Another logger approached the podium. “So what you’re saying is that this land is some sort of ancient Indian burial ground?”

Willie nodded.

The logger and every one of his co-workers laughed. “Oh, that’s original. You might as well have told us Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees live in those woods.”

“Or the Blair Witch,” someone called out from the back. Everyone had a laugh at that, even some of the protesters.

Argus leaned in close to Noble. “This isn’t turning out exactly the way we planned.”

Noble shook his head. “No, but it’s given us something we can work with.”

“Like what?” asked Argus.

Noble smiled, but said nothing more.

Chapter 9

“It’s time,” Noble said, gently shaking Argus awake.

The big teenager groaned and opened his eyes. Noble moved on to Harlan, giving his smaller brother a nudge—and when that didn’t work—a playful slap on the cheek.

“Huh? What?” Harlan asked.

“We’re going for a run.”

“Now?”

“We’ve got to help Willie.”

At the sound of Noble’s words, both Argus and Harlan suddenly sat upright, awake and alert. “Is he in trouble?” Argus asked.

“No,” answered Noble. “He’s all right. But we need to help him with his story.”

Harlan rubbed his eyes. “His story?”

“I’ll explain when we get there.”

Just then there was a faint knock on the door. The handle turned and the door opened a crack. Tora stood there in her pajamas. “What’s going on?”

“We’re going for a run,” said Noble.

“Now?”

“It’s to help Willie,” offered Harlan.

Tora nodded, understanding immediately. “I’ll meet you out back.”

* * *

They changed their forms without difficulty. Noble, always the leader, went first, transforming himself into his wolfen form for the long run through the forest. Tora followed, changing from an attractive young woman with a blonde streak in her hair, to a beautiful young wolf with a line of yellow-white fur running down the length of her back. Next came Argus, whose size required that his transformation take twice as long as the others, followed by Harlan, who never missed a chance to show off his newfound shape-shifting abilities. Harlan dove through the air in his human form, landed hands first on the ground, then somersaulted over the earth, rising up on all fours as a compact, slightly bony wolf.