The Pack

Ch. 9

Bryce rushed into the house after being dropped off from an art event with Dana. He was so excited and he ran to find his older siblings sitting outside under the cover of the back patio. "I just heard from one of Dana's friends that she wants me to ask her to the dance!" He exclaimed. It was obvious to everyone other than the two younger siblings that Bryce liked Dana and now it was confirmed that Dana liked him back. "I'm gonna ask her tomorrow! But it has to be something big, what should I do?" He exclaimed happily, his brain going a mile a minute with ideas. But his excitement disappeared when he saw his siblings' expressions. "What?" He asked as his shoulders dropped. 

"Do you know what day the dance is?" Willow asked. 

"Saturday." Bryce replied. 

"Do you remember what Saturday is?" Caelum asked. When Bryce didn't respond Willow answered for him. 

"The full moon." She revealed and it dropped Bryce's spirits even more. 

"No, but... no I can't-" Bryce's breath began to quicken and he was hit with a rushing wave of heat. His face flushed red and his siblings sat up in alarm. 

"What's going on, dude?" Caelum asked. 

"Why is it so hot? I'm burning up!" Bryce breathed heavily and began fanning his shirt. "It suddenly got really hot! Do you guys not feel that?" He asked. 

"Oh you're definitely not going anywhere now." Willow stated. 

"What?! Why?" Bryce asked, sweating now. 

"Because you just started your rut. You're home-bound now." Willow explained and Caelum's eyes widened in realization. 

"What?! It's early! It's not supposed to start until..."

"Saturday. The dance wouldn't have been a good time anyway." Willow explained. 

"Welcome to the club, man." Caelum said sarcastically. Ruts happen once a year starting at age fifteen, Bryce's age. Caelum's had his for two years now. Willow has dealt with her heat for three years. Everyone gets it at a different time, around the time the Moon Goddess deems it appropriate for you to find your mate. It's the same time every year so it's easy to prepare for. With the discomfort and urges, societal wolves decided it's best to isolate until a rut/heat is over. Wild wolves just give into their urges, mate or not, to end the rut almost as soon as it starts. It usually only lasts three days, the same amount of time the moon is full in the sky as it usually corresponds with a full moon.

~~~

The next day, Bryce was nowhere to be found at school. He was locked away in the basement, suffering through the pain. Was basement was more of their den. It was hidden under the floorboards in their private living room, also considered the den. They only really used the the basement for ruts and a first shift.

"What do you think caused it to come early?" Caelum asked in a low tone to Willow before class started. 

"I don't know, maybe he's an early bloomer?" She replied sarcastically. 

"I wanna know. What if that happens to me?" Caelum asked worriedly. 

"I'm sure if it hasn't happened yet then it won't." Willow assured him. 

"Do you think it's gonna happen to him every time?" He asked and Willow thought back to her brother, imagining him writhing around in pain. It hurt her to imagine his pain. The first time is always the hardest as your body hasn't experienced that kind of pain before.