Chapter 5 - Getting their Wolves.

ZACH

The day is finally here. I am turning eighteen and will get my wolf tonight. And tomorrow I will go look for Zara and bring her home, where she belongs.

Walking downstairs this morning, I find everyone wishing me a happy birthday. Granny Rosa has made all my favorites for breakfast, and we sit down to eat together. In these 30 minutes, we smile and are somewhat happy, but we all still know someone is missing.

“Tonight, we go out, and we will help you shift after your wolf has spoken to you,” Dad says, looking at me. I nod my head saying thank you.

“We are so proud of you, Zach. You are a strong but kind young man.” Dad continues.

“Thanks, dad. Thanks for always treating me as if I was your real son. Thank you for teaching me everything I know.” I tell him, but dad looks at me.

“Zach and your sister will always be mine. Blood doesn’t decide who we choose to be in our family. And I chose to be in your and your sister’s life before you were even born. So I am your real dad, and I will always be.” Dad looks at me, and I know he means every word.

“I know, dad, and I am proud to be called your son.” And I am because had my biological dad been alive, I would have skinned him and made a rug out of him. Aiden pulls me out of my thoughts.

“When do we leave tomorrow?” I look at him.

“Early. Are you sure you want to come? Melanie didn’t seem to like it.”

“Of course, I am sure. Mel will just need to go deal with it. And it is better we are two than one.” He says, and I look at uncle Mack and aunt Cora.

“Don’t look at us. We already gave him our blessings to go. And Aiden is twenty-one soon to be twenty-two. He doesn’t need permission.” Uncle Mack says and smiles.

“We leave early, sunrise,” I say, not wanting to wait longer.

“Okay. I packed yesterday, so I am ready. Extra pair of clothes, two knives, something to make fire with. Phone and two power banks can charge pull power 8-10 times.” He tells me, and I nod.

I borrowed Xan’s, so I have two as well. And I packed some money in case we come close to town.”  He nods and shows me he has his credit card. That made dad pull his out and give it to me. I want to say no, but he stops me.

“It’s safer with the card Zach. And I have an extra so that we will be fine.” I nod my head.

The rest of the day goes with making sure everything is ready. And with spending time with mom, I know she won’t like that I am going and this time for a long time. But we promise to check in every second day.

-

It’s close to midnight, and we are walking outside. Everyone waits for dad, who is next to me. Mom is nervous, her oldest baby is now old enough to shift, so she is a bit emotional.

“Open your mind. Empty it and flow freely.” Dad says.

I do as he says, and I feel a strong, powerful soul pressing through to me. I open my mind as dad says and gasps when I feel the soul connect to my own. The next thing I know, I hear a strong dark voice in my head.

‘Hello Zach, I am Kato, your wolf.’

‘Hello Kato, I am happy to meet you finally. I really need your help.’

‘I know. We need to find Zara and Sierra.’

‘Sierra?’

‘Yes, Zara’s wolf and my sister.’ Wow, Kato's sister is Zara’s wolf.

‘So I am right. She is alive.’

‘She is. Now, let’s shift so you can rest before we go.’

The following two hours go by with the feeling of every bone breaking and re-arrange before I finally stand on Kato's four legs. He is big, but I am also alpha born, so it’s not really a surprise: mom and dad shift, and Kato bows for his king and queen.

After shifting back and I am dressed in my shorts, I look at my family.

“She is alive. Kato’s soul sister is Zara’s wolf. He can sense her.” I say, leaving dad stunned and mom crying.

-

ZARA

We have been on the run for a long time, only stopping twice to eat and drink. Almost 24 hours ago, we fled from the master and mistress. I was scared at first, scared that someone would find us. We had been followed but the man who says his name is Bryan and is my grandpa killed them.

We are sitting by a river eating meat from a deer when the man looks at me and says.

“It will happen soon.”

“What will happen?” he smiles.

“Empty your mind and relax. Your wolf will be here soon. If you had been home, there would have been a birthday party, and you would do this with your brother. But you will have to settle with me helping you.” He says, looking at me with sad eyes.

I don’t know what I should answer, so I lay down and look up at the stars and the moon. I always loved the moon. I felt like I was connected to it somehow. Something, no, someone is pressing Into my mind. I try to let it in, gasping heavily when I feel like I am being flooded with energy so strong and bright that it feels like my soul lights up. After a few, I feel it linking itself to me, and then a soft, cheerful voice runs through my head.

‘Hello Zara, I am Sierra, your wolf. I have waited a long time to get here and will never leave you again.’

‘Hello Sierra, I am not sure what I should do.’

‘That is why I am here, and now first we need to shift, then we will go find our brothers they are searching for us.’

‘what do you mean?’

‘Your twin brothers wolf is my brother. And they are looking for us.’

‘But they didn’t want me.’

‘Oh, but they do. They have been searching for you, but those evil people took you. And erased your happy memories with your family.’

‘Are you sure?’ I ask her.

‘Yes, Zara, and we can’t become who we are supposed to be without them. So get up. We need to shift.’

I do as she says. I get up, moving a little away. God, it hurts. Every bone in my body is twisting and breaking. I do my best not to scream, knowing it will be bad if someone hears it. After two hours of bones breaking and tears and sweat, Sierra is finally standing on her four legs.

A loud gasp comes from Bryan, and he slowly comes closer.

“You look exactly like your grandmother’s wolf. You are beautiful.” Sierra purrs so loud you would think she was a cat, not a big wolf.

‘I like him, and it is good we are not alone. Now we will shift back and rest. We have a long journey ahead.’

Shifting back didn’t hurt a lot, but coming back naked shocked me a little. I hurried to go through my bag, finding something to wear and reminding myself to make sure to have clothes with me when I shift.

Bryan tells me a little about my grandmother and my mom. Then about my brother and the man who saved my mom when she was pregnant, how they fell in love. Then he tells me about the day when the man that became my dad reached out with his powerful aura and powers and somehow got to tell Bryan that I had gotten kidnapped. He tells me he has not spoken to any of them for about 13 years. But that he knew the day I was taken away crushed my family.

He also told me that normal she-wolves get their wolves when they turn 17. I wondered about that. But he told me that also my grandmother, who was also a blessed wolf, also only got her wolf when she turned 18. he thinks it is because the moon-goddess wants to protect her blessed wolves.

At some point, I fall asleep more peacefully than I have ever done before.