Kierra

Looking over him, my eyes catch on his weapons. Firming myself in bravery, I go stand in front of him. Inhaling deeply, I close my eyes and try to distinguish all the scents coming from him.

Metal, oils that he'd used on his gun and knives. No cologne, which is nice, just his natural musk. Earth, dry grasses. Can feel myself frowning. He himself might be southern, but his animal was from somewhere much farther south.

Yes, sunshine does have a scent. He smells of it. The smell of his animal mixes with his human body, becoming its own distinct scent.

Keeping my eyes closed, I reach my hand out. Fingertips going for his forehead instinctively, face set in concentration lines. Not entirely sure what I'm doing, just being driven by instinct.

"You didn't tell me who you are."

I whisper it under my breath. Just as my fingertips touch his skin, my head goes back as images explode into my brain. A sound of distress escapes, but I don't let go. I see his animal, a canine yes, but not a wolf, despite the name.

Maned Wolf.

I see one running across sunny grasslands. A solitary creature, long legs, and black mane. Gasping, I pull away, but now we have a problem. Stepping back shakily, my eyes open and go wide as I look at Xavier.

He shifted, looking a little dazed at the moment, and very large. The chair he had been in was pushed to the side as he now sits next to it. Shaking his head, he looks at me, blinking bright, light brown, almost tan colored eyes at me.

"Ow."

I take another step back, holding my hands to my chest.

"I didn't mean to. I'm sorry, I didn't know that would happen."

He stands and shakes, his clothes and weapons pooled at his feet, the pants and shirt all torn up, while the jacket looks fine since it was hanging on the back of the chair. Stepping out of them, he walks around the living room, stretching his limbs as if they're aching and haven't been used in a while.

It's a wonder he's so freakishly tall when his natural animal form has those long-ass legs. Standing at least four and a half feet, damn near five at his shoulder, and around the same in length. Not including his relatively short tail.

Tall ears add even more inches, in all total, I think I'll be lucky if he doesn't tower over me just in this form. Real gangly looking, the black mane on his back is long and sticking up.

"What did you do to me?"

His voice in my head doesn't sound angry so much as sullen. I hide a smile behind my hand as I press the back of my hand to my lips. Asher comes from around the island counter, looking from Xavier to me.

"What happened?"

"I'm not entirely sure. I had the urge to touch him while wanting to know who he is. Images came out of nowhere, showing a running maned wolf, getting a few scattered details about the animal itself. I have no idea why he shifted."

I talk aloud, wanting to hear myself, giving a sense of normality. Looking over the reddish-brown creature as he walks around, I feel really short. When he raises his head upright, he's taller than my five-foot-four.

"She pulled my animal out, forced me to change. When I tried to stop, it started getting very painful. My normal shift time is about half a minute, this was almost instant."

Cocking my head in confusion before turning to Asher, who to my chagrin looks just as confused, I bite my lip harder. Talk about a learning curve. He then shrugs and looks at me.

"It would seem you are discovering more of your abilities from being the Silver."

My head shakes, hair flying around me. I don't want this. If I had to be a Werewolf, why couldn't I be a normal, 'everyday' one?

"Can you change back?"

I ask it nervously, hoping I didn't screw him up somehow. Would be just my luck. My heart sinks as he shakes his head.

"I know I can though, it's like my body is too tired to change back right now. My guess is the effect will wear off after resting."

Ocean eyes come back to me, a low voice whispering in my head alone.

"Bastion is falling asleep and wants you to join him as per usual. I think the news earlier has him rattled."

Nodding, I remember that I have a few things to do first.

"I'll head down soon. I have to get a hold of Ava and run things by her and ask her about the school she mentioned for Shifter kids. Asher? If I do fail, what will happen to my sister?"

Coming over, he noses my leg. Knowing soft comforting words are not what is needed.

"Need to keep believing you'll find her. You've more information now than when you'd first started. You now have a place to start. You've proven multiple times that you can take care of yourself."

With that, he turns and goes to the front door, wanting out. Not surprising. After he leaves, I close the door, but stop before locking it, looking over to Xavier.

"Are you going to want to go out or?"

"I may be covered in fur, but I haven't gotten accustomed to the cold yet. If possible, I would like to stay in. Water would be nice though."

Flipping the lock, I get him some water and call Ava. After yelling at me for several minutes, she agrees that Bastion can, of course, go to her. She does know someone who can look up his documentation, and either get it to me or get new ones made.

I let her know that there's a man going around saying he's an uncle, but Bastion is to never go to or even see this man, telling her what he told me about the man. She's outraged, and promises he will be safe with her.

Filling her in on everything I can and asking about the school, she'll have to ask them about taking in a child that knows about them, but she's sure they will. Asking me about my wanting to stay away from all Shifters and stay under the radar gets brought up, but I tell her that he's more important than my peace of mind.

Besides, I've been getting a lot of training in on kicking ass lately. She tells me that if I need her help with anything else, to just call and she'll be there. I thank her and hang up. Glancing up to my guest, he'd lain down next to the couch, head resting on his paws and watching me.

Ignoring him for now, I get down a fresh notebook from the shelving next to the desk. Taking it back to the island counter, I stand there and start writing an impromptu will. Nothing official obviously, but a start to work from later.

Bastion comes up a few minutes later, all sleepy-eyed and adorable.

"What's up kiddo? Thought you were asleep?"

"I was, but I jerked awake. Couldn't fall back to sleep."

More like he refused to from the looks of things. Xavier lifts his head, catching the boy's attention who now looks at him in wonder.

"Xavier, quit being so quiet, you know you want to talk."

He sneezes at me, but stands and walks to the boy. He's so much taller than Bastion, it makes the boy look that much younger. The maned wolf noses his hand as he reaches out to him.

"You're really tall."

I have to laugh at Bastion's observation as I run my eyes over the Canid.

"I think the words you're looking for are 'freakishly tall'."

Teasing them both brings me a small measure of peace, even more so as I watch him run his hands over the reddish coat. The fur looks thin, but is actually pretty thick. The black around his eyes, muzzle, and legs have him looking like he walked in a deep puddle of darkness.

As the kid's blue eyes sparkle in wonder, I grab one of the animal encyclopedias and flip to where the maned wolf is listed, handing it to the boy so he can read up on them. He takes it over to the couch, curls up on top of it, and reads facts aloud. While he does that, I finish writing things up.

Bastion is listing off the average size for the animal while looking at Xavier. The false wolf's mouth opens wide in a grin as the boy looks at him in confusion.

"From what I've seen in the Weres I've come across, the animal form is much bigger than a normal one would be. Take Xavier for example, maned wolves don't weigh that much as you've read, but thanks to all that attitude and testosterone, his head makes up most of his weight."

Bastion laughs as said male whines at me, going low and tucking his tail before flopping over and sticking his legs in the air. Making the bridge to Xavier's mind, I whisper to him.

"You're hopeless, you know that?"

He looks startled when I speak in his head, then smiles.

"Only when it comes to beautiful women and charming young men."

I roll my eyes. Seeing that my Imp has been bonding with this strange man from almost the moment he got into my jeep, really makes me question things. Not wanting him hurt, but pleased that he's allowing others within his small circle, males at that. Bastion looks up to me with a question.

"Asher leave?"

"Mhmm. Have to remember kiddo, he's spent a very long time alone. He's not really used to being around too many people."

Bastion nods, but looks sad. When asking Asher to stay with us, I wasn't asking for me that first time. Second time I was, but I knew the boy also wanted his friend with him. His protector.

I find it amazing he'll reach out to any male with what he's gone through, but I think it really helps that he doesn't see Asher as a human male. He sees him like normal kids would see their own dogs. Besides, there's only so much I can do, since he's getting to the age that he won't want any kind of advice or the like from a female.

My eyes slide to Xavier who is looking on in curiosity, I can feel my eyes change as I stare him down. I whisper into his head again, voice low and intent.

"You do anything to harm this child and I will gut you, I don't care who you are."

"No worries love, I'm quite fond of the boy."

His voice is low and flirty, but I ignore it. The personality he seems to fall back on is the playboy.

"You really need to tell me who you are."