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There was nowhere for me to run. The dead end alleyway stank of urine and vomit. There were mountains of trash and foul smelling rotted food. I had to swallow the bile that rose up. It was a narrow passage and I could see there was a way out. Adrenaline pounded through me as I saw him round the corner. His gaunt features slowly coming into view. He had stalked me all the way from my favorite bar. I had a feeling I was not making it to my car let alone out of this alley. I ran as fast as I could but damned if one of the heels of my pretty blue pumps didn't snap. I fell and landed hard on my forearms. My new black and blue accented corset covered in grime and my short fluffy black skirt ripped as I struggled to get up.

All that I could think in my head was that I wanted to go home. I wanted to hide under my bed for days. I was so naive. Everyone I knew had told me not to walk alone at night this close to the full moon, but I was the stubborn kind. I kicked myself for being so very stupid. As I was fumbling for my pepper spray out of my small purse I heard him speak.

"I am so sorry." The man grunted out.

What? He was sorry? "Why?" I squeaked.

"I...I...can't...stop." And the very second his words stopped he lunged. His body shifting in midair to turn into some kind of were. I could only guess some kind of feline, Jaguar?

The searing pain flashed for an instant before I realized this was not his fault. If I lived I would forgive him. His clawed hands sliced down my sides in one fluid motion. I knew what was happening and knew I was powerless to stop it.

I was screaming silent sounds as he bit and clawed my motionless body. His feline teeth crunching through something vital. The last thing I felt was numbness as I felt everything in me just...turn off.

****

The dreams were hazy, unfocused and confusing. Only lingering thoughts of what had happened at the back of my mind. The vague thoughts of voices and someone carrying me. I thought I heard a voice but it was so faint.

"Don't die....Stay....Accept your.....it will be ok."

Then I knew that something, no someone, was in my thoughts with me.

A figure was hazing into view. The more I focused on the figure the more of her I could see. And then I noticed the fur, the muscular build, and the large green eyes.

"You must accept me Tara..." She said her voice deep and powerful.

"What happens if I don't?" I thought purely out of curiosity.

Her smile was full on her rodent face. She was gorgeous. "Then we both die." Her long triangular head the nose being the point. Large pink ears with thin white fuzz. Fur a medium gray but I could see a blue hue. From her chest to between her legs was a lighter shade of that same color. From behind her I could see a pink tail rat tail swishing back and forth.

I blinked and I figured as much.

"They need us." Her short statements to the point. I liked that.

"Who?" I thought.

"Our family." She seemed to be closer to me now.

Oh. Kay. "What family? I have a family." My heart then beat a single beat. I could not feel my body or see where it was but my hand went to my chest. I hadn't noticed that it was silent till then. It kind of hurt. When it didn't beat again, I panicked. Looking frantically to the creature now inches from me. "Am I dead?"

"You and I can live." her arms out like she meant for me to embrace her. The moment I considered it my heart beat again, one strong beat, then another and it almost hurt. I could sense in my deepest thoughts dozens of them. Waiting for us and I felt their need. I could feel their sorrow and excitement, their fear and anxiety. In my minds eye I could see them all. Almost as if they were glowing figures in my head. I could see that they were all connected somehow and from each one a new line was starting to form....to...me!

"Will it hurt?" I thought to her.

"We will face it together." Her voice so soft and reassuring. I believed her to my very core. I felt the truth more real than anything I had ever had before.

"Let's do it then. Better than the alternative. That's for sure." I smiled an unsure smile. I stepped forward and as I thought wrapped my arms around her frame my body suddenly materialized. It was an odd sensation to say the least.

She was at least 6 feet tall from what I could tell if not taller. Her body warm, soft, and alive. It was an good feeling. Then, it felt like lightening had struck me. Not painful but the most jarring thing I had ever felt. I could hear a distant screaming. It was me. I could feel my heart trying to beat right out of my chest. My entire being exploded into white hot pain as I felt her merging into me as if changing me somehow.

Down to my very DNA. I could hear myself screaming in such an animalistic way, that I wasn't sure I was going to survive this.

I felt a tug on my soul and somehow I knew she was here. Our souls connected somehow. I felt something like magic, I think that's what it was, I could see it, the magic was like glowing white ropes surrounding us and binding us together. I felt her pride in me swell, filling me, and I just knew we would be ok. This was what had to happen. Her soul filling me with that knowledge. It just felt right.

******

There was warmth. It was so warm that I didn't want to move. And then I could smell pancakes and ham. Other good food smells too. Huh?

I could also smell the faint scent of soap and bleach. I hated the smell of bleach. I wrinkled my nose in disgust.

"Are you awake?" A soft, quiet, man's voice came from somewhere.

I tried to open my eyes but could only peek through my lashes. My eyelids seemed to be swollen a little, but I could see a blurred form in a large chair in a corner of the room. He was leaning forward as if he wanted to come to my side.

Somewhere inside me, something, flared, an urge to protect. What's with that? It was a new feeling.

"Who.." My throat seized up and all that came out was a gurgle. I began to cough and it hurt.

"Don't talk yet. My name is Gavin. Here, have some water." And I must of drifted off for a moment because suddenly he was by the bed I was in with a glass of water. I tried to move to take it but every fiber of my being screamed to stop. I obeyed.

He saw that and smiled. Gingerly his hand lifted my head and pressed the cold glass against my swollen lip. The cold water felt like heaven and I tried to gulp it. But after a swallow he pulled it away.

"You have to take it slow. If you don't, you will just throw it all up. You have been through some serious trauma." His voice knowing and I nodded. Regretting that.

"Ow.." I whimpered.

"Yes, it will hurt for a bit. It will pass in a few minutes. Just take it very slow and you will be up and about before you know it." His eyes told me he was being truthful. How did I know that? No idea. I closed my eyes. I sighed. Deciding to stay still.

As he busied himself I relaxed. Noticing in the quiet I could hear other voices. Hushed but clear. As if they were right beside me. I listened.

"I hope she is nice. And likes my cooking." The male's voice full of hope.

"Everyone loves your cooking Josh. Calm down. I know we haven't had a new female Were-rat in nearly fifty years, but you should be more concerned about her other self, not her tastes in food." This male sounded worried and reserved.

"Why are you being so skeptical, Donny? Gavin says he can feel her aura is kind yet stubborn. I can't wait to meet her. You think she will be our Matriarch?" Josh's voice sounded young. Still full of hope.

"I hope so. One is badly needed." Donny's strong, husky voice, sounded tired.

Matriarch? Why would they want me to be a matriarch? So many questions buzzed through my half asleep brain.

I blinked and looked around with not much pain this time. I felt I could sit up now and my body only protested a little. Inching my sore self up till I was mostly sitting up. I could finally see the room I was in. It was practically empty except for the bed I was in, a side table with a lamp and other things. And that chair Gavin was standing near. Watching me.

I blushed and stared at the bed I was in. Bare except a thick blanket and a pillow. It was a plain bed covered in thick plastic. My brows rose in question to Gavin.

"I am going to assume the reason I can hear those men in there was caused by...the change?"

The change was the only title I could think of to give what had happened to me.

"Oh. I'm sorry. You are confused. Understandable. Yes, all your senses are extremely heightened now." He stood and walked to me and motioned to the bed. "The plastic was necessary for your recovery...it got kind of messy." His tone one of concern.

"Ok." I croaked. "Where am I?" Slowly my voice was starting to get back to normal.

"Our mansion. It belongs to our brood. That's what we call our "pack" but that term is for the wolves. Do you remember anything? Do you understand what has happened?" Gavin's voice cautious.

Thinking for a few minutes I nodded. "I was attacked by a were. I guess I am one now, huh?"

He nodded. "We couldn't be happier that you are one of us. So few ever are. Rats aren't often made when someone is bitten. Not many relate to rodents." He sighed.

I nodded. "I grew up with many as pets. So you and the others are were rats too?" He nodded.

"Yes. There are only about a dozen in Louisiana. We are a rare breed. They are keeping their distance out of respect." He offered me the glass again. I took it gratefully.

"So they are all here?" I blinked after a small sip of cold bliss.

"Yes. They all felt your change. They came the second they were able. You should be able to feel them, sense them in your own way." He chuckled watching my face full of bliss at such a small pleasure such as cold water.

"How long have I been here?" I tilted my head at him in question.

"About a week." He said as a matter of fact.

My eyes wide at him.

"Don't worry. We already notified all of your friends and family. Told them you were suddenly offered a job and were flown out of town for orientation." He winked, a soft smile upon his thick lips.

"Yeah, like they would have believed that." I rolled my eyes in disbelief. "I am going to take a wild guess and say I'm still in Lake Charles." I made it a statement.

A nod. "Close, Moss Bluff. More like a large estate outside of Moss Bluff. It was just a formality to keep them from sending out a hunting party. You are in our home. Which is yours now too." His voice hiding a hint of laughter at my wide eyed expression.

He walked to the closet door on the other side of the room and opened it. Inside were a ton of boxes. That closet looked huge. He was barely even able to walk down a path between the towers of boxes. Coming out with my bag.

His dark chocolate skin looked flawless as he set it down near me. The dark man seemed young but not too young. About thirty? Dark eyes watching me.

"All of your belongings were brought here. We left them packed...just in case you didn't want to stay." His tone suggested that wasn't a happy thought.

His posture spoke volumes to me. I would have never noticed that before the attack. He was begging me to stay with his body language, even if he didn't know he was doing it.

"Well that's....convenient." I laughed softly.

"This won't be your room if you choose to stay. We have cleared out the master suite for you. When you feel strong enough I can take you there. We cleared it so you can tell us what you want in there." He seemed more comfortable.

I looked around a bit before I dug in my bag to dig out my phone. Twenty three missed calls and tons of texts. Mom. Fuck.

What was I going to tell her? Weres were no secret in the world. Not since about a hundred years ago or so. Along with many other used to be mythical and supernatural beings.

The expected fall out when the supernatural came out of the "closet" was surprisingly minimal. Only the most closed minded made any kind fuss.

Why? Well more than forty percent of the world's population was something other than human. Those who weren't happy about it have long since died of old age, their children more open minded due to exposure. It was hard to hate when friends and family came out to you. Don't get me wrong. There were a few groups who still held onto the hatred.

I remembered in class my teacher speaking about how some human spirits aren't human at all and when we are exposed to the shifter DNA, that spirit is given the power to show itself when we shift. Each human that had an animal spirit had their very own animal. I've even known of some people to have reptile or amphibian spirits. Some are birds and very rarely mythical creatures. Not all survive the change, sometimes the person's spirit doesn't have enough of a presence and the person dies from some kind of incompatibility. Shifters have long been accepted by society and it is not illegal to infect someone as long as they give consent. Though there are always accidents like mine. The law leaves it to whatever pack, in my case brood, to deal with such incidents. Rarely are there shifters who attack on purpose. Those who do are swiftly dealt with, in the most final way, death.

That did not mean my mother was going to take the news well.

I jumped when there was a soft knock at the door. A chuckle from Gavin.

"Come in." My voice sounding normal now.

The door opened and a man looking no older than twenty came in. His young face bright, framed in short dark soft brown curls. His skin like a creamy caramel. He was attractive yes, but not really my type. His light blue eyes sparkling with worry and uncertainty which warred with his excitement.

For some reason I could tell this was the Josh who I heard talking earlier. My earlier instinct to protect flared again.

"I didn't want to bother you but lunch is ready." His voice a bit high for a man but not unpleasant.

And suddenly my stomach roared at me. Clearly the two of them heard it as well. I could tell by the smiles on their faces. I frowned at them, embarrassed.

"Can you walk yet? Or should I bring the food in here?" He was timid in his approach into the room.

"I think so. I don't hurt nearly as bad as earlier." Pushing the blanket aside to show my bare legs.

Their pale skin flawless. Where were my tattoos?! "What!! I spent a lot of money on those tattoos!" I frowned as I inspected all the areas of my body that had tattoos before and they laughed.

"Yeah. That happens. Anything you weren't born with gets healed and removed by our healing ability. Sorry about that." Randy stated.

I suddenly reached up checked where all my piercings were. They were closed! Every last one. I growled deep in my chest. That scared me. "Whoa. Did that come out of me?" I squeaked.

Another laugh from them as they nodded.

Grunting and pouting about the loss of my body art and jewelry I stepped to the floor. All I had on was a over-sized white tee and a pair of plain white panties. I looked clean. Did someone bathe me? I guess they had to. Gavin went to the closet and came out a few moments later with a pair of my dark blue jeans, white ankle socks, and sneakers. Making a squeaking sound I swung my legs over the side. Hearing the plastic on the bed make all that noise I frowned again. He sat the pants, shoes, and socks next to me and I slowly put them on with much grunting and effort.

A soft understanding on Gavin's face as he helped me up and to the door. Only a passing moment of lightheadedness and I was good.

"Well boys. I have a ton of questions. But first. Food. Then answers."