Chapter 1 - Shift

Amelie POV

Shivering in excitement, I walk with Jaxon, Kate, and Colby to the clearing where I would have my first shift.  Jaxon has been my boyfriend for this past year.  I was turning eighteen in a month.  Signs that I would shift tonight had started earlier in the evening.  Nobody knew why but after the initial shock, many of our Pack members had come out for my first shift.  I came from a long line of Alphas, and it was simply a question of what color my wolf would be.  

Jaxon held my hand as we walked through the forest.  We would not know if we were mates tonight, but we would be able to be excited that we both had wolves and would be able to go for runs together.  I hoped with all my heart that Jaxon was my mate.  He was perfect.  He was comfortable waiting for us to be intimate until we knew if we were mates or not.  It mattered to me to wait.  Not that anyone had told me I had to, I simply wanted something special with my mate.

Jaxon squeezes my hand pulling me out of my deep thoughts, “Nervous?” he asks me in a whisper.  “A little,” I reply quietly.  I was anxious as I had not yet heard from my wolf.  Kate assured me everyone’s wolf showed itself at different times and asked me not to worry needlessly.  “You will be amazing,” he assures me with all the confidence in the world.  I smile my thanks back to him.

Kate and Colby stop at the clearing and turn to look at me.  “This is your time, baby girl,” Kate says to me.  She has been calling me baby girl since she first met me when I was six years old.  She was Colby’s mate and was more like an adopted mom to me, although I thought of her as my mom.  

My parents had died when I was three, and my uncle Colby had raised me on his own, until he met his mate, Kate.  Then they raised me together with their two pups Oliver and Olivia.  I had thought I would be jealous of the twins, but we meshed as a perfect family would.  They were too young to be out here for my first shift.  Just as well.  Shifting could take time.  And it could be painful.  I would not want them to be traumatized by my shifting.

Kate pulls me toward the cover of the trees.  “You can leave your clothes here and just leave on your sports bra and shorts,” she suggests.  I walk over behind the cover of the trees and shed my clothes.  Although wolves are used to being naked in front of one another, I am not quite comfortable showing off my nakedness in front of the others in my Pack.

Ten minutes left and I would be an Alpha wolf.  I felt nerves rolling inside my stomach as I patiently waited for my wolf to make an appearance in my mind.  I was feeling antsy about the missing wolf but relied on Kate’s assurances that my wolf would come when she was ready.  Five minutes.  I could feel the excitement buzz across the Pack members who were present.  I had grown up as the darling Alpha orphan my whole life.  Many would have been spoiled brats, but both Kate and Colby had never allowed that.

Jaxon moves forward to give me a hug, “Just breathe,” he tells me as he steps back to give me space.  Colby pulls me in tightly, “I am proud of you Amelie, you will always be my little girl,” he shares with me.  I feel tears start in my eyes, but I blink quickly so they do not fall.  He smiles softly as he wipes one lone tear off my cheek.  

Kate steps forward pulling me away from both Colby and Jaxon.  She will help me with the shift and talk me through the pain.  “Ten seconds,” someone shouts from behind Colby.  I feel a wave of calm wash over me.  I am ready for this moment.  I have been ready and prepared my whole life.

“Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one …,” everyone counted in excitement.  I closed my eyes and waited.  Nothing.  Opening my eyes, I look to Kate who is excitedly watching me.  Nothing.  I heard nothing.  I felt nothing.  Tears started to choke me.  Kate’s smile falters as I feel her move toward me. 

I step backwards, wanting to give myself a moment.  She was right there; I could feel her.  She was struggling to break through.  Suddenly pain consumes my body.  I fall to my knees as Kate moves closer to me.  I shrug her off not wanting anyone to touch me.  I can hear everyone gasping as I start to writhe in pain.  I could hear cries of alarm from the crowd.  Kate was on her hands and knees trying to talk me through the pain.  I hear none of her words as I was too focused on helping my wolf.

Nobody expected this.  Nobody expected my shift would be so brutal.  I felt more than saw Jaxon take a step away from me.  Colby moved forward placing his hands on my shoulder, murmuring to me, “What is wrong?” he asks.  “I do not know,” I reply.  I feel panic start to rise in my body.

What did this mean?  Would I be stuck between wolf and human forever?  Colby looked to Kate, “We need to force the shift,” he says to Kate.  Kate had tears streaming down her eyes.  “Give her a few more minutes,” Kate replies simply staring at me.  “It has already been an hour, Kate.  It usually takes fifteen minutes at best for your first shift.  We are torturing her, for Goddess’s sake,” he snarls as he tries to calm me with his Alpha presence.

Trying to remain calm, Kate nods to Colby.  Colby, using his strongest Alpha command, “Shift now, Amelie!” he roars.  I scream in agony as my body contorts into the shape of my wolf.  I feel residual pain vibrating through my body as I lay there in the grass panting, unable to move.