-MILA-We were thirty minutes into the dinner and I was beginning to feel uncomfortable with the tension between Lobo and Lowell.Candace, however, seemed oblivious to it. She was smiling and chatting away as if everything was fine and normal."So, Mila, Lowell tells me that you're getting ready for your first shift?"I nodded, "That's correct.""I was born into this, but my first shift still terrified the living crap out of me, so I can imagine how scary it must be for you.""Fear of the unknown, I guess. Part of me wishes it didn't need to happen, while the other part wishes it would hurry up so I can get it over and done with.""Well," she took a sip of her wine, "If you need a friend to chat with or any advice, I'm a call away. You're one of us now, and we all need to stick together. Especially in these times.""Thanks, Candace, I'll keep that in mind." It felt strange to sit here and talk with the woman Lowell had cheated with. A part of me wondered if she was only being nice due
-MILA-I opened my eyes slowly and the first thing I felt was the pain soaring through my body."Why am I not dead?" I complained, feeling that even death would be better than dealing with the pain that I was feeling."Mila?"I looked over as Lobo rushed to my side.I wasn't in the tub anymore, I was on something hard. It took me a moment to realize that I was in the alcove that held the altar."What's going on?""Shauna gave you herbs. You're okay, but you've been knocked out for a while.""It still hurts."He caressed my head, "I know. But it's almost over. Tonight is the full moon.""What? Already?""Yes, that's why you're here. You're going to be fine, we just have to get you through the pain, and you will be okay.""I don't believe you. It hurts so much, Lobo, I don't think I can do this.""You have to have a little faith in yourself, baby. It's all going to be okay."A stray tear escaped my eye, "Lobo, if I couldn't even handle the pain a few days ago, how am I supposed to handl
-MILA-The scream escaping my mouth sounded foreign, even to my own ears. I rolled in pain as it tore through my body.I could no longer focus on anything other than the pain.Lobo was speaking but I couldn't focus on what he was saying, the pain consuming me as my body fought against the change about to overtake me.And then I heard it, the first pop as something within me change.I had no control over it, my body was becoming larger by the second and I couldn't stop it. With each pop and snap of bones elongating I let out a pained scream that sounded more like a howl.I got to my feet, only to drop down to all fours as I roared in pain. Had I not been so focussed on the pain ripping through me, I would have been scared by the sounds coming from my mouth.In a futile attempt, I reached my hand out toward the altar, only to see an arm that wasn't mine. Long and covered in fur.Suddenly I stood on my hind legs and turned, there was another large and muscular wolf-man with me, and it t
-MILA- Lobo and Lowell were pacing back and forth while whispering to each other, it seemed they forgot that I could hear everything they were saying.They were speaking about my odd behavior when I shifted, as well as trying to figure out why I could shift while wearing silver.From what I was able to understand, that shouldn't have been possible.I pulled the blanket tighter around myself, still naked underneath, "Can one of you get me some clothes."Lowell turned, "No, you might shift again, so what's the point?"I huffed, "Fine, then can you at least stop speaking about me as if I'm not right here? I can hear everything you're saying and it's annoying.""Sorry," Lobo sighed, "We're just trying to figure this all out.""Why don't you just punch me again? Maybe that will solve it all." My voice was dripping with sarcasm."You were attacking me. I didn't have much of a choice."I raised a brow at him.Lowell took a step forward, "You know what? I have an idea. Why don't you stay with
-Mila-Lowell and Lobo left the room a little before sundown.I was chained by shackles attached to chains Lobo put against the wall.Around me was a cage. Lobo was sure that this would stop me from getting anywhere.Lowell wasn't so sure about it.My eyes were glued to the tiny window, searching for the moon. It was yet to come up yet, but I could somehow feel it getting closer.My body was aching and I was burning up.Much like the night before.I stared out the window in fear waiting for the moon to appear."Lobo!" I called out. I had a feeling this was going to be yet another bad shift.I half expected Lobo to ignore me, but the door opened and he came rushing in."Are you okay?""No," I shook my head, "I can feel it coming and it hurts so much."He shut the door behind him and came closer, "I'll be right here. But as long as you know that I'm not coming any closer."Despite the pain, I laughed, "Yeah, after I attacked you, I don't blame you." I glanced back out the window, "It's
-Mila-I tumbled to the floor as the cage bars broke apart."Get the door!" Lobo screamed a split second before he dived on top of me, pinning me to the floor.I slammed my elbow into his face making him grunt. But he didn't let go of me."Get off!" I screamed, hist my elbow into his face again. When he wouldn't let go of me, I was enraged.That was all I needed. I had a newfound strength. I rolled him off of me and jumped to my feet, rushing for the door.Lowell jumped in my way in full Wolf form, and I took a step back. There was something familiar about him in this form.His scent.I tilted my head to the side trying to recall why this seemed familiar. It wasn't because we had been in a relationship either.This was different. "What are you doing?" He asked.I leaned forward, sniffing his scent. I was so preoccupied with it that I forgot about Lobo.He came out of nowhere, slamming into me, once again knocking me to the ground.I screamed in agony as my bones once again shrank ba
-MILA-Lowell was acting strangely since I mentioned what happened when we were both in wolf form, and his reaction alone made me believe that something was going on.What, I couldn't be sure of."Look, Mila, I just can't stand seeing you go through so much pain," he got to his feet and began to pace the room, "We were together for so many years. I can't just turn off the fact that I care. Please, just come back home with me."I sighed, "No. I'm not going home with you, Lowell. I'm staying right here." Lowell walked over to me, crouching in front of the chair, "I'm so worried about you, and I don't think that going through all this pain is the way to deal with any of this. In a better, less stressful situation you may act differently."He placed a hand on my knee and the strangest thing happened.I got a brief glimpse of him in wolf form, rushing through a field surrounded by trees. It was dark but I could see no moon.He had blood on his muzzle and down his chest.He had a menacing
-MILA-Shauna was in the back seat of the car, I was in the front with Lobo and we were on our way to the Elder Tree."Why would you see that glimpse of Lowell?" Asked Lobo."I don't know. I don't even know what was going on in it. All I know is that he looked feral, and he was covered in blood. I got a really strange feeling about it." I sighed, and turned to look out the window, "I was scared. He didn't look like himself at all."Shauna leaned forward between the seats, "Okay, So what if that means that what's been happening to you is going to happen to Lowell too?"I frowned, "But why would I see that?""Maybe the Goddess has gifted you with the power of sight?" Shauna offered up.I turned to Lobo, "What is she talking about?""The Godddess has the power to offer gifts to her chosen. Maybe she has chosen to give you the gift of sight. Which would explain why you saw what you did.""No, it really doesn't," I shook my head, "Why would I need to see any of that?""To stop it," Shauna