Page 92 of Awakened
Can’t wait. Call me Les.
Noted.
I made it to the clearing before the action started. Michael’s parents stood under a large tree with the other humans in attendance. The wolves, including Sarah’s parents, had Michael and Sarah circled as Marie spoke to the entire group.
“Tonight, we welcome Michael DeLuca into our world. Sarah’s intentional bite started the process, and tonight’s full moon will complete it. Alpha Bennett and Beta Cain will welcome Michael into the Brooks Pack upon return to their territory.”
At that, the members of the Brooks Pack, still in human form, howled. I cringed. I never did like the sound of the animal coming through the limited ability of the human throat. It was strangled, unnatural.
“Thank you, Alpha Landry. Michael DeLuca did not make this decision lightly but through love and dedication to Sarah Mitchell. Our future beta, Zach Cain, has led him through this month of transition and is confident of his worth to our pack. We would like to thank the DeLucas for supporting this young couple and their son’s decision. A night like this proves that family and friendship will see us through these uncertain times.Please know that you are as much family to us as Michael. Should you ever need anything, we are here.”
A loud snap silenced Alpha Bennett, and Michael cried out. I moved toward the center of the circle to a solemn Zach. Wrapping his arm around my waist, he pulled me to his side. Sarah knelt next to Michael, her face pale and drawn into a grimace, though she attempted to smile.
Dark tufts of fur poked through in patches on his arms. A towel covered his modesty, a practice mainly for the humans in attendance. It’s easier for them to watch a shift if they aren’t getting an eye full of dick.
The first shift could take up to an hour or be over in fifteen minutes. Born wolves shifted for the first time near the end of puberty. My first shift took only ten minutes, but Dad had worked with me for months to get me in the right headspace to accept the physical demands of the change. Zach had been working with Michael day and night, so I had no doubt he was ready.
One by one, Michael’s joints snapped back. He cried out but kept his focus on Sarah’s face and soft encouragement. She moved his head to her lap and caressed his cheeks. Her eyes shined with unshed tears, but she maintained that tight smile.
More fur pushed through his skin, and I remembered how much that stung the first time. Watching his shift made my body ache with phantom pains. Shifting is never pain-free, but with time, you become accustomed to the sensations and can push them to the back of your mind.
Michael’s eyes watered as his nose and mouth extended into a wolf’s snout. His mom gasped, and his father shushed her, bringing her closer to his side. I couldn’t imagine what it was like to encounter this without being born into our world.
I had been present for every first shift in the Blue Moon Pack. In most cases, I played the same role Sarah did for Michael—usher. The usher’s job was to soothe the body and help guide itinto the next form. You could only hope the mind was strong enough to follow the natural changes of the shift.
Claws pushed through the nail bed as fingers webbed into paws. Ribs cracked into formation, and his spine popped to accommodate the new slant of his midsection. His hips followed the moving spine as his thighs thickened to form haunches. Michael’s change happened so quickly that I was in awe.
The tiny bones in his feet grew and reshaped into two huge paws.
I leaned into Zach and whispered, “He’s doing great.”
He squeezed my waist, his focus remaining on his best friend.
With a strangled whimper, a bushy tail emerged, and his change was complete. Michael lay panting in Sarah’s lap, his gaze staying on her as happy tears streamed down her face.
“You did great, baby. Thank you. Thank you.” She kissed him between the eyes and on his wet nose. His enormous tongue returned the favor, and Sarah laughed, wiping the drool from her cheek. “Oh, you feel up to jokes? It’s on.”
Sarah jumped up and ran to the tree line. All the wolves followed her into the forest to change—no need to shock the humans with fifty or so naked bodies.
My shift took a matter of minutes. When we got back to the clearing, Michael’s mother was smothering him in kisses and marveling at how soft his fur was.
Sarah approached them cautiously.
“Sarah, is that you?”
Sarah nodded her large wolf head.
“Oh, darling. You’re beautiful. Would it be okay if I touched you?” She extended a cautious hand.
Sarah used her nose to nudge Mrs. DeLuca’s fingers.
Mrs. DeLuca took Sarah’s face in her hands and kissed her forehead. “Thank you for getting him through that. I’m so happy you’re joining the family. Now go show my son how to do this whole wolf thing.”
Sarah licked her palm, then ran to Michael.
Shaking out his black fur, Zach trotted over to me. The way he bounced around made it clear he would be a handful. After rubbing against my side, he nipped my hind leg, nudging me to follow Sarah and Michael.
We circled Michael, admiring his new fur. He was an impressive wolf, easily the size of a gamma. I wondered if he would shoot for a ranking. As I rounded the front of him, he made eye contact with me and held it slightly longer than was comfortable. A low growl from me, and his gaze fell to the ground.
