Chapter four - Midnight awakening

We’d been laughing for hours.

Tessa’s room was covered in makeup brushes, tossed dresses, empty soda cans, and discarded face wipes. I had eyeliner smudged under one eye, and Naomi was trying to curl my hair while dancing to some ancient werewolf pop song.

It felt… warm.

Safe.

Like for once, I didn’t have to apologize for existing.

But the clock ticked on.

And the closer it got to midnight, the quieter I became.

“Hey,” Tessa said gently. “You ready?”

I swallowed. “No.”

Naomi crouched beside me. “Everyone says the first shift hurts like hell. But you’re strong.”

“You’ve already survived worse,” Tessa added. “Bullies. Isolation. That crusty iPhone 7.”

I snorted, despite myself.

“Don’t forget us when you go full majestic wolf goddess,” Naomi teased.

They walked me to the porch. The night was cool. The air different — heavier somehow, like the world was holding its breath.

I hugged them both tightly.

Then I stepped into the trees.

***

The forest was alive — wind whispering through branches, moonlight casting silver shadows.

At exactly 11:59, I slipped out of my clothes, folding them neatly on a rock.

My skin tingled. My spine ached.

Then, midnight struck.

Time slowed down. The pain came fast — bones snapping, muscles tearing, my scream echoing through the trees. I collapsed to my knees, breath ragged, hands sinking into dirt.

It felt like fire consuming me from the inside. It felt like I was going to die.

Then… silence.

I opened my eyes.

Everything was clearer. Sharper. I could feel everything, every scent, every sound, event tiny I sent that walked on the forest grounds. My paws dug into the earth. I could feel the heartbeat of the woods around me. My breath came out in soft clouds of white. My body moved with an unfamiliar grace.

I tilted my head back and howled.

It tore through the silence, pure and powerful and mine.

“DAPHNE?!!”

I turned.

Naomi and Tessa stood at the edge of the trees, eyes wide in disbelief.

“Oh… my… goddess,” Tessa whispered. “You’re… white.”

I stepped forward, head tilted.

Naomi blinked. “Like, completely. Fully. Snow-white fur. That’s like… rare-rare.”

They giggled nervously, overwhelmed but excited. I gently nudged Naomi’s leg, earning a laugh.

“You’re gorgeous,” Tessa whispered, petting my head like I was a magical puppy.

After a few minutes, they backed away, giving me space.

I shifted back — slowly this time, still painful but bearable.

They helped me dress, handed me water, and wrapped me in a blanket.

“Ready for your second terrifying event of the night?” Naomi asked.

“The coronation,” I muttered.

Tessa grinned. “Every member of the pack has to be there. Including you, Miss White Wolf.”

And as we walked back toward the house, I couldn’t stop thinking…

My mate would be able to feel me now. Whoever he is and that thought haunted me most. I wasn't ready for rejection. My mind began to race. Everyone was going to be at the coronation. Would I find him there? Would he reject me on the spot?