Three Against One

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

The sun sets and I prepare for my first shift. This is traditionally a family event. The whole family will prepare together and go out to the circle set up in the woods to help new shifters. They encourage each other through it and then celebrate with a run together and practice using their links. Must be nice. Instead, I grab my little bag of belongings and journey towards the circle alone. It's around 11pm now so I have about an hour until it hits me. I'm ready. I'm scared to face it alone but I am very ready.

As I approach the area, I pause, seeing two figures already there. I was pretty sure I was the only person turning 18 tonight, but I could be wrong. As I get closer, I recognize the figures. The most important people in the world. I squeal as I run towards Ava and Charlotte.

"What are you doing here?!" I whisper yell. I don't want to wake the whole pack with my shock.

"You thought you were doing this alone?" Ava asks. "Girl please" Charlotte adds, waving me off.

"Thank you." And I couldn't mean it more. They move to prepare me. They help me undress, show me where to stand, describe how I may feel and how they can help me. The both of them went through this a few months ago, so the process was fresh to them. In most cases, on of the alphas or betas will come to witness, but I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't even know it was my 18th birthday, or even my birthday at all.

When midnight hits, I feel it in my bones. It's an odd sensation, like something in me is waking. Like it's always been there but is now fully present. It rips through me, tearing me from the inside out. It's painful. Like twisting your ankle on repeat throughout your whole body. But it's tolerable. And suddenly, my vision changes, it's sharper. And I'm lower to the ground. My limbs feel odd. I am finally in my wolf form.

I turn my head awkwardly, noting how my muscles move differently. It's almost natural, almost like if I were to practice once it would become second nature. I see Charlotte and Ava in their wolves behind me yipping.

Are you ready, Bug? I hear Charlotte's voice in my mind.

Yes! Am I doing it? I look to Charlotte then Ava.

Didn't include Ava. Picture you are talking to both of us, but only both of us that way you don't end up talking to anyone within 100 feet of us

Okay, Ava, take two. I'm ready.

Hear you loud and clear. I hear Ava respond as she runs forward and I move to follow her.

We went for a few hours. Running, rolling, and practicing using the link. As the sun began to rise, I knew our time was up. No one needed to know they were here. I shift back, much smoother than my shift into my wolf, and throw my clothes back on as the girls do the same. I say my goodbyes and thank you's then make my way back to the pack house yawning. For once, I was happy to have the triplets birthday extravaganza on my birthday. I got the morning and part of the afternoon off so I could work most of the night. I had set up at 3pm then had to change to server attire for the party at 7pm. Plenty of time to rest.

Arriving at the pack house, I open the door feeling ready to sleep but as soon as it creaks open I freeze. Something was off. No, not off, weird. Something was very weird. It was a scent. My smell had always been strong, a little keener since my shift a few hours ago but not by much. This scent was cutting to my core. It was coming from the recently awakened part of me. I breath in again and realize it was more than one scent. It was a few.

I step into the house cautiously. This giddy feeling is unmistakable. I just didn't expect it so soon. Most wolves don't find their mate for years after shifting. And I definitely didn't want mine to be a part of this pack. Actually, I don't think I want a mate. That new part inside me rebels at the thought but I ignore it. It's new to this experience. It doesn't understand what we have been through and how amazing being alone in peace will be. I slowly follow the scents upstairs. I already don't like this. I really hope it is another staff member. Maybe a cleaner. The only bedrooms currently occupied are the Alphas. Maybe it is a visitor for the party. My hopes are immediately ruined when the first scent leads me straight to Dominics room. I enter, and I am over run by the scent. No. I follow the next one to Xavier's with the same experience. And then Cole's, no. Absolutely not.