Chapter 3

I wipe the tears from my face sitting up in my bed. I can see the dress hanging from the closet. It was floor length, in dusty rose color with a dull finish. I shed my clothes and put on the dress. Surprisingly, it fit very well.  The sweetheart neckline flattered my chest, usually they were too tight, and the straps would fall off my shoulders, but this? This style of dress was perfect, absolutely perfect. The sleeves hung off my shoulders, the form fit of the dress hugged my curves yet not bringing too much attention to my little pouch. I took a breath, looking into the mirror… for once, I actually felt beautiful. 

The dress stopped  just above my ankles, where it came to a point, making it difficult to walk in my normal long strides. The only downside of the dress, really. I take my time heading down the stairs, not wanting to take a tumble. 

"Hot damn. If I was gay, I would be swooning right now! Wait, I am swooning… You look absolutely stunning Mar!" Lora had arrived, she was standing near the kitchen with Pete. She started to hoot and holler as I walked past her into the kitchen. 

My mother looked me up and down, and my little push of confidence immediately dissipated under her gaze. "Hmmm, it's a little more revealing than I thought.. I should take out the sides a little." She said as she pinched at the sides of my waist. 

"I think it looks fine." My voice was muffled, but I managed to choke out the words. "I would like to keep it as it is." 

My mother gives me a look, her lips tighten in a thin line as her brow furrows. " I really think it would actually be flattering if you would just let me-" 

I shake my head, pushing her hand away. "No mom, it's fine. I'll leave it. It's my birthday too, so I'll wear what I like. Thank you for the dress." 

I turn on my heels as my mom stares at me with a look of shock on her face. My brother gives me a thumbs up as I walk past, and I signal Lora to follow me. "Going to get changed, then we can leave, okay Pete?" 

"Sure thing Mar, I'll be waiting."

"Where are you going?" I hear my mother shout after us as I head to my room, Lora following behind me. I don't respond to her, I figure Pete can fill her in. 

Behind the closed door I quickly unzip the dress. Thinking of that milkshake makes me want to be there already! 

"You really looked amazing in that dress Mar. Like hella hot. All the guys will be fawning over you at the ceremony tomorrow. Maybe we'll find our mates!" 

She smiled at me, I could feel the excitement radiating off of her, it was infectious. "Maybe!" I smiled back at her, before slipping out of my dress and hanging back in my closet, and rushed to get dressed. 

"Let's skedaddle!" I shout as I bound down the stairs. Pete hops up from the couch in the living room, twirling his keys around his finger. 

"Let's get some food!" He shouts, like the weirdo he is. And the three of us pile into his jeep and head for Rosie's. 

I feel stuffed, as if I'm going to explode. I groan as I buckle up. "That was way too much food. Ugh why did I eat so much? I'm going to look so bloated in that dress tomorrow."  I whine as I pat my overly stuffed tummy. 

"You're still going to look hot af, shut up." Lora chirps from the back seat. Pete laughs as he begins the drive home. 

"It will be fine. Tomorrow will be an okay day! The party after the ceremony will be bangin' so there's that." 

"I'm not looking forward to the drive.. I cannot do two hours in the car with mom and Ella . Maybe, we can ride together Lora?"

"Uh heck yeah! You can ride with mom and I! Dad is already down there for work, had to check the electrical for the party and all that jazz." 

"Sounds like a plan to me!" 

"Sweet! I'm going to text my mom and let her know." 

I sit back in my seat, letting the cool breeze calm me. I look up into the clear night sky, the full moon shining brightly, not a cloud in sight. I close my eyes, letting the wind blow through my hair. 

I think Pete and Lora are talking to me, but right now I didn't care to listen. This was it, my last night with only a human side. Tomorrow I would gain my wolf and soon I would be free. 

….

12:01a.m 

I sat outside with Lora and Pete. We sat on the porch swing, swaying in silence. 

"Happy birthday Mar," they both said in unison. I smiled as I felt like a weight was being lifted off my shoulders. 

I could feel it, the blood coursing through my veins and my heart rate quickened. 

"We are but one soul of one body." A voice that sounds of my own but is not echoes in my head. "I am your guide, your conscientiousness. I am you and you are I. Together we are two halves of one whole. Tonight you are blessed by the gods above. I bless thee, Margot Jane Packwell, with the gift of shape-shifting. Your wolf is your counterpart, animalistic in nature. But together you are one, two equals to one. Be free my child, blessed be." 

The soft voice disappeared, and I can feel my body beginning to shift. It hurts, Holy shit it hurts. My bones snap and my flesh feels as though it is being torn off. My organs shift as my body expands. 

I let out a sharp squeal, collapsing to the ground. 

"Just breathe Mar!" I can here Pete's voice calling out to me. 

"It fucking hurts!" I scream in utter agony. 

"The first one always does. Just breathe. And don't fight it. You have to welcome the pain." 

Welcome to the pain? Is he serious? 

My calf contorted, sending a new flair of pain flashing through, as I cry out. 

"Just welcome the pain Mar! Just do it!" 

I close my eyes tight, taking in a deep breath, listening to Pete's words. I give my body over to the transformation. It feels like hours but finally, the last bone of my jaw snaps into place. 

I open my eyes, and it's like looking through a magnified camera lens. Everything is so clear. I can see almost as if it was daytime. I take in a deep breath, the smile of grass and musk fill my nostrils. I can smell the dirt of the earth, and the fishy scent of the lake nearby. This is insane! 

The feeling of the earth beneath my paws is nothing like I've ever felt before. Excitedly, I eagerly take a step forward, but I fumble a little. Walking on all four was such a bizarre feeling. 

"It's weird at first. Just take one step at a time." 

Pete is now next to me. His deep brown and black wolf stares at me as he speaks to me through our mind link. 

I nod to him, shaking out before taking another step. It was like learning to walk again. After a few more wobbly steps, I started to get the hang of it. 

Lora nuzzled against me. Her sandy blonde wolf nudging me as she spoke through the mindlink. 

"You did great Mar! You shifted impressively fast! And your wolf is beautiful." 

"Really?" I am anxious to see myself, to look upon the magnificence I have waited my entire life to see. 

I take off toward the lake, stumbling a little as I break into a sprint. The feeling of running is amazing, I can see so well, I've never seen like this before in my life! Absolutely amazing. 

I skid to a stop at the shoreline, but not fast enough before I go tumbling into the frigid waters.

Note to self, Stopping with so much weight and speed is difficult. Basic physics. 

I exit the water, shaking off the excess water on my fur. Pete and Lora are laughing, and I shoot both of them a menacing look. 

"Don't laugh at me you jerks! It's my first time!" 

They both apologize between laughs. Yeah, they are really so sorry aren't they. 

I sigh, turning to stare at my reflection in the still water. 

My wolf… I am… wow. 

I stare at the wavering image of myself, a large white wolf looks back at me, glistening in the moonlight. 

"How? How is my wolf white?" I ask through the link. Neither of them have answers really. 

"Each wolf's coat is unique to them… The gods and goddesses bless as they see fit." Pete says. He yawns, and I can tell he needs to get some sleep before he has to leave at the ass crack of dawn. 

"You guys head in and go to bed, I'm going to run a little more, I want to enjoy this time alone." 

"Okay. But Mar be careful, don't go to far. You used a lot of energy to shift, and our energy isn't unlimited

 The last thing you want is to go to far and be forced to shift back 15 miles from here." Pete warns before giving me a little nudge with his nose. 

"Happy birthday Mar. I'm so proud of you." He says before stalking off back towards the house. 

"I'll leave some clothes out on the swing for you, okay? And happy birthday Mar! I love yah girl!" Lora flashes me, what looks like a grin, before taking off after Pete. 

I let out a soft howl, thanking the gods and the goddess of the moon for such a blessed gift. I take off running, gaining speed with each pump of my legs. This was worth all the pain, and agony. Finally felt complete… well almost complete. There was still something missing… My mate.