On Your Mark

Chapter 16

The moonlight shines through the window, reflecting many colors from the stained glass. My feet swing a few inches off the ground as I sit on the edge of my bed, waiting and praying in the darkness.

A soft knock comes to the door, startling me. I look at the door, certain I've imagined it, but another knock follows it.

"Psst."

I hop off the bed, tiptoeing across the wooden floor and wiping the sweat from my forehead. I open the door just a crack, peeking out, but not seeing anything under the bright light of the landing. My door is pushed open and someone comes inside. I rub the fuzzy black dots out of my eyes, blinking rapidly to readjust to the darkness of my room. Samuel stands in front of me with a soft smile, dewey skin, and something in his hands.

"I'm sorry to just barge in," he says. He shuffles his feet nervously, looking at the floor instead of my face. "I didn't get the chance to give you your present."

"You got me a present," I ask, biting my bottom lip to hide my excitement.

He nods, placing the small box with an even smaller bow in my hands. I carefully remove the wrappings and open the box. A silver medallion etched with a delicate flower looks up at me. I remove the necklace, setting the now empty box down on the nearby dresser.

I unclip the clasp, holding the chain out to him, "do you mind?"

He takes it from me, wiping the sweat from his own forehead. I turn around and lift my damp hair off of my neck. Gently, he places the gift on my neck, his fingertips tickling my skin lightly. I hold my breath, goosebumps littering my already sensitive skin.

"There," he whispers. I turn back around to face his darkened eyes. I place my hand to my chest, covering the jewelry fondly.

"Thank you," I say softly, swallowing a lump in my throat. "It's beautiful."

A sharp pain suddenly tears through my abdomen, forcing me to curl over, clutching my stomach. The pain takes my breath away, blinding me and sending a rush of blood through my ears. I am completely incapacitated. I feel Sam's hands on my arms and around my waist to support me, as he shuffles me to bed.

"It's starting," I hear him say, but another flash of pain runs through my legs.

I throw myself backwards, crying out. He holds me tightly in his arms, brushing the hair out of my face and whispering soothing words. A loud and sharp crack pierces my eardrum and I howl out in pain. Tears flow freely down my cheeks as I look down at my broken wrist.

"Shh, it's okay," he mutters in my ear, his breath cooling my burning skin.

"I can't do this!" I sob, shaking my head, "please, don't make me do this."

"It's going to be oka-", another deafening crack echoes around the room and we both wince. He clutches his side with one hand while still holding me close with the other, "holy fuck."

My very first howl rips out of me as every other bone in my body breaks and reforms. I can't hear him anymore, I can barely feel him. The urge to escape and get outside takes control of me and I burst from his arms. I run, despite every bone being broken, past my family all seated in the kitchen. I stop for a brief moment to look at each of them; my father watches me proudly, my mother can't bear to look, each of my brothers looks at me with a varying level of concern and wonder, and Vee looks away with a tear in her eye and her hand on her stomach.

I kick the backdoor open and sprint out into the night.

I stand under the glow and the blessing of the Moon Goddess, soaking in her love and her power, before one final blow entices the shift. I feel myself lurch forward and every pore on the surface of my skin blossoms, for a tuft of silken fur to burst through. Claws and sharp pointed teeth hyper extend with ease, like they have always been a part of me and are finally coming into where they belong.

There is no pain and no fear - there is only freedom.

I howl with joy and ecstasy, discovering the desire to run. I follow my instincts and run hard through the trees, snapping branches and twigs beneath my paws, pushing through the darkness with speed and skill. I come to my clearing, to my special place, and I climb up onto the rock. I lift my head high into the sky and howl up to the Moon Goddess, thanking her for the easy transition. I trot happily around my rock, smelling things I have never smelt before, feeling things so intensely, hearing the chattering of a far off family. Everything is different. Everything is heightened and it's all incredible.

Suddenly, an overwhelming sense that I have forgotten something, left something behind, washes over me. I whimper at the thought. A soft breeze blows by, ruffling my fur, and every nerve in my body freezes. An intoxicating scent dances through my fur, stirring the butterflies in my stomach. My eyes snap to the treeline and to the outline of the boy who followed me here.

His dirty blonde hair catches the glow of the moonlight and his bright blue eyes reflect a feeling I have never felt before. The beautiful orbs instantly turn black.

Mate.

Without thinking, I feel myself shift again. The warm summer breeze blows my red hair over my shoulder and onto my naked back. Sam stands before me, for the second time tonight, holding something in his hand. I watch him take a step forward, his eyes never leaving mine, despite the fact that I am completely exposed to him.

The silence and space between us becomes overbearing and the tether snaps.

"Sam." I breathe into the night, running and colliding with his firm and solid chest.

He catches me, wrapping his arms around my body, holding me tight to him. His fingers press into my skin, igniting little fires under every inch he touches. I breathe him in as if he is the source of my existence. His hands explore my sides, grazing over my backside, pulling a small gasp from my lips. He sets me down, eyeing me hungrily.

I moan under his gaze, never wanting him to look at me any other way. I lick my unkissed lips, scowling at his patience. I grab his neck and pull his face to mine, rectifying the situation. He growls into my mouth, slipping his tongue in between my lips and kissing me passionately.

Breathlessly, we part moments later. I whimper in his absence, but he passes me the shirt he had been holding. He sighs, annoyed, "someone's coming."

I quickly pull the shirt over my head, removing my curls from the back just as my brother steps into the clearing. The tee shirt is long and covers most of my body, but utterly aware that my bottom half is still exposed, I step behind Sam. He holds my hand, making my heart race and a deep blush rush to my cheeks.

Isaac steps into the clearing, clapping and grinning.

"Well done, Little Sister." He shakes his head, chuckling. "Not as bad as you thought, huh?"

"Isaac, I-" Sam starts to explain, but Isaac holds his hand up to stop him.

"No need." He smiles, "why do you think I invited you back here?"

"You knew," he asks my brother.

"Of course I didn't know. I'm not the Moon Goddess." He laughs, "but I had an inkling."

Sam smiles, rubbing his thumb over my hand and looking down at me. I meet his gaze, unable to keep the smile off of my face. A happy sigh escapes me with a grin as I look over at my brother, unable to contain my joy. He winks, gesturing behind him.

"I'm gonna head back to the house." He wiggles his eyebrows, "have fun, Al."

I fake gag at him, hiding my blushing face in the crook of Sam's arm, his chest shaking with laughter. Looking up at my mate, I see he too is blushing, but has his arm raised, flipping my brother off.