Page 101 of Campfires & Canines
Heath clears his throat. "We need to plan for your first shift."
"Okay?" Hazel says, more of a question than confirmation.
"If we don't, you will shift at some point soon when your emotions are high. And we want to make sure it's a safe environment. So facilitating your first shift is wise," Heath explains.
Hazel still looks confused.
Clove tips her chin up, silently asking permission from Heath. He gives it.
"Hazel, when our children first shift, they're usually eight or nine. It's an overwhelming experience. But they already have a ranking in the pack, at the bottom. There are safe boundaries in place." I am endlessly grateful to Clove for stepping up as a mother to Hazel in this moment.
"However, when an adult wolf joins a new pack, they don't have a ranking to start with. They have to find their place. It's based on age, ability, power, and personality. We call it dominance. And sometimes that can involve challenges or fights. But since they areexperienced adults, they usually know how to navigate the process without injuring anyone."
Hazel nods. "So I have to find my ranking?"
"You will naturally," Clove reassures her. "We want to make sure you can do it safely."
Hazel blinks, eyebrows rising. "I'm sorry, are we worried I'm going to hurt someone? How?"
Heath shifts his weight. "Your first shift is intense. Your new instincts might overwhelm you. If you’re dominant, that instinct might be to fight another wolf in order to establish your position."
I see understanding in our friend's faces. Marigold has a worried little smile. Cedar is nodding.
"We don't want to risk anyone's safety. So by guiding your shift to happen sooner, we can create the ideal environment," Heath explains.
Hazel chews on her lip. "Are we seriously worried I'll go crazy and attack someone?"
"For the most part, we can sense who is more dominant or submissive than we are. It's a hierarchy,” I reassure her. “If you are particularly dominant, you may challenge other dominant wolves in a struggle to find your place. But most likely you'll sense who is more or less dominant than you and everything will fall into place."
"Since you come from a line of alphas, you may be quite dominant," Heath adds. Hazel's pulse speeds up. She digs her fingers into my arm.
"What if I challenge someone?" she asks.
Heath continues, "I won't let anyone get injured. But you also need to establish yourself with a positionin our pack, so it's okay if you do challenge someone. For example, Cassia is one of our most dominant Zetas which is why I asked her to join us.
“Most likely, you will either submit to her or challenge her. And I will be there as a safety net if things go wrong," Heath reassures her.
Hazel looks to Marigold and then to Clove.
"Honey, I am very submissive. You don't have to worry about challenging me," Clove says kindly.
Marigold nods along. “We’re here for support.”
"I don't think anyone should be there. Until I can get a handle on things," Hazel argues.
"If it’s not now, it’ll be the next time you shift,” Heath warns. "But facing two or three wolves at first should make things much easier. An accidental shift in the middle of a crowd is what we want to avoid."
"It'll be okay," I say softly in her ear.
She looks up at me. "You're second-in-command, the beta. Does that mean you are the most dominant wolf aside from my uncle?"
I stand a little straighter. "Yes." She grips me a little tighter. I suspect her wolf instincts are riding her hard at the moment.
"I'm sure everything will go smoothly. But I would rather be over-prepared instead of risking someone getting injured," Heath summarizes.
Hazel shakes her head. "I can't imagine I'll be dominant."
"We will see. Now we need to decide when and where," Heath says.
