Chapter Two: Finding my wolf

2

I scuttled down from my bed and breathed heavily. Sweat trickled down my body and I shuddered. I had just had the usual nightmare.

 A jar of water was seated on the mini table I had in my room. I dragged myself up slowly and grabbed the jar. 

The lid tumbled out of my hold as I pressed the jar shakily against my mouth. I drained the content completely and threw the jar aside.

 Gradually, my breath became normal and I tried to relax. "This is a bad omen," I mumbled.

It was the morning of my eighteenth birthday. It's been a long time since I had nightmares and I wondered why I had it again today. 

"Today is going to be great, I am getting my wolf today," I chanted repeatedly and shook away all ominous feelings.

I picked up my cleaning tools and flicked the door open. I had to get busy to get the thought out of my head, moreover, it was time to clean Luna Katherine's chambers.

"Yelp!" I jumped at the sight revealed before me. A brown she-wolf was standing at my door. She howled dejectedly at my reaction and dropped her head.

I chuckled loudly and squatted before her. It was Emma; Sky's wolf. 

"Common… I was startled, I wasn't expecting to see you at my door," I muttered and ruffled her fur.

She bared her fangs and I fell back to the floor, laughing hard. She walked into my room and right there she transformed into her human form.

"She is beautiful!" I yelled at her. 

"You were still scared after knowing that it was me," Sky grumbled and I blinked hard, she caught me there.

"Happy birthday!" She yelled and hugged me tightly. She was the only one who always remembered my birthday.

"It's a special day today… I hope you get your wolf… and your mate too,' Sky said with joy written all over her face.

She followed me down to her mother's chambers and we cleaned together.

The day went on as usual and there was nothing eventful. Sky stayed with me throughout the day, she was as expectant as I was.

Nightfall was fast approaching, I realized nothing was going to happen. It turned out to be an ordinary day.

 There was nothing special about a wolf's eighteenth birthday after all. It was not guaranteed that one would get one's wolf on that day. It's all a gamble or you call it luck. I continued to whine and made Sky leave my room.

I realized how lonely I was after I forced her to leave and angrily, I turned in for the night.

Sleep eluded me and I wiggled restlessly on the bed. When I couldn't fall asleep, I rose angrily and stepped out of the pack house.

Despite my predicament, it was a beautiful night. The earth was bathed in the full moon's golden glow. 

Far different from the usual.

I stared at the full moon and prayed that the Moon goddess would grant me my request.

I made my way out of the pack house and ventured into the woods. The moon was relentless, it shone so brightly and lit my path.

 I had only walked a few distances when I began to feel strange. Tiny jolts of pain sizzled through my body and I wrapped my arms around my chest. Slowly, the pain became unbearable and I groaned out loud. 

My eyes shone in horror as I heard the sound of my bones, they were breaking. I was scared and I began to run.

 Within a few seconds, my bones were altered. My clothes we pulled apart and they began to tear.

 I receded and stood rooted to a spot as my bones began to realign. They did this repeatedly and I gained a different skeletal structure.

"No! No! No!" I yelled in my head as unbearable pain spread throughout my body. 

I did not realize that I had gained my wolf and I was shifting. As soon as the transformation was completed, Lenor; my wolf, howled in ecstasy and leaped forward.

"Yes! Yes! Yes" I yelled in my head and I realized that Lenor understood as well. I realized that I and my wolf could communicate and not only that, we are the same entity.

Lenor was pure white and without blemish. She was beautiful. She howled loudly and pounced up and down the woods. 

Just as Lenor leaped through the woods, a yellowish spark flashed through her eyes. And I saw Luna Katherine. Her face looked older and she was standing in a place that looked like a dungeon. Right there in the dungeon was a woman. She was bound and she looked tainted.

When I saw this, I realized that it was a vision, while I wondered what it meant, something catastrophic happened. 

I felt a surge of energy within me and I lost control as well as Lenor. 

Lenor burst into a crazy speed and pulled out some of the few trees in her wake.

The action was against my will and I tried to control it but it was of no use. One thing made it catastrophic, Lenor was never tired.

The destruction continued and I continued to yell in horror. Something occurred to me and I tried it. I began to tell myself that I have had enough and I wanted to transform back to my human form.

While I lingered on the thought, Lenor began to calm down and slowly I transformed back into a human. The process was painful but not as painful as the first one.

There was a problem, my clothes were torn and I was naked. I couldn't return home. 

"Ashley!" Someone yelled continuously and the sound grew louder as footsteps drew nearer.

 I recognized the voice immediately, It was Sky. I was happy and waited patiently for her to find me.

Her wolf instinct was very strong, she located me in no time and I saw the amused look on her face as she saw me.

"Ashley! You did it! You made it! Eighteenth birthdays are special after all!" She yelled and hugged me tightly as realization dawned on her. "Finally! She added and draped a large veil around my shoulders.