Accept Me

6: "When we get older, imma marry you."

I keep to the back of the pack, Anastasia keeping stride with me as she swings our hands between us. When everyone turned to leave the ballroom, I realized I was close to the door and had panicked, sliding further away in order to avoid being run over. Anastasia had immediately grabbed my hand and pulled me away from the crowd, keeping her small body in front of me in an attempt to protect me. We had waited for everyone to leave the room before following closely behind, her hand still in mine as we walked out.

About ten minutes into our walk, I sense people shifting around me, their yips and general sounds of excitement echoing through the trees. As I walk, I pull my hands from Anastasia's and pull my shirt off, placing it in my bag along with my necklace. My pants and boxers follow, also going into the bag that I tie around my ankle. I glance to my right and notice that Anastasia had done the same, a bright smile on her face as she prepares to shift. I smile back and let the beast out, my skin rippling as the fur pushes through my skin and my body morphs into my giant wolf.

In the span of like two minutes, the forest is full of shifters whose instincts were set on high. A few families break up from the group, parents teaching their newly turned sixteen year olds how to hunt; even a few newly mated couples break off to hunt on their own. I look through the group in search of my parents or the Alphas, sighing in relief when I see them and trot towards them with Anastasia following behind.

'Is it okay if we join you?' I ask my parents, hoping I'm not intruding in their hunting time.

'Of course, sweetie.' Momma says.

'Let's go.' Poppa says as he nudges Momma ahead of him who goofily lets her tongue hang out.

Anastasia and I follow behind my parents as the Alphas go their own way, bumping each other as we move further into the trees. We pounce on a few rabbits and squirrels here and there, taking joy in scaring the poor creatures. A few minutes into our slow paced jog, the scent of a deer catches my attention. I growl lowly in my throat, catching the attention of my parents and Anastasia as I tense in anticipation.

I keep silent and still as I focus my senses on catching the trail again, nearly drooling when I catch its scent. I stalk towards the animal, my body low to the ground when I get a glimpse of it through the trees. I can feel my parents following me, staying behind and keeping an eye on me as I hunt for the very first time. Anastasia stalks alongside me, her eyes trained on the deer as well.

It doesn't seem to know we're there as it lazily snacks on the grass. I move until Anastasia and I are almost opposite each other, the deer between us. A tense moment passes before I spring out of my spot and towards the now startled deer, Anastasia following a second later. The deer freezes for a moment, its large eyes taking in my approaching figure.

That moment was the worst decision that deer ever made, because in that moment I had let my instincts take over and had clamped my jaws around its neck and dug my paws into its side. The creature screeches as it tries to get away from me, effectively making me tear more into its skin. I keep a firm hold of it as I hear the breaking of bones, my eyes sliding to the side and seeing Anastasia's jaw clamped to the deer's hind leg. I nearly snort at the deliriously happy look on her face as she tears into the deer as well.

Deciding to finally put the deer out of its misery, I shake my head and tear its throat out, silencing it forever. The deer falls onto its knees before slumping onto its side, its open eyes staring into nothingness as its chest stops moving. I lick my lips as I begin to tear at the outside skin of its belly, exposing its innards and digging in. I feel Anastasia move next to me, and I resist the urge to growl possessively at my meal, deciding to move aside and give her some space instead.