Change of Heart by Rina Pattinson (book club recommendations TXT) 📕

Change of Heart

October 20th, 1821.

I was on time, as usual. Tonight would make it the fifth month. I took my usual place, hidden inside the camouflaged cave with only a small opened crack for my human eyes to peek through. The night wasn’t so dark. In fact, it was the brightest of all since the beginning of October. A blanket of silence was spread over the woods so much so that even the shifting of a tree branch in the cold wind was audible to my ears. He became visible in less than a few minutes but tonight he was accompanied by another. Together they padded barefooted through the widest part of the woods then came to a halt right where I could see them. Lycanthropy was a myth to many, but definitely not to me. Not with what I’ve seen. Not with what I was going to see again tonight.

The one I was used to seeing was tall, about six feet five. He was incredibly well built with a bone structure which looked as though it could withstand anything. To me he resembled the known description of a Jew. Blond hair and gorgeous sky blue eyes. Everything about him looked perfect and everything about him was so beautiful that even though I’ve seen him four times prior to tonight, he still managed to project chills throughout my body. The other one had a similar body structure and was nearly as tall. He was extremely handsome as well, with dark hair that curled. His eyes were marbled with grey and his skin reflected a slight tan.

The blond guy looked around like he normally did, ensuring that no one was in the area. The other one did the same then mouthed ‘it’s time’ to his friend I suppose. The blond guy gave him a nod and then it happened. The other guy’s eyes changed from grey to a sizzling golden yellow, but before he took the form of the creature he was, his friend stopped him. I became confused and tried to peer closer. My excellent ability to read lips allowed me to see that he said ‘she’s here again’; however, before his friend could ask who she was, the blond guy turned to face the cave where I hid, looked me straight in the eye and signaled me with his index finger to come. There was no back exit to this cave, the only way I was getting out was to leave in the way I came and that would mean walking right into him.

He lost his patience waiting for me to respond. I saw through the crack that he was near the cave. He got closer and closer. My heart beat faster and faster. He was here. Standing in the entrance he flashed me with a friendly yet frightening smile. He continued to walk towards me scrapping his nails against the walls of the cave. The smile was still there. When he was just two inches away from me he stopped.

“Who do you work for?” He asked with a slight Italian accent.

“No one.” I whispered, scared.

He leaned against the wall and folded his arms. “Are you lying?”

“No.”

“So, you simply enjoy casually spying on people?”

“No.” I wasn’t sure what to say.

He smiled. “I know you’ve had eyes on me since early June. Why?”

“I uh‒ I’ve noticed some weird stuff about you and I was um, curious. So I followed you here one night and you proved my theory correct.”

“What theory?”

“The one that said that you were a part of the lycanthropy myth.” I bit my nails.

“You thought I wasn’t aware of you but I was.”

“Why didn’t you stop me?”

“Werewolves excite you. You’ve been obsessed with the myth since you heard about it. I wanted to prove it to you, so I let you witness it. I meant to stop you but I knew you enjoyed seeing me transform.”

“Then why did you approach me tonight?” I was still scared.

“I think it was about time. Don’t you? Besides, I’m not alone tonight. I have a member of my pack with me. In human form he may not be able to detect you; however, if he transformed, he might’ve torn this cave apart, you included.”

“He doesn’t have control like you?” I was curious.

“No.” He said, and then looked at me as though he was in thought “Something is confusing you, love. What is it?”

I hesitated. “How did you know?”

“I can see it in your eyes. Tell me.”

“It’s the eyes. Your eyes are a ravishing red just before you transform, but your friend. His eyes are a glowing yellow. Why? Is he a different type? Different from the others like you?”

“In fact, it’s the other way around. I’m the one who’s different. All werewolves possess the yellow eyes before transformation, except for those like me.” He explained.

“I wanna know.”

“I’ve told you too much already. You’ve seen too much.”

“So do you have to kill me now?” I was even more scared than before.

“Relax Jennifer. There is no need to be in that much fear.” He leaned off the wall and caressed my cheeks with his hands.

“How do you know my name?” I asked softly.

“Anyone could be a spy.” He smiled “You don’t have to die. You can come with me. Be like me.”

“A werewolf?” I asked, knowing it was a stupid question. All along I was scared of him, now I felt so comfortable and mesmerized, maybe it was his eyes.

“You want to don’t you? You’ve always longed to become one of the supernatural. I could give that to you, and what do you have to lose. I don’t mean to stir any emotion but I am aware that you have no family here. Barely any friends. Not that much of a huge life. I could give you everything you’ve ever dreamed of, if you trust me.”

“Would I get hurt?”

He smiled again. “I promise that will never happen. Come on.” He said leading the way out of the cave. My fright was almost extinct. We were outside walking all the way out back to the middle of the woods where his friend waited. The night was still bright, however it got a lot colder. His friend was standing against a tree looking straight up into the sky at the full moon, but looked away and at us as we approached.

“Reid, meet Jennifer. She’s gonna be with us now.”

“But she’s not a‒

“I know. She will be, soon.” He said looking at me. She will be soon. That gave me chills.

“Jennifer, this is Reid, he’s the most trusted member of my pack.”

“Nice to meet you.” Reid smiled slightly. I smiled a little in return unable to say much.

“There will be no transformation here tonight. We must leave now.” The blond guy said.

“Where are we going?” I managed to ask.

“Don’t worry.” He smiled “By the way, my name is Vince.” He said quietly and as I took his warm hands, Vince didn’t just lead me deeper into the woods. He led me deeper into another world. A new world, far from ordinary.

The water was deep and inviting just like his eyes. I could see something in them now; something new. He knew that I was aware of the one thing he tried to hide. I knew what he was and he wanted me dead for my knowledge. But was that the only reason why he wanted to take my life?

“No, it isn’t.”

“What did I tell you about that, Reid?”

“What did I tell you about leaving your mind unprotected?” He asked pulling his T-shirt off over his head and tossing it on the banister near the pool.

“You’re not swimming for another twenty minutes. Why did you take your shirt off?” I asked then realized how incredibly stupid that question was considering the fact that it was directed to Reid.

He smiled.

“I know, I know. It drives the ladies wild.” I laughed and looked across the pool at him again. In less than five minutes I would be swimming next to the guy who most girls referred to as the hottest guy on campus.

“He isn’t.” Reid commented.

“Reid!”

“Ok. I’ll stop.” He lied.

Anyways, most girls saw him as the god he looked and appeared to be, and maybe if I didn’t know better, I would’ve been one of those girls. They all fell for the same thing. The gracefulness in the way he moved whenever his body was in any kind of motion. The perfect sound of his words whenever he spoke. The way every single one of his muscles were delicately defined and utter mostly developed under his flawless caramelized skin. His hair depicted his Russian heritage as the ends of it stroke his neck. Its color, an eye-catching glistening bronze. But it was his eyes that caught my attention. There was something about them. Something strange in the depths of his muddy blue pupils. Something different, unusual, and like mine, inhumane.

Coach Stilinski blew hard on his whistle and before the sound was done echoing throughout the room, Val and Grady were heading for their towels. Val was quite disappointed; having come second by two point eight seconds. Grady couldn’t care less about his success which annoyed Val, hence the reason why she yanked hard on the first place medal from behind causing Grady to choke.

“Jennifer Grey and Ian Winters. You’re up in the next two minutes, get ready.”Coach called out while going over his roster, crossing out several names which I guess was the name of the losers. Even though I was a bit nervous, I wasn’t worried that my name was gonna get scratched off of the list. I was nervous because he was almost by my side now. He didn’t scare me or intimidate me; there was just something about him−besides the fact that he wanted to kill me−that made every cell in my body uneasy. He stood inches away from me now staring into the water like I did, then I felt his eyes slowly ease its way onto my body. I tried again and was surprised when I realized that he took his mental shield down.

“I know that you’re reading my mind right now. You can do that. I’m impressed.”

“What else do you know about me?” I asked out loud. Communicating through the mind was a form of special communication which I shared only with those who meant something to me. Ian Winters was nothing more than a killer. His mouth opened to answer my question the same time coach opened his to begin his countdown. Two seconds before diving in Ian turned to give me a smile which would’ve taken away any other girls’ consciousness. To me, it did nothing but make me wonder what he was up to. I didn’t hear when coach said GO! Instead I heard Reid shouting my name in my mind to get into the water. All was fine, Mr. Winters was no more than a meter ahead of me. With my strength and speed, I was definitely gonna catch up, but I didn’t. I couldn’t. How was that even possible? How could he be stronger than I was? Faster than I was? I couldn’t understand. Was I underestimating Ian Winters? I questioned myself as I swam back to where we started prepared to be crowned ‘loser’. Still, it hardly bothered me. What really bothered me was the fact that Ian was going to be a lot more than I bargained for. I wasn’t out of the water for more than a couple seconds when Reid threw a towel at me. Besides the fact that the towel could have taken my head off if my quick reflexes didn’t allow me to catch it, I could tell that he was pissed.

“What the hell just happened?”

“Honestly Reid, I don’t have a clue.” I said walking past him to