Chapter 2 - Lachlan

Seems my wolf was quite an irritating little fucker. Either that or he liked to disagree with everything I said just to rile me up. I was undecided. I picked at my breakfast, making polite conversation with those sitting around me, just as my eyes were caught by a movement by the large window of the dining hall. My gaze was instinctively drawn in that direction, only to be greeted by the dark-haired figure of Seren stalking past. The one member of the pack I hated above all others.

Her long dark hair pulled up into a high pony-tail, and dressed in yoga pants and a cropped top. Maybe she had been at the gym? But I felt irritation bubbling... Everyone had come to the dining hall to wish me a happy birthday, I assumed, at the former Alpha or former Luna's request. All except her. I can’t say I am surprised. While I hated a fuss, and would rather nobody felt they needed to do all this for me, I appreciated the effort they had gone to. It was more that Seren felt she was above joining in... even as our former Gamma's daughter, had chosen not to join in, despite the fact I imagine her mother would have taken a huge part in arranging the celebrations.

I felt that familiar sensation rippling through me. Resentment. Hatred. Anger… I needed to get away.

‘So wolf. Want to go for a run?’ I suggested. Unsure even of what his name was.

He chuckled, like he found me highly amusing. ‘ The name is Tyr. And a run could be good. It has been a while. You ready for a little pain though?’

‘I am a Beta, I am not going to struggle with pain.’ I pointed out, to which he chuckled again.

I waved to my Mum. ‘Going for a run.’ I mindlinked and her smile was one of pride.

‘Your wolf has come?’ she questioned, to which I nodded as I made my way to the dining room door. I did not really want to be around all these people while my anger lingered so heavily. I was generally a light-hearted and kind-hearted person. Caring. Sweet. Or at least, those are usually words used to describe me. But, when it came to Seren Bradshaw, things changed.

She was not possible to like. Not possible to care for. Not in my mind. She was the reason my father was dead. And for that, I could never forgive her.

The moment I rushed out of the packhouse, I made my way to the treeline, already stripping off my t-shirt and sweatpants. Keeping hold of them as I did, hoping my wolf would pick them up in his mouth like I had seen so many others within our pack do.

‘What do I need to do?’ I asked my wolf, hoping that he would at least offer me some guidance since I was here doing this on my own. It was often said that wolves are reborn into new hosts, so they are simply living once again. I quite like that idea, it made me believe our wolves could bring us experience and guidance. Yet, so far, all my wolf had done was laugh at me...

‘Not so smart now, are you big strong Beta boy?’ he teased, and I instantly decided I think I hated my wolf. Is it possible to swap them?

‘No. No you can’t swap us.’ He said bluntly, making me realize he could likely hear my thoughts as well as what I said to him. Eww, I don’t think I liked that idea…

‘Aww. You going to have to filter your thoughts then, huh? Don’t worry, there are times I know when to drop back. I do not want to share some things.’ Tyr told me with a chuckle. He seems like a real jackass.

‘Yep. A compete jackass. But you will come to love me, trust me. Now, think of your body shifting. Imagine it happening, and it will start.’ His voice rings through my mind as I feel a surge of power pushing forward through me. That was the strangest of sensations. My body no longer felt like it was my own. My wolf had taken control of me…

But, that is what I needed. I needed him to take charge right now. I wanted to shift. I wanted to meet this wolf that would become the other half of me. Be the one that guides me through life. Will level me. I did as Tyr had said and began to try to imagine my limbs altering to those of a wolf… when a sudden rush of pain flooded me.

Pain like nothing I had ever felt before. Taking my breath away, and causing me to drop to the floor, as my body writhed in agony. ‘Tyr?’ I called for him, but there was nothing, as my body began to dislocate. The pain was immense…

Then, I felt the strangest sensation as I felt myself drift backward. Like I was no longer present within my own body as I could vaguely feel the pain now, watching the limbs twist and cracking to form the sleek limbs of the deep grayish body of the wolf I was turning into. Who I can only assume is my wolf, Tyr.

‘Tyr?’ I called again.

‘Fucking hell, don’t get a minute's peace to even shift in peace.’ He muttered, as he shook his head, before letting out a deep growl. I was looking at the world through his eyes now, and how bizarre it looked. Clearer than my own vision, lower down too...

‘No shit, smart ass. I run on four legs, not two, so closer to the ground.’ He mocked my thoughts, and again I was reminded that I didn’t like the wolf I had been blessed with so far.

‘Is there a reason you are being an ass?’ I tried.

‘All good fun. Or are you a boring one and have no sense of humor?’ he teased. As he gently padded along the forest floor, his head turning side to side as if seeing whether we were alone.

‘Nothing wrong with my sense of humor, it just depends on who is telling the jokes.’ I defended myself. ‘Oh, pick up my clothes, so I can change.’ I told him, before he ran off, to which he chuckled, running off at full speed. I should have known...

I would say I cursed him, but the thrill as he began running was something else. The speed with which he could run was incredible. The breeze rushed through Tyr’s fur as he reached full speed… rather than swear and shout at him for not doing what I wanted him to do, I simply allowed myself to drop back within what I assumed right now was his mind, the most unusual of feelings, as he enjoyed the freedom of being here. Being shifted…

We ran for, I have no clue how long. Loving every moment of the freedom it brought us. Tyr frolicking within the trees and the forest floor. Howling and growling at the slightest thing, so clearly happy to be here. While I felt lighter now he was here. Complete, exactly the way it had been described by friends... and the feeling of running like this was liberating. Being able to go for runs may now be my favorite thing…

All tension from seeing Seren was gone. She was a nobody anyway. ‘Won’t win the ladies with that sort of an attitude.’ Tyr told me with a chuckle.

‘She is not one we want to win.’ I informed him, and he laughed again. 'She is one we avoid. Run from, in fact.'

‘Well, I won't argue with the need to run. Anytime some headspace is needed, give me a shout.’ He informed me.

‘Well, as much as I want to keep running, I have a birthday party to prepare for. Plus, I want to spend some time with my Mum.’ I told my wolf. I always find some time each day for my Mum, so she doesn't feel lonely, and I know that the birthday celebrations would barely give me a moment.

I find us rounding the trees and stopping right where we started, completely unaware that we had done a full loop, and Tyr had stopped us in front of my clothes. ‘I am sure she appreciates you looking out for her. Now, let us see if we can do this better than we did the first time.’ He said, and I felt the same strange sensation I had earlier, but this time it was as he dropped back. My bones beginning that same twisting and dislocating sound which, to anyone else who had not seen countless people shift, would think it sounded horrendous. This time the transition between forms was easier. Not smooth. Or flawless but better. Could be improved. We will say that, I thought as I grabbed my pants.

‘No shit. At least you didn’t cry this time.’ Tyr joked, I was so tempted to tell him to fuck off. ‘Doesn’t bother me if you do.’ He added with a chuckle, making me remember he said he could hear most of my thoughts, and I laughed, grabbing my shirt from the forest floor, as I began walking back toward the tree line, just as a strong, fruity, sweet scent hit me. Like coconut and pineapple…

Tyr began bouncing around within my mind, whimpering… purring… and I was on edge now, not knowing what was happening. Until the one person I did not want to see stepped through the treeline. Seren. Fucking Seren. Just as Tyr said the worst words possible. ‘Mate!’ my heart sank, and my world felt like it had fallen apart…