“Don’t worry about it, Nick. I know how hungry shifting can make you, especially when you’re healing at the same time, that’s why I grabbed them. They aren’t going to be enough, but they’re all I have. They’ll take the edge off and hopefully hold you until we can get you something better to eat.”

“What’s going on? What do you mean you know how hungry shifting can make you? I’ve figured out what you mean by shifting, but how? How is it possible? And how can I be healing so fast? I noticed when I got dressed that the wound from the snake bite is healing, but it’s not possible! Am I hallucinating from the venom?”

“Been saving all your questions up, huh?” Brandon looked at me, laughing softly again, his smile showing the deep dimples in his cheeks. “No, you aren’t hallucinating. You really did change shapes. The process of shifting most likely pushed the venom from your body, and at the same time, healed the worst of the damage it had done.”

“You’ve lost your mind and I’m hallucinating, or better yet, it’s all just a nightmare and I’ll wake up and it will be Friday morning.”

“Do your dreams ever hurt like the snake bite did? Mine don’t. You’re not hallucinating or having a nightmare, Nickie.”

“But it can’t be true - I must be going crazy…”

“Nope, not crazy, just Kitsune,” he said, interrupting my ranting.

“Kitsune?” I’d never heard the word before.

“Yep, Kitsune. We’re a species of shape shifters.”

“There’s an entire species of people who turn into dogs?”

“We’re not dogs, we’re wolves. But that’s not exactly what the Kitsune are. There are several different animal forms that different Kitsune can shift into, though, generally it’s limited to only one animal form per person. There are bears, cougars, fox, and wolves. You’re a wolf, I’m a wolf, and there’s an entire pack of wolves in Gila Valley.” 

“An entire pack of wolves around here? Now you’re the one who’s dreaming. I’ve never seen a real wolf before, at least not until I was one, and I’ve lived here all my life.” 

“Not real wolves, Nickie, Kitsune wolves. There’s a difference. Though, you should know, the accepted phrase is natural wolves, not real, because we’re just as real as they are.” 

“Okay, not real wolves, natural wolves. How can there be an entire pack in the valley and nobody knows about it?”

“There are a lot of people who know about us, our pack members, but very, very few outside the pack. Our secret is well kept.”

“How did I become… Kitsune? Is that what you call it? I’ve never been bitten by a wolf, and I’m sure it’s not something I would forget.”

Brandon rolled his eyes. “There’s only one way to be Kitsune, you’re born one. Kitsune can only be born, there is no other way to become one of us. The biting thing is pure myth, Hollywood and fantasy novels.”

“News flash, Brandon, so are werewolves,” I couldn’t help but point out.

“Point,” he conceded. “You’re going to find that some movies and fantasy novels aren’t as make-believe as you thought. I know it’s hard to believe, but I’m not lying to you. I wouldn’t do that and you know it,” he said calmly and I shifted in my seat, feeling guilty I had suspected him of doing just that. 

“You’re sure? I mean about the whole wolf thing?” I looked out the passenger window to avoid looking at him.

“Absolutely certain. Look, do you mind if we head back into town while we talk? While you were shifting, I called the Anikitos, our pack leader, and he’s expecting us. I’d prefer not to be late and risk angering him.”

“Do I have to?” The thought of meeting the leader of the local wolf pack made me nervous. I tried to think of everything I had ever read about werewolf packs and their leaders and nothing I was coming up with was reassuring.  

“Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. He’ll have a lot more answers for you that I don’t have. I may have been raised as one of us, but I’m still young, and honestly, not all that high in the pack. There’s a lot I just don’t know.”

“Okay, but you have to promise not to leave me alone. I don’t want you to just drop me off at some stranger’s house. I’m uncomfortable enough with everything that’s happening as it is without being told what to believe by someone I don’t even know.” 

“I promise you, I won’t leave you alone with the Anikitos unless you want me to, all right? You may decide after meeting him that you don’t want me around.”

“I can’t see why but if you say so, I’ll take your word for it. You’ve done nothing but help me this afternoon. Thank you for that,” I said. 

Brandon started the car and pulled out on to the highway leading back toward town.