Conclusion to Wolf Lake Series

Disclaimer: I do not own Wolf Lake, and I make no claims to it's copyright. I'm just borrowing it for a while to finish what its creators didn't.

Introduction- What is there to say? This will be my conclusion to the canceled series, and will hopefully allow its fans some closure! This is the way I see it all going down, if the series had been allowed to continue. I did my best to stick as close to the character's personalities as a unseasoned author could! There will be major character development between Sophia and Luke, as well as John and Ruby. As well as for some of the other characters, but I'm not going to give anything away!

Each chapter will have a different title. Each chapter symbolizing a different episode. You'll even see suggestions as to the soundtrack. Again, I tried to stick as close to the type of music heard in the series Wolf Lake.

The chapters will roughly be rated PG-13, but there will be some increase in rating during some of them, for obvious reasons.

I will keep going as long as my muse holds out, which will have a lot to do with how many reviews I get! (wink) So bring them on!

Enjoy!

Welcome to my world, and watch your step….

Chapter One (Ep. 10 )

"Wolven Behavior"

"Dad, you've got to help me." Sophia's sob echoed softly throughout the station as Matthew Donner knelt down in front of his daughter, concern in his eyes as he gripped her shoulders. Sophia's face was pale and stained with tears. The anguish he saw in her eyes sent all sorts of bad case scenarios through his mind.

Sophia couldn't stop shaking. The ache in her lower back was starting to spread to her thighs. It was increasing in pressure that was unfamiliar to her. The senses she had kept turned on low these last few weeks, had turned on full blast, and their intensity was disconcerting. It wasn't like before, when they just barely flickered on the edge of her consciousness. Now she could hear almost everything going on in the town. Cars speeding down the roads. People laughing and arguing. Wolves howling… Especially the wolves… She could hear the hushed tones of the common lines of telepathy running through the pack. Could hear them hunting and mating. Running and shifting. Fighting and celebrating.

"Honey, what's wrong? What happened?" Matt urged his daughter to look at him, panic starting to shift across his face.

Sophia couldn't stop the small gasps escaping her parted lips. She turned her head towards the door, staring out into the darkness. She knew Luke was coming. Sensed he was closing in.

She couldn't believe what she had done to him tonight. She had never been physically violent with someone before. But she had picked Luke up like he weighed nothing at all, and had slammed him into the windshield of his car. Luke, who was a full-blooded Skinwalker, and easily outweighed her by 100 pounds. And she had hauled him up with one hand and had flipped him clear over on his back.

She remembered Scott's eyes full of disbelief when she had looked at him, disbelief and fear.

Fear of her. Of what she was.

Luke had also been slightly surprised to say the least, but she had seen the dark delight in his eyes as he smiled at her. Knowing that she was further along than he had anticipated. Let him see her try to deny herself now.

Sophia didn't know what she was supposed to feel anymore. The part of her that was human never wanted to see Luke Cates again. He was dangerous and a threat, not only to her sanity, but her heart as well. And he had already bruised that. This part wanted her to run far, far away from Wolf Lake and Luke's influence.

But that other part, that was roaring for supremacy at the current moment, cried out for him. Called for him to come to her and finish what he had started. Begged to run forever with him under the moonlight.

Sophia broke her eyes away from the door to look at her father, knowing her eyes were flashing gold. This time he could see it. Matt allowed his senses to expand and discovered the wolf within his daughter, fighting to break free. This time it wasn't going to be stilled.

"Dad, help me." Sophia whispered. Her eyes brilliant and filled with fear and confusion. This wasn't like before. This time, the chains she had used to lock the wolf away down deep, had snapped. She couldn't stop her other nature from taking control. It wasn't going to be pushed aside again. Not this time. It was like some bad dream she wanted to wake up from, needed to wake up from.

But this was no dream.

Matt framed his daughter's face with his hands as he watched the yellow fire flicker across her still all-too-human eyes. Eyes like her mother's. Eyes he had prayed constantly for, that they would never see the change now starting to take place.

Matt pulled Sophia to him and wrapped his arms protectively around her. Wishing he could save her from this nightmare. Knowing he was too late.

He had thought because Marie had been human, their daughter had a chance of being human also. But he knew that Sophia was either going to Flip or die trying. He panicked at the thought of the later. He had hoped that she would have never have to go through this. Not so much because of the ability to shift one's form into that of an animal. That, in and of itself, was an amazing ability, but because it came at the price of either death, or a life caught within the clutches of the pack. A life that would have to be spent forever in Wolf Lake. Ruby had tried to run, had tried to get away from Tyler, but look what had happened to her. You could never run far and long enough to get away from Wolf Lake. Not once you became one of them.

Sophia pressed her damp cheek into Matt's shoulder. Her eyes going back to the door. Luke was out there. Watching her from the shadows. Stalking her. She could sense him, even in his wolf form. Her body recognized his closeness. And her mind unwittingly called for him through a more personal telepathic link. One that had formed in the woods a few days back, when he had shifted for her, and had called for her to join with him in wolf form. She couldn't, and had watched him disappear into the foliage

She felt his mind brush hers in acknowledgment. Using not words but emotions to relay to her that he was near, and that he wasn't going anywhere. Not this time. His assuredness relieved and frightened Sophia all at the same time, and her mind skittered away from the contact. Severing it.

She closed her eyes tightly, as Matt slightly rocked her back and forth. His mind racing to come up with a plan. He had to get her somewhere safe. Away from the influence of the Pack if things went badly for her. He wasn't going to let Vivian snap his daughter's neck, even though it was the responsibility of the pack leader to end the suffering of those caught within the Flip. He couldn't let anything happen to her. He had promised Marie.

Luke had pinpointed Sophia's location, just within the doors of the station. His fur bristling in agitation. He knew Sophia could sense him. Confirmed it with her slight mental brush. He wanted to be with her. Needed to be with her. His growing feelings for Sophia had confused him to the point of insanity the last couple of months.

This was a lot different than simply wanting to get in some girl's pants, despite what Presley kept insinuating to Sophia was his cause for sniffing around. Even though he admitted that that was what it was in the beginning. But it had slowly changed into something else that he wasn't familiar with.

He had tried distancing himself from her. Knew he had hurt her. He had said and done things that he wouldn't forgive himself for anytime soon. Like screwing Presley, when he had really only wanted Sophia in his arms. He had wanted to rip his own throat out when he had realized that she had seen him with her… Knew that he had messed up countless times where Sophia was concerned.

But not anymore. He had finally acknowledged what Sophia meant to him this night, what he had instinctively known all along but had tried to ignore.

He needed her. And Luke Cates had never needed anyone.

Despite his regrets over all the nights he had spent over the last few months, this was one night he didn't regret. He wasn't in the habit of excusing his nature and he wasn't going to start tonight. He was what he was, and he had reacted in the way of the Wolf. A male ungulate had moved in on Sophia to claim her as his own, and that was going to be met head on with snapping teeth, bristled fur, and ripping claws.

He hadn't expected himself to respond like that. He knew then how dangerous he had become at that moment. How close he had comes to revealing his ability in front of a human.

That was, until Sophia had flipped him cleanly into his windshield without breaking a sweat. She was stronger than he had originally thought she would be. Especially since she hadn't even Flipped yet. It wasn't easy for a female, half-breed or not, to toss a full-blooded male the way she had.

He paced restlessly outside the station. Sticking close to the shadows. He ached to charge into the station, but knowing he would be met by the barrel of Matthew Donner's gun if he tried.

He would wait and watch, for now. He could smell the rising muskiness of Sophia's scent as her body prepared itself for the Flip. The full implications of that hit him. There was always the chance she wouldn't make it. That her body wouldn't be able to complete what her soul desperately needed it to in order to survive. He felt a rising moment of panic twist low in his gut.

He couldn't lose her.

Matt was feeling the same kind of panic, as he grabbed the truck's keys, and half carried Sophia shivering body out the door. He knew of only one place that was safe.

Sherman Blackstone's house.

Matt rushed around to the driver's side, after helping Sophia into the back seat. Assuring her all the while that everything was going to be okay.

His own eyes flashed momentarily in warning as he caught the familiar scent of a Skinwalker's musk. Luke.

Matt's eyes sought out the crouched form of the boy's wolven skin. Their eyes met and locked. A challenge issued and received. He should have known that pup would be sniffing around. It concerned Matt that Luke and Sophia had developed a rather strange relationship over the last few months. Not friends, not mates. Matt knew the player that Luke was. And heaven help the boy if he found out that he had hurt Sophia tonight. Matt had already smelled the boy on his daughter, as well as that human she had gone out with.

Matt had a sinking suspicion about what went down tonight, and he prayed that the kid hadn't created a bigger mess than could be cleaned up.

Matt yanked his gaze away from the wolf, and slid into the driver's seat. He would deal with Luke later, when his daughter was safe.

Sophia was hardly aware of the breakneck speed in which Matt pushed the truck into on their way to Blackstone.

The ache in her back and legs had increased to a throbbing pain. It was starting to spread further into her limbs. Her skin was starting to burn.

She clenched her hands into fists, noticing that her nails had lengthened and had become sharper. She wrapped her arms around her cramping stomach, and silently began to cry. Matthew watching hopelessly through the rear view mirror. Sophia's eyes had flared gold and had remained that way. Shining even through her tears.

She closed her eyes and saw images dance across her mind. Images of the moonlit forest, mist curling around the trees. Watching wolves run and hunt. It was beautiful as well as frightening. She saw images of Luke. Luke in wolf form, guarding her. Luke in human form, images of his eyes flaring golf fire at her in the rearview mirror of his car that night so long ago, when she had realized that he wanted more from her than to just be a friend.

She remembered the sensations she had felt that night. It was the first time she had felt the awakening of her other self, as she had responded to his heated gaze locked on hers as Presley was draped over him, and Shawn had been trying to get hands and mouth on her all night. For a split second she imagined it was him that had been touching her, not Shawn.

Sophia groaned as the images were replaced with the memories of her dream just a couple of days ago, where she had made love with Luke. She could hear her own heart beating loud in her ears. She knew Luke was close by. Somehow keeping up with the breakneck speed in which the vehicle was traveling.

Sherman had just reached out his hand to flip the light switch off in his living room, when the front door splintered open, slamming hard enough against the wall to shake every window pane in the room.

"I take it this isn't a social visit." Sherman remarked wryly as Matt carried in the huddled form of a girl. When she looked up and revealed herself to be Sophia, flashing eyes and all, Sherman's humor faded away quickly.

So, it was finally time for the little one.

"Take her into the bedroom." Sherman ordered, following in behind Matt, as he carried Sophia down the hallway and into the bedroom. Setting her down carefully on the mattress.

Sophia looked around slowly, recognizing where she was, and understanding why she had been brought here. Her father believed this to be the safest place for her right now, till she had finished… Sophia's thought trailed off, and a brief surge of anger trickled in. She didn't want this! This wasn't her choice! She wasn't ready yet to become a animal. She didn't want to be tied down to Wolf Lake. She wanted to see the world. The world that her father and Luke never would. She had to fight it. See if she could win. Even if there was the slightest chance she could…. The thought trailed off as a sharp, intense pain hit her hard and ugly, causing her to curl into a ball on the mattress. A stunned cry escaping her lips for the first time that evening. The pain was unreal, she hadn't expected it to be this bad, and it was just getting started. She felt as if something inside of her was trying to twist her inside out.

"I'm sorry, Dad," She gasped softly. Squeezing her eyes shut at the sight of tears in her father's eyes as he watched her struggle with the wolf within. "I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough to…" Sophia broke off as another pain hit her, this time feeling like all the bones in her back and limbs were twisting on her. She muffled her scream against the pillow.

"Baby, you have nothing to be sorry for." Matt soothed her, hardly able to watch Sophia curled up the way she was, locked in the death grip of the Change.

But Sophia was beyond hearing him now, her soul had now entered what must have felt like the gates of hell. She could feel her internal organs and skeletal structure trying to shift on her, trying to change. She felt like someone had doused gasoline all over her skin, and lit a match.

She wasn't aware of anything, or anyone. Not Sherman, not Luke, not even her father. Only the intensity of what she was going through now was her world. That, and the wolf within her clawing for release. She couldn't let it go. She couldn't. It was death for her either way.

Sophia opened her mouth and started to scream like she would never stop.

Matthew stood helplessly by, as he tried to restrain Sophia's flailing limbs. Watching her hopelessly fight the creature within. Despite the fast, intense rate of the convulsions, Sophia hadn't changed hardly at all, except for her eyes and fingernails. The Change was just beginning, but at this rate, he didn't think Sophia would survive long enough to see it through.

"I don't understand!" Matt shot at Sherman as the Indian came over and restrained Sophia's limbs with rope. Anchoring her to the bed. Matt stepped back, panting slightly from the exertion. Anguish in his eyes. "She hadn't shown any symptoms until tonight. Why did this just come out of nowhere?"

Sherman glanced at Matt momentarily, before focusing back on Sophia. "Because she has been showing signs, Matt! For weeks now! I've seen it, and half of Wolf Lake has seen it. You just didn't want to."

Sherman snatched up a washrag, and gently plotted Sophia's forehead. Her eyes were open but unfixed and glazed. Her body clenching and cramping against the pain. Sherman sensed that Sophia wasn't allowing the Change to happen like she should. She wasn't allowing her body to Flip. She was fighting it with everything she had.

She couldn't do that, it was ripping her apart.

Sophia was unique in the fact that she possessed two separate and distinct natures. They all thought that because she was half human, that her Skinwalker abilities were diluted, weakened. Nothing was further from the truth. Sophia's Skinwalker capabilities and instincts were as strong of those of full-blood.  But her human DNA actually gave her more control over the wolf within. Had allowed her to leash it longer than the others. But, as the others had learned earlier in life, you couldn't chain what was inside forever.

Now her gift was making itself into a curse. She was successfully holding onto the wolf within, and wasn't allowing the Flip to occur. Unless she gave in, and soon, it would kill her.

Matt knew this as well.

"Why didn't she tell me?" Matt quietly asked, His face drawn and lines of concern and fear were visible around his hardened mouth and eyes, as he watched Sophia writhe and yank at her restraints. Occasionally shrieking in a voice that he didn't recognize anymore.

Sherman rubbed his forehead tiredly, "Figure it out, Matt. She didn't want to disappoint you. But right now, we've got a problem, and I can think of only one thing that might work."

"What needs to be done?" Matt demanded. Willing to do whatever it took to save his daughter.

Sherman  just looked at him, and then back at Sophia. The girl was in hell.

Sherman turned quickly and left the room, Matt close on his heels. Sherman went over to what was left of his front door, and stepped out onto the step.

"Luke! Get your tail in here, Now!"

Luke didn't need a second invitation.

"You've got to be joking…" Matthew muttered under his breath as a large wolf came barreling into the room, on all fours, quickly shifting back into his human form, shedding his pelt for naked skin. I clicked with Matt what Sherman was thinking, and knew he didn't exactly have a choice in the matter. It might be the only thing that would save Sophia.

If anyone could convince Sophia to give up this fight within, and allow her inner wolf out, this…pup could.

He would hold off wringing his neck for another night.

Luke had heard every scream. Had felt every convulsion. He knew that Sophia was in trouble, and had been about ready to bust in there, Sheriff or no, and do something about it, when Sherman had finally called him in. Just how Sherman had known he was out there, was something he was going to have to inquire about later.

Sherman wearily sat down on the Sofa, settling in for what might be a very long night. "Go to her, Luke. Get her out of this mess she's put herself in."

Matt stopped Luke before he entered the hallway. He looked the kid straight in the eye. Matt's eyes flashed gold in warning for the second time that night.

"If you hurt her, in any way, I will kill you."

Luke glared back at Matt. His mouth hardened into a thin line, and his eyes went native in response like the bristling male he was.

"You didn't exactly do her any favors by raising her up to believe that being a Skinwalker was something to avoid. It is her nature, as well as yours, but you led her to believe it was something to be repulsed by!" Luke's voice was a low growl, as he remembered this afternoon, when Sophia had told him in the kitchen at the diner that she wasn't comfortable becoming a "creature." As if the very idea repelled her.

He remembered the way his eyes had hardened slightly at her statement, and the growl of frustration that he had almost voiced. He hadn't taken it very well. It still rubbed his fur the wrong way just thinking about it.

Matt's jaw tightened in acknowledgment of the truth in Luke's words, but damn it if he was going to admit it to the punk!

"I mean it." He intoned, still refusing to let Luke pass.

Luke forced down his aggression, and took in a deep breath, before looking at Matt again. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you."

That was as close an acknowledgment as Matt was going to get. He stepped aside as Luke swiftly made his way down the hall, and into the bedroom. Closing it securely behind him.

Luke stood there quietly for a moment and assessed the situation. His jaw tightened and his eyes flickered dangerously, when he saw that they had her restrained. He growled softly under his breath as he shot forward to slice away the ropes binding her hands and feet. He knew that in most cases they were necessary to keep the person under control. But he couldn't stand the sight of her being held down like that. Her tender skin was already raw from the pressure of her pulling at them unconsciously.

Luke held her with one arm, as he quickly and effectively stripped the bed sheets off the mattress. They kept getting entangled in her limbs, and he knew that they would feel unbearable against her heated skin.

Her clothes were soaked with perspiration, and they were going to cause a problem later when she finally did Flip. He knew that from experience. Feeling like you were wrapped up and contained wasn't a very pleasant experience, when your instincts were pretty much in control of your emotions, and things like human thought process didn't exist in that realm of wolven behavior.

Luke situated himself beside Sophia up on the bed, and held her down, as she unwittingly struggled against the wolf within. Her eyes were unfixed and unseeing even though they were flared gold. Luke thought he would never get the sounds of her anguished cries out of his head.

Luke exerted more force with her than he liked, as he quickly removed the soaked cloths from her body. Stripping her down. She probably wouldn't like him for these liberties taken, but to be honest, he realized he would find it humorous later. Her modesty was a rarity along the Skinwalkers.

Despite the seriousness of the moment at hand, Luke couldn't help but acknowledge how beautiful she was. She was perfect, but her form was still all-too-human.

Luke grimaced as her sharper than usual nails managed to score themselves down his chest, leaving behind five shallow furrows in his flesh, that trickled blood down his torso. But the pain from the wound was insignificant against the ache in his heart.

He hadn't wanted this for her. Hadn't wanted it to be like this. He had wanted her to Flip with him as he made love to her. Her pain would have been minimum, and change incredibly fast. He would have revealed the wonders of their world to her newly acquired eyes. That was the way it was meant to be for their people.

But instead, she had held it off for too long. Some instinct of human self-preservation had kicked in, and had kept her from acknowledging the wolf within weeks ago. She had felt the changes in her body, had experienced the warnings. He had sensed the changes, but hadn't realized how far advanced she really was. He had thought that he had more time to convince her.

But now the Flip had been triggered the hard way, and it might just kill her, if he didn't get her past this ridiculous and dangerous fear of the Change.

Despite the extreme pain that she was experiencing, Sophia managed to fight her way back to the surface. She sensed Luke's presence in the room, before she actually saw him.

She had never been so relieved to see someone in her whole life.

Luke was crouched over her. Holding on to both of her wrists gently but firmly with the intent of restraining her again if she started to fight.

"Luke?' Sophia hardly recognized the sound of her own voice, it was hoarse, and her throat was sore.

"Shh, it's okay," Luke let go of one of her wrists to gently push back a damp tendril of hair from her pale face. Jaw flexing as he saw the raw agony reflected in her flaring eyes.

Sophia felt some of her pain ease at his touch. Her eyes flickered, trying to bring him to focus.

Needless to say, the first thing she saw was that he was naked. But she didn't care anymore, she had always loved his body, although she would never admit it. There was no doubt that he was beautiful, no matter what skin he wore.

Sophia focused in on the mark that was bled steadily from his chest. It looked liked a wild animal had clawed him, and she had a sinking suspicion that the wild animal had been her. She swallowed painfully as she shifted her pain-racked body on the bed. Trying to relieve some of it. She didn't know how much longer she could fight this. Didn't know how much longer she could stay sane.

It was then that Sophia realized that Luke wasn't the only one naked. Her eyes widened in shock and mortification, as she tried to scoot away from Luke's hungry gaze. Surely he didn't plan to… The panicked thought was cut short as Luke's hand latched on to her bare shoulder. Anchoring her in pace.

"Sophia, relax! It isn't what you think. Your clothes had to come off to keep from interfering with your Flip." Luke's tone was harder than he intended. He couldn't believe she had thought that he was going to try to do something to her now, now that the Change had started. As much as he would have wanted it to be so, Sex wasn't going to fix this. Not since it had all started to happen on its own.

He had to get her through her Flip in a completely different way now. And he needed her to trust him.

Sophia closed her eyes tightly, embarrassed at these change of events. Her embarrassment faded quickly though, when her body suddenly convulsed hard. She arched her back sharply off the mattress, as Luke made a grab for her hands. Her back slammed back hard enough on the mattress to knock the air from her lungs in an ear shattering scream.

She curled into herself, nails drawing blood from her own forearms, before Luke took a hold of her, stopping her from hurting herself further. She almost wanted to rip the skin from her bones. She felt like she was going mad. She wanted it to stop. She wanted it to end.

She wanted to die.

Luke sensed the surge of hopelessness deflate Sophia's spirit. Knew that wasn't something he could allow.

"Sophia, listen to me!" He turned Sophia back towards him, shaking her firmly to force her to open her eyes and look at him. "Listen to me! You can't fight the Change anymore, Sophia. You have to let go. You have to allow yourself to Flip. You don't need to be ashamed of this. You've got to do it , or it'll kill you!"

Sophia shook her head slightly, "No, I can't. I can't do this, Luke. I can't live like this."

"Yes you can!" Luke's eyes locked with Sophia's as he half hauled her up and off the bed. "You're strong, Sophia. You can Flip, and this pain will all be over, if you will just allow yourself to give in. Don't fight it anymore. That's why you're in so much pain. Let it go, Sophia, give in to it." Luke's grip on her upper arms tightened, "Let the Change happen."

Sophia's head fell back weakly. "I don't think I can, Luke."

Luke gently supported the back of her head, as he placed her back down on the mattress. "Then I will just have to show you how."

(Soundtrack Suggestion – Sarah Mclachlan, "Fear"  From the Album Fumbling Towards Ecstasy. Which is the perfect song for this upcoming scene. Get the album if you don't have it You'll see what I mean!)

Without hesitation, Luke pressed one hand up against the side of Sophia's face, His other hand gathered up one of hers, and, intertwining their fingers, brought it up to rest against his heart. His eyes locked securely with her weak gaze, as she struggled to stay conscious.

He matched her breaths to his. Her heartbeat to his. He felt his eyes start to flame gold, as his wolven senses began to open up completely to her. Luke sought her mind through their private mental link. As he made the initial contact, the world around them faded away.

And he was in.

They were standing alone, side by side together in the moonlit forest of Sophia's vision. Their breath misting in the cool air.

Sophia felt the calm of the forest invade her spirit. The pain of the Change was  pushed away into a far recess of her mind. It seemed like that was happening to a completely different person. She didn't have to feel that pain anymore.

Luke glided slowly in behind her, hands coming to rest on her hips, as he pulled her body closer to his warmth. Skin to Skin. He wrapped his arms comfortably around her smooth waist. Feeling the softness of her flesh against his palms.

Sophia leaned her head comfortably back against Luke's chest, letting out a sigh, as she placed her hands over his. She wasn't sure if this he was really there or not, but grateful for the mirage presented if it was all a dream.

"Listen," Luke whispered softly as he licked Sophia's shoulder, tasting her skin. Urging her to listen to the wolves singing.

They were close, and coming closer. Their beautiful howls and wails sending chills of anticipation throughout Sophia's body, as she craned her head around, looking into the shadows to uncover them. They were calling to her.

They appeared out of the mist. Melted out from the trees. Eyes glowing and luxurious pelts shinning in the moonlight. Whispers of thoughts and invitations gently flooded into Sophia's newly developed mind link. The pack circled the couple, dancing closer and closer until Sophia could feel their warm breath against her slender legs. Their fur sliding against her skin. Her sense of touch was magnified as she felt Luke's body pressing into her back, protecting her. Sharing with her the wonder of their world.

Sleek, warm muzzles nuzzled their interlaced fingers, as if begging  for them to come and run with them.

 They were all waiting for…something.

Sophia knew that she should  be frightened. Knew that she should be trying to fight this. But it was so beautiful. And Luke was there, keeping her safe. Promising her endless wonders in this strange but familiar world.

"Don't you see, Sophia?" he whispered softly against her nape. "This is where you belong. This is your journey, your home. Your destiny."

Sophia whimpered softly, as Luke gently licked up the side of her neck, gently nibbling her ear. He sent her another vision. This one of them entwined together under the moonlight. Loving each other. A mating of their bodies as well of their souls. She saw flashes of them rolling together under the thick foliage. Hands stroking, and fingers entwining. She saw them running together under the full moon in wolf form. Chasing one another through the woods. No one else in the world existing in this place and time.

Sophia felt the wolf within her pull closer to the surface. She wasn't fighting it anymore. She wanted it to happen. Needed it to happen.

The image flickered out, leaving them in the forest, him at her back, the wolves around them watching…and waiting.

Sophia turned slowly around to face Luke, her arms wrapping themselves tentatively around his neck, bringing their bodies close together. Luke just gazed at her. Waiting for her to acknowledge the fire between them. She pressed her lips softly to his in  a slow, sweet kiss that reminded her of her dream a few days back, when she had imagined what it would be like to Flip in Luke's arms.

His tongue ran gently over the seam of her mouth, tasting her, before traveling lower to lave and nibble at her pulse at the base of her jaw. Tasting her heart beat on his tongue.

Sophia threw her head back and something wild within her lifted its head in triumph.

Luke brought his head back up to smile softly. Watching the flickering gold dancing in her eyes. This time from desire. His palms gently cupped the sides of her face as his thumbs lovingly stroked her cheeks. Tilting her head to the side to gaze at him, and see the responding flickers in his own. Wanting her to not be afraid of him. No matter what form he was in.

"Look…" He motioned softly with his head, glancing behind her at something she couldn't see. Sophia turned to see  all the wolves still gathered there, waiting for something to happen. Motion stirred from within their ranks, and they parted aside as a wolf made from the  mist came forward and out of the pack. Padding on silent paws towards Sophia.

Sophia suddenly felt cold air at her back as Luke stepped aside, smiling assuredly at her. This next part she would have to do on her own.

She turned back to watch the wolf stand expectantly in front of her, and she realized suddenly that this wolf was her. This was the wolf inside her. Sitting there, waiting for Sophia to either condemn them both, or accept what was, and join their two distinct natures into a melding that would set them both free.

She recognized the wolf. Saw flashes of the two of them growing up, side by side, but only one of them visible to the rest of the world.

She saw the wolf patiently trying to wait for Sophia to come to this conclusion on her own, before finally trying to claw itself free, and into that visible world.

This nature had always been there, Sophia realized. This had always been her. No amount of fighting would change that. She would only be fighting herself.

Sophia remembered the sensation of running with Luke the image had provoked, and she turned to look at him, only to see that he had shed his human skin for his wolf pelt. He was standing there, watching her, waiting for her to make her choice.

'Sophia…'

 She closed her eyes as she heard him softly call her name. She tilted her face into the breeze that had suddenly kicked up, and was stirring around her nude form, blowing her hair back form her face. She turned back to the wolf of mist standing before her, and made her decision.

Slowly reaching her hand out, her fingers met the wolf, and the mist turned to fur under her hand, and a light from within them both exploded into a brilliant blindness…..

Luke yanked his hand away from Sophia's forehead, as the white brilliance severed their connection. Weakness almost overcame him as he tried to keep from passing out. He had held the mental link longer than he had thought possible. He leaned away from Sophia, giving her plenty of room, as she literally seemed to explode from within. He watched the transformation take place.

Sophia's cry echoes hoarsely as her human body gave up it's fight, and allowed the wolf within her to release. She felt the bones in her body shifting and twisting to make way for her new skin. It hurt, but the pain was different than before. It came with the promise of the release of the pressure that had built within her, and in doing so, bordered almost on pleasure.

Sophia felt her skin twist and replace itself with fur. Felt her front teeth lengthen into canines, Felt her human senses fall away, and replaced with that of the Wolf. Her cry changed into a brief howl, as her transformation completed itself, and her Flip ended.

She had one moment of sudden clarity as she experienced her new abilities, and the strange sensations they caused her in this new but powerful body, before the darkness brought on by her exhausting battle swelled up and covered her in its black, soothing cloak. Sending her into oblivion. Her last thought being of the feeling of Luke running his fingers through her newly acquired pelt.

Luke sat there in silence, as he studied Sophia's new form. She was perfectly formed, from the black pads of her feet, to the delicate tips of her finely sculpted ears, to the slender shape of her muzzle, to the brilliant color of her eyes. She was panting hard, even after passing out from the strain of the first Flip.

He regrettably took his hand away from her thick fur, as she unconsciously shifted back into her human skin. A fine film of moisture coating her body, and making it shimmer in the muted light from the room.

Luke slid off the bed, standing unsteadily back on his feet. His head was already starting to pound, and he knew he would have a nasty hangover tomorrow. But he had accomplished what he had wanted.

Sophia was alive, and she had finally Flipped. Granted, it had happened differently then he had originally believed it would. But he wasn't knocking the experience.

Luke carefully wrapped Sophia's nude body up in the discarded sheet from the bed, and carrying her in his arms, exited the bedroom.

Sherman was calmly sitting where he had been when Luke had left, and glancing over at a clock, Luke realized that almost three hours had past. The mind merge had made the time fly by. He was mildly surprised that the Sheriff had managed to restrain himself from barging in on them, but he was grateful he hadn't. Severing a connection like that from the outside, would have been highly dangerous for both Luke and Sophia. And although he figured Matt didn't really care what happened to him, he didn't want to do anything that would risk his daughter.

Matt stopped his pacing as Luke stepped quietly into the room. His face went pale with relief that Sophia wasn't in any pain, but then concern, because she wasn't moving.

"She's okay," Luke answered Matt when he started to open his mouth. "She just passed out. She'll be fine now, we just need to get her home."

Matt didn't have to ask whether or not she had flipped, he could smell the scent of the transformation clinging to her skin.

Luke didn't wait for any acknowledgment from Matt, he just carried Sophia out the door, and situated her in the truck. Still cradling her in his lap. Matt watching him through the rearview mirror the whole way home. Luke didn't care what the older man was thinking, he just leaned his head back against the seat, and closed his eyes. The night's activities draining him almost as much as they had drained Sophia.

No words were spoken when Luke carried her into the house, and upstairs to her room. Placing her on the bed, he made sure she was comfortable as he covered her with one of her quilts. But it didn't slip past Matt the way Luke tenderly touched Sophia, or caressed her cheek before exiting the room.

"You're welcome to make use of the couch." Matt offered stiffly, he had a good feeling the boy wasn't planning on going far from Sophia, and thought that the couch would be a better alternative than outside on Sophia's porch.

Luke nodded his head in thanks as he walked down the steps into the living room. He didn't care what Matt was thinking at the moment, he was more concerned with the situation at hand. Tonight had revealed an unexpected circumstance that he hadn't been prepared for.

Before, when he had thought about Sophia flipping, he had always imagined her as a lighter gray version of himself. But she never ceased to amaze him. Or completely confuse him.

Tonight she had shifted into the rarest and most desired color of them all. And the problems that this might implicate for the both of them wasn't something Luke wasn't aware of.

Sophia wasn't aware of the significance of tonight. What had been revealed not only to him, but would eventually reveal itself to the rest of the pack. And he wasn't sure if he was looking forward to informing her or not.

Sophia was white. A pure, snow white wolf. And what that meant to Wolf Lake and to him, was too overwhelming to think about.

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(Soundtrack Suggestion- Staind, "It's Been Awhile" on the Album "Break The Cycle"  for the next scene, perfect song to fit John's longing for Ruby)

John Kanin tilted his head up into the flow of his showerhead, as he allowed the water to pour down over his body. Easing the ache in his arm left from the transfusion needle placed there. The streaks of blood, his and the wolf's, was washed away from his skin.

This night definitely ranked up there with one of the weirdest spent in Wolf Lake, and believe it, that list was getting fairly long.

He had come here to search for Ruby. He knew she was near. It was like he could feel her. He could feel her pain. He knew she was in Wolf Lake and that Tyler had her. He had never liked that guy, and he now knew why. The evidence had always been right there in front of him.

Tyler was holding Ruby against her will, somewhere, and giving John some rather subtle hints to leave town fast.

John gritted his teeth in frustration, as he slammed his palms against the shower wall. He was positive now that it was Tyler that had tried to kill him in Lenore's cabin. Tyler knew John was getting closer, and he was getting more desperate.

John didn't understand why the whole town was protecting Ruby's whereabouts. He knew they were all in on it, even Sophia.

Whatever cult they had going on up here ran deep, and it ran with the blood of anyone who stood in their way.

John squeezed his eyes tight as memories of Ruby danced around in his mind. He ached for her. Longed to touch her, to hear her voice. He could still remember her taste…

John slammed off the showerhead, and stepped out of the stall, grapping a towel as he went, briskly rubbing himself dry. He couldn't allow these people to dry him crazy, not when he was this close.

He wasn't too sure that he believed tonight's incident was as guilt free from the town as they would have him believe. That imbecile knew he was looking for Ruby, had used that to lure him into his RV.

And the next thing he knew, he was hooked up to an IV, being pumped full of blood from that white wolf, who seemed to have it just as bad in this town as him.

John flipped the light switch in his hotel room off, and bundling the towel up into a ball, threw it into a remote corner. He collapsed, completely nude, on his bed. He felt too hot to bother putting on clothes. His arm was starting to ache.

He didn't want to think about the implications of having wolf blood poured into his system. He didn't know much about medical science, but something told him having a pint or more of animal blood pumped into him wasn't a very healthy thing.

That was another thing. He wasn't sure how much blood had gotten into his system. He originally had thought it wasn't that much, because the white female wolf didn't appear to be that weak, when he had released her from the cage and back into the woods. He had wanted to free her from Tyler, in the same way he wanted to free Ruby.

But now he wasn't so certain. His head was beginning to pound, and he was beginning to feel lethargic. He thought he might be running a fever.

John tossed restlessly on the bed, as he slowly slipped into unconsciousness.

He was standing in the woods. Facing the white wolf. Her gray eyes focused on him, as if trying to tell him something. Flashes started to come. Flashes of him and Ruby together. Flashes of the moonlit forests surrounding them. Of looking through the wolf's eyes as she ran, trying to outdistance something or someone.

He saw himself running with her, bare feet slapping soundlessly through the underbrush, breath caught in his throat as he struggled to keep pace with her. He couldn't see what was chasing her, chasing them, but he couldn't let it hurt her.

He could hear the white wolf's howls in his mind, encouraging him to keep up. Encouraging him to join her.

The next thing he knew, John was on all fours, this time running on black padded paws, fur the color of obsidian covering him, his breath easing into pants as he came abreast of the white female.

 They were running side by side now, fur brushing against each other, the sound of each other's hearts beating in their ears.

They kept running, even though they sensed that their pursuer was long gone. They kept running for the joy of it. They were one.

John shot upright on the mattress, the images still burning in his mind, so that, for a moment, he wasn't sure if he was in his motel room or in the forest. In wolf form, or human.

Sweat poured off his body, and as his eyes finally focused, he looked around the room, moonlight enabling him to see everything, just to make sure there wasn't a certain white wolf there, watching him from the corner.

The dream was still all too real. He was breathing hard, his heart pounding, as if he really had been running for miles over rather rocky terrain.

He shook his head slightly in an attempt to clear it. That was it. The stress was finally getting to him.

And this time, it wasn't because of something Blackstone had spiked his soup with.

John laid back down on the mattress, taking in a deep breath in an attempt to slow his heartbeat down from its mad pace. Trying to calm his mind.

The craziness of the town was starting to affect him. Blackstone's silly stories of Skinwalkers were affecting his judgment. He relied on facts to solve his cases. Not crazy superstitions and folklore.

He would find Ruby using his brain, and relying on solid facts. And once he found her, they both would get the hell out of this crazy town, and really run far enough away that "they" could never take her from him again.

John lay there awake for some time, before finally drifting off to sleep. He probably wouldn't have felt so confident about his so-called facts, if he had looked in the mirror. For if he had, he would have seen that his eyes were glowing a rather strange shade of gold, and that his ability to see everything in the room, wasn't because of the full moon outside his window.

He had drawn the curtains tight.

Right outside his room, a certain white wolf began to sing out her cry.

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To Be Continued in the next episode, entitled "Eyes of Gold." Coming soon. Please review, and tell me what you think!