The Panther

5

Yvonne

We ran back to the house in silence. I could tell the thought was in her head too. I pushed it back when we reached my clothes. I shifted and quickly pulled them on.

Walking back to the house, there were fewer wolves out and about, probably in for the night.

Walking back into the house, the guys are still sitting in the living room talking.  They all stopped and looked at me. I waved shyly and took my spot back on Luke's lap. He kissed my shoulder and the room was still silent.

"How was the run?" Luke whispered against my shoulder.

"It was good, Harriet seems to be better now," I answer putting my head into the crook of his neck.

"Who is Harriet?" Justin asks looking confused.

"She's my Panther. I've had her since I was five." I answered smiling at the memory of getting my only friend at the time.

"Five?!" They all exclaimed at the same time.

I giggled and explained a little, "Yes five. That was my first shift. It's confusing to explain."

"Damn girl, you are strong," Barry says sighing and leaning back in his seat.

"Hell yeah I am and I intend on showing it in training tomorrow," I say smirking a bit. He shook his head and lightly closed his eyes. "Speaking of which, you guys should get some sleep if you want to survive the new training regimens," I say waving them all off.

I heard them all mutter incoherently. I giggled and laid my head on my mate's chest. Once they all left to their rooms, I felt Luke's hands roam all over my body.

"Not here," I whispered giggling a bit. He grunted and picked me up. I yelped and wrapped my arms around his neck as he carries me bridal style to our bedroom. All the way up the stairs, he laid kisses all over my jaw and my shoulder.

When we reached his room, he laid me down on the bed, continuing to attack my neck relentlessly. When he reached the spot where his mark would be, my body convulsed in pain. I began to grunt and my breathing became labored as I tried to block out the pain.

"What's happening?" Luke asks worriedly as he looks at me with wide eyes, not knowing what to do to help. For a moment, I see his eyes glaze over, calling for someone to help him.

Minutes later, Rueben and Justin burst into the room, looking worried as they assess the situation.

"What's happening to her?" Rueben asks as I continue to shake and groan in pain, feeling like my body is on fire.

"I don't know, when I kissed the place her mark would sit, she just started convulsing in pain!" Luke says worriedly, grabbing fistfuls of his hair.

"It's not your fault." I whisper as I try to regulate my breathing, trying to stop the pain.

"Baby, what is this?" He asks coming to my side, gripping my hand.

"I don't know," I say as another jolt runs through my body. I whimper and curl into the fetus position, trying to make it stop.

Harriet! What's happening to me? I ask worriedly,  hoping she might know.

You will know in time. She replies cryptically.

What?! I question, but she doesn't answer.

The pain continues shooting us and down my body, causing me to jolt and shake every time. Just when I think it's starting to become milder, the familiar sleek black fur begins to slowly erupt from my skin. At a painfully slow pace, my body snaps and rearranges to the shape of my panther. I look to my mate to see him still staring in horror, not knowing how to help.