Copyright 2021 by aqua Sian
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Today’s my 16th birthday, and I’m finally meeting my wolf and potentially my mate! The Riverside pack, led by Alpha Ryker and Luna Winter, is one of the largest and respected packs in our country. Axel, their son and next in line to become alpha, has grown up alongside me. Our families have always joked about us being fated mates, given our fathers’ close relationship – my dad is Alpha Ryker’s beta. We’ve been like siblings, and the idea of becoming a real family has always been a tantalizing possibility. Deep down, I’m thrilled to meet my wolf and potential mate, but my heart belongs to Axel. I’m not just infatuated with him; I’m in love with him. However, he sees me as the weak little orphan girl he’s sworn to protect. He’s made it clear our relationship is purely platonic, and I’m just a responsibility he’s taken on.
My past is marked by tragedy. Alpha Rouge attacked my pack when I was six, killing everyone I loved. I was at school when it happened, and the memory of returning home to find my family and pack members dead still haunts me. Alpha Ryker found us survivors among the carnage and took us in, giving us a new family and home. My new parents tried for years to conceive a child of their own but were unsuccessful. When their alpha brought me back, they took me in without hesitation. They’ve been with me through every bad memory and nightmare, helping me through therapy and taking turns sleeping with me at night. The five of us – Ace, Dash, Blaze, Ophelia, and I, Bella Snow – formed an unbreakable bond, united by our shared trauma and outcast status within the pack. We found solace in each other, supporting and protecting one another from the taunts of our peers. They dared me to tell on them, but I never gave in. It all stopped when Ace, Dash, and Blaze started fighting back.
My room was a small, intimate space with a sloping ceiling and wooden beams that seemed to stretch up to the trees outside. The walls were made of rough-hewn wood, and the floor creaked softly beneath bare feet. A plush, wolf-themed bedspread covered the bed, which was nestled into a cozy nook beneath a window that looked out onto the forest. The window was framed by soft, billowy curtains that filtered the sunlight and cast a warm, golden glow over the room. A comfortable, oversized armchair sat in one corner of the room, piled high with plush wolf-themed pillows and soft, fuzzy blankets. A nearby side table held a steaming mug of herbal tea, surrounded by a scattering of dog-eared books and well-worn journals. Every available surface in the room was cluttered with all manner of wolf-themed treasures: vintage taxidermy mounts, hand-carved wooden figurines, and colorful, hand-woven blankets adorned with wolf-inspired patterns.
The room was lit by a combination of soft, warm candles and a string of fairy lights that twinkled like fireflies in the darkness. The air was thick with the scent of pine and wood smoke, and the sound of wolves howling in the distance seemed to echo through the trees. A small, rustic desk sat in one corner of the room, covered in papers, pens, and half-finished crafts. A nearby bookshelf was packed with dog-eared books on wildlife, conservation, and mythology, as well as dusty old tomes on magic and the supernatural. I prepared to meet my wolf and potential mate, I wondered if Axel would ever see me in a different light. Ophelia, my best friend, was waiting in my room, eager to help me prepare for my first shift. Her birthday was just days away, but she wasn’t allowed to attend the shift ceremony, as it was believed that seeing the transformation before your time could instill fear and potentially cause you to lose your wolf or die during the shifting process. “Ready to party, birthday girl?” she asked, her bright red hair and piercing green eyes sparkling as she grinned from ear to ear. Her tone was full of life and joy. Ophelia was petite, with a heart-shaped face, porcelain skin, and a slender yet curvy figure she loved to show off in tank tops, skirts, and shorts. Today, she wore a white tank top and denim shorts, while I had opted for a comfortable tracksuit to hide my skinny frame. As I finished braiding my hair, I joked, “Ready as I’ll ever be! Hopefully, my wolf will give me some meat on these bones.” But deep down, I meant every word. I longed to feel more confident and powerful, like Ophelia. “Stop it, you’re gorgeous just the way you are,” Ophelia said, her words genuine and heartfelt. But I needed to believe it myself to truly accept myself. Just then, a knock at the door interrupted my thoughts. “Come in,” I said, finishing my braid. My mom entered, tears streaming down her face. “My baby is about to shift for the first time,” she sobbed. I sometimes wondered why I ended up with them, but the day I arrived, we just clicked, and they took me in as their own. Even my pack’s alpha, Ryker, treated me like family. I lost my biological parents but gained new ones that day – a true blessing from the goddess.
I wiped away my mom’s tears, and she wiped away mine. “Stop crying, you’re going to make me cry,” I said, trying to hold back my sobs. Just then, my dad walked in and enveloped us both in a warm hug. “Now, mate, see what you did? You’re going to make her think she won’t survive the shift,” he teased, causing me to tense up. My mom playfully hit him on the arm. “Don’t scare us like that! My baby is strong and will make it through just fine.” As I stepped out of the cozy cabin, the soft, silvery moonlight enveloped me, casting an ethereal glow over the landscape. The warm sunlight of the day had given way to a gentle, lunar radiance that illuminated the winding dirt path ahead. I took a deep breath, feeling the cool night air fill my lungs, and began my journey to the pond. As we walked, the trees grew closer together, casting deeper shadows that filtered the moonlight. The air grew cooler and more misty, carrying the scent of damp rock and moss. I could feel the energy of the gathering building, a sense of anticipation that was both exhilarating and terrifying. The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers, and the soft, gentle hum of insects provided a calming background noise. Suddenly, the trees parted, and we found ourselves standing at the edge of a clearing. The gathering was spread out before us, a sea of faces lit up by the soft, lunar light. I could see people dancing, laughing, and chatting, all united by their love of the moon. My parents led me into the crowd, the moon hung low in the sky, casting a silver glow over the gathering. I felt its energy coursing through my veins, a sense of connection to something much larger than myself. As the night reached its peak, I sensed that the moon was calling to me, drawing me into its orbit with an otherworldly force. My heart beat faster, and my senses came alive as I felt the moon’s energy coursing through my veins. The pack had gathered around a huge fire, and I saw all the unmated males, including Axel, waiting for me. My heart raced as I prepared to meet my wolf and potential mate. The alpha’s voice echoed through the clearing, “Today, one of our own will experience their first shift. According to tradition, all unmated males must be present to determine if she is their fated mate.” The males removed their shirts, revealing chiseled abs and muscular physiques. I blushed, looking away.
My parents approached me, and my dad said, “It’s time.” They led me under the moonlight, and my mom instructed, “Remove your clothes.” I felt a mix of excitement and nerves as I did so. My dad continued, “Take a deep breath and connect with your wolf. It’s midnight, and she’s eager to emerge.” I closed my eyes, focused, and reached within. I felt Arial’s presence, and with a gentle nudge, she emerged. “Hey, I’m Arial, your wolf,” she said, her voice gentle and reassuring. “Hey, Arial, I'm Bella... let's shift." My bones cracked and contorted, and everything hurt. But my mom's soothing voice helped me through the pain. "You're doing great, honey, just breathe." And then, I stood on four paws, my fur white as snow with two red markings on my right leg. My ocean blue eyes remained the same, and I felt wonder and excitement. I approached the water's edge, saw my reflection, and marveled at my beauty. Others chorused "Pack!" and we started running, chasing each other and rabbits. I spotted Blaze and played until I caught an intoxicating scent. "Mate," my wolf said, and we ran towards it.
We arrived, and the smell of earth and muscularity led me to a stunning red wolf with two white markings on his right leg. Our eyes met, and those big brown eyes looked into mine... we approached each other, and he licked me. I rested my head on his, knowing exactly who this was - Axel, the one who had always talked about his unusually colored wolf, symbolizing power and strength. But our moment was cut short by a foreign smell. "Not pack," my wolf warned, and before I could react, Axel stepped in front of me, and the rest of the pack followed his lead, forming a protective barrier around me. I couldn't see my mate anymore. My alpha instructed my mother to take me away, and we quickly dressed and returned to our pack houses. Back in my room, I cuddled up next to Ophelia, who was sleeping, and thought about how a foreign wolf had ruined my dream come true - the happiest day of my life, when I met my wolf and my fated mate. I drifted off to sleep, thinking of Axel.
