Free Change of Plans by C.L. Blackwell

asked, peering
around the table.
    I
chuckled, “How many times am I going to have to tell you before it gets into
your head that werewolves eat a lot more than humans?”
    She
turned in my lap and glared at me. “Apparently a lot more,” she snapped. There
goes her good mood. I pulled my arms tighter around her and concentrated on her
emotions, imaging them drawing away. As the electricity shot through us, she
sagged with relief against me and put her head against my chest. “Sorry,” she
muttered, her voice muffled against my shirt.
    Brody
slurped his near empty drink. “Can you two please wait till I’m out of the
house to get all gooey, ”
    I
glared and kissed the top of Allie’s head purposefully trying to annoy him.
“Nope.”
    Brody
only had a couple of minutes before he had to leave for school again. He had
come during his lunch break. Allie was eager to learn more about changing. I
expected her to continue her questions about life in the pack, or if there were
any other mythical creature out there, but the questions shifted into something
more serious. Shifting.
    I
let Brody handle this question because my first change was painful, thanks to
my old man. He told her how it’s not painful, if it’s not forced on you or if
you try to resist it and that you don’t really feel it. That was the best way
to put it, one second you’re human, the next you're Wolf. As a werewolf, all
your emotions are heightened, and in Wolf form they’re heightened even more. So
a good person equals a happy Wolf, but a bad person, when they become a Wolf
can be dangerous to everyone. Once you shift, you don’t have control, the Wolf
does. They do as they please, but they aren’t ravage beasts. Well, at least I
think they aren’t. I don’t remember anything from when I am in Wolf form,
nobody does. The only reason I know we aren’t monsters is because I don’t see
news articles about animal attacks killing innocent people.
    When
Brody was done explaining, he picked up the leftovers from lunch and threw them
away. “I have to stay late at school today, so I’ll see y’all around six,” he
said as he open the cabinet to the trashcan.
    I
stepped in, “Actually I was going to take Al to a movie tonight, so it might
not be till later.”
    Brody’s
head shot up from his spot behind the breakfast bar. His eyes shot between me and Allie . “Are you sure that’s a good idea? Her senses
aren’t under control yet.”
    Did
he think I didn’t know that? “I know, I’ll teach her some stuff before we
leave. She’s been cooped up in the house for too long.”
    Brody
still argued, “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
    “Good
thing I didn’t ask for your opinion,” I snapped.
    Allie
spoke up from where she sat on my lap, “Don’t I get a say in this?”
    “No!”
Brody and I snapped at the same time, not taking our eyes off one another. My
anger was rising. I narrowed my eyes at him, challenging him. It might be his
sister, but she was my pair, and he knew he wouldn’t win this fight.
    He
turned his head to the side, submitting. “Fine,” he snapped. “But it’s not my
fault if she goes furry on everyone.” He grabbed his backpack and headed toward
the door, letting it slam behind him.
    Allie
stood up, crossing her arms and glaring daggers at me. “Really?”
    “What?”
I asked, still frustrated with Brody.
    “I
may be a couple weeks before my transition, but I can still make my own
decisions, thank you very much.” Great. Now she was angry with me. She turned
toward the stairs, intending to head back up to her room. I sighed and stood up
to follow her room.
    She
was crawled in her bed when I reached her room. I crossed my arms and leaned
against the doorframe. “What are you doing?”
    She
pouted, “I’m tired. Is that because of the transition?”
    I
nodded and stood up straight. My shoes were kicked off and I made my way to the
opposite side of the bed where she wasn’t sleeping. I pulled back the