The Emergence

2. An Unexpected Appraisal

The usual everyday bubbling that happened at the Oak mansion seemed more extra as time drew near for the shifting ceremony. Every parent in the pack were expectant of the taming that would take place and more so what their young would morph into. Calissa's parents were not left out because they were obviously more enthusiastic than she was.

"Looks like we will be welcoming another protector home soon enough. I'm excited to show you the ropes," Castillo said at breakfast with a glimmer in his eyes. She never understood such emotions for things she wasn't sure about but they were sure because they had gone through it and conquered their wolves. Battle scars were like trophies and both parents had it. Her brother had one too and he was a proud Delta. She just wasn't sure if she wanted so much claw marks that indicated a battle over her own life with a wolf she was supposed to add to her life.

Catherine looked from her smiling husband to her frowning daughter. "Are you not happy, Lissa?"

This question brought her out of her worry laden thoughts. "I am happy. Why wouldn't I be?" She whispered the last bit to herself.

"Not only happy but proud. You'll be a part of us, joining dad and I on patrols, training with us and with the soldiers," Christopher said with a smile.

Calissa laughed a hearty one, she could tell how expectant everyone was. "Ew, Chris, you smell like sweat and don't ruffle my hair!" She half complained, half giggled as her brother gave her a hug.

"Don't be scared, little one. If I could do it then you can too," he comforted before leaving the table and following his dad.

"You must never be afraid. You don't show fear to a wolf," her mother said after a while, giving her daughter a warm yet serious look.

"Mum, do you think it's going to be hard?" She asked. The temple had several mysterious stories and that was where the ceremony was to take place.

"Listen to me, child," Catherine said as she stood up to sit beside her daughter. "You are brave and strong. You should be a proud Oak too. We never run or hide in the face of hardship, we face them head-on until we overcome."

Calissa looked at her mother. She believed her mum to be the bravest woman in the entire pack. She never shied away from her opinion and always did what was true of character. She wouldn't be the one to start blasphemy but Catherine Oak to her was even more queen-like than the current Luna of their pack and she would never say this outside.

"What if I don't overcome? What if I'm conquered instead? Can I choose to run and hide then?" Her hands trembled a bit from the thought.

"No, no, no, my child. Never." Catherine turned her daughter's head and looked into her scared green eyes.  "A wolf is a predator. You do not run. You do not turn your back. You fight with all your might. Hiding is not an option," she said as she held her hand. "I believe in you and I know you can do this, you have always been a smart and strong girl. Dare I say the strongest of your peers in combat." Catherine's eyes twinkled as Calissa let out a laugh. She pulled the girl into a hug.

The Oaks were a strong and proud family of Deltas. They were like the symbol of protection to the Amethyst pack and their loyalty to the Alpha family was no joke. Everyone who knew of the shifting ceremony anticipated that she would emerge from the ritual with her battle scars proud on her skin and a brown wolf to heighten her victory. Everyone out there wanted to see a Delta Calissa Oak. So what then was this situation?
The wound on her shoulder burned, etched onto her skin as a testament of her failure and not a victory as she had always feared. She had been conquered instead of being the conqueror. The large black wolf looked her deep in the eyes almost as if asking her to accept it. There she lay, looking into the eyes of a predator, the one thing the adults had always warned them not to do. She had heard rumors about these situations, each one bone chilling and undesirable. Some said these monsters had the ability to bewitch. Others said their eyes would take your soul from your body and leave you in an endless void. Another would say they could make you run mad and leave your brethren with no choice but to end your life. So what was happening now? Why did those swirling stormy grey eyes peering into hers seem as though they were trying to tell a story? There should have been no communication. This was an animal incapable of any reasonable thoughts or emotions other than anger. It was her triumph that was supposed to give the wolf senses and not the wolf trying to dive into her soul.  Maybe she was already losing her mind. She had failed and now its animosity was being transferred to her. She would rather die than go mad. She closed her eyes ready to accept her fate. The only thing definite about those that failed was death. She had always wondered if that was true and now she was probably going to find out firsthand.