come clattering down the stairs behind me. But since I was still standing a few steps up, they couldn't get by me.

"James!" Jared commanded. "Be quiet!" James was breathing heavily. He glared at his brother; but, for the moment, he was silent.

"Samantha," Jared continued. "We cannot allow you or Logan to leave quite yet. We have not finished showing you want we intend. However, since your alpha needs David and Rachel, they may go."

"We came in one car, Jared," I said calmly. "We have to leave with them."

"I will personally see you to the airport when this is over," Jared assured. "Send David and Rachel now. You and Logan will follow soon."

"How soon?" I asked.

"That depends," Jared hedged.

"On what?" I demanded.

"On how things progress," he said.

"What things?" I demanded again.

"Things I'm not allowed to go into, cousin," Jared snapped. He was losing his cool, folding under pressure.

"Why not?" I asked.

"Because I still have to do what I am told," he said. He was not looking at me now, instead staring at my knees. To get our faces on the same level, I sat down on the steps. Now I was looking directly into his eyes.

"Who's orders?" I asked quietly.

"Conniving snake!" James shrieked again. "We don't have to answer any of your questions."

I never looked away from Jared. "I was not speaking to you, James. Be a good boy and be quiet."

From the corner of my eye, I saw him lunge at me. Logan knocked him from the air and twisted him around. There was a brief scuffle, but I didn't move. I did let David and Rachel move past me and into the living room. When the boys were still, Logan was straddling James's back. Logan had pulled both James's arms behind his back. James was well and truly trounced. I looked back to Jared.