An Alpha without a Pack

Chapter 18

I found myself standing in the middle of a dirt circle facing a tall brutish man who had cocoa-colored skin with bright scars. This man was the definition of intimidation. He stood a good foot taller than over me, body built like a mountain with chiseled muscles. I watched quietly, heart ringing in my ears, as Aaron, the very scary head of the guard of the Sapphire pack, slowly unbutton his white shirt exposing more scars. I tried to swallow the lump of fear that was building in my throat.

"Now just because you are an alpha, Ms. Sophie, does not mean that I will just simply go easy on you," Aaron said in a gruff voice. "I will try not to hurt you too much."

I nodded slowly as I took off my shirt as well. Deep down I could feel my wolf practically pacing, ready to come to the surface for the first time in four years. Although I knew I needed to get used to shifting again, I feared the feeling of all my bones breaking only to reset in a new form repeatedly.

"Now, I've been informed that it has been a very long time since you've last shifted, so it may take a few tries at first." Aaron removed his tattered pants and shoes and left his undergarments on. "Once you've successfully shifted into your wolf, we will wait for a minute as you get used to your senses again. You must be careful to not allow yourself to get lost in being your wolf. Once, you are comfortable, you will shift back into your human form and do it all over again. We will continue to do this until the shift no longer hurts you."

Aaron watched me quietly as I took off my pants making it to where I was also only in my undergarments.

"Alright, now shift," the brutish man demanded. "If the pain becomes too much to handle, stop and try again."

I nodded and took deep, soothing breaths. I thought of my wolf form and what it was like to be a wild animal. Running through the thick brush of the forest, playing chase or hid and seek with my siblings, and chasing a deer or a rabbit. Almost like a force field had shoved me, I fell to my knees screaming in agony. My fingers shifted into claws and dug into the dirt. My blood felt like acid running through my veins leaving me feeling like I was going to die. Another memory flashed before my eyes. I was running through the Silver pack's town with an older lady chasing me with a spoon because I snuck some of her pie. I screamed again forcing my voice to go horse as my teeth elongated.

It took me a moment to realize that Aaron was yelling at me trying to get me to stop but I ignored him. I needed to shift, there was no idea what would happen in the near future. I needed to be able to fend for myself, be strong for once. As I thought about Drake and his two sons hurting and destroying my pack, my family, I began to feel my bones snap and reset. With each snap I either cried or growled, each sounding more animalistic than the last. I began to slip in and out of consciousness as I struggled to keep control of my wolf.

"Ms. Sophie, you need to stop!" Aaron yelled from a few feet away. It looked like he was too scared to approach me. "We can take a break and try again."

"I can...do this," I panted. "I need....to do.... this."

I screamed again and felt my whole body shift completely, my undergarments ripping in the process. Slowly the pain faded away leaving me breathless and achy. New smells wafted around me along with new sounds. I could hear Aaron's heartbeat slowing down as he relaxed. Footsteps sounded making me look up. Aaron was not moving an inch but there were still footsteps approaching. My ears perked up and I looked over my shoulders to see a brown wolf making his way towards us.

"How are you feeling, Ms. Sophie?" Aaron asked squatting.

My body really hurts, I thought back. Even in my head, I sounded breathless.