Fire Moon

Chapter 4

“Did you remember to shave your legs, honey?” My grandmother asked.

“What?  Yes, I did,” I said.

“Okay.  Well, you don’t want people staring at your hairy legs tonight,”

“I shaved them, Gran!” 

    She was in my room mostly just pestering me while I was getting ready for tonight’s ceremony.  It was the Summer Solstice and tonight would be the first time I shifted into a wolf.  I already shaved my legs because I wore a dress under my cap and gown at graduation this morning. 

    My grandmother was asking me this because when you shift into a wolf your clothes don’t fit.  You either take them off before you shift or they will rip off during the transformation.  Then, when you shift back, you are naked.  I knew all of this but I was still nervous for anyone to see me naked.  Not like I wanted to see my other classmates naked either.  Ew. 

    At the ceremony we would just have to shift into a wolf together.  We did not have to shift back into our human form at the same time.  After you shifted into a wolf you were free to leave the ceremony and roam around to get a feel for your wolf.

“Why don’t you wear the dress you wore this morning at your graduation?”

“Because it’s a nice dress and I don’t want to ruin it,” I replied

“Tonight is a special occasion as well.  Wear the dress.  It will be easier to shift in a dress than in pants,” my grandmother had a point.

“Okay,” I said.  I was already anxious.  I needed to chill out.

    I decided I would wear the dress like my grandmother had suggested.  It would have sat in my closet for a long time anyway.  I did not wear many dresses.  I did not really have a style per se but I liked wearing jeans.  My legs were pale and I did not like showing them off.   

*

    My grandparents drove their car out to the ceremony.  The spot was located in a woods at the edge of our pack’s land.  It was used for ceremonies, festivals, and other events.  At night, it was light up by torches and hanging lanterns.  My grandmother helped organize it and she did a good job. 

    We were one of the first people to arrive.  My grandfather wanted to be early because he was going to be speaking at the ceremony.  I walked with my family to the clearing among the trees.  It had a nice glow.  There was a large fire pit in the middle.  Definitely a trademark of our pack, the Fire Moon pack.  There were some benches but aside from the torches and lanterns that was it.   The rest of the beauty came from being surrounded by the forest.

    Other pack members started to arrive.  I was nervously following my grandmother around, attached to her hip now.  It wasn’t like I had anyone to talk to and I did not want to stand by myself looking like an i***t without any friends.  I was getting really anxious. 

    Children were not allowed to attend the Summer Solstice ceremony.  Only adults could come.  That was because it might scare young children.  Shifting the first time is not easy and can be really painful, so it was recommended that just a couple members from each eighteen-year-old graduate’s family come to watch and not bring many more guests.  It was still a large group.  There was over fifty people in my senior class. 

“Welcome everyone and good evening!” my grandfather began.

“Good Evening, Alpha!” The crowd and I chanted back to show our respect.

“Please gather around and let us have the young ones stand in the front,” my grandfather said as people gathered in. 

    It was time for the ceremony to start.

    Oh God, I had to pee.  Or was it just my nerves?  Oh God.  Oh God.  Oh God.

“Tonight, you are here to become the next generation of men and women to join the Fire Moon pack.  It is a big step in your life.  You will meet your wolf and you will feel a change within yourself as the two of you connect and become one.  Do not be afraid,” when my grandfather said that part, he looked at me.

“I’m sure you have all been told what to expect.  There is no judgement here.  Your families and I are here to encourage and support you through your first shift into your wolf.  Once you shift, you will want to go for a run and stretch your new form.  I have ordered the Zetas and Kappas to be on patrol around the reservation and these woods in case you need assistance.  You have nothing to fear.  Let your natural instincts take over,” my grandfather was almost done with his speech.

“Now, it is time.  Take a deep breath and clear your mind.  Fire Moon!” he bellowed.

“FIRE MOON!” we shouted back to him.

    Oh God.  It was showtime.  Please, let the Moon Goddess be with me!

    Some of my classmates turned around to talk with their families.  I am glad I wasn’t the only one who was nervous.  I really wanted to run and hide behind my grandmother like a little pup but I couldn’t.  That would be shameful of me being I was the Alpha’s granddaughter.   And since I was his granddaughter, people started staring at me like I should go first or something. 

    Stop staring at me.  Oh my God.  I can’t do this!

    Immediately, Luke Osbourne walked up to the front of the group.  He closed his eyes and tilted his head up towards the sky.  He raised his arms out in some weird stretch.  Then he started grunting while flapping his arms.  I almost snorted from trying not to laugh.  He looked dumb even though he was no doubt trying to show off by being the first one of us to shift.  He let out another grunt. 

    CRACK!  Luke was on the ground.  He was yelling out in pain now.  Another cracking sound came from his body as he was on his knees with his hands on the ground in front of him.  He didn’t yell this time, he let out some sort of gurgling scream.  I was terrified.  He acted like he was in excruciating pain, like he was dying.  CRACK!  More and more terrible sounds and then I saw his clothes start to rip.  I watched as his shirt tore across his distorted and hairy back and the scraps of fabric fall on the ground.

    Luke straightened up and now he was a wolf.  He was no longer crouching on the ground but standing tall on all fours.  He was a large wolf with a dark grey fur coat.  His wolf easily could look an adult in their eyes.  He let out a short howl and took off into the woods while the rest of the senior class stood in shocked silence. 

    Panic set in as my mind was trying to focus.  I couldn’t take a deep breath and my heart was beating exceedingly fast.  s**t!  Okay, okay I can do this.  I just need to do it and get it over with.  I cannot let my grandfather down.  I need to shift now!

    I went straight to the ground on my hands and knees.  I was not going to try to show off like Luke did with his bizarre pose.  I tried to take a deep breath and to clear my mind.  I pictured myself running through the woods and sniffing the nighttime breeze.  Crack.  Ouch!  s**t that hurt.  Deep breath and focus, Jordan, come on!

    The crowd was clapping and some them whistled.

“FIRE MOON!” they yelled again.

    Realizing that they are all looking at me, I looked down at my hands.  There were hairy legs of a wolf where my arms were.  My hands were replaced with paws and sharp claws.  My wolf’s fur was looked grey and white mixed together.  My wolf…  OH MY GOD!  I was a wolf now!  I shifted and I survived!  Why did Luke make it look so difficult?

    I let out loud howl and actually shocked myself at how good it sounded.  Then I leaped into the forest.  My senses seemed in overdrive as I kept running.  I wasn’t sure where I was going.  I let my instincts, my wolf, takeover.  I was still conscious but it’s like I was just spectating.  I did not have to do any thinking really.  I could just watch and feel as my wolf explored the woods and got a feel for its body.  It felt odd but great That’s when I heard an inner voice in my head speak to me.  At first, I thought it was someone in the pack mindlinking me but it wasn’t it was my wolf.   

“Hello Jordan, pleasure to finally meet you.  I am your wolf, it’s mind and soul.  My name is Breeze,” the voice said.

“What!  I didn’t know we would be able to communicate like this!  I am so glad to finally meet you too, Breeze.  Wow!” I exclaimed back to her.

    I let Breeze run where ever she wanted until the sun started to rise.  Communicating with her was something I can’t describe.  Even though I just spoke with her for the first time this night she knew everything about me already.  Thank the Moon Goddess for granting me a wolf like Breeze.

*

“Hey, we need to go home now before it gets too light outside,” I said in my head, talking to my wolf.

    I did not want to be running home naked in the daylight for everyone to see.  Immediately my wolf turned and headed towards the packhouse.  Around the corner from the front door of my house is where I crouched down.

 "Alright, uh, I need to shift back now,” I thought.

    My wolf let out another howl and then next thing I know I was laying in the grass panting but in human form.  Great.  She probably woke my family up with that howl.

    I tried catching my breath and scurried to the front door.  I was getting ready to run inside when I looked through the window on the door and saw my grandfather sitting in a chair.  Oh s**t.  Quickly, I realized I had to go through the patio doors because the other doors might be locked.  So, I sprinted around to the back of the house. 

“Well hello there,” someone said in a flirty tone.

    Jesus Christ!

“Ah!” I jumped because they startled me.

“Not bad last night, Jordan, you shifted pretty quick,” said the naked guy in front of me.

“Uhm, yeah,” I was trying to use my hands to cover myself and I could feel my face heating up from embarrassment.

    He noticed I was trying to cover myself and I’m sure it was written all over my face how uncomfortable I was.  

“Don’t be shy, being naked is a natural thing for us wolves,” he said.

“Okay well, go away, Collin, so I can go inside,” I said. 

Collin snickered at me and then went to say something else but must have changed his mind because he just smiled.

    I honestly don’t know why I looked down.  It’s not like I was trying to check him out but I couldn’t help it.  I had backed myself up to the side of the house and was trying to shield myself as best as I could so none of my lady parts were showing.  I felt cornered.  I was extremely uncomfortable already and then here was Collin trying to have a conversation with me.  Naked.  I guess curiosity won and my eyes dropped from his face to his waist.  And then slightly lower…

    Truthfully, I can’t say I have ever seen a man’s p***s in real life before now.  Collin was muscular and my eyes followed a v-shaped crevice from his lower abs past his pubic hair and down to it.  It just sort of hung there.  It seemed larger than I imagined but it’s not like I knew anything about them.  It.  Them.  p*****s.  d***s. 

    Oh God.  How long have I been staring at his p***s?

    I was staring too long and he noticed. 

    Kill me now. 

“See something you like?” Collin said smugly with a grin.

“Just go away, Collin!” I said.

    Now, I wanted out of the uncomfortable situation so I quickly ran to the patio door.  I didn’t care if he saw anything.  I was already mortified.  I slid the door open and went inside.  I did not bother to shut the door.  I hastily made my way up the stairs to my bedroom and locked the door. 

    I knew Collin but we never really talked that much.  He was Nicky’s cousin actually.  Collin’s dad was Nicky’s dad’s older brother.  He probably would have been at Nicky’s house for his birthday dinner if Nicky wouldn’t have left.  Collin and Nicky were not close though.  Collin ran around with Luke Osbourne and the other jerks in our graduating class.  He was a flirt and had a kind of lady’s man reputation.  Collin’s dad was our pack’s Delta.  Which meant that Collin would be the next Delta.  Go figure, right?  I would be stuck with Luke and Collin to help me run the pack.  If I were to become the Luna that is.