Free ChangingPaths by Marilu Mann

With a gasp she sat straight up
in the bed. There were no looming shadows here, no grasping trees, no angry
ex-husband. She and Rain were safe.
    She lay back down, pulling the blanket up and squirming
around until she was comfortable. Nearly always the dreams were about Tom
coming to steal her child away. Sometimes though, she dreamed of what it would
be to run on all fours—to howl with her own Pack. Settling back down, she let
her mind drift and was soon calm enough to process her dreams.
    The nightmare she could take because she knew she could get
away, that she finally had gotten away from him. The dream of running she
hated. Nothing she did could make her reach that desperate desire. Tears
streamed down her face as the alarm clock shrilled a welcome sound. She climbed
out of bed, swiping at her tears. Then she shivered as the chill air hit her.
The furnace wasn’t putting out nearly enough heat for her at the moment. Rain’s
room must be freezing.
    Sliding her feet into her slippers helped. When she pulled
the flannel robe off the foot of her bed she yawned. Then she shuffled out of
her bedroom, surprised to see Rain’s light on. Poking her head into the frigid
room, she saw her daughter seated at the desk running a brush through her newly
dyed darker hair.
    The rinse they’d tried hadn’t taken all the pink out, but at
least she no longer looked as if she had cotton candy on her head. The girl was
already up and dressed—nerves, obviously. Even though this wasn’t the first
time she’d been “the new kid” at school, it didn’t get any easier.
    Guilt drove her into the kitchen, where she cursed softly
under her breath when she remembered that the stove wasn’t working. She’d hoped
to send Rain off with her favorite breakfast of cinnamon-apple French toast,
but now they’d both have to settle for cereal. Filling two cups with water, she
blessed the fact that the microwave did work. Instant cocoa would warm them
both up.
    Rain came into the kitchen just as Harmony got the cocoa out
of the microwave. Green had won the battle of the sweaters. Her daughter wore
her best pair of black jeans and skater shoes to complete her outfit. Even the
darker hair looked okay. Thank goodness.
    “You look good. Here you are, kiddo. Hot chocolate and
cereal. Breakfast of champions! I put some money into the lunch account for you
at school, but would you rather take a bag lunch?”
    “No, I’ll be okay.” Rain stirred her chocolate then picked
it up. “Mom, how much crap am I going to get at the school in town?”
    “What do you mean, honey?”
    “Well, I know there’s a school here and some of the town
kids are mean to res kids. At least that’s what I heard while we were at the
grocery store.”
    “There’s always been a division, but Rain, technically we’re
not on the res. I mean, this cabin is on res land but you haven’t been enrolled
into the tribe yet, so if anyone asks, you don’t have to tell them you’re a res
kid. Honey, I’m sure you’ll do fine. And you already know some kids, right?
Keme and your cousins?” She swallowed back the warning about getting too close
to a boy that age—and a shifter boy at that. All hormones.
    Rain shrugged. “Keme’s in AP classes. Our paths probably won’t
cross at all.”
    They both looked up at the sound of a car outside.
Tightening the belt on her robe, Harmony moved to the front door with Rain
right behind her. An older-model car was at the top of the lane. It came closer
to the cabin when she waved them down. She might not shift but her nose was
good. It was her Aunt Willow.
    A young man got out of the driver’s side. Her aunt slid out
of the passenger side. Harmony opened the door even as she looked at Rain with
a question clear on her face. “Did you call him to take you to school?”
    “Oh my god, Mom! Really? Jeez, I guess it means absolutely
nothing to you that Aunt Willow is with him? Obviously she’s in on my evil plot
too.” Rain rolled her