Chapter One

CHARITY POV

Crisp night air prickles my skin, while autumn leaves crunch underneath my feet. The moon is high, with the pack gathered to watch my friend’s first shift.

Electricity dances in the air, the power rolling around the field is intoxicating, and makes a person weak in the knees. Sweat coats my brow and forehead as awareness dawns.

Standing with the others in the semi-circle, my gaze meets the Alpha family, surrounding my best friend, an Omega named Elle. The entire arena is quiet, even the crickets are silent. My blood rushing through my veins is the only noise I hear while my head throbs.

A cry of agony cuts through, and I watch as my friend drops to the ground. Her body convulsing awkwardly as her bones break and reform. A golden cloud hangs above, beckoning to me, calling to the primal beast locked within.

The longer I stare at the fog, the more intense the pounding becomes. As if the primal beast within is trying to break free. Through blurry eyes, I stare ahead at my friend in pain, her cries nearly unbearable. Each piercing squeal into the night is like another shock wave, my knees weak and the world spinning faster than before.

Before I register what’s happened, my feet are out from under me, my body careening downward. My skull splitting in two, as ragged screams leave my lungs. Arms wrap around me, but I don’t care. The only thing I know is pain. Excruciating, mind numbing pain.

“Please stop,” I whimper, but I don’t know if the words find their way out, or if it’s all in my mind. A muffled, panicked voice breaks past the inner torture, but I cannot make sense of it. “Please…” I continue with my body, my bones melting within, fighting against the insatiable urge to shift.

“It’s too early,” I argue with myself, or maybe it’s the Goddess who I am bartering with. But shifting too early kills more than it leaves alive. Forced, early shifts are a rare occurrence, only happening when an Alpha shifts, without their pack, or their ranked members.

The Alpha wolf will call forward the candidates, whether or not they’ve had their first shift. If the human is lucky enough to survive, they have the chance of becoming a Beta or Gamma. If I am shifting right now, it means Elle is an Alpha, MY Alpha.

“Please stop,” I whimper, as my vision darkens and static fills my ears. “You’re killing us!” I’m unsure the words are being said aloud, or only in my tormented mind. At that moment, my back arches, the bones breaking along the vertebrae.

The tissue and muscle ripping away from the skeleton as it reshapes into my werewolf counterpart is torture. “Goddess, please,” my voice is hoarse as my pleas are nothing more than strangled cries. “I don’t want to die.” I beg while my insides melt, liquifying into molten lava.

Someone is there, surrounding me, but I cannot focus on that now. No, my only thought is survival, and finding my next breath. Everything breaking in two, my skull crumbling under the pressure.

“NO!” I scream, fighting against it, but it’s too late, as more limbs crumble. Despite the abuse, my wolf continues to fight her way forward while I pray for death or to pass out from the pain.

“Yes!” A growl responds, my wolf breaking down the mental barrier keeping her trapped until time was right.

“You’ll kill us!” I gasp for air, a howl piercing through my consciousness, allowing me to focus.

“We were chosen!” She snarls, refusing to give up, pressing her way forward, not relenting in her desire for control. “The Alpha CHOSE us!” The wolf’s response is barely audible through my whimpers and her snarls of frustration.

“Stop fighting me, human!” Her demands hit me like a bucket of ice water, forcing me to listen. For the first time since this began, I relent, stepping aside and giving the reins to her.

Within seconds, the pain eases, letting my surroundings sink into recognition. The moon hangs above, glowing, with others littered in the field. Sweet words are whispered in my ear, while a male hand pushes the hair away from my face.

Is it just my delusional mind, or does his touch leave a trail of fire in its wake? Before I have the chance to grasp that question fully, a low rumble bleeds through my mind, calling my attention once more.

“I’m sorry Charity,” my wolf grumbles, “but this is going to hurt like a bitch.” Truer words have never been spoken, my insides thrashing in discomfort as I transform.

Bones that once felt liquified are hardening into their new shape and mother fucker does it hurt. I swear, this is the moment I die, the distress enough to make my heart stop.

My vision becomes clearer as the hammering in my head settles. Glancing down, beautiful blonde fur covers my arms, hands transforming into paws.

“Absolutely amazing,” a voice whispers, a quiver running down my spine. Shaking out my fur, I meet the owner’s crystal blue eyes. Matt, my long-time neighbor, and…friend?

“You’re not so bad yourself, sugar,” a silky purr springs forward. My wolf is an obvious flirt, and just as attracted to this godlike perfection. We watch each other with interest, but neither of us moves, too frozen in the moment. Too frozen by the realization that I survived, when most die.

A howl in the distance grabs my attention. Turning my head, I see a big red wolf staring at me. Elle, my Alpha. “Come on, Gamma.” She beckons via mindlink, and I cannot resist her call, even when I want to.

“Go,” Matt says, forcing me to turn and face him. My gaze filled with questions, my head tilting to the side. “Go, Charity.” He confirms, shoving his hands in his pockets. Nodding behind me to Elle, and the speckled gray wolf standing beside her.

With one last look, I turn reluctantly, springing toward Elle. Her companion, the wolf chosen to be her Beta, is Theo, another of our friends. Bounding closer, their noses tip upward in a long, soulful howl. Instinct prods me to join their songs with one of my own. It’s instinctual. Primal.

Our tune tethering us together, forging a bond between us, and strengthening as our sound wanes. One thing becoming obvious is that I am no longer part of New Moon’s pack, my mind silent without the tether to a greater mindlink. The near emptiness is a jarring adjustment. One of the many I’ll have to get used to in the coming weeks.

“It was our destiny,” my wolf purrs, proud of herself. She has elevated us from a warrior to a Gamma. Without coaxing, my paws trot after Elle, and the Beta at her side, as they pick up speed, breaking through the tree line.

“You have a lot of opinions,” I snap back, “and I don’t even know your name.”

“Summer,” she cackles. “My name is Summer.”

“Well, you’re beautiful.” I return, not sure what else I am supposed to say. I still haven’t wrapped my head around the sudden change in our rank and circumstance. “And powerful.”

“I know,” she says, forcing me to roll my eyes at her cockiness. “But so are you, and don’t forget it. You survived, know your worth.”

Shaking my head rather than respond, I put my newfound prowess to the test. My paws easily winding, ducking, and weaving through the trees is magical.

Moonlight reflects off of my friends as I chase them through the forest, feeling freer than ever before. My aura carrying a potency it never had before, as a regular pack wolf.

Elle and the Beta slow as we enter a small clearing, circling. The mindlink we once shared with hundreds of members, silent now that it has been reduced to only three.

An eeriness surrounds us as recognition dawns . “So, what do we do now?” I ask, trying to fill the void, to silence the doubt clouding my judgement and self-esteem. Am I really cut out to be a Gamma? My dad is a high-ranking warrior, but I can’t pretend it’s not the same.

“We go home,” Elle responds, but the thought of another place being home isn’t something I can think about right now. “But for tonight, we celebrate. Congratulations to you both. Have fun, I know I will.” A smirk on her face, as she dashes into the trees in search of the New Moon heir.

“Have fun,” the Beta murmurs, taking off in the opposite direction, turning at the last second to meet my eye. “We are meeting at my house tomorrow at 5 am. Don’t be late.” He doesn’t give me a chance to respond before racing away.

I’ve barely had a minute to process when a blurry streak catches my attention, allowing Summer to duck at the last minute, rolling away. Popping back to four paws, my eyes search, the wind sending a familiar scent my way. Evergreens on a dewy spring morning invade the space, making my insides feel fuzzy. I’ve always loved the smell, but it’s more potent now that I have officially shifted.

My wolf and I are too distracted to notice the owner barreling towards us until we are tumbling underneath Matt’s enormous frame. Sparks dance along my fur, making me jerk away in surprise.

The pair of us tumble until I am laying on his chest, a beastly bark of laughter coming from his mouth. Rolling my eyes, I push myself away, even though I don’t want to. Standing upright, I back away, watching as he stands.

Smirking, the reddish brown wolf lowers himself, his steps calm as he prowls forward. His tail wags slightly, but his friendliness doesn’t stop the possessive look in his irises, sending a thrill down my spine.

“He’s hot when he does that,” Summer comments, clearly enjoying the attention, refusing to back away.

“You’re not helping,” I scold, darting before he can pounce again, but I don’t miss the growl emanating from his chest as he chases.

“Have you seen that body?” She cackles, enjoying herself. “He is welcome to chase me any day.” Dashing between the bushes, I pick up the speed. Zooming faster than before, with Matt hot on my tail, it’ll be impossible to get the upper hand unless I change strategies.

Pivoting to the right, I loop back around, allowing me to catch Matt’s wolf off guard as I tackle him. Static shock making my fur tickle as our limbs tangle while we topple. Weird, animalistic laughs fill the air, before a wet tongue swipes across my snout.

Growling, I nip his chin, meeting his gaze, and holding it steady while the tension between us grows. Doing my best to avoid the sudden change in our dynamic, I roll off of him, throwing one last look over my shoulder before sprinting away.

*****************

The early morning light filters through my eyelids, pulling me from a blissful night’s sleep. Not wanting to wake, I snuggle closer to my pillow, inhaling the evergreen scent, unable to stop the content sigh passing my lips.

An arm winding around me, and pulling me closer has my eyes popping open. A bare chest greeting me, and smooth male skin sends tingles up my arm. A cool breeze making me shiver, as the drowsiness wears off, giving me a picture of the situation.

Popping up, like a whack-a-mole, I spin, Matt’s crystal blue gaze immediately finding mine, a victorious smirk on his lips. “Not a bad way to wake up,” he winks, forcing my skin to flush, an involuntary reaction to his flirtations.

Glancing downward, I find my nude body, my hands darting in front of my chest, hoping to cover myself from his view. “Oh my god,” I whisper, shame welling because of my stupid actions. Images from the night before flash like a motion picture, while an involuntary blush crawls up my neck.

“We didn’t have sex, I wouldn’t..not like this,” he stumbles over his words, and if I had to guess he’s the one turning pink. “We must have…”

“I know,” I cut him off, huddling naked, “but I am bare ass naked, in the middle of a field. Can we have this discussion clothed?”

“Shit, sorry,” movement and the rustle of leaves as he travels to a marked tree where a clothes bag hangs. It doesn’t take long for him to bring it back, shorts hanging off of his hips and a shirt in his hands.

Tossing it in my direction, he spins until his back is facing the opposite direction. Pulling it over my head, I wait until completely covered before standing.

“Matt…” I trail off not knowing what to say, my breath faltering as he turns in my direction. Everything in my life has changed in the last twenty-four hours, and the panic I have been avoiding sets in.

His blue eyes pierce mine, his blonde hair in its usual bun. My breathing slows as my gaze wanders down his chiseled chest to his abs, and the ‘v’ that rests above his hips. Goddess, he is gorgeous enough to give Greek Gods a run for their money.

“Don’t,” he stops me, stepping forward, his hand gripping my cheek sweetly. His other winding around my back, tugging me close until the only thing separating us is the t-shirt I wear. “Don’t say anything.”

Sparks sprinkle my face as his nose dances along mine, his stare on me. Without time to process, his lips press against mine gently, but with a passion that has my knees turning to jelly. My hand reaching for his chest to steady myself, the gentleness deepening, as his tongue swipes against mine.

I barely register the pressure from a mindlink until I pull away for breath. Then, as if a tornado swept through, I am pulled from the whirlwind, thrown into reality, and reminded of my sudden responsibilities. Starting with the most important, where I promised I would be right now.

“Shit, shit, shit.” I say. “I am sorry but I have to go.” Without further explanation, or waiting on a reply, I run past Matt’s stunned face and gorgeous body. My bare feet pounding into the dewy grass, while the scent of evergreens clings to the air and my flesh.

“Charity!” Matt calls after me, but this time he doesn’t chase me, as I run through the woods and all the way home.