10 WAYS TO BECOME A WEREWOLF by Dani Harper

Wolfen shapeshifters have definitely been on my mind a lot lately. This summer finds me in the middle of a whole bunch of "RE's" — RE-editing and RE-vamping my Changeling series for RE-release into the wild.

I've also been REviewing a lot of notes and bits of REsearch, plus REreading many of my collected folktales and legends. That's when I came across a post I'd written in 2016 that shared some of my favorite werewolf mythology. So now I'm RE-sharing!

 Ask anyone on the street how to become a werewolf, and the number one response (besides sidling away from you with one finger hovering over 911 on speed dial) is “get bitten by a werewolf”. Believe it or not, this method is a fairly modern invention. Ancient myths and legends show many different paths to werewolfery, and here are just a few of them:

1. Your parents were werewolves
This is an easy one. If Mom AND Dad were lycanthropes (that’s the ten-dollar word for werewolves), you would probably inherit the tendency. Apparently it’s a recessive gene, and having just one furry parent might not do the trick.

2. You’ve been cursed by a priest
From Russia to France, if you didn’t go to church, you could be officially cursed with lycanthropy by your local religious leader. This was also rumored to be the fate of those who failed to attend annual confession – if you did this 10 years in a row, you risked spontaneously becoming a werewolf. In 14th century Normandy, excommunicated persons were believed to turn into werewolves during the Christmas season. During this time, each sinner was either redeemed or doomed to belong to the devil and run as a wolf forever. 
(PS - In Finland, if you were lucky enough to break the spell, you were still stuck with a wolf’s tail for the rest of your life!)

3. You’ve offended the Devil
Yup, in some stories, being TOO good would get you a lot of excess hair too. Apparently it was safest to be not too bad, not too good, but “just right”. It's unclear where the sweet spot is, however.

4. You’ve been captured by a witch
A Polish legend says that if a witch lays a belt of human skin across the threshold of a house in which a marriage is being celebrated, any member of the wedding party that steps over it is immediately transformed into a wolf. The wolves are forced to serve the witch for a year, then regain their human form and return to their lives.

5. You picked the wrong flowers
Legend says that a “lycanthropic flower” grows wild in the Balkan Peninsula, with a sickly death-like scent. If you pick these flowers, you become a wolf! Simply brushing against wolfsbane blossoms (aconitum or monkshood) was believed to cause you to shapeshift as well—but it’s NOT a myth that the flowers are dangerous. The plants contain neurotoxins that can be absorbed through the skin. An unfortunate man died in 2014 from multiple organ failure after contact with these poisonous purple perennials!  (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11213530/Gardener-died-after-brushing-past-poisonous-plant-in-millionaires-garden.html) 

6. You were born on the wrong day
Seriously, what were you thinking? In Italy, it was bad luck to be born on the winter solstice, December 20-21, and a surefire way to become a shapeshifter. In many other European countries, it was believed that children born on December 24th, Christmas Eve, were destined to become werewolves when they grew up. Apparently it was a divine punishment for competing with the Christ child! In Romania, however, this legend went a step further. Children conceived on Christmas Eve were cursed to become werewolves because their parents were supposed to have abstained from sex at that time!

8. You drank the wrong water
In some European legends, especially in Scandinavian countries, accidentally drinking from a "lycanthropic" river or stream would cause you to become a werewolf. This water is said to possess a "lurid sparkle" and a faint smell that is like nothing else. Other legends say that drinking from any body of water where a wolf pack has recently satisfied their thirst will cause you to change. As for drinking the rainwater that collected in a wolf’s paw print? Honestly, becoming a werewolf might not be your only problem….

8. You looked a wolf in the eye
This is a bad idea on several levels, but in some old stories, locking eyes with a wild wolf could cause you to turn into a wolf yourself within a few days. Handy hint – Stay away from the zoo!

9. You slept outside during a full moon
In Germany, Italy, and France, it was said that both men and women could become shapeshifters by sleeping outside and allowing the full moon to shine on their faces for the entire night. This was especially effective on a Wednesday or a Friday. (There’s a reason why friends don’t let friends pass out on the front lawn after a party.)

10. You drank magic beer
Really? The warning about the water wasn’t enough? In 1555, bishop Olaus Magnus penned a collection of Nordic folklore and history. In it, he reported that you could become a werewolf by sharing a mug of specially crafted beer with a known shapeshifter while repeating the words of an ancient spell. According to Magnus, the werewolves of Livonia held a huge gathering every year in which they would drink a great deal of beer before going out to ravage the countryside.

"Werewolf" Novels by Dani Harper

As a paranormal fantasy and romance author, I have a passion for shapeshifters, and my very first series centers around the Macleod family.  Long-lived and able to become wolves at will, they call themselves CHANGELINGS.  Centuries ago, they were forced to flee the wolf exterminations in Scotland and start a new life in the wilderness of northern Canada.

The Changeling series centers around the Macleod family, four brothers and two sisters. Long-lived and able to become wolves at will, their kind call themselves Changelings. Centuries ago, they were forced to flee the wolf exterminations in Scotland and start a new life in the wilderness of northern Canada.

Today, that wilderness has been largely settled, and an entire community has sprung up around the Changelings. The Macleods and their pack live as humans most of the time, hiding in plain sight. They have jobs and pay bills and go to school and mow the grass and do all the things that humans do. But don’t make the mistake of thinking they’re tame. There are sacred places in the hills, and wolves rule the forests at night.

The Macleods seem to have the best of two worlds — yet there are still dangers lurking for their kind. And love, when it arrives, brings dangers and complications of its own. The two highest laws in the Changeling world are never harm a human and never turn a human against their will. The wolf within, however, has its own primal rules. If a Changeling’s life is in danger, the wolf will emerge to defend it. It will also rise to the surface, unbidden, to defend a mate at all costs. Because Changelings mate for life!

.......

LEGEND. LORE. LOVE. MAGIC.

From ghosts to faeries to shapeshifters, 

you can check out all my stories at

www.daniharper.com

A Shifter Short Story

Awe and Isnay

by

Annie Nicholas

Orange and pink light haloed the mountain peaks as the sun rose in the sky. Awe followed the river winding through the lush green Apisi valley, toward the bend where it created the border between his pack’s and Ohneka land. Claws digging into the dirt, he ran with a loping wolf’s gait that ate distance but not energy.

In feral form, he ran faster than if he stayed in his civil man shape. Unlike his wolf cousin, Awe still walked on two legs. Shifters appeared like a blend of animal and man in feral form. The only thing that didn’t change was his eyes. They stayed amber like his animal cousin in either form.

Awe carried a backpack with clothes and sweet honey cake taken from the kitchen. He hoped Isnay had a sweet tooth since he wished to lure her close enough for a possible kiss. If he hurried, he would be in position before the omegas from the other pack arrived to do their laundry. Every six days. This was their schedule and it had taken over his life. He’d even taken two of Vendu’s guard duty spots so the other wolf shifter would work for him today.

All for a pretty face who flirted with him over the river currents. His alpha, Sorin, refused to negotiate for a cross-pack mating when there were eligible females to mate within the Apisi, but Sorin wouldn’t stop Awe from seeing Isnay on his own time.

Whatever the consequences, he just needed to stay on the Apisi side of the river. The Ohneka hunters couldn’t challenge him for watching.

He trotted along a narrow path, leading away from the edge of the river’s bank into the dense vegetation of the forest. The pack slipped easily off his back and onto the ground. Shifting shape to civil form was painless. He used his trigger memory and watched as his silver fur retreated into his skin. Joints popped and muscles realigned until his civil shape was completely restored. It was dangerous to travel in the forest as a man. He wasn’t as fast or as strong, but he wanted Isnay to see this form. All the other times she’d flirted, he’d stayed in feral since he’d been so close to the border.

Smoothing his long black hair from his face, he braided it with experienced ease and tied it with a thong. He pulled his worn leather kilt from the bag and adjusted it around his waist. The late spring air was warm enough for no shirt.

The river widened here and the currents slowed to a crawl. Smooth stones lined each side and made it a good place for washing in general. Traditionally, the packs didn’t use the site at the same time. Too many fights.

The young branches of the birch trees that lined the other bank bent to the side as Isnay stepped out of the forest in civil form. Her chestnut hair was parted in the middle with two braids that fell to her waist. For an omega, she was very shy. It had taken him many moons to finally get her to acknowledge his existence. She raised her face to the wind with a smile and set her basket of laundry by the river.

His heart raced. She could smell he was close. He stepped out from his hiding spot with the backpack. “You’re early.” He searched the area around her with both eyes and nose. The other omegas and their hunter guards were near but still out of sight.

She narrowed her eyes and slowed her steps. “Awe?”   With shaky hands, she smoothed away the wrinkles from her dress.

“It’s me.” He preened as her gaze wandered from his head to his toes then back again. At least she didn’t scream in horror. One never knew what a shifter’s civil form would look like when you met them as feral. Even from this distance he could see the blush blooming on her cheeks.

“You’re earlier.” She lowered her gaze. Isnay didn’t act as promiscuous as the Apisi omegas. Her bashfulness only made Awe want to mark her as his even more. Omegas were the packs’ easy lovers, artists, and caregivers. They eased tension, especially in the more high strung hunters. A pack would fall to in fighting without omegas around to distract from dominance games and pack politics. She glanced over her shoulder. “The others will be here soon.”

He opened his bag. “I have a present for you.” Pulling out the wrapped honey cake, he stepped into the river and crossed until the water reached his mid-thigh. He couldn’t go further or he’d be trespassing on Ohneka land, and their hunters were close. Getting his ass beaten wasn’t part of his plan.

His alphas had new pups to care for and their tempers were on short leashes. They would use his pelt as a pack room rug if he was caught by the Ohneka. Bad enough Peder, one their omegas, was taken hostage by the Payami last summer. The Apisi couldn’t afford to pay a ransom for members who were stupid enough to get caught by another pack. Awe had to play by the rules. For now.

Isnay took a step forward then glanced over her shoulder again. A visible shiver ran through her body.

He’d never been able to tempt her into the water. If an omega crossed territories it wasn’t considered much of an offense. Pack wars weren’t fought over their gentler brethren. The rules would be different for Awe. As a pack hunter, he was considered a weapon. He understood Isnay’s hesitation. There were stories of omegas being stolen throughout history. Look at what happened to Peder. How could he convince her of his honest intentions?

She sniffed. “Do I smell honey?”

He nodded and unwrapped the cake.

She removed her moccasins and gathered her skirts above her knees before stepping into the slow-moving river. This time of the year honey was a scarce commodity. The Apisi had saved some to celebrate the birth of Sorin’s and Susan’s pups.

He couldn’t keep from grinning. “It is. The bakers were up late last night making honey cake.”

She didn’t meet his gaze like a hunter might. There was no domination in the way she held her shoulders. Her presence eased him, let him relax like he couldn’t among the pack. Not many hunters would have had the courage to step into the river with a stranger from another pack though. Maybe her trust in him should be considered foolish, but who was the fool standing on the border of pack land holding honey cake? lol

“You stole from your pack?” The glance she tossed him held a sharper edge of intelligence than most hunters’ teeth.

He blinked. Dog shit, he was messing this up. What sort of shifter stole from his pack? His role was to provide, and he was proving otherwise. “Um…I won’t have any when it’s served.” He took a step closer, offering her the sweet again. “This is my piece.”

Lifting her chin, she finally met his stare with the bluest eyes he’d ever seen. Clearer than the sky above them and brighter than the sun. She took a piece and savored the bite, pressing her lips together and closing her eyes. “I haven’t had a sweet all winter.” She plucked another large piece, but didn’t eat it. Instead, she held it to his lips.

His heart swelled as he took the bite, purposely licking the sticky honey from her fingers.

She sighed.

“Isnay!” A male voice shouted from the forest.

Both of them startled, and Awe almost dropped the cake. In his obsession with Isnay, he’d forgotten the approaching Ohneka hunters. He grabbed her wrist as she darted back to shore.

Her eyes went wide with fear.

He placed the cake in her hand and released her so she could retreat to her side of the river safely.

Two hunters stormed out of the forest in feral form and raced into the river. A crowd of omegas, both female and male, followed. Isnay stood apart from them, cake forgotten in her hand and concern painted on her face.

Before the hunters reached him, Awe leaped back to his side of the river. They most likely wished to only chase him away from the border since they couldn’t know if he was alone or not.

Awe returned to the thick brush where he’d first hid and sat to wait.

The Ohneka hunters settled on the other bank, guarding the omegas as they did their chores. To his relief, no one chastised Isnay. They’d probably leave that for their alpha when the hunters reported the incident.

She sat by her basket, eating her cake and didn’t appear worried. She shared a few bites with friends. When she finally looked in the direction of his hiding place, he rose to his feet. Smiling, she blew him a kiss.

Fading back into the wilderness before he caused her anymore trouble, he sat out of view and watched Isnay. His alpha might not want to negotiate a mating with the Ohneka, but Awe wouldn’t give up on Isnay yet.

This story is based in the series Chronicles of Eorthe, book one is Scent of Salvation. The continuation of Awe and Isnay's romance can be found in the Alphas on the Prowl boxset, releasing April 28th.

Alpha shifters are on the prowl, and they're used to getting what they want. But there's more to claiming a destined mate than raw power, and they'll have to prove themselves worthy – in more ways than one.

Alphas on the Prowl is page after page of passion and pleasure in this box set featuring eleven tantalizing shapeshifter tales from NY Times and USA Today best selling authors.

Annie Nicholas writes paranormal romance with a twist. She has courted vampires, hunted with shifters, and slain a dragon’s ego all with the might of her pen. Riding the wind of her imagination, she travels beyond the restraints of reality and shares them with anyone wanting to read her stories. Mother, daughter, and wife are some of the other hats she wears while hiking through the hills and dales of her adopted state of Vermont.

Annie writes for Samhain Publishing, Carina Press, and Kensington Publishing.

Website

Newsletter

Facebook

Scent of Valor

It's finally available!  Scent of Valor, book 2 of the Chronicles of Eorthe. 

BUY

Courage blooms in the meekest of hearts.

After spending twenty years trapped in her civil body, Kele can finally shift into feral form. By tooth and claw, she’s determined to climb the Payami pack hierarchy.

Her parents plan to mate her with a hunter from a rival pack, but her heart’s already been stolen by the most unsuitable wolf possible—Peder, an omega male. She’d gladly give him her body except he’s disappeared from her life. Maybe into the thieving arms of another female.

Peder has spent every moment of their forced separation training to be a hunter. When he hears of her arranged marriage, he fears he’s waited too long to trespass back onto Payami lands to fight for her hand—but he damned well isn’t giving up.

On his journey to confront Kele, Peder is attacked and wakes in a cage, helpless as a band of vampires attack Kele’s mating party. Separated by social standing, thrown together by tragedy, they must work together to survive. And find out if their attraction is merely puppy love, or a bond that’s stronger than time.

Warning: This book contains an omega male who’s done submitting and a hunter female who isn’t used to needing anyone to come to her rescue. Violence ensues, not for the faint of heart.

a Rafflecopter giveaway Excerpt:

Sorin opened the gate. “Beat him to the ground,” were his parting words as Peder raced out into the forest.

Pale coral of dawn light outlined the mountain tops as he climbed the pass leading to Temple lands. He’d arrive before the mating parties and rest. Maybe even wash in a stream. He’d stand tall in the center of the Temple until both packs arrived. It was easier if he pretended to act like a hunter than to truly think he was one. With enough practice, maybe one day those lines would blur.

The sun hung just above the horizon, blazing with a hint of summer, as Peder descended the mountain. He turned around a sharp corner of the trail and stumbled upon a band of males. Digging his claws in the dirt, he came to a sudden halt. The wind blew in the wrong direction for him to have scented these vampires. No one should be on this part of the pass. It was still Apisi land.

Had Benic finally decided to kill him off? It seemed too cowardly for the vampire; he would prefer to sink his blade in Peder’s back personally. Besides, these bloodsuckers didn’t wear Benic’s colors.

They drew their weapons.

He backed away. “You’re on Apisi pack land.”

One of them laughed. “Shifters don’t own land. This is Lord Benic’s forest last I heard.” He spoke with a thick lilting accent.

“You’re not from his castle.” The cliff walls on each side of him were too steep to run and if he climbed, the vampires with bows would find him a fine target.

“No, we’re not.” The leader chuckled. “And you have rather pretty fur.”

His men fanned out around him.

Peder’s racing heart stopped. They wanted his fur? He scrambled backward but the loose soil under his claws made it difficult to gain any distance. Panic didn’t help either. Shifters were stronger than vampires, but there were four of them and only one of him. What were they going to do with his fur?

“Easy, mate. We ain’t going to hurt you,” one of the closer bloodsuckers said. “We’ll get a fine bag of gold for this one.”

Peder rose on his hind legs and snarled like Sorin had taught him. His fur stood on end along his spine.

“Don’t let him escape,” shouted a vampire as he pulled a blowgun from his belt.

Peder swiped his claws at the vamp that wanted him for gold. Something stung his neck. He clapped a hand over the spot and pulled out a thin dart.

Dog shit, not again. His knees turned to water and he kissed dirt.

How a Fever Leads to a New World

I love telling the story of what inspired Scent of Salvation because it shows how twisted my mind is. LOL

Both my sons were very ill with strep throat. Fever for days. When one was awake, the other was asleep, and vice versa. In other words, I had slept no more than a few hours in days. I felt like the Tylenol, Ibuprofen, and antibiotic dispensing machine.

About two in the morning, I had both boys in one bed so I could watch them together. My oldest’s fever was raging and I was waiting anxiously for the meds to kick in or I’d have to place him in a cool bath. Again. I was sitting on the floor and rested my head on the mattress and fell asleep.

In a matter of minutes, I dreamt of this whole world filled with vampires, shifters, dragons, incubi, etc. except no humans. I spent the next few months writing what I’d dreamed in over minutes.

Susan, a human tossed from our world to this one, is faced with Sorin’s sick wolf shifter pack. He offers her sanctuary within his small, poor den if she saves his people, but this world hasn’t developed technologically as ours has. There’s no Walgreens where Susan can get an antibiotic or supplies to create a vaccine. She has rock and fire and her knowledge as a prominent scientist to save this suffering pack.

I know how Susan felt as I watched my children suffer, waiting for the meds to take effect. I’m so thankful that I had those medicines in the first place. I doubt either of my boys would have survived without them. By the way, my boys were fine. Thank goodness for antibiotics. :D

Love blooms across species, culture, and time.

Chronicles of Eorthe, Book 1

Stranded in another dimension, on a primitive version of Earth, Dr. Susan Barlow needs to find a way to survive. There’s no electricity, no cities, and to her shock, no humans. Instead, she faces a population of werewolves, vampires and incubi. The people are vicious but she must find her place among them. And live.

An illness is killing Sorin’s pack. As alpha it’s his responsibility to save them, but it’s a battle this warrior doesn’t know how to fight. Then a blue light in the sky brings a creature he’s never seen. She calls herself human, but to him she smells like hope.

Sorin offers Susan a safe haven in return for a cure, but she’s not that kind of a doctor. She’s a doctor of physics, not a physician. Yet as they search for a cure to save a dying people, they find something special—each other.

But even with Sorin’s protection, Susan can’t help but wonder how long she can survive in a world without humans…

Warning: Feral shifters, power-hungry vampires, and a sole human female suffering culture shock.

EXCERPT

Annie Nicholas

Website: www.annienicholas.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorannienicholas?ref=hl

Twitter: https://twitter.com/annienicholas

Pinterest : http://pinterest.com/annienicholas/

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/yt8Kv

Never Cry Wolf

There are moments in life where something you've witnessed or heard affects your way of viewing the world and people forever.  In 1983 I was twelve and watched the movie Never Cry Wolf. It's about a government researcher, sent to study the "menace" of wolves in the north, and instead he learns about the true beneficial and positive nature of the species.

 

It's the first time I heard or understood the concept of pack.

 

 

Never Cry Wolf

Fall in love with an unconventional pack of shifters.

 

 

I love pack life. I come from a huge French Canadian family and for some reason I feel like I can relate to pack life because of this. LOL  We're loud and fight among each other but God forbid a an outsider tries to attack one of our own because can also work together almost without a word.

 

While taking the long drive home (2 hours) one summer, I was thinking about this and was wondering where I would fit in if we were actually wolves. Where in hierarchy would I be. It made me wonder more about the omegas. We read lots of books about the dominant alpha males who lead the pack but the omegas are the heart. This lead me to create my own small wolf pack of misfit omegas who banded together so they can survive a threat.

 

If you love underdogs then you'll love my pansies of the paranormal.

 

 

 

 

 

The Vanguards

 

 

 

Annie Nicholas

Website: www.annienicholas.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorannienicholas?ref=hl

Twitter: https://twitter.com/annienicholas

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/annienicholas/

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/yt8Kv