7 - Unexpected Hero

~Emilia’s Point of View~

“I just feel like I should have gotten my wolf by now. I mean, I’ll be 17 in six weeks. It seems like everyone else has theirs,” I whined to Gabby, my only friend.

“It’ll happen girl, I know a lot of wolves have lost their faith in the Goddess, but I still keep her in my heart. I believe she watches over us,” she said, giving me a side hug as we walked to class. 

“I do too. I mean, even after everything that’s happened to me. I still want to believe,” I said, absentmindedly stroking my rubber bracelet. 

It was early on a cold winter’s morning, the nearly full moon still brilliant in the sky. We’d just rolled into the first week of December.

“I won’t ever complain about how cold French winters are now having lived in Switzerland,” Gabby laughed, pulling me closer. 

It didn’t help that our school uniform required us to wear knee high stockings and a just below the knee skirt. Pants would certainly be nice. Sexist assholes, I always thought.

We both trudged through the snowy sidewalks, not yet shoveled from the three fresh inches that came in overnight.

“I just feel like tonight might finally be my night,” I said, just as we walked into the building. 

“Damn I hope it’s not. You know I have an audition tonight,” Gabby said, now locking arms with me.

“I know, I know you can’t be with me tonight. So I hope it doesn’t happen but just in case I don’t want to risk coming to your audition and causing a scene,” I said, as we turned to face each other.

“I understand. Well, see ya at lunch girl, then I’ll be leaving after my 2pm class,” she said, leaving my arm and practically skipping away from me.

Gabby was a very talented ballerina, she had long legs and a muscular body. I was so jealous of her. Not only of her body, but of her talent. I had no direction, no idea what the hell I wanted to do with my life. I was good in school and really took to math, but I was going to be done at the end of the summer and then I would be on my own. 

I had Natalie, but she wasn’t dependable, I didn’t even know where she was right now. Once she turned 18 and got access to some of her inheritance, she blew right through it on who knows what. I didn’t care about fancy things, clothes … I just wanted to be okay, I just wanted to get by.

Aunt Renee didn’t know how to handle Natalie acting out and decided if she wasn’t letting her stay, then I couldn’t either. So Natalie was kicked out on the street and I was sent here. Part of me was glad for it. It was a new start and at least I was with other shifters. Now my inheritance was mostly being used to pay for school, and I really had no clue what would be left over.

...

The day absolutely dragged on, with every class seeming to take forever. I was growing increasingly agitated and anxious and I’d never felt like this before. I made it back to my dormitory and as I passed the television in the lobby the weather report caught my eye. 

“It’s going to be a cold one tonight, looking at temperatures into single digits with winds making it well below zero. There could be a total of two feet of new snow on the ground by three am,” the weatherman said.

Great. I grumbled and went to my room. I made myself two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. My appetite seemed rather large today. I followed them up with two apples and some peanuts. I still wasn’t totally used to the food here, but thankfully since there were a lot of Americans they could get us certain things we were used to eating. 

After making my stomach happy I sprawled out on the bed, and looked over at Gabby’s side of the room. I hated that she couldn’t be here with me, but I really did hope she did well tonight. If she made it into the musical she was trying out for, she'd get noticed by some important people.

After a few minutes, my eyes grew heavy and I found sleep. 

…

The wind was in my hair, cold but it didn’t bother me. The crisp bite of the December air was actually refreshing. Meat … suddenly all I wanted was meat. The fresher and bloodier the better. Heartbeats, all over … little ones. They were fast, nervous. They sensed me.

I thrust myself forward, running at full speed seeking them out. I jumped into a small bush and a squirrel ran out, terrified. I immediately pounced, just missing him. I gave chase and heard his heartbeat grow louder, faster .. it was thumping in my ears and calling to me. There was nothing else in the world at that moment, not the cold, not anything. 

My feet were swift, but for a little guy he was super quick. I guess the fear of impending death will do that to any creature. For the briefest of moments he paused to get his bearings before thrusting up to get onto a tree … in that second he was mine. I bared my canines and growled, leaping forward and clamping down on his warm flesh, the taste of blood filling my mouth. I felt the creature’s heartbeat slow and stop as my mouth bit down again, taking his flesh and blood into my throat. My beast roared in satisfaction and quickly ate it’s kill, satiated and pleased. My breath became ragged, heavy and my lungs felt constricted…

I sat up abruptly, I felt like the wind had been knocked out of my lungs. I quickly took in my surroundings. I was in my dorm room, night had fully fallen. The full moon shined like the north star through the window, beckoning me. I looked at my hands to see fur beginning to sprout and I gasped. I jumped out of bed and quickly took off all my clothes, putting on a thick robe and large boots. 

I tied the robe as I threw open the door and bolted for the stairs. I finally got to the bottom floor just as my back gave out, thrusting me forward. I stumbled, groaning in pain and my body hit the exit door, throwing it open. I fell into the cold snow, but I didn’t take notice of it. 

My body began contorting and I felt completely out of control. I couldn’t stand on my own, I couldn’t breathe. My skin felt like it was on fire and my bones were moving just under the surface.

*I’ve got you now, don’t fight me,* a voice said in my head. 

“What … what’s happening,” I moaned.

*I’m Selena, and I’m taking over trust me,* it said. 

I flipped on my back and felt my fingers mold together, I just had one giant hand with long nails. I closed my eyes as tears fell down the side of my face, my robe was now open, exposing my skin to the falling snow. I was terrified, I was completely alone with no one to help me.

“Goddess, help, help me,” I begged, crying out into the darkness. 

I was behind the building, no one would see me. They may hear me, but I was doubtful anyone would care enough to help. Most here were snobs and only cared for themselves.

The pain was blinding, I felt completely broken. My bones were shifting and moving my skin in a way that almost made me throw up. My body was heating up and I found I had actually melted most of the snow underneath me. I was now lying in a pile of slush and my body was slipping around on it, trying to gain control over itself. 

*You have to let go, just let me take over,* the voice said again.

With that I closed my eyes and just imagined myself floating on top of water, without a care in the world. I tried to feel peaceful, but the shooting pains all over my body kept bringing me back to reality. I was thrashing about on every side, trying to get traction enough to … to do what exactly? Sit? Stand?

“Oh! Pup? Do you need help,” a voice said. 

It was a male, who had his wolf, I could tell by his smell. Hmm, he smelled good. He began to take off his clothing and I looked away, and down at my feet. My paws. I lifted it and cocked my head to the side. I was standing on my paws. I shook out and stepped forward, with all four of my legs.

The snow crunched beneath me and while it was cold, it didn’t bother me. The male wolf quickly came to my side, and rubbed his snout against the side of my face. My wolf purred and nudged him back. He began to walk and flicked his head toward the woods. I dug in my paws and pushed forward, ready to see what the night would bring.