Moon Child (Complete!)

Chapter 2

     That night I stood in the forest with the other pack members, waiting for the shift to take place. Off to the far right, Cole and Kira were standing close together hand in hand. Kira's brown hair framed her heart shaped face. Her hazel eyes seemed to twinkle in the moonlight. Cole looked lovingly down at her.    

   The full moon contrasted against the black inky sky. Stars dotted the sky twinkling in their joy. Tree's surrounded us on all sides secluding us from the town and people. I stood next to mother and father.  I felt my wolf clawing it's way to the surface. I didn't try to fight it. I gladly let her take control. Pain shot through me. But it was tolerable not like my first shift from this afternoon. 

    Next thing I knew I stood on all fours. The rest of the pack I noticed had shifted too. I felt my wolf wanting full control of my mind, wanting to be completely animal. I fought against her pushing her away. Next to me my dad, our Alpha raised his head, snout sticking in the air.

A deep howl came out of him, echoing in the silent forest. Mother followed suit. More howls filled the night air. They weren't howls of sadness, but of celebration of a newly shifted pack member. A feeling of contentment and warmness filling me up. I never knew what it was like to belong into something wholly. But tonight everyone was accepting me as part of the pack.

I sat down on my hunches, threw back my head, and let a howl full of happiness and joy, joining the other howls of my pack mates.

I trotted through the woods, occasionally sniffing the air for signs of prey. As tradition when a new pack member shifts they have to go on their own hunting trip and bring back prey they caught. Whether that be rabbit, deer, a squirrel. Just something that's edible. 

Right now the odds weren't exactly in my favor. I couldn't get a whiff of anything. I was in the thick of the forest so i had to keep leaping over fallen logs. My fur kept getting snagged on tree branches and burrs. I can't believe I almost covered our packs entire territory, and never found a single thing yet. It was as if the forest was sleeping.

I sniffed at the air once again. To my surprise I smelt something close by. Deer. I pricked my ears forward, Trying to listen for it. I calculated that it was a good way's away ahead of me, on the edge of our territory's border. As quietly as I could I began to walk ahead keeping alert for the deer. 

I was nearing the border, when I spotted it. All spindly legs, and brown, nibbling away at a patch of grass. The deer was a few paces ahead of me. I moved forward ever so slightly. My paw stepped on a pile of dead leaves on the ground. I cringed internally as they crunched beneath my weight. The deer looked up at me. It's black beady eyes staring right at me. Not wasting time I leaped at the deer. My jaws open ready to close it around the deer's throat. 

Instead I found myself landing not on the deer, but on the ground; the exact spot where the deer had been standing. A growl of frustration ripped out of my throat. I was so close to the territory's border. If I took one more step forward I would be in our enemy's territory. The Shadow Night pack was our rival pack. They have been trying to get our territory for a long time now. It finally stopped when the Alpha's mate got pregnant, and she had his son.

That was about the time I was born. Their son should be around my age or a year older then me.  They have been keeping a low profile, I hope it stays that way. Our pack can't suffer through another war with The Shadow Night pack. Last time we fought them I heard stories it was total blood shed we lost four of our warriors, and my father was severely wounded.

I looked out at their territory curiously. A flash of brown caught my attention I moved my head to the right where I saw it. Whatever it was had disappeared behind the trees.  I was about to turn around and return to my pack, when a light brown wolf stepped out.  A pinch of fear went through me at the sight of a Shadow Night member. The brown wolf started coming closer to me, until it stopped on the edge of its territory. If I would have stretched a little bit our noses would touch. On closer inspection i realized it was a guy. A feeling of wanting to get closer to him overwhelmed me. What the heck was wrong with me?. He was the enemy, If I took one step out of boundaries he would tear me limb from limb. 

He lifted his head and looked me straight in the eyes. He had deep blue eyes. I suddenly felt a connection tying us together, I had the desire to be by his side. In human form I wanted to kiss him, feel his arms around me. I jerked my head to the side disconnecting the thoughts. A rush of dread filled every inch of me. This wolf whoever he was is my mate. I felt my wolf inside me go nuts for having found him, and being so near.

Daring a look at him. I saw he was staring at me with,  Love and hatred in his eyes. I didn't even know if you could feel both at the same time. I saw him start to take a step forward into my territory, his paw just inches away. A howl filled the air on his side. He shook his head as if to clear himself of how stupid he was to almost step into our territory. He turned and started trotting back into the woods. I stared at him as he retreated back. Then like he knew I was watching him. He turned his head back around to give me one last look, then he bounded out of sight.  I couldn't believe I was mated with the enemy.

I stood their for a second in total astonishment and disbelief that I had found my mate.  In my whole life I never wanted a mate, and I still don't. I didn't want the responsibility to having to bear his children, or summit to his every wish and command. I had my own opinion, and my own way of thinking. I cant have that if I have a mate. I would be expected to keep my mouth shut, never speak out of turn, and do whatever my mate say's. My parents say it's my responsibility to uphold the bloodline, and my responsibility as a women to do whatever my mate say's. To be loyal.

But to be honest I will never confine myself to those rules. I would make my mate reject me one way or another. If it's the last thing I do.