Page 22 of Shifting Years
"Are you saying we need to take 'The Road Not Taken?'"
"Oh, my God," he whispered.
We left the asphalt behind us and ventured deeper into the woods. My plan when hitchhiking across America was to see all the amazing cities like San Francisco, New York, and Miami.
I didn't think much about nature, but it felt like I should have, since The Movement stressed living in harmony with our natural surroundings. The colorful birds overhead sang and chirped before flying away. Squirrels chittered and scurried away, mistaking us for predators.
Whatever stressed them didn't affect Todd. I didn't need an excuse to study his muscles, but they relaxed. "It's peaceful," he said.
I hurried next to him. "You ever been out here before?"
"No, too busy."
I smiled to take away the upcoming sting. "Life is what happens when you're busy making plans—John Lennon."
"And what haveyouseen?"
"LA, New Orleans, Dallas, and Albuquerque, but it's not the places but people." I swallowed hard. "I met a really nice, uh,gay couple. They were older and had been in a relationship for a while."
I almost wish I hadn't said anything. It was obvious he and I wouldn't work out, but it was a blatant hint. If he picked up on anything, he gave no sign before stopping instantly.
Goosebumps soon followed on my skin, and we stared at each other. The forest's energy changed like it was on fire. Todd didn't appreciate my ESP mention earlier, but his slow swallow showed he noticed the change.
We didn't have to wonder for long. Two black wolves, one bigger than the other, but both larger than normally seen stepped into view and blocked our path. Twigs and leaves crunched under their immense weight as the bigger one bared its sharp, white teeth.
"Get back," screamed Todd.
***
"Shifters?" asked Kim.
"Yes," I said.
"Weneversaw them shift," said Todd.
"One was smaller and the other large. They each acted like an Alpha and Omega."
"There's no pack in the area, and there never was."
Kim's confused expression urged me to explain further. "We went back in the late seventies to give our thanks, but nobodyhad heard of a pack there. Usually, they stake out a claim, but they may have been hitchhiking wolves like Todd and myself."
"But if they didn't shift, how did you know about this town? You didn't know you were shifters."
"Wolves did tell me about Whispering Hills, but not them," I said. "I wouldn't meet two special ladies for years."
"The male wolves did help us," said Todd.
"So what happened?" asked Kim.
My Alpha sighed with shame. "I grabbed a branch and stepped forward to bash their brains in."
***
Chapter Nine
June 1969
Todd
