Page 52 of Shifting Years
My new weapon sliced muscle growing large with orange and black hair.
To the side, Bobby screamed as he wrestled with his one-eye opponent. "What the hell, man!"
"Concentrate on your own, soldier!"
He had a man to fight, but mine was atiger? Finger-length claws swatted away my knife, leaving me defenseless.
We rolled on a packed dirt floor, with more claw attacks with every second. Luck or desperate hope found the broken bamboo he used when poking me, always with the words, "Wake up." It was too short for a club but great for sticking into his mouth. A heavy white, orange, and black feline head shook. Memories I never thought about until now returned.
Do it like Bruce.
I punched like a dark-haired, Asian action star, but not as well. Still, it pushed new bamboo shards into the commander's mouth.
Visions of red brick houses, crying blonde girls, and equally emotional short men came, as did howling wolves. I forced away the visual as Bobby fought for his life.Concentrate on your own as well, soldier.
The other half of the bamboo lay in the dirt, and I slammed it down against the animal's head. Grunts came from behind me.Hope Bobby's doing better.
The sounds were of two men, but animalistic.Animal…The commander landed on me again, digging into my smooth, bloodied chest. Images of howling wolves came, and I changed.
Other… me. Other.
Dark-red fur sprouted from my pores and my hand painfully widened. Bones cracked and my face stretched.What am I? A tiger like him or—
The shack filled with growls and a new howl.Wolf. Me am wolf. Enemy kill.
I raked his orange and black sides, drawing thick red lines while we rolled on the ground.Revenge. My turn.
My voice or another? It didn't matter. All my thoughts were on bites, claw swipes, and hunger for tiger flesh.
Me hungry but still strong. Stronger than all!
With a lunge, I sank my teeth into his neck, the sharp taste of copper flooding my tongue. Cartilage and bone crunched, and with a soft moan, he was no more.
I bite more. Enemy never hurt me again.
I bit several more times until bone and flesh softened in my mouth and turned to Bobby.
Hungry. Still hungry.
No, friend!
Enemy? Can eat.
Friend! Soldier?
His eyes stayed frozen on me but still stabbed the dead man under him. Red enemy blood dripped over dark skin as he stood, waving the knife in the air. "What in the hell are you?"
***
"Vietnamese soldiers," said Kim quietly.
My throat burned. "Theylookedlike you, but they weren't you." I exhaled sharply as shameful memories came. "I put away the hate a long time ago, but it got me in trouble."
Omegas weren't supposed to touch another Alpha, but Kim's tiny hand rested in mine.
My father was a bigot for no reason who ran people out before sundown and punished those who didn't with made-up crimes. For a short time, I turned into someone who hated anyone related to Vietnam. Prison and torture turned me into a monster.
"Wolves in general aren't bigots," I said. "Once you sprout a random fur color, it shows how stupid caring about someone's skin can be."
