True North

By Christy Trujillo

Trying to make it out of high school alive – Difficult.

Being the only human in a town of Shape Shifters – Challenging.

Figuring out where you really belong (with the help of the hottest guy you’ve ever laid eyes on) - Priceless.

We’ve all heard them, the never-ending comparisons our parents make of us to our siblings and those around us. Why can’t you be more ambitious, Sahar? Why can’t you be more like your uncle, Sahar? Why can’t you flip into animal form like everyone else, Sahar? The small town of True North, Colorado is a serene and tranquil place if you happen to be a shapeshifter, which as it turns out, Sahar North is not. Though she’s the daughter of one of the most prominent families in town, she just doesn’t seem to fit in. Thanks to Dana, the Wicked Witch of the North, her junior year is sure to be one of utter misery and she’s counting the days to graduation when she can finally put this small town in her rearview mirror. When out of the blue, the alpha of the wolf pack, and her crush for like...ever, Cameron, starts to pay more attention to her and she manages to befriend the witch’s human cousin, Dean, Sahar doesn’t feel so alone and thinks she may just make it out of high school alive.

Of course, nothing is as it seems and when dead bodies start showing up in the woods, Sahar and her family partner with the pack to solve the mystery and will stumble upon a secret the town has kept for hundreds of years. Armed with this new knowledge, Sahar will fight for her family, fight for her town, and fight for her people because when you realize what you’re fighting for nothing can stop you...right?

• Language: English
• Publisher: eXtasy Books Inc
• Release date: Feb 15, 2012
• ISBN: 9781554879830

Book preview

We’ve all heard them, the never-ending comparisons our parents make of us to our siblings and those around us. Why can’t you be more ambitious, Sahar? Why can’t you be more like your uncle, Sahar? Why can’t you flip into animal form like everyone else, Sahar? The small town of True North, Colorado is a serene and tranquil place if you happen to be a shapeshifter, which as it turns out, Sahar North is not. Though she’s the daughter of one of the most prominent families in town, she just doesn’t seem to fit in. Thanks to Dana, the Wicked Witch of the North, her junior year is sure to be one of utter misery and she’s counting the days to graduation when she can finally put this small town in her rearview mirror. When out of the blue, the alpha of the wolf pack, and her crush for like…ever, Cameron, starts to pay more attention to her and she manages to befriend the witch’s human cousin, Dean, Sahar doesn’t feel so alone and thinks she may just make it out of high school alive.

Of course, nothing is as it seems and when dead bodies start showing up in the woods, Sahar and her family partner with the pack to solve the mystery and will stumble upon a secret the town has kept for hundreds of years. Armed with this new knowledge, Sahar will fight for her family, fight for her town, and fight for her people because when you realize what you’re fighting for nothing can stop you…right?

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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

True North

Copyright © 2011 Christy Trujillo

ISBN: 978-1-55487-983-0

Cover art by Martine Jardin

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

Published by Devine Destinies

An imprint of eXtasy Books

Look for us online at:

www.devinedestinies.com

Smashwords Edition

True North

By

Christy Trujillo

For my husband, Myron.

Thanks for always being my True North

Preface

Long ago, near the mountain ranges of Colorado, there lived an Indian tribe called the Nalte’. They were a gentle people, living off the land and never taking more than what they considered to be their share. The Nalte’ were special for every child born with pure Nalte’ blood was born with two souls, the soul of the child and the soul of an animal spirit given to them by their ancestors.

Tonia, the tribe’s most beautiful woman and only white wolf, fell in love with an outsider named Jonathon North and despite the rumblings of her tribe, married him on her eighteenth birthday. Just over a year later, on a warm summer night and under the light of a white moon, Tonia gave birth to a beautiful baby girl and named her Tamera. The elders of the tribe knew she was special and told Tonia often of the light that glowed from within her and the great things she would accomplish.

Mimiteh, one of The Originals, was very jealous of Tamera. His own son, Talson had been born under a blue moon and the people were wary of him, seeing the color of the moon as an ominous sign. When Jonathan and Tonia refused to match Tamera with Talson, Mimiteh exploded into a fit of rage, vowing to have his revenge on the North family. A year later, and three months before her sixteenth birthday, Tamera was found murdered. A great sadness swept the tribe as whispers of betrayal trickled through the people, leaving many in mourning for months. Overcome with grief, Tonia sat with her daughter’s body until it was burned, swept the ashes into a bowl, and walked high into the mountains. On the tails of a great wind, Tonia threw Tamera’s ashes, and herself, off a cliff and into the mighty river. Though it couldn’t be proven, Jonathan knew who was responsible and left the tribe in search of a peace that he would never find.

It is said that on warm nights, Tamera and Tonia can be seen walking hand in hand on the cliffs of the mountains and Jonathan’s unanswered cries can be heard echoing in the caves.

There are those who still await the return of the soul born under a white moon who will rule their people and lead them to a time of great prosperity. There are also those who think Tonia’s story is just a fairytale and best told to children…but even grownups could use a happy ending every now and then.

Chapter One

Happy Birthday to Me

My sixteenth birthday. I know most people would have wanted to celebrate and party like a rock star, but most people hadn’t grown up in True North, Colorado. It was a small town just north of Steamboat Springs. Our population had taken an upturn when Janna Clearman had the triplets a few years ago, but we were still well under 5,000. Not many people moved to or from True North. Mostly, you were born here and you would die here, one way or another.

As I made my way down the stairs that morning, the sweet smell of blueberry pancakes floated to me on a breeze that was coming in from the open screen door. I bounced the rest of the way into the kitchen to find my mom and dad making breakfast.

Good morning, I told them.

Good morning, honey, my dad said as he stepped away from the stove to give me a hug. Happy birthday.

Thanks. But can we not talk about it, please?

He frowned at me and started to say something else, but thankfully my mom stepped in.

Oh, Jason, leave her alone. It’s her birthday and if she doesn’t want us to mention it, we won’t.

Thanks, Mom. Smells good.

It’s your favorite. For your special day.

Mommm!

She kissed my forehead and giggled. I know, I know. Can’t I just get up early and make my daughter pancakes for no special reason? Dad and I were not buying her innocent look.

No, he and I said in unison.

Where’s Luke the Great? I asked, plopping down in my favorite wicker chair. It had a perfect view to our backyard that ran along a wooded area.

Sahar North, you know your uncle hates it when you call him that. My mom’s parents passed away a few years ago, it nearly did her in and if not for her little brother coming to live with us, I don’t know if she would’ve made it.

Yeah, yeah. But it’s true, isn’t it? He is great at everything, I quipped.

Honey, there are plenty of things for you to be great at. Maybe just not the same things he is great at.

Sure. The finality of my tone let both my parents know that I was definitely over this discussion.

We ate breakfast and made plans to go over to Steamboat Springs that evening for a no-special-occasion dinner. Luke never bothered to emerge from his room to eat, thus proving my theory that he had been out all night—again. I helped my mom clean up the kitchen and excused myself back to my room. There was only one person I wanted to talk to and that was my best friend Rachel Hill. We had known each other since kindergarten and had become inseparable recently. We had a lot in common these days.

Hey, it’s me, I said when she answered the phone.

Hey, Sahar. I was just about to call and see how you were doing. Did they make a big deal of it?

Not really. Pancakes, but that was it. I made it very clear that I didn’t want to be reminded it was my birthday.

That’s good I suppose. Rachel’s voice was strained and I could tell there was something else she wanted to say.

What’s wrong with you? I finally asked her.

Nothing, she answered too quickly.

Are you serious right now? How long have I known you? I know when something is wrong with you, Rachel. Now fess up.

There was silence on the other end of the phone for a moment and when she spoke, her voice was soft. Sahar, can you come over? Like, right now?

Okay you are officially freaking me out now. What’s going on?

Just come over. I have to show you.

I’m on my way, I told her as I hung up the phone and started to get dressed. I asked my dad to borrow the keys to the Camry and after only a small amount of convincing, was on my way to Rachel’s house. My mind raced from one explanation to the next as I drove. What in the world could be wrong with her? She had been seeing a senior at our school. His name was Bobby and I didn’t like him that much. He was too old for her and kind of a jerk, someone who would run in my uncle’s crowd. Maybe they had broken up and she was so upset she couldn’t even talk. Maybe something was wrong. Oh my God. What if she was pregnant? I panicked and drove a little faster.

Once I got to Rachel’s house, I jumped out of the car and practically ran to her front door. Rachel and her family lived on a small ranch with a gravel driveway so of course I tripped three times in the process. Right before I rang the doorbell, I heard her call me.

Sahar, out here. It was coming from the barn.

I ran-walked-tripped out to the barn as fast as my unfortunate equilibrium would allow. Stupid outdoors. I hated to be outside. I was more of an indoor girl. I opened the bulky double doors and perched on a beam near the roof was a large brown and gray bobcat. My breath completely left my body as if someone had punched me in the stomach. I doubled over trying to compose myself and the majestic cat jumped down and started to walk toward me. I couldn’t help the tears.

Oh, Rachel, not you, too!

The bobcat came up to my hips and almost knocked me over when she nuzzled my side. Change back, Rachel. Please. She bent her head down and the vibrations that I had seen so many times before started. The fur fell away, leaving skin, the limbs went from feline to human, and the strong jaw lines became the feminine face that I had known my entire life. She stood up and walked naked to the side of the barn where she had left her clothes. I turned my head. I don’t know why, I had taken baths with her for goodness sake. But this was different, she was a woman now. Puke.

Are you mad? she asked me as she came back to sit by me on the barn floor.

Yes, I’m mad. What did you expect? It was supposed to be you and me. We were the only ones who made it to our sixteenth birthdays without changing. We were the start of the new generation. Now I’m just a freak.

She put her arms around me in an attempt at a hug that I did not return. Can’t you just be happy for me? This is the way it’s supposed to be for us. My parents are so excited and my nana and papa are coming over for lunch this afternoon to bring me the Birthright.

Her eyes sparked as she spoke of the diamond necklace that was passed down through the generations. She had always wanted it. The Birthright stones were created by The Originals who were the founders of our town and the first shifters. Each family was represented by a different gem and they were passed to each child as they made the transition from adolescence to adulthood. For us, that meant the first time we flipped. I knew how happy she was. Was I so selfish that I couldn’t even be happy for my best friend on what she obviously felt was the best day of her life?

Yes.

So I decided to fake it.

I’m happy for you, I told her trying to sound convincing. I’m just really sad for me. What’s wrong with me? Why am I the only one? Why couldn’t I have been like Maggie?"

Sahar, you shut your mouth right now! How could you say such a thing? You would rather be dead than not flip? Look, I was a late bloomer, maybe you will be, too. There’s still time. You just turned sixteen today. She was trying to make me feel better. It wasn’t working.

You’re right, I agreed, now just anxious to end the conversation and be alone. We’ll have to wait and see I guess. Have fun at lunch.

Her eyes brightened and she said, Perhaps you should stop by. Cameron is coming.

My breath caught in my throat. Cameron, Rachel’s cousin, had been the object of my affection since ninth grade. He was older, eighteen, and other than the occasional smile at school when I was walking with Rachel, didn’t seem to know that I existed. He was an Alpha of the pack he ran in which happened to be the pack my uncle joined. Needless to say, he was completely and totally out of my league. Sure, yeah. I’ll come. I cracked a smile for the first time since I had been there as I stood up to head back home.

Everything will work out, Sahar. You’ll see. You’re Jason North’s daughter. Something great is bound to happen to you.

I’ll see you later, Rachel. I gave her a half-hearted hug and got back to my car as fast as the gravel path would allow. I saw the bobcat run from the garage out back to the pasture. It was still running as I headed down the driveway back to the main road.

I didn’t go straight home, I was too embarrassed. Surely my parents knew by now. My dad would be so disappointed. I couldn’t bear the look that would no doubt be on his face and I intended to put it off as long as possible. So instead, I drove down to North Falls, the official halfway point between True North and Steamboat Springs.

It was late July, July 31st as a matter of fact. My Birthday. The weather was spectacular. I parked the car and walked over to the edge of the river to sit on the bank. The sound of the water falling from above was just loud enough to drown out my thoughts and leave me with peace in my head. I tried not to think about anything. I tried not to think about the fact that I was officially the only person in True North over the age of sixteen that wasn’t either dead or a shifter. I tried not to think about the fact that I was the daughter of the renowned Jason North and the niece of Luke the Great and had been expected to be something—exceptional. I tried not to think about what an obvious disappointment I was. Clearly, the not thinking wasn’t working. It was almost comical really. The daughter of the man who had been the first person to flip into an eagle in one-hundred years and the niece of the earliest flipper in history was a dud.

I heard a rustling in the bushes and instinctively sat up. If it was close enough for me to hear over the waterfall, it was already too close. Peering into the thickness of the woods, I began to feel uneasy. The lush greenery would provide the perfect hiding place for someone with less than perfect intentions. I turned to head back to the car and a large brown wolf jumped me from behind. I fell face first onto the ground and was petrified for about three seconds. Then I felt the relentless licking at the back of my neck.

I swatted at the wolf with the back of my hand. Stop it, Luke! What are you going to do? Lick me to death? The wolf made a sound that strangely resembled a laugh and trotted back to the woods. Luke emerged in a pair of ragged jean shorts. I had to admit, he was handsome. Unfortunately for me, we didn’t look anything alike. He was tall and had the chiseled body of a shifter. Some folks said he looked just like my Grampy did when he was younger, with his blond hair and green eyes. I was short and got stuck with my mom’s light brown hair and eyes that couldn’t decide if they wanted to be gray or brown.

Hey, little bit. You holding up okay? I hated it when he was nice, which was most of the time. We secretly adored each other but don’t tell anyone that.

Great, who else knows? I asked him as I plopped back down on the bank.

"Pretty much everyone. But don’t worry. Other than the Wicked Witch of the North, no