The pack has been bursting with excitement as the new moon gets closer. The air was alive with a palpable buzz that was nearly impossible to ignore, and everyone had been preparing in their own little way.Ariel wasn’t left out either.Laura had explained to her that the first shift was going to be the most painful thing she had ever experienced, and not even a horrible cramp could compare.Although Ariel had no idea how she knew about cramp pain since werewolves don’t experience such pain.For the days that followed, all she would hear was the full moon, and apparently this was special because it was a winter full moon, and everyone was anticipating it.But it was the question on everyone’s lips that was bothering her.“Are you ready for the shift? Are you ready to shift?” It was literally being ingrained in her. Anyone she came across would ask her this question before asking her if she was ready.“You would be fine.” Judith had reassured her several times, but she was finding it di
“Kanneeeeee!” Ariel screamed out from the pain, letting her hatred for him fuel her desire to survive.She couldn’t die here, not until she had gotten her revenge, and for that, she had to live. She had to survive this shift.“Kanneee!” She screamed out again, only the words had been replaced with incoherent groaning that she couldn’t place until they were just growls.The experience was an otherworldly feeling because, at that moment, all her body had realigned, and she was standing on all fours, and when she looked down, she was met with paws.Her hackles were raised as she emerged into the world, her senses were on high alert, and she perceived everyone as a potential threat to her. She was quick to make her anger known with a low growl that sent chills down the spines of everyone that had gathered.This was no ordinary wolf; she was an alpha-born, and it was obvious in her stance. She stared at the new world with a curious look, yet she was wary of the people that surrounded her.
Ariel's eyes fluttered open, but her body screamed in protest as it ached all over. The memory of last night was still foggy in her brain, and no matter how she tried, she couldn’t remember the details.She rolled to the edge of her bed and placed her feet gingerly on the floor, trying to stand up, but her leg buckled beneath her, and she fell on the floor.“W-what the…” Ariel glanced around her as she struggled to piece the little fragment; her legs felt like they were made of jellies, and it was only one person who would answer this. “Laura?” Ariel tried to reach her wolf, but all she got was a static silence, and it frightened her.“Laura?” She tried again but got no response, and she reached for the bed, hoisting herself up. She lay on the bed, her eyes closed, as she tried to recall the events of the last night.She could remember the intense pain she felt as her bone broke, and she shivered from the muscle memory. They hadn’t been exaggerating when they said it was probably the
“Laura! You have some explanation to do!” Ariel yelled, directing it all to her mind, but she was met with a solid wall. “Laura!” The bitch knew she was going to be mad, and she had blocked herself from her.But she wouldn’t hide forever, and she would be ready to pounce on her when she comes."Hey, my favorite human.” Laura said in a cherry voice as she roused from her slumber, and almost immediately Ariel flared up.“What the hell is wrong with you, Laura? You didn’t even think to tell me that Kane came to visit? Why am I finding out that you guys even played fetch, and you didn’t think I deserved to know?”“It wasn’t Kane; it was his wolf Max.”“Tomato, tomato. They are the same people. I thought we were in this together. You knew how much I hated him; you knew how he had hurt me. I thought at least one person had my back, but I should have known you were just like the rest.”“Hey, that is no way to talk to me. I never broke my promise. Let me clarify this: it was you and Kane, tha
Ariel went back home, reeling with anger. She was furious that she wasn’t able to deal with him the way she best saw, and it was annoying her to no point.“Gahhhh!” She groaned in frustration, wringing her hands as if she were squeezing his neck.This was so frustrating.“Are you alright?” The only friend she had managed to make here looked at her with squinted eyes, wondering what had become of her.“Of course, something is just getting on my nerves, but I am alright.”“Hmm.” Her friend nodded halfheartedly, unable to believe her, but she reluctantly let it go. “How do you manage to run so fast? You have only been a wolf for some weeks now, but you could easily outrun me.”Ariel shrugged her shoulders, having no explanation to give her. “I don’t know; I guess my wolf is just dying to run after all those years of being dormant.”The answer was enough to shut her up, and they continued their journey in silence, digging their legs into the snow.They got to the packhouse, and Ariel made
“Kane,” Ariel said as she saw the intruder inside her room. Her reaction was too calm for someone who wasn’t expecting him.She had thought she was going to scream and shout, that her heart was going to pound until it burst out of its ribcage when she saw him, but none of that happened. It was, however, the opposite.She was too calm, her eyes taking over his figure as she took him in. The man always looked good, and even with her hatred for him, she had to admit that.Maybe she had expected it.Kane was a man of his words, and deep down Ariel knew he was going to come; she was just hoping he wouldn’t come soon.“Hello darling.” Kane said, flashing his dazzling smile that would have made her swoon, but she tightened her facial muscles, feeling the blade she had kept in her back pocket.Ariel pursed her lips as she came closer to him, and she grabbed her knife, aiming it for his throat in a murderous intent, but damn the son of a bitch.His reflexes were too fast, and he shielded his n
“Home?” Ariel scoffed at his ridiculousness. Maybe it was once home to her, but not anymore.“Come on, let us go inside.” Kane said, and Ariel's gaze drifted towards the pack building. The walls have been repainted to a light gray color in preparation for the new year, and the Christmas decorations still adorn the wall, their bright red lights twinkling in the night.The meadows were a little overgrown and unruly, but people could still pass through, and the lights lit up the dark pathway.Ariel noticed the lack of restraint in her hands, and she looked down to see her hands were free of the offending instrument, but she didn’t say anything.Instead, she walked inside the pack, opening the door with a confidence she didn’t know she possessed.It was too late to run away, and she had come to the fact that no matter where she may be or hide, Kane was always going to find her, so she decided to resign herself to fate.She opened the door and let her eyes wander across the common room, ho
The fireworks went off above them, painting the sky with a colorful hue, and shouts of jubilation were heard around them even as the couples observed the new year tradition.Ariel did not allow herself to think, because then everything would be ruined. She was just content with kissing this person next to her, the mate she had actually fallen in love with.She was going to deal with the consequences later.And sparks flew from their connection, their hearts beating as one. This was the first time since she shifted she was allowing him close to her romantically, and the result was explosive.The electricity cackled between them, flames engulfing their bodies as the fire spread from their connection. Theirs was a match made in werewolf heaven, and Ariel was just realizing what it meant to have a mate.They were getting greedy, and what was supposed to be a mild kiss had turned into something mind-blowing, earth-shattering, and they wanted more.But they parted for air, too quickly for h