Born With A Curse

Chapter 13.

My heart is racing at a thousand beats per minute; my palms are dripping with sweat, I have never been this nervous in my life, what was I thinking?

"Just breathe," Cole instructs, he must have heard my heart beat.

"Breathe? You told me that the pack is going to want to fight me to establish dominance. SO instead of the hi, how are you? The normal kind of introduction, I am about to be attacked," I reply as I catch my breath.

"Relax. I don't think they're here at the moment, they're probably out hunting."

"Yeah sure, relax, just what I'm about to do after everything you've told me," I snarl following Cole deeper into an open space.

Taking a deep breath I look around taking in my surroundings. This place is beautiful, like nothing I have ever seen before, It's nothing like in the movies. There's green everywhere, bright as anyone could imagine. McKenna would love it here.

"Beautiful isn't it?"

"Amazing!"

"Come on, I'll show you around," Cole takes my hand and leads me even further into what he calls his home.

Tree's sway in the wind, as it howls through the branches, leaves rustle along the dirt ground swirling and rising with the light breeze, I can see the sun setting for the 3rd time in the distance through the trees, I could definitely get used to living here, it's incredible.

As Cole leads the way down a dirt path I soon find myself surrounded by little wooden huts, kind of like outback houses but much more beautiful.

"This is where you live?"

"It's nothing to fancy but its home," Cole smiles while taking a seat on a random log outside one of the huts.

I push my hair to the side so it's out my face as I take a seat next to Cole on the log, everything still seems so fantasy, a few weeks ago I never would have believed any of this and now here I am waiting to meet this pack, this family of his because it turns out my dad had been lying to me my whole life.

"So tell me about them? The pack I mean."

"What do you want to know?" Cole asks in return

"What do I need to know?" I question

"Right, well first things first, Mum, our mum, is our Alpha. She leads our pack, everyone takes orders from her, she's basically everyone's mum, but only our biological mother. Clark and Chase are brothers, they fled their pack when another pack moved into town and literally tore every other member of their pack apart. Clark is 19, a year older then Chase, you still following?" Cole asks and I nod. "Leia is the only other female member of the pack, she's been with us for a few years. Mum and I found her while hunting one night and after careful consideration we decided to ask her into the pack. Justin is our youngest male member, he's still a little shy and getting used to his abilities but all in all he's a good kid."

"Is that everyone?"

"Not quite."

As if on cue a large dirty grey wolf jumps into sight, he stands just a foot away from Cole and I, my heart jumps in my chest and automatically I hold my breath. Step by step it gets closer, nostrils flaring, and chest rising and falling, Cole doesn't seem bothered by his presence so I'm guessing this is a member of his pack, yet it doesn't make me feel any less uneasy. I back up as much as I can in my seated position while the wolf continues to come closer, sniffing and grunting its way forward.

In a split second this large grey wolf shifts right in front of my eyes, silk fur disappears changing into light tanned skin, its long snout retracts transforming into a nose, mouth and chin, paw and claws turn into hands and feet then legs and arms, before I know it a naked, 20 something gorgeous man is standing in front of me.

"Hi I'm Tanner," he smiles cheekily extending his hand toward me.

I don't take it, I'm frozen in shock at what's just happened, for a person to transform like that in front of my own eyes is a lot to take in, even if I do know it's possible.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you, you must be Brianna?"

"It's Bree and yeah, sorry, I just haven't seen that before," I reply pointing to his person.

I'm guessing he thought I meant a penis because he's quick to cover himself up, although the smirk on his face clearly shows he's not ashamed of it.

"My bad."

"I didn't mean one of them," I chuckle pointing to his neither region

"Oh you've never seen someone shift before, wow you really are a newbie."

"How about you go put some clothes on Tanner and leave me to look after Bree," Cole interrupts our brief conversation.

"Whatever you say Sir," Tanner salutes us both and turns flashing his peachy bum in our direction.

To say I didn't have a peak would be a lie, all these raging hormones inside of me are driving me insane and with a butt like that, how can I not look?

"Sir?" I question turning back to Cole

"Tanner's always called me that as more of a piss-take because of mum, he's trouble Bree, you need to stay away from him," Cole warns

"He seems alright."

"You don't know him like I do, stay away from him," he snaps the last part

"Whoa alright, calm down."

"I'm just trying to protect you Bree."

"I know, I know."

Howls echo through the woods, one after the other. It's like they're replying to each other, suddenly I feel on edge. All my senses are telling me that it's no longer just me, Cole and Tanner here anymore. I can smell a strong familiar scent, one that I recognise but can't quiet place, rustling in the trees behind me catches my attention making me turn quickly. I crouch on all fours, my claws automatically dig into the ground as my eyes focus on a certain spot in the trees, instincts kick in and I'm ready to pounce, to defend myself to any unwanted danger.

Out of the tree's strides a pure black wolf, tall and elegant, from the posture alone I know it's her. In another step she begins to transform, this time I'm not so scared, instead nervous, Cole approaches her as she completes her transformation back to her human form, she stunningly beautiful and looks no older than me, does this mean we don't age?

Cole wraps his jacket around her covering her up, I can tell she's not bothered by this and that he's probably done it for my benefit. Retracting my claws I bring them out the dirt and loosen myself up as I stand. She continues to walk closer, a smile growing wide on her face, when she finally reaches me again I freeze not knowing what to do, yes she is my mother, my biological mother, but she is also my Alpha and I don't know what the rules are with all that.

"It's really you," she smiles as tears well up in her hazel eyes

"Mum," I whisper as tears form in my own eyes

"Brianna, my baby, my girl, my princess."