“Shift!” Johnny growls out.
“They think you’re a rogue,” Faith says.
“Who are you and why are you on my land? Where is my daughter?” Johnny growls out again. I look at the rest of the crowd, they all look uneasy, as if they’re about to jump me at any second.
“Speak to them, tell them who you are,” Faith says, sounding nervous.
“And how am I supposed to do that? Bark? I haven’t exactly had time to figure out how this whole wolf thing works Faith.” I saunter cautiously down the wooden dock toward the shore.
“Yes right, sorry. Okay just look at your father and think about what you want to say to him. Focus.”
“Do you not hear me rogue? Speak!” Johnny roars, making me step back afraid.
I watch as Alex looks at me, her eyebrows furrowing.
“Johnny wait!” She whispers, but I still hear her clearly from where I’m standing. She steps forward and picks up my torn clothes lying on the ground.
Johnny looks at the shredded material then back at me, his stance relaxing somewhat.
“Angel?” He asks, using a caring and less domineering tone.
I watch Tyler and Talon gasp. Tyler tries to take a step forward, but Talon grabs his arm quickly.
The bond that is between us is making it hard for me to focus on anyone other than the two of them. I can almost feel their beating hearts in my own chest, feel every breath they take as if it’s my own and I can even hear their thoughts.
“She’s beautiful…” Tyler thinks sounding out of breath.
“Amazing….” Talon thinks.
Then I look to the girls on either side of them and the spell breaks.
I growl and force my eyes to look at my parents.
Turning fully towards them, I focus all my attention on Johnny then Alex.
“Mom?” I say in my head, hoping it works.
Alex and Johnny both take off running in my direction across the sand.
They come to a skidding halt at my side, Alex immediately stroking my back. “You did it. All on your own sweetie. I’m so proud of you.” She smiles lovingly at me as she wipes a tear away.
Johnny bends down and pulls me against him nuzzling my neck and scratching my head.
That feels really good. Hmmm….
“You’re perfect baby girl. Perfect.”
“Boys? Aren’t you going to congratulate our girl?” Johnny lifts his head to the twins. I turn to see them standing a couple metres away staring at each other.
They both turn to head in my direction.
“No Dad, it’s cool. Leave them. They’re busy.” Talon and Tyler immediately stop, looking at me with shock and what seems to look something close to hurt. They have no reason to feel hurt, especially after how they both treated me this evening.
Guess I was projecting my thoughts to them also.
“Nope, that was me projecting your thoughts to those bloody fools,” Faith tsks.
Johnny looks down at me confused as if he’s trying to understand whats going on between the twins and I. I know he’ll be asking questions later when we’re alone; I just hope he can wait till then.
“Race you back to the house?” I say, immediately bolting past the twins and into the woods. I hear Johnny chuckling behind me. I may not be as big as my father but It seems that I am super-fast in my wolf form.
The wind in my coat is exhilarating. My body aches, but it is so worth all the pain if I get to feel this free and independent whenever I want to. The sun has started to rise as I reach the porch to the pack house with Johnny hot on my heels.
“I knew it! You’re an even faster wolf. I knew you were going to survive the shift, I just knew it!” He says proudly, catching his breath.
“Go on upstairs and change. Don’t think you’re quite ready to shift in front of people just yet,” he chuckles, opening the door for me.
I don’t think I will ever be ready to be naked in front of anyone.
“You must be exhausted baby girl. How about you take the rest of the day to recover and I’ll move the ceremony to tomorrow night?” He says, patting the top of my head.
“Good idea.”
I run up the stairs and into my room thankful that no one’s around. I nose my door closed.
“Now what?” I ask Faith.
“Just think of your body when it’s in its human form and think of changing back to it,” Faith says.
I do as she says and I feel my body shifting. I collapse naked on the floor and stretch my stiff aching muscles.
“It will get better my dear. Your body will adjust,” she says.
“That was exhausting,” I sigh, letting out a deep breath.
“You better get dressed, our mates are on their way to see us.”