Chapter two - Turning 18
561 Words
It's a big moment, in a Werewolves life, turning 18. This is when you are finally in with a shot of finding your mate. Not only that but you get your Wolf and that's a big deal!
Your wolf is part of who you are, you share the same body and the same mind and yet you are two completely separate beings.
When you meet your mate, your wolf feels it at exactly the same time you do. For the wolf, everything is primal and she will do whatever she can to get to your mates wolf. Wolves don't care for stature, strength or ancestry. They know who they're connected to and that's all they need. The non wolf side, I suppose you could call it human, is much more cautious and may chose to 'reject' their chosen mate. This causes both sides agony, and if a female rejects a male of title, an Alpha for example, there is a chance the male will die.
Your wolf makes it's first appearance on the full moon after your 18th Birthday. You're bones break, snap and re-form and it is said to be absolute agony. Your ligaments stretch and your muscles tear away from each other as they lengthen to fit your wolf form. Your vocal cords are pulled to within an inch of their life! Whilst all this is happening you watch your hands and feet elongate until they are paws and claws and hair bursts through your skin. The first shift takes well over an hour from start to finish. The more you shift, the easier it gets. Eventually a shift takes seconds and there is no time to register the pain.
If you are really lucky you may have already found your mate before the full moon. Your mate will stay with you in order to help you through the physical ordeal. Their scent should bring comfort and ease the female wolfs anxiety. All Male Wolfs are older than their female mates, and have always shifted several times before their female counterpart.
As a healer, my mom would accompany the unmated she-wolfs of our pack on their first shift. Whilst her healing abilities would only ease the pain slightly, her presence brought peace and made things just a little more bearable. That was why she was in the car with Megan and Lucas. Megan was adamant that Lucas was her mate, but my mom wasn't convinced. She wanted to be there 'just in case' there was a problem. 'Bloody hell mum' I groaned inwardly 'You should have just let them get on with it. You'd still be here now.' Selfish? Yes of course it is, but anyone in my position would rather lose one family member than two.
Besides, I figure I'm allowed a little selfishness today. Because today I am 18. There will be no celebration, no presents, not even breakfast in bed. Today will be the same as any other day in the past five years. I decide to allow myself a couple of pity tears under the circumstances. But a couple turn to a couple of hundred very quickly. I wrap my arms around myself in an unconscious effort to hold myself together. Silent sobs wrack my body as I mourn my mom and my sister and the life that I lost on the night they died.
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