Chapter Four

Tara

The Pack House was empty. Just what I needed. Trinity was feeling restless, too. I needed to unwind, and after twenty-one years of waiting, she couldn't wait to get her paws on the ground and run. I made my way upstairs to my room.

"Would it screw up my shift if I smoked a little weed?" I asked Trinity.

"Nope, it shouldn’t be a problem. The Moon Goddess told me you’re a pothead." She snickered.

I stopped dead in my tracks. "Wait—what?"

"It’s okay, Tara. It’s not like you roll around with a blunt hanging out of your mouth all the time." Trinity seemed to understand how much an occasional toke helped me relax. “It will probably help both of us.”

I sat on my balcony, enjoying a joint and the beautiful night sky. The moon seemed to be smiling at me. Just fifteen minutes to go. As I inhaled, the earlier tension melted away. Stars twinkled, tiny reminders of the vast universe beyond my world.

My world was about to change in ways I had imagined for years. A shiver of excitement ran through me as I changed into my ceremony outfit: a flowing white dress, simple yet elegant, allowing easy movement for the transformation. I glanced at my reflection, my heart racing with anticipation.

"See you soon," I told Trinity, and stepped out into the moonlit night.

I took the long way around the crowd, not wanting to risk another dramatic encounter with Cindy. The music from the speakers and the revelry coming from the crowd lifted my mood. One of my favorite songs had me dancing my way along the edge of the forest. I probably looked ridiculous, but for a moment I was transported to the 1980s by Laura Branigan’s "Self Control." My obsession with eighties pop music rivaled my obsession with the Lycan King.

By the time I reached my destination, I had forgotten all about Cindy. I took a deep breath and stepped out into the clearing, making my way to the small group that was waiting for me.

"It's time," Trinity told me, her voice soft and reassuring.

Talia, my parents, Alpha Jack, and Luna Diane stood with me in the clearing as I gazed at the circle of stones I was to step into. I heard voices nearby, and much to my surprise, King Maddoc entered the clearing, accompanied by his Beta, Alexander, and a couple of his warriors. What were they all doing here? I looked at my parents; my dad shrugged, looking just as confused as I was. My mom, smiling softly, reached for my hand.

"It is unusual for a werewolf to shift on their true birthday; the moon has blessed this day. The King requested the honor of observing such an event, and I couldn't deny his request." She glanced nervously at her hands, then at the group that had joined us. My mom was acting strangely, but I didn't say anything about it.

"That's fine," I squeaked, closing my eyes as my skin began to feel hotter, and my stomach performed flips.

"Tara, it's time," Trinity told me again, her tone more urgent than before. I faced the circle of stones again, gathering my courage.

"I didn't know it was possible to be more nervous. Is he going to watch me shift?" I asked Trinity.

She didn't reply, and my panic skyrocketed. She had been calm most of the evening, but now I could feel her pacing frantically back and forth in my mind. Was this part of the shifting process?

I called out to her, silently, pleading for her attention. "I can't do this alone!"

She must have heard me; the pacing slowed down a bit, but she seemed lost for words. I told myself she was just excited to get out, and I tried to steady myself. I focused solely on my wolf, forgetting everything and everyone else.

"Here we go," I told her, managing to take a few steps forward, then a few more.

I now stood inside the circle of stones, ready for the Moon Goddess to help me transform. I had imagined this moment so many times, always envisioning it as a beautiful experience. Now that I was here, I felt fear creeping along the edge of my excitement.

The dress I wore was designed to come apart during a shift. It was white and beautiful, and I was relieved it wouldn't get torn when I let Trinity out. I could easily cover up when I shifted back by arranging the dress around myself. In time, I would be less self-conscious; werewolves quickly learned that seeing each other naked was part of life.

Trinity became more frantic as the moonlight brightened, my skin now tight and hot enough to hurt.

She gathered herself enough to tell me, "Here we go; it will hurt, but not for long, and then we will become who we were born to be."

I looked anxiously at King Maddoc, who stood there looking almost as nervous as I was, his eyes dancing back and forth between blue and lavender. I couldn't help but stare into his eyes.

They called to me, needed me, and I wanted nothing more than to get closer to those captivating depths. Then, the transformation began.

"Holy shit, what the ACTUAL fuck!" I screamed, unable to control myself as I felt an unbearable burning sensation spread all over my body. Was I on fire?

I screamed at the snapping sounds that I realized with horror were my bones breaking. The pain was blinding, my ears ringing like a tea kettle’s steam whistle played through a loudspeaker. My head filled with pressure it couldn’t contain.

This couldn't be right! No one could survive pain like this! Everything blurred in front of me. I could hear someone screaming in the distance. It was me! I was screaming in agony! Everything seemed to shake around me, the earth itself tilting unnaturally.

I tried to scream again, but nothing came out. I found the King's eyes again as my vision cleared.

The pain was gone, its absence shockingly sudden, and then my—paws?—hit the ground as Trinity made her debut.

Everyone stared at me, wide-eyed, and my heart sank. Was something wrong? Then Talia grinned, bless her, shouting "That is a whole new level of fluffy!"

"Hello, Trinity," Alpha Jack said warmly. "Welcome to Blue Moon."