All Change (Bite Me #1)

By India Taylor

Saffron’s life is completely turned upside down when she is bitten by a werewolf. She has to learn about her species while discovering that they are not alone in the supernatural community. When she meets Arthur, a hot day walking vampire with a bad attitude she discovers a new problem. She’s allergic to her boyfriend. When the Council decides to intervene the couple and their friends are dropped into a world of danger and political agendas that threaten their very existence. The one thing their enemies didn’t count on was Saffron’s desire to protect her pack and the lengths she will go to achieve this.

• Language: English
• Publisher: India Taylor
• Release date: Apr 21, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311085474

India Taylor

India Taylor enjoys spending her spare time writing fiction, mainly horror but also fantasy, romance and crime. She’s addicted to reading zombie novels with a side order of vampire and werewolf participation, and her favourite authors influence her style.India tries to fit her writing in between bringing up children, renovating her house and her consumption of books. If she does get spare time at the weekends, she likes to unwind by partaking in a little urban exploring.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Saffron woke with a start and was relieved to find herself in her bed. She tried to pick out the events that were real from the fragmented dreams she could remember. She sat up and peeled the duvet from her body: her body was soaked in sweat and she seemed to be running a fever. It came back to her in a rush, and she reached for the wound on her neck. It was there, but it didn’t feel sore in the way that she thought it would.

She had been walking in the woods; she remembered the sun setting, leaving her in complete darkness, which was about when she tumbled down a slope. Her head hurt: probably from where she smacked it on a tree stump. Her memories were fuzzy, but she was so sure she could remember finding a cage in the cottage with a girl locked inside, a girl who was howling: that could never happen of course. She must have seen it in a film, but it was pretty clear in her head; that is until the girl bit her neck.

She reached up and touched her neck again; there were definitely three gouges across her collar bone. She was unable to hold onto consciousness, and slipped back into the deep and troubled sleep where she dreamt that she was Little Red Riding Hood, and the wolf was behind her saying ‘you shouldn’t have done that’.

At school, Saffron was moody and everyone commented on how differently she was behaving. Her teacher thought she must be going through a particularly ‘hormonal’ patch, but wasn’t worried because her grades had improved. Her dreams had become more and more bizarre: leaving her sweating and ravenously hungry. Several times in the weeks that followed she had to get up and sneak food out of the fridge, and she wasn’t even craving chocolate: no, now she wanted meat.

Her mother was pleased with the changes in Saffron’s grades, and when a polite, old fashioned looking girl knocked at the door a few weeks later asking for her daughter, she immediately let her in.

Saffron opened her bedroom door and locked eyes on the girl. She recognised her even though she looked very different to the last time she’d seen her. Saffron could smell her: it was an earthy, musky scent with a hint of roses, not unpleasant, but not something you could sell in a bottle. The girl entered her room and sat on the chair. Next door’s cat followed her and jumped onto the window sill, but instead of watching the birds on the apple tree he turned to stare at the girl.

Shut the door, she said quietly. Sit down: I have something to tell you.

Saffron shut the door and sat down: the serious tone of the girl’s voice was enough to make her compliant. The girl’s eyes were honey brown, deep and piercing, and as Saffron sat watching her, they glinted and flashed amber just like the cat.

Have you noticed any changes in the past few weeks? The girl asked.

Like what? Saffron replied, but she knew what changes the girl was asking about: her increased senses and the strange feeling in her stomach, a mixture of excitement and fear.

Well, I could start with your sense of smell, but that would only touch the surface, the girl said. Something happened. You were in the wrong place at the very worst time. I’m so sorry.

She got up and stood before Saffron moving her hair away from her neck. The three grazes were almost healed but the scars were still visible, and she was pretty sure they always would be.

My father locks me in that cage once a month, Saffron. Do you know why? She asked, sitting on the bed next to her.

No, Saffron whispered, her voice cracking as she turned, facing the fire-eyed girl. Sounds a little mean.

Because I was bitten once just like you, and now every month I change. I am a werewolf, Saffron, they stared at each other, Saffron wide-eyed and the girl steady, sympathetic, but glowing as if excitement bubbled beneath the surface.

Saffron opened her mouth to say something: to tell the girl she was being stupid, but she closed it saying nothing because deep down she knew it was true. Saffron even felt strangely at peace with the idea, as if she had been expecting it. Of course, if it wasn’t true at least she was having some excitement in her life.

I’m so sorry, the girl took her hand and squeezed it. It’s not that bad, although the first time is hard. You need to come with me, though, you know that don’t you? You can’t change here, and you can’t stop it.

What do I have to do? It’s a school night: my mum won’t let me stay out even if I wanted to, Saffron said in a rush of panic, snatching her hand away.

If you stay here your family are in danger, and so are your neighbours, your neighbour’s pets, and anyone walking through the streets. Saffron, you will have the desire to feed, and you will attack anyone who stands in your way, the girl stood up, took hold of Saffron’s shoulders and looked into her eyes.

Ok, Saffron said weakly and the girl hugged her.

Pack an overnight bag, and then tell your mother you’re staying around mine to do a project for school, the girl said. Don’t worry, she will say yes: she has to.

It went smoothly, and within half an hour Saffron and her new friend, Laura, were walking towards the jeep parked at the end of the street where Laura’s father, John, was waiting for them.

Am I going to be locked in the cage? Saffron asked feeling part stupid and part scared.

No, it’s your first change I can’t lock you up in the cage. I’m taking you both to our cabin: it’s far enough away from people to be safe, and there are plenty of animals to hunt, he said, turning onto the dual carriageway heading north.

Why can’t I be locked up? Saffron asked alarmed.

Because you need to feed the wolf. I can only be locked up every few months, because I’m young it could kill me if I deny the wolf, Laura said like it explained everything.

Saffron sat in confusion and silence during the rest of the journey. It still didn’t seem real. How could it? Saffron loved an adventure and because of that, she was willing to see how the night panned out. Having no real sense of danger had always felt like a bonus to her, but now she wasn’t so sure.

John turned from a narrow lane onto a dusty track and carried on, and the jeep bounced uncomfortably along the uneven surface until he pulled it to a stop outside a rustic building. The cabin, as it was called, was partly made from a previous stone structure with the rest added in wood and bricks at various times.

It doesn’t look pretty, John smiled.

But it does the job, Laura grabbed their things and pushed open the door.

It’s safe, John said showing Saffron a cage like the one back at the cottage. This one was built into the stone section of the cabin.

I thought I wasn’t going to be locked up this time? Saffron said.

We’re not: he is, Laura said, gesturing at John. It’s to keep Dad safe while we roam free. She rattled the cage to show its strength.

Saffron eyed the cage and then John: she couldn’t imagine hurting anyone. She was starting to feel strange, though, and really hungry, but not just for food: there was something else going on. Her teeth felt sore and itchy, and her fingers felt different. Her sight was sharp, and she seemed to notice all kinds of details at once. Saffron briefly considered that she may have been drugged, but she hadn’t eaten or drunk anything for a while.

They ate dinner together and Laura told Saffron to finish everything. Her new friend explained that she would use up all her calories during the night. Laura said that werewolves couldn’t get fat and laughed. Saffron thought at least there was one bonus to it.

Just before the sun set she began to feel restless, and noticed that she was grinding her teeth. John locked himself in the cage checking it several times, then Laura covered the cage over with a large blanket. He had a straw mattress, sleeping bag, bottle of water, snacks, and a CB radio in case of an emergency.

John said there were a few other werewolves in the local area, and they tried to stay clear of each other on change nights as joining a pack could result in whole flocks or herds being slaughtered, or worse. This made Saffron shudder: she had only just decided that medium-rare steak was edible, so she couldn’t imagine ever eating a warm, live animal. She still wasn’t completely convinced that this was real, but if it was then she wasn’t going to be a very successful werewolf.

So what else is real? She asked. Fairies? Goblins? Vampires? Saffron laughed, but her laughter died in her throat as Laura nodded to affirm their existence.

Oh really? She had a whole lot of reorganising to do in her brain.

Laura handed Saffron a towel and began undressing. She should have seen this coming, but it surprised her anyway.

Do you want your first transformation to be scary and confusing because you’re tangled in your jeans? Laura asked.

I guess not, she replied.

As the darkness came Laura opened the cabin door. She was told not to fight it, but her muscles began to tense in waves, and her bones felt fizzy. The pain was hot and encompassing, but Laura kept soothing her with her voice: encouraging her to let it come out. She was sweating and panting from the effort of holding herself together when the moon glinted into the cabin and straight onto her face.

Here it comes, Laura half shouted half howled.

Laura arched her back and her human form sprung into the air landing with a growl. Her body had changed and she stood sleek and strong in the form of a pale brown wolf with fiery eyes. Just then her own body felt like it had split into a million bubbles zapped by lightning, and she howled. When she took her next breath she was standing on four legs feeling strong and free. Her skin no longer felt clammy but warm and fur-lined. Saffron howled again, but this time, it was not in fear or pain, but with excitement.

Laura ran toward the door, and Saffron followed her. When Laura broke into a fast sprint Saffron chased her with the awkwardness of a three-week-old puppy. When they reached the top of the hill they stood side by side and howled at the moon paying homage to the tide that set them free. Saffron was surprised to hear another wolf call in the distance; she was also surprised to be able to communicate with Laura, not in regular speech but more like thoughts inside her head.

Laura sniffed the air becoming rigid, and her fur fluffed up around her shoulders. Saffron could smell something too, something warm and tasty: something that reminded her of food, but not entirely. She followed, but Laura growled a warning, so she held back watching. A rabbit looked up from where it was munching grass just in time to see the wolf bare its teeth, and then the rabbit was caught between them. Laura shook it snapping its neck quickly, then using her front paws and teeth delicately opened the carcass and ate, crunching the small bones surrounded by succulent flesh.

Saffron could wait no longer, she ran to the meal just as Laura stepped back. Saffron pounced and sank her sharp teeth into the tiny creature. Warm, delicious meat met her tongue and slipped down her throat. Saffron had never tasted food like this, so fresh, warm, and juicy; so delicious. She stripped the carcass within seconds, leaving a few cleaned bones and then licked her lips. When she looked up, Laura was smiling in a way that only wolves can, and she asked if Saffron wanted more, and she did, she really did. They walked away, moving with purpose, smelling the air for the scent of food.

Saffron woke shivering, naked, and scared. She was lying on the straw mattress in the cabin, covered by a coarse blanket. Laura was sitting on the straw next to her, wrapped in her own blanket. She smiled and handed her a can of cola.

It takes the taste away, she said, and Saffron realised that her mouth was dry and foul tasting. Laura stood up still wrapped in the blanket and told her to stay there for a few moments.

Last night, you used a lot of energy transforming, then a whole heap more running the wolf. Come on I’ll help you to the shower, she held out her hand.

Saffron wrapped her blanket around her and took Laura’s hand. Every muscle and bone ached; the pain was bad, but, there was also an excitement still coursing through her body, the excitement of the wolf. She showered the blood, dirt, leaves, and strange smells off her body. Laura showered after her then they removed the blanket cover from John’s cage and let him out.

It was a relief having the two of you together. I actually slept last night, whereas, usually I lay awake listening and worrying, he beamed at them both.

On the drive home, Laura told her about her mother who had also been a werewolf. It was her mother who had bitten Laura accidentally one night when she’d been twelve years old. After that they’d transformed together; her mother taught her everything she needed to know, right up until she had been shot by a farmer who used to own the land on the other side of the cottage. He saw her mother fall down as a wolf and then transform back into a woman as she died in his field. Laura had seen her mother die and attacked the farmer. The next month he learned what he was, and he killed half of his sheep stock; he woke in the field covered in blood, surrounded by half-eaten sheep carcases. He sold the farm to John, at a discounted price and moved to Scotland. John then bought the cabin and surrounding fields as there were no farms in that area.

It’s been a hard four years, but we’re careful and we had some good advice from our neighbouring werewolves, John said and smiled as he saw the next question in Saffron’s eyes.

Do you meet up with other werewolves? Can I? Saffron asked.

Yes, but not yet, you’re a newbie; you need to get used to being only half human first, he replied.

It’s sometimes hard to blend in with full-blood humans because you always feel out of sync with them. We have to keep the secret Saffron; it’s important to our species, Laura looked at her with sincerity. Our lives depend on it.

Saffron felt the enormous weight that fell with that last sentence. She had a huge secret, something dangerous and awesome; a secret she must learn to carry.

We’re not fully human and we’re not full wolves, Saffron said, in a whisper.

Saffron stepped into class feeling only half there; she was mostly thinking of the night before. Running through the fields and woods; jumping over fences and each other, hunting the rabbits, eating their flesh. It all seemed so real in the pictures in her head, but if she said it out loud, it would sound like a wild piece of fiction.

Her old friends seemed to notice that she wasn’t herself and stayed clear of her, and she was glad because she didn’t think she could have even a simple conversation with anyone. Her increased sense of smell was maddening; she could tell what everyone had eaten for their breakfast just by standing downwind of them. She could smell the bloody scent of the girls who were having their periods. She could smell her own musky scent; fresh woodland, grass, straw, and she too would be getting her period. This realisation grossed her out a bit.

At almost sixteen, she was a late starter, and this would be her first period, it was odd that it coincided with her first transformation into a wolf. Saffron excused herself from class and for once the teacher had no objections, which was probably due to her rising grades.

In the toilets, she found the machine that dealt out sanitary protection, and dismayed, she realised that she didn’t have the right change in her pocket. She opened the drawer, there was nothing in it so she closed it once more. When she wiggled the drawer and opened it again it was loose. She pulled the drawer hard, and it came away easily, and all the sanitary products fell out.

It was clear that Saffron was much stronger than before, but by how much? Laura had told her she would find herself different, different to full humans. Saffron could no longer think of herself as human, a person like any other; she was part animal now, and that both disturbed and thrilled her.

When she arrived home that afternoon, her mother asked her if she’d had a good time and if the school project went well. She made up some details about the project that didn’t exist, and went to leave the room, but her mother called her back and told her she had an odd look on her face, and asked if everything was okay. Saffron told her about starting her period, and her mother hugged her and told her where to find the stash of feminine products. Saffron thanked her and told her she needed to have a lay down.

Her mother brought up some toast, a hot-water bottle, and some painkillers. Her kindness made the secret seem bigger, or maybe the guilt felt bigger. She fell asleep clutching the hot-water bottle which happened to be wrapped in a furry case, reminding her of the rabbits she’d killed.

The next day she felt better; healthier and stronger. As she dressed, she decided to put some make-up on. She didn’t usually bother; it wasn’t forbidden at school, neither was jewellery, in fact, uniform was a loose term there, but she had always been such a tomboy that she couldn’t see why a girl would waste hours fussing with her appearance. Today