Chapter 5: Moonlight calls

"Where are we going, Alpha?" I mustered the courage to break the silence as my eyes flitting between him and the road ahead as we passed the arch of the Dark Moon village.

The direction we were taking indicated that we were heading somewhere other than the pack. A knot formed in my stomach, and I couldn't help but feel wary of his intentions, especially as he keep wearing an intimidating aura.

He glanced at me warningly, silently urging me not to speak.

I shrank in my seat as my hand still clutching my belly. I didn't want to anger him, especially since I was completely at his mercy. Being in his presence felt suffocating. I wondered how long I could endure it if we were trapped together with no means of escape.

Licking my dry lips, I cast fleeting glances at him and the road, trying to make sense of our journey. I couldn't afford to be clueless.

What if he planned to harm me once we reached our destination?

My heart raced relentlessly, doubts creeping in. I had been disrespectful to him earlier, so why did he help me escape the Litha Moon pack?

Sometimes, that memory convinced me that he wasn't entirely malevolent, that he might actually care about omegas like me.

Taking a slow, calming breath, I silently thanked the heavens that the shifting process hadn't overwhelmed me yet. But, I also knew it could catch me off guard at any moment, so I savored the temporary respite.

The road began to ascend, leading us to a place where many rogues. Humans referred to it as the Mystery Mountain, but wolves called it Lupusmons—the mountain of wolves.

I held my breath for a moment, contemplating how to break through the strong wall he had erected between us.

I convinced myself to give it a try. Yes, I could do it. Releasing my held breath and pressing my lips together, I gathered the courage to speak up again. "A-Alpha..." I trailed off, hoping I could survive his reaction.

To my relief, he didn't growl out of irritation, but instead replied, "You're going to shift under the moonlight. Where do you think we're going?"

Lupusmons... Yes, I understood now. But why? I was just an ordinary wolf. I didn't possess any royal bloodline like him. It seemed peculiar.

As we arrived in the middle of the mountain, I realized there was still an hour to go before my birthday officially began. Unfortunately, the car couldn't ascend any further.

Enduring the pain, I had no choice but to exit the car and attempt to make my way uphill. I was drenched in sweat, and questions about why my shifting process seemed different from others plagued my mind.

I followed closely behind him as we climbed towards the mountaintop. With each step, my stomach twisted at the thought of encountering rogues, particularly the wild ones.

The likelihood of encountering them here was high. Unlike the Alpha, I lacked the ability to defend myself. What if he refused to help me if they attacked? Fear gnawed at me, but I gathered my courage and asked, "A-Aren't there any rogues here, Alpha?"

He countered, "Why? Are you scared?"

"Yes..." I admitted, gulping down my fear and taking a deep breath. "T-They can't be trusted..." My voice trailed off, my apprehension evident.

He took a step forward, his gaze fixed on the three figures ahead, before asking again, "So you want to meet them to determine if they should be trusted or not?"

I couldn't fathom why he said that. It felt as if he regarded me as a naive pup, easily frightened by empty threats. "A-Are you...I-I mean...w-why..." My words stumbled, unable to form a coherent question.

Without much connection to his initial statement, he responded, "It depends on what kind of wolf you are. We'll find out later. Now, quicken your steps because I don't like to accommodate slowness."

Okay, that was his warning to me. I understood.

I sighed heavily, unsure of what he truly thought about me.

I recalled his words, my allegiance or enmity would be determined by the outcome of my shift. Would he be able to discern if I was an ally or an enemy once I shifted? How? I knew deep down that I wasn't his enemy, of course!

Unfortunately, as we continued our ascent, just before reaching the mountaintop, excruciating pain overtook me.

I collapsed to my knees, crying out in agony. The pain was unbearable and it felt like I was struggling to draw each breath. The sound of bones cracking mingled with the cold wind, the chirping of birds, the croaking of frogs, and the rustling of leaves under our feet. My screams and cries drowned out everything else.

"You said rogues can't be trusted, implying that they're dangerous. Once they hear your screams, I'll leave you here and let them tear you apart," he warned, his voice laced with menace.

How could I avoid such a fate when the shifting process itself was slowly consuming me? What a day!

I desperately fought back the urge to cry out, but with another bone-cracking sensation, I stumbled upon a tree root, emitting another yelp of pain. I couldn't help but whimper, my fists clenched tightly.

Leaning against the trunk of a tree, I paid no mind to the plant leaves brushing against my face. Sweat trickled down, and I gazed up at the sky, fixating on the radiant full moon.

Tears welled in my eyes from the torment I endured. I heard the rustling of the Alpha's footsteps on the dried leaves as he approached me once again. "There's 15 minutes left before the new day begins. We're close to the top."

But I whimpered, "I don't understand. W-Why..." I grunted, pushing through the pain. "D-Do I really have to shift at the mountaintop? I can shift within the... pack, or... or here, or any place that isn't... under human dominion..."

He hissed, closing the distance between us. His gaze met my sweaty face, and he uttered, "You'll know."

I raised my face slowly, giving him a questioning look. My voice stammered, "C-Can't you tell me now?"

"One more question, and you won't get to meet your wolf," he threatened.

I had no choice but to clamp my mouth shut, refraining from daring to ask another question. This was the story of my life, always under the constant threat of pain, torture, or death, no matter how much I endured.

The suffering I experienced now shouldn't affect me anymore, but that seemed unlikely. Pain was pain, and it always took its toll.

"Now, get up. Don't keep me waiting," he growled, his glare making my stomach churn.

I had no choice... between the two of us, he was the Alpha. The shifting process was excruciatingly painful, yes, but who cared?

Who was I, anyway?

Ignoring the tears welling up in my eyes, I bit my lip and struggled to stand. "Now, walk and don't make a sound if you don't want to witness the bloodshed of other wolves here."

I nodded meekly, feeling like a helpless mouse. He had a point, and I wasn't sure whose blood would be spilled, he was alone, and I was the only one with him, the lowly omega.

His status as the strongest Alpha wasn't enough. As we made our way to the top, the cracking of my bones assaulted me once again, their movement and growth becoming more pronounced. I fell to my knees, causing him to step back towards me. I hoped I hadn't angered him, I couldn't bear the pain any longer.

Giving him a pleading look, silently begging for respite, I whispered, "I-I think it's time..."

Tears cascaded down my cheeks as I whimpered, desperate for mercy from him. But he remained cold and indifferent to my feelings, stating, "No. You have 5 more minutes to endure."

I expected him to continue ascending, but I was grateful, albeit confused and surprised, when he descended and scooped me up.

A gasp escaped my lips as I instinctively clung to his nape for support, and he swiftly carried me towards the summit.

Upon reaching the top, I realized we were just a few steps away from the moonlight's direct path. His breath brushed against my ear as he set me down, allowing me to kneel on the ground.

Before me lay a cliff, and we stood on the largest rock at the mountaintop, fully exposed to the central moonlight. There were no trees here, just the moon's illumination casting its glow upon us.

As the movements of my bones grew more intense, I couldn't suppress my screams any longer, their echoes reverberating throughout the surroundings.

I no longer cared if the rogues could hear me, assuming there were any nearby.

"Let her out," he growled just as my fingertips began to open.

The torturous pain became unbearable. My entire body felt as if it were on the brink of shattering into pieces. I screamed the word, "Stop!" but deep down, I knew this was the day of my shift.

Suddenly, the sky brightened, forcing me to gaze upward. The moonlight enveloped me completely, blinding my vision with its radiance.

As the pain intensified, I felt my bones elongating. My body lifted off the ground, disconnected from the sensation of my feet touching the earth, while my clothes tore apart.

With one final scream, I seemed to release a surge of potent energy.

As the moonlight retreated to the sky, my wolf's paws touched the ground.

I saw her—my white wolf—her fur pristine and her claws gleaming white.

She turned her gaze towards the Alpha, who now wore an expression of surprise, his brows furrowing.

I could see the astonishment in his eyes as he muttered, "What on earth is going on? How did an omega turn into such a magnificent white wolf?"