The day was pleasantly warm, I had been sitting outside in a small wooden chair El had pulled out of storage. The sun was comforting, but it did very little to help ease my anxiety. I was eighteen today, and my wolf was restless. We knew I was supposed to rest, especially with my first shift tonight, but she was eager to meet me, and I was eager to meet her. Everywhere I saw my reflection, she was looking back at me with that wolfish grin.
I could tell my anxiety was putting El on edge as well, she had sent me out here with a cup of lemonade and the order to sit in the sun. I knew she was trying to keep the cake she was making a secret, but through the open window it smelled divine. As much as they tried to be inconspicuous, Beau and Zack had their eyes on me, making sure I didn’t overexert myself.
Mitch had started on the new addition to the house the morning after I had agreed to stay here. Cam, Easton, and Mitch were out back now, building the frame of the new addition, attaching it to the end of the hall. Zack and Beau were chopping wood, but if I watched them long enough, they each would look over at me. I’d flash them a smile and a wave, to show them I caught their gaze. Beau would blush, embarrassed he was caught. Zack would just smile right back at me.
It was kind of entertaining, but it grew old quickly. I wanted to move, do something, anything other than sit around on my birthday. They wouldn’t let me though, for every time I tried to stand up, either Beau or Zack would stop what they were doing and walk over to me, asking if they could get me something. Defeated, I laid back in the chair, looking up at the sky and the lazily moving clouds. I hadn’t realized how much I relied on technology to quell my boredom until I was left without it.
A few other pack wolves would wander by, interested in the smell of El’s baking, or the construction Mitch was working on. By day three, I had been formally introduced to most of the pack. They had a bonfire, which was a blast, but it was odd. So many were gathered but I didn’t feel them. It was such a foreign concept to me, and yet, that was my reality now.
“Hey Cheyanne!” One of the village girls called out, cheerfully walking over to me.
My smile was wide as I stood to greet her, earning a glare from Zack.
“Hey there Lorrie! How are you today?” I’d ask.
“I’m good, enjoying the weather! How are you feeling today?”
Lorrie was learning how to be a healer from El, alongside Mari. My interesting situation was proving to be a good teaching moment for Lorrie, who was dedicated and checked up on me every moment she could.
“I’m feeling fantastic actually.” I’d state.
“She’s shifting tonight.” Beau would say, walking over to us.
“Oooh! Exciting!” Lorrie would squeal, a blush rising on her pale face.
It was obvious to everyone around that Lorrie had a crush on Beau, everyone except him it seemed. Either that, or he was too nice to tell her he wasn’t interested.
“Yeah, I can’t wait, and my wolf is extremely restless, but I’m being held captive to this chair.” I’d tease, looking over to Beau and Zack.
“Well, that’s good. You need to conserve your strength for tonight.” Lorrie would agree.
I sighed, letting myself fall back into the chair.
“Not you too!” I’d groan.
“Yep! As your self proclaimed nurse, I agree with them. It’s in your best interest to rest.”
Not even my new friend was on my side. I understood why, rationally I knew it was best, but it drove me crazy. I hated sitting still for long on a normal day, and this was far from normal.
“Boys!” El called from inside.
I perked up, watching as Zack and Beau headed inside. Finally! I stood up, bouncing on my heels as I watched the doorway, waiting for El to call me in. Sure, I dreaded the ceremonial ‘Happy Birthday’ song, but everyone had been hyping up El’s baking and I could hardly wait.
“Cheyanne!” She finally called.
Lorrie smiled, following me in as I walked through the doorway.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHEYANNE!” The family yelled in unison. Zack, Beau, Mari, El, and Mitch held more enthusiasm than Easton and Cameron did, but I still appreciated the sentiment and their effort.
“Thank you!” I looked at each of them with a smile, fighting tears. I had been so emotional recently, and it was a little annoying.
El turned around and picked up a cake from the stove, Mitch pulling the chair out from the table and indicating I should sit. The dreaded song, but I liked how they were trying to make me feel like part of their family.
The song began as El began to light the candles. I internally cringed, my awkwardness obvious. At the end of the song, I blew the candles out, only one wish came to mind, one my wolf and I agreed on.
‘Please, I wish my pup will be born healthy.’
Smoke wafted in spirals from the candles, and El picked them out of the cake. Mitch dished out the cake, smiling like he was a proud father, like I really was one of his kids. I had only been here two weeks and they made me feel so welcomed.
I took the long anticipated bite of the cake, and groaned in response. It was as good as everyone claimed it was. Beau laughed, his smile infectious as I smiled back.
“You were right.” I finally said after my cake was half gone. “I’ve never had a better cake.”
Probably because it was homemade. Boxed foods never tasted as good as homemade, my mother proved that time and time again, but she never baked cakes, cookies were the most she baked.
“I’m glad you like it. Happy birthday Cheyanne.” El would say, her hand resting softly on my shoulder.
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Dusk fell over the village in hues of pink and orange. The night was still cool, and I pulled the jacket tighter around me. We walked through the forest, leaves crunching underfoot. I had expected only El’s family to come out with me, not the entire pack. Like they would in Graycrest, everyone of shifter age came out with me, ready to greet my wolf as she took her first steps. The elders stayed behind with the pups, wishing me well before I left and anointing me with the water of a Full Moon.
Electricity crackled in my veins as Mitch led me to their gathering spot, a small pond with a beach. The boys had created a circle around me, El walking by my side. A family unit, ready to greet their new member. I felt the tears again and fought them. This was an exciting time, I didn’t need to get emotional.
The crescent moon reflected off of the still water of the pond, the night in full effect now. The pack gathered around the outskirts, just beyond the forest, as this family gathered by the edge of the water. The boys spread out, facing the pack. El brought me before Mitch, then stood by his side. The pack voted alpha and luna based on leadership and charisma. I stood before them, facing the pack as I had been taught to in Graycrest. They had gone over the ritual with me, and I told them how my old pack did it, and they confirmed it was the same here. They were glad they didn’t have to practice with me. Now, in action, looking at these faces I didn’t recognize, sorrow struck my heart. I should be facing my friends and family, the ones I had grown up with. I felt like such an outsider at this moment, even with them trying to make me feel welcomed. I pushed that feeling away, I wanted this moment to be happy, not laced with sadness.
“Silvermaw! Tonight, we welcome one of our own to the pack. Tonight, Cheyanne meets her wolf, tonight, we run with a new wolf! Celebrate, as this pup has become an adult!”
The words were different, not as smooth as I had heard my father speak over and over, but for a rogue pack, they were official enough. Howls rose up, all too human, but soon to be wolf. I turned to face Mitch and El, the latter taking a step forward and handing me a sleep remedy. Without it, I’d never sleep. My wolf was so active, burning to be released, I could never settle enough to sleep.
“Sleep child, awake the beast and take fur.” She’d say, her voice soft and only for me, yet echoing through the air and carrying to the pack. Magic was thick in the air, the moon accepted this pack it seemed. Either that, or the magic of a first transformation was always thick, no matter if there was a pack bond or not.
I took the drought, drinking deeply of the thick liquid. It felt like it crawled its way down my throat, like honey. Handing her the bottle back, I lowered myself onto the ground. El covered me with a fur blanket, and I curled up, closing my eyes.
‘Moon Goddess, take me away. Let me meet my other half.’ I’d send my thought out as I would through a pack bond, but aimed it skyward. I didn’t know if it would help, but I wanted this to be as quick as possible.
The ambient noise fell away, crickets and frogs silencing themselves, the breathing of the wolves around me vanishing. I opened my eyes, confused why everything had gone so silent. When I did, I didn’t see El, or Mitch, or any of the boys. Sitting up, the fur fell away from my body, suddenly without the clothes I had worn before. I pulled the blanket closer, alarmed at my nudity as I looked around the area. The wolves who had gathered were nowhere to be seen. Was…was this the mindscape the Elders spoke about? I stood, clutching the blanket close, and looked around. Something golden gleamed in the water, and I moved down the beach, my bare feet sinking into the sand.
Within the water was my reflection, the one of the wolf I saw so often, Gold and white fur looking fluffier than ever, those golden eyes looking back at me with excitement. I reached for her, but the moment my hand touched the water, she vanished.
“Wait!” I’d call out, eyes wide. Was this the moon goddess’s way of telling me I wouldn’t shift?
A bark from ahead. I looked up, over the water. The wolf, my wolf, stood on the water itself, waiting. I stood up again, and took a step forward. The cold water didn’t encase my feet as I expected, it tickled the bottom of my feet instead. I looked down, each step I took bringing me farther from the shore. I was walking on water. My confidence grew with each step, and I made my way towards my wolf, who watched me with pride…except now, she stood with two pups on either side of her. One was white with a gray blanket pattern, the other gray with a gold blanket pattern. I froze, looking at each with tears in my eyes, then to my wolf. I didn’t notice as I fell to my knees, sending ripples through the still water.
My wolf padded up to me, meeting me where I knelt, watching the two pups. They were,,,perfect. Her head bowed to me, and I bowed mine to her. Our foreheads met, and my body was lit with electricity. I gasped, feeling her pride and love flow through me. She had been here with me, watched me grow, had been the one to answer Lupa’s call. She was proud of me, proud of how we survived, proud of our strength.
“Thank you…for protecting me…” I’d whisper, my hands falling into her thick, soft fur. Her paw came up and rested on my shoulder, seeming to pull me closer. She didn’t say anything, but I felt it. Her never ending love. I let that love flow through me, the electricity of our connection turning to warmth. Like a hug from my mother when I was small, like the embrace Lex and I had shared before I was exiled, nothing but love.
When I opened my eyes to look at her, she was gone. Mitch and El stood before me, but they weren’t human. A white wolf stood where El was, a gray one where Mitch had been. They were equal size as me, and I looked down to see my white paws. I looked over my shoulder, the golden fur reflecting the moonlight. I had shifted. There wasn’t pain, like Beau had warned. I hadn’t even noticed I had shifted at all. There was so much I wanted to tell El, tell her that my pup was fine, that they were fine. Twins. Beautiful, perfect twins.
Beau came bounding up, his scent like cinnamon, his fur as flaming red as his hair. He tackled me in his excitement, earning a warning growl from El. He was supposed to be gentle with me. Zack was the next to approach, his gray fur matching his father. Surprisingly, Cam and Easton greeted me as well, their gray and white fur matching their parents. Instincts took over, and they greeted me with a familial nuzzle before starting the howl. As the pack answered, I joined, the beautiful voice of my wolf singing her thanks to the moon.
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