Lyrick's Run

By C.E Strother

Lyrick has been in wolf form for so long that she's almost forgotten what it feels like to be human. That was, until one day when she meets a elderly woman that knows more about what Lyrick is, than Lyrick does herself. The woman offers Lyrick help but she must follow her into a world she has never known. When she ventures into this unknown world she gets a strong sense of Deja-vu. This new world feels curiously like home it's almost as if she has been here before. The smells, the land and even the people seem so familiar to her. But why? There is a man that intrigues her more than he should. Dakota's wolf wants her, he wants her but he is conflicted with whether he should stay away or follow his feelings and claim her for his. Bound together by more than they know, Lyrick and Dakota will have to figure each other out if they are to have any hope of finding the paths for themselves they seek.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stephanie Comalander
• Release date: Feb 9, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524219826

Book preview

Prologue

The moon had always called to her, especially the full moon. It was like the heavenly body spoke directly to her, wordlessly trying to get her to come out and play. As Lyrick grew older, the connection intensified. She almost had to lock herself in her room so she didn’t give into the urge to frolic in its silvery light.

Now the urge  was almost painful. Lyrick’s skin burned and her bones ached. She had no clue why the moon had this effect on her, but she was starting to dislike it. 

Lyrick Rayne Williamson was eighteen years old and her life was normal with the exception of the pull the moon seemed to have over her. One night, everything in her life changed in a blink of an eye.

That night, the moon was full and she was bunkered down in her room. Lyrick’s mom had already turned in for the night, so when Lyrick heard the front door slam against the wall, she jumped, unsure of what was going on. It was only her and her mother living there and no one else had the key.

She had never met her father. Her mom had told her he had died when Lyrick was young but Lyrick was unsure if she was being truthful. Her mom was always vague on the subject; it was obvious there was more but Lyrick never pushed her to talk about him. There was too much pain hidden behind her mom’s eyes, when she spoke of him. So Lyrick chose not to harp on the subject.

Lyrick rolled out of bed, trying her best to be silent.  She soundlessly shuffled around the obstacles in her path to her door. She hadn’t needed the light to guide her because she knew the exact placement of everything in her room. There were too many nights to count that she had slipped out of her room, giving into the urge to walk in the moonlight but on those nights she had made sure the moon wasn’t full.

The pain she was experiencing was so much worse this full moon. The pain was so bad that she had to hold her breath just to move. As soon as she grasped the door handle, Lyrick heard a crash followed by her mom’s ear-piercing scream.

Lyrick threw her door open and barreled down the stairs. What she saw when she reached the bottom of the stairs took her breath away. There was a man standing over her mother, stabbing her repeatedly. Lyrick could see the blood splattering on their wall each time he pulled the knife from her mother’s body.

It was as if time had begun to slow down, creeping until it stood still all together. The burning in her skin intensified from a dull burn to a raging inferno. The ache in her bones was excruciating, almost like someone had begun squeezing her bones to the breaking point. Lyrick felt as if her nails were being pulled out one by one. When she gazed down at her fingers, her nails were claws almost as though she had traded her human hands for the paws of a dog. Or maybe, she thought, maybe like a wolf.

When Lyrick went to gasp in shock, it came out as an animalistic whine. Lyrick reached up to cover her mouth and shock rippled through her. When she touched her face, her nose was cold, wet, and shaped like a dog’s. The thought barely made it through Lyrick’s brain when the first set of her bones began to break, bringing Lyrick to her knees.

Lyrick watched in horror as her finger bones broke and shortened, taking the shape of a dog’s paw. She stood there staring at what used to be her hands. Just as the pain subsided, her legs started break and shorten, much like her hands only more painful.

Lyrick went to scream but a scream didn’t come out. In place of her scream was a howl of pain. The rest of her bones started to break, forming new ones and it was so painful that she couldn’t can’t bring herself to breathe. Pain assaulted every inch of her body.

Lyrick was in so much pain that she didn’t notice her mother’s murderer standing there with his mouth agape. Lyrick felt like she’d been soaked in acid.  Every inch of her felt like it was melting in the incredible heat, the flesh searing right off her bones.  Tiny black hairs started to protrude from her once flawless, caramel-colored skin. Lyrick couldn’t believe her eyes; she had somehow just shifted into a wolf.

How can this be?

Lyrick stood there, contemplating how she had done what she had just done when she heard her mother’s murderer say, So it is true.

She swung her head up and glared at the man that had just murdered her mom. A ferocious growl bubbled up from deep within Lyrick. She snarled, showing all her teeth in the process, making sure he knew just what he was in for.

He started to stumble backwards, trying his best to get away from her, but his feeble attempts were useless.

Lyrick stalked her prey like the fearless predator she had become. She intended to pay him back for what he had done to her mother. Rage coursed throughout Lyrick’s body as she circled the coward that stood in front of her, shaking in fear

He spun around and tried to run for the open door.  Lyrick was on him before he could take three steps. She stood over him, snapping her strong new jaws inches above his face.

His fingers clamped into a fist.  As he was about to swing with all of his might, Lyrick dodged his feeble attempt.  Startled at how quick her new form was, she lunged for his throat. Her steel trap jaws wrapped around his trachea.  Her canine teeth shredded his throat until the only sound she heard coming from him was the gargling of his blood seeping out of his mouth as he took his final breath.

Lyrick backed up, licking the blood from her jaws.  In that moment, it hit her that she had nowhere to go. Her grandparents were dead, so was her father, and her mom was an only child. Before tonight, Lyrick could’ve found someone to stay with; someone who would take pity on her.. But now...now that she was...changed...she knew that anyone she stayed with would be at risk. Especially since she had no idea how to control the beast inside of her. So that left Lyrick with only one choice; she had to turn to the wild.

Lyrick sprinted through the open door down to the forest’s edge. Only then did she allow herself to look back at her childhood home, saying a silent good bye. After tonight, Lyrick knew she was destined to be alone, running through the forest and mountains as something she had never known existed.

One

Two Years Later... 

A rabbit hopped into Lyrick’s sight, catching her attention, sending her in predator mode. She crouched down, slinking through the tall crab grass. her movements slow and precise.

As Lyrick watched the rabbit’s every move, she got a whiff of something she hadn’t smelled in a long time. A human. This piqued her curiosity. She quickly gave up her pursuit of the rabbit, deciding instead to go and search for this human.

Humans very rarely traveled this far, so what was this one doing in her territory? Still in predator mode, she crouched low to the ground as she came upon an opening in the woods where the wildflowers grew. Lyrick approached the thicket and laid down as she saw the elderly woman picking flowers.

Lyrick found it weird that just one human had ventured out this far in the woods; usually they traveled in groups.

Doesn’t she know there are predators out here, like myself? Lyrick thought as she watched the elderly woman. This woman seemed oblivious to her surroundings, so Lyrick thought it would be good to keep watch over her.

She was a tiny, plump human. As Lyrick watched her, she suddenly got glimpses of a woman a lot like this one, baking cookies with her as a child. There were times when she remembered things and in the memories she was a human. It had been so long that sometimes she was almost unsure if she had actually been a human in the first place. Or if her memories were just images she conjured up for her own comfort.

The wind picked up, a strong gust that ruffled her fur. All these different scents assaulted Lyrick’s nose but one stuck out the most. Wolf. There was another wolf nearby. Lyrick spun around, scanning her surroundings, but there was no sign of this other wolf.

She turned back to where the human had been but she was no longer there.

What? Where has she gone? Humans are rarely that fast.

Lyrick started to backpedal, in search of the elderly woman when she ran smack dab into her. They stood there, staring at one another, sizing each other up.

Why isn’t she scared of me? I am a wolf. She should be shaking with fear.

The elderly woman tentatively reached her hand out to touch Lyrick. Lyrick knew she should run from this human, but something deep inside told her it was okay to stay. She stroked Lyrick between the ears and Lyrick nuzzled to the woman’s touch; it had been a long time since someone had touched her.

This feels nice but why would she want to touch me?

The soft-eyed woman showed no fear as she gazed into Lyrick’s eyes.

Child, the woman murmured, I know what you are, so show me your human form.

I don’t know how to, Lyrick thought mournfully. I know I am human, but it’s been so long since I actually walked as one... Lyrick whined as she leaned in to the woman’s soft touch.

Oh sweet girl, you don’t know how? the woman whispered, No one taught you? Well, we will fix that. Follow me, the chief will help you.

Lyrick trotted behind the woman, curious but cautious Could this woman really help her? As they walked, thought began to filter through Lyrick’s head.

There are people like me? I am not alone?

It was like the elderly woman could read her thoughts because she peered over her shoulder and said, No, you are not the only one. There are many of us. Us? Lyrick repeated. Does that mean she’s a wolf too? If she’s a wolf, then why doesn’t she shift?

The fact that there were other people like Lyrick was comforting to her. She had longed for years to get answers about what she was, now it looked like she was finally going to get some answers.

Lyrick hadn’t been this far before; she usually stuck pretty close to her den. It was her comfort zone and now she had traveled way away from it. Anxiety started to build in the pit of her stomach. Lyrick had the urge to turn and flee, but she quickly pushed that down. She needed answers and this seemed to be the only way she was going to get them.

The silence was overwhelming. Lyrick needed something to keep her mind off the whirlwind of thoughts spinning in her head. .

Lyrick turned and sprinted off. She jumped from one rock to another, then back again as she waited for the woman to catch up to her. Silly girl. I can wait to meet you in human form; you have to be fun to be around. Sadness washed over Lyrick as the woman’s words set in.

I wouldn’t know. I don’t remember being a human. All I know is how to be a wolf.

Lyrick tried her best to think back to the time before she was a wolf but everything was hazy.  She could remember one thing; it wasn’t much but it was something. The memory made her feel serene and happy. Lyrick could picture it like she was standing right in front of it. A cute little house on the outskirts of the woods. It was yellow with white shutters and a wraparound porch. It was beautiful.

Lyrick must have stopped walking because the woman whistled, pulling Lyrick back to reality. Don’t worry, little wolf. It will all come back to you once you shift back. The woman seemed to know exactly what Lyrick was thinking at every moment.

I don’t even if I’ll know how to be a human again.

Let’s try something. How many years have you been in wolf form? Bark once for every year.

Lyrick pondered for a moment. I think I was eighteen when I turned. That would mean I’ve been a wolf for two years. Lyrick’s tail wagged with excitement because she had remembered something.

Woof, woof.

Two years, child? That’s an awfully long time. I wonder why you turned and never shifted back. If Lyrick was in her human form, she would have shrugged her shoulders but she wasn’t so she just whined.

Lyrick stopped, tongue lolling out of her mouth. She was getting tired from all this walking. How does this elderly lady do this without breaking a sweat?

Once again she seemed to pick up on Lyrick’s thoughts and answered, Oh I am sorry, little wolf. I forget you are not used to this walk. You must need a break. I guess I could use one, too.

Lyrick laid down at the woman’s feet and panted from the heat.

Go get some water, the woman instructed. There’s a stream a little way to the west. Don’t worry, I’ll wait for you. I won’t leave you behind.

Lyrick was hesitant to leave at first but the woman seemed trustworthy. Lyrick dashed off, following the sound of trickling water. When she got to the stream, instead of drinking from the stream’s edged, she jumped in. She lapped at the water greedily until she thought she would burst at the seams. She probably drank more than she needed, but she had no clue how much longer they would be walking.

She trotted back to where she had left the woman and sure enough she was there waiting on Lyrick.

Don’t look so surprised. I am a woman of my word and for you to think otherwise hurts my feelings, the elderly woman said as she chuckled. Lyrick shook off the lingering water from her fur, spraying the woman as she did so. Really? Was all that necessary? I bet you did that on purpose.

Lyrick paid the woman no mind; she turned and trotted off in the direction they’d been walking before their break. She was ready to meet more people like her, although she wasn’t sure if she wanted to shift back to being a human.

Something deep inside nagged at her like a thorn in the foot. Lyrick knew it was something painful but she just couldn’t remember. What if when she shifted back, she didn’t like it? Could she go back to roaming the woods as a wolf?

I guess I won’t know until I try it, right?

The elderly woman huffed in frustration. "Will you get out of your head? You’re making my head hurt just thinking of what’s going on in your head."

Lyrick looked up at the woman as confusion washed over her.

How does she do that?

The woman stopped and peered down at Lyrick as she explained, I can feel what people feel if they project it loud enough and you are screaming at me.

What is this woman? Lyrick thought as she continued trotting after her. A witch of some sort? Her next thought came unbidden, and she hoped the woman didn’t hear it as it slid through her mind: ...Can I trust her...?

Two

The woman walked in silence for a while, leaving Lyrick to get lost in her thoughts. Just as Lyrick was going over all the different questions she wanted to ask the alpha, the woman spoke up and said, You know you aren’t the first to get stuck. There is a legend that has been circulating for years. of a young boy who was camping with his family. This was way before I was even thought of and I am old.

Lyrick found that statement kind of odd. How old is she? She can’t be older than seventy or so, right?

"Anyway, while his parents were asleep, he wandered off and got lost. He wandered around for days, and then he came upon a bear. The black bear came after him. He ran for as long as his legs could carry him.   Finally, he realized it was no use; the bear would catch him, so he gave up and stood there, pretty much ready to die.

The legend says that him losing the will to fight triggered his shift, giving him what he needed to fight. His shift scared the bear enough that it fled, but the poor boy couldn’t change back. He tried and tried but nothing worked. Eventually, he gave up and gave into his wolf instincts, erasing every shred of humanity he had left. He roamed the earth as a wolf until the day he died. He was said to be the first of our kind but I don’t see how that could be; he had to come from someone with the gene."

Lyrick stood there letting the women’s words sink in. That could’ve been me, she realized. I don’t want to die alone. I guess I should be glad she found me when she did because with each passing day, I feel more and more of my humanity slipping away.

The wind kicked up, showering Lyrick with many different smells. Humans and wolves. There were hundreds of them. This was both nerve-wracking and comforting all at the same time. It was true; the woman had been telling her the truth Lyrick felt herself start to worry.

What if the chief refuses to help me and I become like that poor boy? What if I die before I learn how I can change back? I’ll never get married, or have kids. I want to live my life...but what kind of life is this, stuck in this form with no means to escape? The thought of the alpha refusing her made her heart ache. She desperately wanted a real life.

Lyrick fell back, shielding herself from prying eyes. She was not used to humans anymore.  It had been too long since she had lived that life.  The ‘fight or flight’ instinct overwhelmed her. There’s nothing to be scared of, little wolf. We are like you. The woman’s words did nothing to calm Lyrick; she had to see it to believe it. She wanted to believe her but it was hard to.

The woods started to grow denser. Lyrick started to have to rely more on her instincts. This was new territory to her; she didn’t know her way around here New terrain, too. Where she was used to was more flat. They were getting closer and closer to the mountains. The air here was thinner, making it harder for Lyrick to breathe. Panic rose up from deep inside, as she started to feel like the air was being squeezed out of her lungs. A whine escaped her.

Calm down, the old woman soothed. "I know it’s different here but you