The Alpha's Beta

Chapter 9

Quick story, guys. So, you know how March 21st is the first day of spring? Yeah. The snow should be gone or that dirty, ugly slush by now. However, here in Michigan, anything is possible. Michigan weather pretty much does what it wants. Wednesday night we got a little less than an inch of snow, and a HUGE ice storm! School was cancelled for Thursday. My power went out Thursday, at about 1pm, but came back on at around 2pm. So, my family thought everything was good, and went about our business. Then 6:00pm rolled around, and it went out again. And it didn't come on until 10am Friday (aka today). In other words, I had to eat a cold dinner, sleep in a cold house (about 52 degrees ALL day and night!!!), and didn't even have any internet, so I couldn't write on Wattpad!  

So much for quick. Lol. Anyways, the moral of the story is this: Whatever you do, don't EVER trust Michigan weather! 

Hope you guys are having a good, snow-free day! :)

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It felt like my body was turning inside out, yet I felt no pain. It was the absolute weirdest feeling I've ever, ever felt. It felt like it lasted forever, but forever was probably only a minute or less. 

When it was done, I got up off the ground. Or tried to, at least. Trust me, four legs are harder to operate than two. Which made me realize: I had four legs!

I tried to say that, but all that came out was a small yip. Holy crap! This is officially insane!

"Well, then. That was weird. I have never, in all my years of training, ever seen a Shift like that. And I've been around for a long time." Nick stated. Noah trotted over to me, nudging my feet. Trying to get me to get up.

"Come on. It's easy. Ish. Once you get the hang of it. Just act like you're walking on your hands and knees. But not." Noah's voice said. I didn't even question the whole mind-talky thingy. I just accepted it and moved on.

I lifted myself off the ground and stood up. Okay. Step 1: Get up. Check. Step 2: Walk. 

I picked up my front left paw and moved it forward, instantly moving my back right one, then front right and so on and so forth. Step 2, check.

"Good job. Now focus on me, on my voice, on my human body. And think something towards it."

Um. Okay. Noah. Noah, Noah, Noah. His dark brown, spiked up in the front, hair. His pale green eyes. And I thought, "This is messed up."

"I know it is. I was in your shoes about three years ago. Nick taught me. And he's a terrible teacher."

"You aren't much better." Nick responded. 

"Um, how did he hear us talking?"

"That's just something he can do. Alphas can hear their pack's thoughts, as long as they're 'speaking' with someone."

"What's an Alpha?"

"The leader of a Lupine pack. They have more power than leaders of other Shifter races. Because wolves are more connected."

"Now Shift back."

"Why? Wolves are cool. What do I even look like?"

"Ugh, you are just like me. I didn't want to back to Human either." Then Noah studied me. And sent me a picture through our minds. A little weirded out, I looked at... me, apparently. I was an all black wolf, with pale blue eyes, just like as a Human. I looked smaller than Noah and Nick, but I think most female wolves are.

"Okay. How do I turn back into myself? And will I have clothes on?" I asked tentatively.

"You just think about your body becoming Human. It's just that easy. And, yes, you will have your same clothes you were wearing before you Shifted."

"Good to know."  I concentrated on me. The real me. The Human me. My long hair, wiggling fingers and toes. The no tail thing. I felt my body twist and turn on the inside. Once I was back to myself, I almost puked. Gross, I know. But I felt like my body was trying to kill me.

I dropped to my knees. "What's happening?" I looked over to the boys. Noah must have Shifted when I did, since he was Human again, too.

"I have no idea." Nick and Noah said, simultaneously.

"Thanks for the honesty. I appreciate it." I groaned. 

"It may be because your body is rebelling against itself. You were not meant to be a Lupine." My mother said, glaring at the two dumbfounded Lupines. I was equally confused, but she wasn't looking at me, thank god.

"Mom? What - are - you - doing - here?" I said between gasps. It hurt so much.

My mom crouched next to me. "I felt you. I got here as fast as I could. You have to make this up to me, though. They finally fixed the coffee machine."

"How do you know what we are? And what do you mean, Raven's not meant to be a Lupine?" Noah asked, recovering his voice.

"A Shifter can sense their own, can't they? And Raven was born an Aquiline. But you two had other plans."

"Hey, don't look at me!" Noah said, palms up. He pointed at Nick. "He told me to!"

"Then you are responsible?" The Death Glare was out, aimed at Nick.

"With all due respect, I believe that you might want to talk with my father about this. I have to follow orders, too. And, just so you know, your supposed-to-be-scary glare, it isn't scary."

Huh. Normally gets them every time.

"Hey, guys? Still here. Still dying. In case you forgot." I wheezed, doubling over, so that I was almost on the ground. My mom instantly turned back to me.

"Sweetie, I didn't want this to happen, but you have to Shift again. It will come naturally to you, since it's in your blood. Trust me, I was the same way. It's the same way you Shifted to a Wolf, just focus on being an Eagle instead."

"We kind of forced her into Shifting. I pretended to attack her, so her Wolf would react in self-defense. But, Rav, it's exactly like Shifting back. Trust me. You'll be okay." Noah told me, kneeling next to me.

"Tell me that when I'm not dying, okay? Thanks."

Birds have wings, talons, beaks, stuff like that, right? To tell you the truth, I'm afraid of heights. So this probably wasn't going to go well.

I closed my eyes and tried to draw into myself, ignoring the pain. In the back of my mind, I felt three things. A Wolf, an Eagle, and something else. My Human self, maybe? But I internally turned to the Eagle, reaching out to it. It gladly came forward, pushing itself to the front, forcing me to Shift.

And I did. My arms became wings, my mouth a beak, feet to talons, so on and so forth. When I tried to look around, I couldn't. I wasn't in control. The Eagle I got to help me? She wanted to stay out, apparently. But I was okay with that. I didn't see any reason why not.

I felt rather than heard the Eagle tell me her name. It was Anita. Odd, but what was even more so: this didn't happen when I was a Wolf. Maybe because I wasn't meant to be one? Or because I reached out to my Eagle side?

Either way, I was content to let Anita handle things. So I buried myself in the recesses of my mind and waited for her to be done. 

Anita looked at the people surrounding her, not knowing who they were. The bird flew up to the high branches of a pine tree. She sensed that the female below was an Eagle, but was not in her true form.

So, Anita decided, she would go find a real Flock. One with Shifters that didn't wave Human arms at Anita and who didn't speak Human words. 

Anita lifted her strong wings, pumped them hard, and flew into the afternoon sky.