Shapeshifters: Exposed: Shapeshifters, #3

By Vivian Rolfe

Things aren't all they seem

Fantasyheart was used to being alone, but not like this. She didn't think things could be worse than being cursed, or having her daughter kidnapped. But she couldn't be more wrong. 

Fantasyheart finds herself on her own, learning that she doesn't know all she thought she did. As secrets unravel and truths are revealed, both the Shapeshifters find themselves looking at everyone differently. Each other and their kin included.

Are the Shapeshifters too different now to work together? Or can they join together to push through the new dangers that lie ahead?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Vivian Rolfe
• Release date: Jan 5, 2022
• ISBN: 9798223436324

Book preview

1

IT NEVER GOT any easier driving to Gavin’s house. The number of times that I’ve helped him have started to add up. 

I was familiar with his house and his entire family. I knew his routine on a weekly basis. After I pushed my daughter away and my mate walked out on me, the two of us started hanging out quite often.

We spent more time at his place than mine because I liked the natural chaos of Gavin’s family. I couldn’t help but notice all the looks between him and his parents whenever I’d visit.

It’s almost like they’re hoping I’m going to be the next Sunny, I thought. That I’m going to fall for their son by helping him.

It’s so nice to have you over again, Sage! Gavin’s mother, Danielle, gushed. I’m surprised you aren’t sick of us yet.

The three of us laughed at the thought. I wasn’t going to admit it, but Danielle did get on my nerves sometimes. Out of Gavin’s family, she was the pushiest and most forward when it came to our friendship. She wasn’t shy about admitting she wanted it to be more, enough where she thought we were hiding the truth from her.

I like when Sage comes over, his youngest sister, Rebecca, stated. She usually plays a game with me. I didn’t miss the glare she gave her older sister, Quinn.

I stayed silent, doing anything asked of me to help Danielle with dinner. As much as I loved my apartment, and cooking, it always seemed to be more fun with Gavin’s family. 

Listening to the two girls bicker reminded me of when I was in the packs. How the four in-trainings raised by my mate and me would pick on one another. The friendly banter brought up good memories of playing with my littermate, Lightrose, when we were less than a moon old. Before I became too mature for a pup.

If you weren’t such a child, I would be more willing to play with you, Quinn shot at her sister.

If you weren’t trying to be an adult, I wouldn’t seem so young. Rebecca’s eyes misted over.

Quinn Elizabeth! Danielle raised her voice at the older of the two girls. You are fifteen, almost sixteen, and Rebecca is ten. Act your age!

Quinn apologized and hugged her little sister as Gavin walked into the kitchen. Danielle said hello to her son and asked him to turn the oven on. 

What did I walk into? he whispered to me as he passed by.

The usual fight, I told him and briefly recapped the past five minutes.

Gavin’s shoulders went up and down slightly as he laughed silently at his sisters. 

A deep voice boomed from the living room announcing they were leaving to go pick Zavier up from the airport.

Danielle kissed her husband, Elliot, goodbye as he left the house. My confusion must have been spelled across my face, as she quickly explained that Gavin’s older brother was returning home from being away for a few years.

I wondered what she meant by a few years. Seeing how I’d been in the human world for almost four years and had never heard Gavin mention an older brother – even within the past few months that we’d been hanging out.

You’re telling me that story when we escape, I mumbled quietly to Gavin while stirring the mixture for Danielle’s enchiladas. 

There isn’t much to tell, he replied, Zavier decided to live away from home when I was only twelve. I didn’t know he was still alive until Mom mentioned he was coming home this weekend.

I pondered this news. An older brother who basically walked out on his family – similar to how I left Sunpack.

The more I thought about what Gavin told me, the more I couldn’t help but notice he didn’t seem to care about what had happened. He almost brushed me off with his answer. Gavin’s response had been cold and was like the old him. The version I knew when I first arrived in Folkland. Either his older brother was a sore topic, or he really didn’t like talking about it.

Add it to the list of questions that piles up for Petunia if we ever hang out again.

I had been avoiding her. Usually I was busy with housework, working my own part-time job, or hanging out with Gavin. On occasion, I would purposefully make plans, so I had a valid excuse to not be able to see her.

Gavin and I were going to go on a day trip soon to visit one of his childhood friends, Dalton. I didn’t know much about this friend, or why he wanted me to tag along, but I assumed I would get more questions answered once we were alone.

We could only stand so much pestering from Gavin’s family about the two of us that, as soon as we could, we would escape to an old treehouse about thirty yards from the back porch of the house. Elliot had built it for him when he was young.

A reminder that I can always go higher than I think I can, Gavin had explained. I was afraid of heights, so Dad made sure it was high off the ground. He has a strange theory of facing all your fears head on by doing what scares you.

One of the reasons I loved Gavin’s family was their different personalities. Somehow, they are all different and all the same.

*****

HOW’S SHE DOING? Gavin asked as we climbed into the treehouse after dinner.

I restrained myself from letting out a sigh. It was becoming a weekly question – asking about his ex-girlfriend, Sunny.

My mate, Legendheart, and I had her placed in a jail until she could be tried for kidnapping and child abuse. Sunny had been one of our closest friends when we first came to the human world. When our daughter went missing, it took us a couple of months, but we found her in North Willis in a basement. She’d been held there by our old friend in one of the buildings on the college campus.

I saw my old friend more times than I told people since the cops escorted her from my apartment a couple of months ago. No one needed to know just how often I actually saw her. I let Gavin believe I saw her every week or so. I did see her every week, sometimes twice in a week. However often I felt was necessary to try and get more answers as to why she went behind my back and took my daughter.

He was always hopeful that what had happened had been a nightmare. A part of me wanted to think the same, but I forced myself to face the reality by seeing my old friend every few weeks.

I haven’t seen her in a couple of weeks, I answered, lying to Gavin. I’m planning on going in the next couple of days.

Could I tag along? 

Are you sure you can? We’re still working on you getting over your relationship with her and—

About that... his voice trailed off. I looked at him expectantly, his eyes trained on our feet hanging off one side. One of the reasons I want you to come to meet Dalton is because he was involved in our relationship as well. Helped moderate any disagreement we had. He was one of the first people I went to when it all ended.

I rubbed his back as his mind drifted to what had happened to him and Sunny. Gavin had threatened our friend, Brett, because I was dating him. Instead of standing our ground, Brett and I mutually broke up and I ended up telling Sunny what happened between us. I didn’t sugarcoat what Gavin did or said. In the end, they ended their three-year relationship.

I’m sorry, I said.

I know, was his response.

I waited for him to say something else, but he didn’t. We sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes. I slowly moved my legs back and forth over the edge of the treehouse. 

I jumped at the sound of Danielle yelling out to us that it was getting late. Gavin looked at me, his eyes full of memories resurfacing. Nodding was the only response I could give him.

I’ll send you more details once I know them, Gavin told me as I walked to my car.

Thanks. I’ll see you later.

Let me know when you plan on seeing Sunny.

I told you, I’m going in a couple of days but—

You don’t think I’m ready yet. Gavin looked defeated and I couldn’t help him. I won’t know unless I go and try to see her.

I sadly smiled at him, placing my hand on his shoulder in a comforting manner.

Maybe not this time, he eventually said, but can you let me know the next time you go. I want to try.

I will, I promised.

I drove to my apartment, making sure I checked my mailbox before heading inside.

Sorting through the mail, I froze at the sight of an envelope with a familiar and concerning return address.

How did they get my address? I wondered. What do they want?

My hands shook as I placed the rest of my mail on the kitchen counter, still staring at the one in my hand. My human name stared back at me, but it was the other name in the upper left-hand corner that startled me. A name I’d never seen on paper. While I had heard the name, I could’ve never imagined receiving something from them. Nixon Hart.

Nixon had helped Sunny kidnap my daughter. He was the one had who mostly abused Tyrese, the human boy, who had been taken a few months prior. A name we didn’t know much about so the police couldn’t track him down. I now have a last name to go with a first name, as well as an address. The police could figure out if it was real or fake.

I sent a quick text to Detective Mills, telling him I had something for him. Within minutes, he responded, stating that he was on his way. 

The detective was one of the few put on Riverflow’s kidnapping case. After a couple weeks of dead ends and no new information, all the detectives were called off the case. Mills continued helping me because he and I had grown close during the initial investigation. I now considered him a trusted human in my life.

I still hadn’t opened the envelope. Fearful of what was inside. If Legendheart had still been here, he would’ve given me the courage to open it and see what Nixon had sent me. But he wasn’t.

My mate had walked out on me a few months ago and I haven’t seen or heard from him since. He claimed I had changed and refused to be near me until I figured things out. I didn’t know what he was referring to, and I still don’t. Mostly, I think he was upset I’d been spending quite a bit of time with Gavin. It was either that or how I grilled into Sunny without caring. I didn’t get physical with her, but I did throw many verbal mediocrities. 

Jumping at the sound of loud bangs against my front door, I opened it to see the round, bald detective. He sat at one of the chairs at my kitchen table after I invited him inside.

The unopened envelope sat between us as I was seated across from him. I didn’t speak, waiting for him to say something or ask a question.

When did you receive this? Detective Mills inquired.

I’m not sure exactly, I started. I hadn’t checked my mail for a couple of days, so it could’ve arrived sometime between Wednesday and today.

His head bobbed up and down as he pondered my explanation. Settling back into silence, I continued studying the envelope, wondering what was inside. Nothing came to my mind as to what Nixon would send me... or why he would send me something.

Is there a reason you haven’t opened it? the detective asked.

He kidnapped someone close to me and abused another kid, Detective Mills. I don’t exactly want to know what he has to say.

I don’t want to touch it and possibly contaminate it, if we end up taking it into evidence, Mills said, but if you wouldn’t mind, could you open the envelope and pull out whatever is inside? Your prints are already on it, so let’s try and keep it that way.

I looked at the detective like he was crazy, but hesitantly reached out and grabbed the unopened envelope from the tabletop. My hands shook once again as I tore the flap open and peered into the white envelope.

There’s a folded piece of paper and... a key? I slid the paper out and turned the envelope upside down and let a key fall out.

Detective Mills put on some gloves and inspected the key. As much as I wanted to unfold the paper included, I refrained. Not wanting to possibly contaminate anything, as Mills had put it.

It looks to be a house key or something, Mills stated.

A basement key?

A little bit of hope sparked in me that maybe it would lead us to some other kid he and Sunny had taken.

The detective shrugged. I couldn’t help the sigh that left my mouth. Every time I got one step closer to solving more of what happened to Riverflow, the farther back I got pushed. 

I’d gone back to North Willis Community College twice since saving my daughter, and could never find anything on Nixon. I had asked professors, dorm management, even some random students. I couldn’t get an appointment to see the superintendent of the college.

Either I’ve been asking all the wrong people, or Nixon is really good at keeping his head down.

Mills gestured to the piece of paper, still folded on the table, and told me I could open it. He mentioned something about how it would be easier to find the truth about Nixon Hart, or whoever, if they knew my fingerprints had a reason to be on there.

I took a deep breath to calm my nerves as I unfolded the paper. Two words stared back at the detective and me. 

I know.

Who knows what? I mumbled aloud. 

I’ll bag the key, paper, and envelope to take back to the station, Mills started gathering the items. As long as you’re okay with that?

Mills’ curious, stern eyes gazed into mine. The question clear: can he look more into this? I nodded, telling him that I won’t forget the note anytime soon. 

I closed the door as the detective left with the three things from Nixon, thanking him once again. 

Glancing at the time on the clock, I noticed it was almost midnight. I wrote down a note and stuck it to the fridge, reminding myself to take care of the rest of the mail tomorrow.

2

SLEEP DEPREIVED AND worn down, I drove to the jail where Sunny had been being held. I had a list of questions written down to ask her. Most of which were pertaining to the key and paper from Nixon.

The two words printed on the page were always in my mind. They were there when I closed my eyes. They were there when I would try to read a book. They were there when I would drive around town.

I know.

What does Nixon know? Or is he bluffing to try and draw me out?

Sunny knew her partner-in-crime better than I did, so I was prepared to ask her every question I had.

When I had given up on sleep the night before, I had texted Gavin to let him know this visit wouldn’t be the best one for him to accompany me on. He understood and didn’t press.

I was glad, and surprised, at how our friendship had developed since I had returned to the human world. We had not liked each other during our senior year of high school, my only year of human school. Something had changed in him, though, for him to turn to me for help. Here we were, months later, forgetting the past and focusing on the future. We had a common understanding that some things are too touchy to discuss, and therefore, we don’t press.

The guards quickly patted me down as I entered the jailhouse, even though we all knew the worst I’d do is bang my fist on the table or yell at Sunny. You know you come to a place too often when you can address every staff member by name. I had a good basis with each of the guards and they let me escort myself anywhere I needed. I said hi to all the jail personnel that I passed on my way to the visitor room. They knew me well enough, by now, they felt no need to be near the table as Sunny and I talked.

I sat at the usual table I met Sunny at and waited. Aaron and Troy, two of the guards, escorted her toward me, cuffed her to the table, then stepped back against the far wall. They watched with their eyes, but knew they weren’t on full alert around me.

I was surprised you’d want to see me again, Sunny started, After last time, I—

Enough, I said, I’m here because I have questions. I pulled the list from my pocket. Questions that I know you have the answer to and if you say you don’t, I’ll know you’re lying.

Yes... that’s right. You have this strange sense that you just happen to know when people are lying. You already know what I think about that. It’s a bunch of crap.

Whatever, Sunny. I’m not going to show you the questions so that you can form lies beforehand.

I watched as the prisoner rolled her eyes but stayed silent.

I pulled out my list of the few questions I had for her

1-Why did you do it?

2-What sparked you to take Rayna? Tyrese?

3-Do you want to be our friend (Petunia and mine) still?

4-Why recruit someone who’s not part of our world?

5-What does Nixon know?

I wrote down notes on Sunny’s answers. Some of which she answered real quickly, and others she reluctantly answered. Finally, we reached the one I wanted to know the answer to the most.

I read off my last question, even though I had it memorized.

He knows more than he lets on, she began, I only told him what he needed to know about the kidnappings. How there’s a war coming that I need to have an army for. Naturally, he questioned my use of kids, but he didn’t know them like I did. He didn’t know that it’s easier to mold kids into what you want. Kids do what they’re told with the right motivation.

Like beating up another kid?

Exactly, she had no shame in admitting her ‘motivation’ for getting Riverflow to train was another person. Anyway, if Nixon knows more than I told him, he’s done a great job at hiding it.

"What does he know about me?" I hoped the extra emphasis would cleared things up.

He knows you’re from Folkland. I didn’t tell him the full truth about you, or your family. I breathed a little easier learning this. Nixon did assume, after we closed you in the basement, that you had some connection to Rayna and Case. I told him you and Case had dated some. 

My stress leveled out as she used the human names of my daughter and mate. Sunny always knew how to drive things in deeper, so I was relieved that she wasn’t mentioning pack names.

You really don’t know much yourself, I told her, Petunia knows more than you do. Partially due to the fact she has been here, and you left. No one really knows why you chose to go to North Willis Community College. Everything you knew was in Folkland or nearby.

Her shoulders shrugged underneath her grey jail jumpsuit. Her face gave no indication that she cared, or was going to answer my unasked question.

Why did you leave and go about as far away as you could?

Because I could, she replied. It’s as simple as that. I found the opportunity to get out of this small town, away from my past, and I took it. Carpe diem, Sage. Seize the day. You should know this. All things considered. Get out while you can.

I waved her guards back over to escort her out, telling them we were done.

Don’t tell anyone I’m here, she requested.

You say that every time, I replied, raising my hand to halt the guards. Why do you not want anyone to know? You might get more visitors.

I want them to remember me as the fun, smiling, lovable Sunny. Not this, she gestured to herself, horrid, kidnapper Sunny.

"Why do you even care? You kidnapped and tortured kids."

I know I messed up, she sounded sincere, but... I wasn’t myself. I didn’t stop the eye roll. Sage, listen to me. I wasn’t.

I bet every one in this jail would say the same thing, I whispered, not wanting to guards to hear me. "They would all say whatever it took for someone to take pity on them and help them out."

I’m not like them. I—

"You’re just like them. You took my daughter. I thought you were my friend, Sunny. But friends don’t stab each other in the back. Petunia was heartbroken when I told her. I don’t know if Rayna will ever recover from the horror you put her through."

I signaled the guards we were finally done, not waiting for a response from Sunny. They uncuffed my old friend from the table and re-cuffed her hands behind her back – making it harder for her to fight against them.

It was hard to miss the smirk Sunny gave as she left the visitor room. Even without the Cheshire grin, her eyes raised many questions. Too many for me to answer.

I left the jail house the same way I had entered. It was both good and bad that I could roam in and out at my pleasure. Good because I didn’t feel as though I was always being watched. Bad because for all the guards knew, I could have gone and harassed Sunny while she was in her jail cell at anytime.

I nodded in respect to each guard I passed, saying their name, and wishing them a good day. They returned the good sentiment with a head nod.

*****

I REFLECETED ON the answers Sunny had given me and couldn’t connect the dots between everything. I remembered how she hesitated with some of the questions while others she almost cut me off with her answer.

Why would you be apprehensive about some questions but not others? I mumbled aloud in my empty apartment.

I entertained the thought of contacting Gavin and telling him about my visit. Only for a moment though before realizing that I never told him about the note and key from Nixon. 

I hadn’t told anyone besides Detective Mills. For some reason, it seemed private. Something I didn’t want to tell others about. Almost like it was a riddle I was hoping to piece together at some point, by myself. I’d done it before, and I knew I could do it again.

When I had first gotten cursed as a human, my father, Shapeclaw, had given me everything I needed to know beforehand in little bits and pieces. It wasn’t until Legendheart had gotten cursed as well, and about a human year had passed, before I began connecting the dots. Shapeclaw had given me the answer to my problems, a connection to the packs, and the cure to the curse.

I finally sat down on my couch, looking out onto my small balcony, and went through the other mail that had been with Nixon’s note. Most of it was junk, but there was another envelope that caught my eye.

It wasn’t from one of my friends, or even a new one, but from my daughter. Riverflow had mailed me something and, by the look and weight of it, she’d written me a letter of sorts.

I didn’t hesitate to open and read it. The date at the top indicated she’d written it about a week prior.

As I read the letter, I couldn’t help but long for my daughter. Something I hadn’t done since right after I sent her away. Riverflow wrote about school, Tyrese, and what living with Petunia was like. I felt myself sadden at the thought neither mine nor Legendheart’s human name was on any of her school forms. She ended her letter by begging me to contact her, somehow and some time. 

I held the note from my daughter close to my chest as I stared out the window in front of me. My eyesight drifted in and out of focus from the tears that threatened to fall as I watched the treetops sway in the slight breeze, my thoughts a million miles away.

Regret filled my body from the actions I’d taken in the heat of the moment. Hurting from Legendheart and walking out, I pushed my daughter away so she would never know me as not being strong.

I reread Riverflow’s note a couple more times, trying to commit it to my memory, before hanging it up on my fridge with magnets I had gotten a couple weeks ago. 

Hearing my stomach growl and glancing at the clock, I noticed that between thinking about Nixon’s mystery note, visiting Sunny in the morning, and receiving Riverflow’s letter, I had completely forgotten to eat lunch.

After making myself some tuna and grabbing some crackers, I settled onto my couch, turned on my computer, and began watching a show Gavin had heavily recommended.

*****

SEASON ONE ENDED and I paused to put away my snack dishes and grab a glass of water. A sound came from my front door as I had turned to go back to my spot on the couch.

I set my water on the kitchen table and opened the door. 

You’re awake?

My eyes widened before I could stop them to see Brett, my human ex-boyfriend, standing on my porch.

Uhm... yeah, I glanced at the time and cringed. It was the early hours of the next morning.

Can I talk to you?

About what? I questioned, more forcibly than I wanted. 

A note I received, he said. I know you’ve dealt with your fair share of suspicious notes and threats. I’m hoping you can help.

Brett wasn’t wrong. When he and I had dated after I was first cursed, Gavin had sent me a threatening note. Again after Riverflow was taken, I had received an anonymous note, which I now knew was from Sunny, with a riddle on what to do. Brett didn’t know about Nixon’s note to be, but it seemed to be a pattern in my human existence.

Why me? Why not Gabbe or Aviana?

They haven’t gone through anything like this, he explained. Gabbe once wrote a note to get someone away from her, but it’s been a few years.

Do you have your note with you? Brett nodded and patted his front pocket. Come in and we can talk.

3

BRETT LEFT AFTER he and I had settled on what he wanted me to do. There was some give and take on both sides. I half wanted to tell him he didn’t understand what was going on because he was a human boy, but I bit my tongue.

The letter he had received was targeting Gabbe. Brett’s assumptions was that it was from the same person who she had written a note to years prior. An old boyfriend named Dirk. He was apparently abusive toward Gabbe, which led to some other things happening. Brett wasn’t forthcoming with everything, but I grasped the idea. None of it was good.

I’d witnessed my own fair share of threats that I knew not to mess with them. I was going to do everything I could to make sure the clear threat from Brett’s letter never came true.

Your sister will regret what she did.

Grabbing a pen and notepad, I wrote down the small list of people I wanted to call, Gabbe being at the top. She was accompanied by Petunia, Riverflow, Gavin, and Legendheart. 

I called Legendheart first. Almost immediately, the line went to voicemail – meaning his phone was off. A part of me was relieved, while another part of me was disappointed. I couldn’t think of a good reason he would have powered off his phone completely, unless he had plans