What Has Befallen Dakota

Three

I was in a trance of sorts when Alpha finally said my name. I registered that someone had uttered 'Rosestone', my family's surname, but wasn't quite sure who had said it. In fact, I thought it was my mom or dad chastising me for not paying attention during such an important ceremony, but that idea was quickly shot down when I heard, "Robert Rosestone."

My name was Robert, but my mother shortened my name from Robert to Bo, and it just stuck. She always told me she just didn't think I looked like a Bob (or a Rob, for that matter) so she settled on Bo. Eventually everyone just stopped calling me Robert, and I haven't heard my full name in a couple of years, save for the times Dakota or one of my other friends used it to annoy me.

So, when I heard Robert, I immediately knew someone other than my family or friends was speaking, and I managed to snap back to reality just as the Alpha said, "Welcome to the pack."

At first, nothing interesting happened. I just felt normal, like it was just my mom saying the words. I felt a little disappointed by the lack of response my body gave, and even more so by the fact that I felt no stirring within me, and I wondered if I had misheard the Alpha, and it wasn't my name after all.

However, that claim was shot down like a duck peppered with birdshot when I heard the telltale popping of cheap confetti guns. I watched as the colorful paper squares shot into the air around me, some bits falling to rest atop mg head, others drifting to the ground. I winced as a particularly loud pop sounded and an entire spray of confetti flew into my face.

"Lilith!" my mom scolded while my dad and sister chuckled at the look of confusion and annoyance on my face.

Then something happened - I took a deep breath, preparing to say something snarky to Lilith, and I smelled something. It was overpowering, so overpowering I couldn't scent anything else, and it felt like a drug.

It entered my lungs and rushed throughout my body. My fingers and toes tingled, my eyesight and hearing sharpened, and I felt the odd desire to jump up and track down that scent. I inhaled once more, long and deep this time, and I studied the smell - it was like seeing an old classroom, familiar yet entirely alien. I felt I knew what, or, rather, who it belonged to, but I simply couldn't place it.

All I knew was that it smelled amazing, and that it belonged to none other than my mate.

I felt something clawing at my chest from the inside. It gnawed and scratched fiercely as it struggled to escape the confines of my flesh. It was winning, scraping away my logic and resolve, leaving my with nothing but raw protectiveness and a single scrap of my humanity that seemed to hang on by a thread.

I was going to shift. Here, now, in the middle of the ceremony. I was going to lose it.

"Bo! Are you listening?"

Everything stopped. My eyes danced with sunspots, my ears started ringing, and all of my animalistic desires retreated. They were still there, of course, but I could control them again. For the time being, anyway.

"Huh?" I muttered.

My mom spoke up. "I was talking to you about what you were going to train as when your eyes turned silvery. Are you alright?"

"Y-Yeah, I'm fine," I responded, my hands shaking as they stopped tingling. "I kind of want to train as a fighter."

"What kind?" My dad questioned. "Lookout, warrior, searcher?"

"Warrior or searcher would work with me," I explained.

Mom hummed. "Well, training starts in a week, so I guess we need to get you some books and materials."

She started talking with my dad about what I would need. I was still in the conversation, but I started to sink back into a trance before long. I could still smell her, my mate, but managed to refrain from shifting.

I wanted to tear this place apart until I found her, but I knew I couldn't do that. I just had to wait.

I just had to wait until tomorrow, then I could go searching, I told myself.

🐾

A/N :

Kind of a shorter chapter, so I apologize for that. I also wanted you to know that these boring fillers are going to end soon. The action should start by next chapter.

Thanks if you've read. Don't forget to leave a comment if you can - any and all criticism is welcome.

-Mercy