Tiger Summer (Shifter Cub Camp #3)

Prologue

“L! L!” Her twin burst into their small bedroom, long blonde hair swinging behind her. “Guess what?”

She peered over the edge of their bunkbed. “Something’s on fire?”

“Better!” Her twin bounced on her toes. “I finally did it! I shifted!”

“What?” She tossed aside the homework assignment she’d been unenthusiastically reading, scrambling down from the bed. “For real?”

“Yes!” Her sister spread her arms like wings, golden eyes bright with excitement. “And I flew! Right up above the trees, just like Dad and Rory and Ross!”

Be happy, she told herself fiercely. Don’t ruin her big moment.

She forced a smile. “That’s wonderful. I knew you’d do it.”

Her sister dropped her arms, her own grin faltering. “Oh. I shouldn’t have—I didn’t think about how you would feel. I’m sorry.”

“Hey.” Feeling like the world’s worst person, she hugged her sister. “Don’t apologize. One of us had to be first. We can’t do everything together.”

“If I can shift, you can, too.” Her sister’s voice rang with confidence. “You’ll find your animal soon. I’m sure of it.”

I wish I was. She pressed her lips together, holding back the bitter words. She couldn’t spoil her sister’s joy any more than she already had.

“Come on,” she said, releasing her sister. “Let’s go tell everyone the good news.”

Her sister hesitated, biting her lip. “No, wait. I want to try something first. Sit down and give me your hands.”

She frowned, but sat cross-legged on the worn carpet. “Why?”

Her sister settled opposite her, knee-to-knee. “You know how we used to try to talk to each other telepathically?”

“Yeah, but it never worked.”

“Well, things are different now.” Her sister held out her hands. “I found my animal. Yours must be in there somewhere. Let’s see if I can reach it.”

That sounded hopelessly optimistic to her, but there was no dissuading her twin once she had her heart set on something. She clasped hands with her sister, closing her eyes. Gradually, their breathing slowed, synchronizing.

*Can you hear me?*

“Whoa. That’s really weird.”

*Don’t make words with your mouth. Just think them. Like this, see?*

*I… think so.*

*That’s it, you’re doing it! Now, just relax. Pretend you’re falling asleep, okay? Stop fighting me!*

*I’m not!*

*Not you. Sorry, I was talking to my animal. I’m trying to get it to sort of reach out to you, but it’s resisting me. Come on, you silly beast! I don’t care if it hurts! She’s my sister, we have to help her!*

*I think… I think I feel something…*

*Yes! It’s working, it’s—*

A mental cry of shock shredded the connection. The two girls tumbled back, hands flying apart.

Or rather, one girl did.

She struggled to right herself, her whole body suddenly alien. Claws raked at the carpet. A tail whacked her in the face.

Her tail.

She had a tail. Heart hammering with excitement, she twisted, trying to inspect her new shape. She had tawny fur, and four paws, and—

No wings.

“What… happened?” said a faint voice. Her sister sat up stiffly, one hand pressed against the center of her chest. “Where—how—?”

Her twin caught sight of her. For a moment she only stared, eyes widening. They were no longer the rich gold they’d always been, but a bright, shocking yellow.

“Oh,” her twin whispered. “It worked.”