Crimson's Daughter

Chapter XVI: Demand Respect

Time had passed by since Leo and I had taken our trip to visit his family. We hadn't really discussed much of our relationship since our return nor had we talked much since coming home. We had taken the next step but I was still questioning myself and my judgment even when I knew that there was nothing to fear. Maybe what all had happened back with his family was an act on his part. Maybe I was just overthinking it all. Leo seemed to be more busy than usual with meetings and Mae was helping out some of the ladies in the kitchen. My stomach grumbled needing food to start our day. 

"Claire, how nice to see you again!" I heard a voice called out behind me right before I was going to make my entrance towards the kitchen.

"Elijah?" 

"Close, I'm Zach. Elijah doesn't have freckles." He chuckled, pointing towards his face.

"Darn. Anyways, what was it that you needed?" I smiled as we entered the kitchen. 

The women bowing their heads towards me and I felt myself smile back. I wasn't quite accustomed to this 'Luna' thing quite yet. As the women went back to work I didn't spot Mae anywhere and frowned, grabbing an apple on the way out.

"Nothing really, was wondering if you wanted to hang out with us. We are all going on a run."

"A run? Where?" 

"Just on the edge of pack grounds. Nothing dangerous. Unless Alpha wouldn't let you that is."

I glared at the ground. Surely since our relationship had evolved there would be no existence of the 'rules' that had been placed on me since I came here right? I kicked a rock as we walked outside and turned to face Zach. "I'll join you. Who all will be there?" 

"Elijah, Danielle, Martin, and me. You are more than welcomed to have Mae tag along if you  want."

"I can't seem to find her so its alright. Let's go." 

The grass felt soft under my bare feet and the sun was bright. The winter was coming and yet my body felt fine with minimal clothing. It slightly worried me that I hadn't shifted into my wolf except once and that was the day of my birthday. How was I supposed to shift? Would it be painful as the first time? 

I stood behind a tree, stripping down to nothing but my naked form. Elijah and Zach took my modesty as Leo being possessive of me when in reality I just wasn't comfortable with the idea of others seeing me naked. "Luna Claire, you ready?" Zach called out and I felt my nervousness begin to creep up on me.

Oh God how was I suppose to shift?! What an idiot I am for even agreeing to go on a run!

I felt my toes curled into the grass more and my back press against the bark of the tree, begging for me to hide in it. My breathing was shallow and I closed my eyes willing myself to calm down some. The wind blew and the smell of the earth calmed me down. A strange sense of something taking over me and I felt myself begin to change and when I opened my eyes I saw the world in a whole different image.

"Oh by God's mercy I shifted.."I smiled  up at the sky before coming out to see Elijah and the rest of them waiting. 

Another girl with almost bleached blonde hair and blue eyes was among the crowd which I didn't see before. A sour expression was on her face and her glare directed towards me gave me an uneasy feeling. Why was she looking at me like that? 

Elijah seemed to have noticed the passing look between the girl and I and since I wasn't officially a member of their pack I couldn't mind link them, even in their human forms.