Free Andre by V. Vaughn Page B

When she touches Tori, she says, “You have soft fur, and your nails are like a dog’s, only a huge version.”
    I whisper as bile rises to my throat, “Oh my god.” She is a werebear.
    Tori says, “This is just a partial shift. If I go all the way, I’m a full-sized black bear.” Her tone is serious, and my stomach churns. If she’s like this, is it going to happen to me?
    “You sound like you think this is a good thing,” I say.
    “I do.”
    I move further back on Ginny’s bed, and the concrete wall behind me is cold on my back. I ask, “How can it be good, Tori? You’re a freak.”
    Ginny sits down next to me, and I slide over a bit to sit behind her, as if she can protect me.
    Tori leans toward us, as if she’s begging us to understand, but I don’t. I can’t get past the idea that a beast lurks under my skin, and I flex my hand, imagining claws are hiding inside my fingers, as she says, “Come touch me. It’s really neat.”
    “No!” I say. “Put it away.”
    Tori’s face falls as she sighs and returns to a complete human form. “I know, it’s freaky. But it’s also amazing.” She grins and says, “Wait until you hear the story. Not only is our heritage cool, but I’ve found my true mate.” She puffs out her chest a little, and I frown. “And I’m alpha of a clan, like our biological father was.” She’s definitely got a cocky thing going on about that little tidbit.
    Tori has always been the different triplet. Until we were teens, it was just my mom and us, and Tori took on the role of second parent, doing the maintenance-type stuff around the house, even after my adopted dad came along. She never cared much about clothes and shopping the way Ginny, my mother, and I did. I suppose it makes sense that of any of us, she’d be the most accepting of being part animal. I shudder and say, “Please tell me this genetic mutation is only you.”
    Tori’s face falls as if she’s insulted, and she says, “Nessa, it’s our heritage.”
    I’m part bear? I shake my head. Our heritage is country clubs and twinset sweaters. We went to prep school, and while we’re not filthy rich, we never wanted for anything. Ginny whispers, “No.”
    I’m with her, because I’d rather die than become a beast. I scream, “I’m not a freak!”
    Tori says, “Just listen to my story, and then you can decide what to do.”
    I gaze at my triplet and pretend I’m open to what she has to say. But I’ve already begun to sweep this under the rug like a skeleton in my closet. I scowl at her and say, “No. I didn’t understand when you chose Orono instead of Bowdoin for your education, and I don’t get this werebear thing either. No way am I going to embrace a weird twist of my genetics.”

Chapter 2
    M y phone alarm jolts me awake, and I tap it off quickly so I won’t disturb my sisters. I glance at Tori on the floor. Her long, straight hair is splayed out, and her dark lashes are soft on her pale skin. She looks so human . But she’s not. I shudder as I get out of bed and recall the vision of her partially morphed into a bear. The bear that lurks in me too. Even after she explained everything, I’m not interested in embracing my inner animal. I shudder and wonder how she’s so calm about the whole thing.
    As I pad my way over to my closet, her story plays in my head. Tori’s crazy adventure that led to her changing into a werebear sounds like fiction to me, but the fur and claws she displayed last night means some of it has to be true.
    Tori moans softly as she rubs her eyes. Her voice is scratchy as she mumbles, “I’m leaving this morning. Love you, Nessa.”
    “Love you too, Tori,” I say. “I hope I see you during Christmas break.” My flip-flops slap against my feet as I make my way to the showers. The one thing I can’t stop thinking about is the part where she told us four werebear brothers moved here recently, and that they’re very tall and very blond. Just like the security guard who