Chapter 17

I pick up the sound of footsteps and turn around growling ready to fight " calm down son, it's us, it's me your dad" I growl more aggressively while covering Red with my body, what the hell is happening to me? I was about to lounge when another wave of pain hit me and I fall over and groan in pain, beads of sweat begin to fall from my body, I feel warm hands gently rub my side, even though the pain does not subside it still calms me down a bit " Roro get out of there before he hurts you " I growl ferociously at my uncle, I'm sorry guys I can't help it, I place my weight down on Red, God I hope I'm not hurting her.

Another round of mind breaking pain shoots to me and I swear to you I'm about to die, my bones feel like they're breaking on their own, I look down at my hands and I can see fur shooting though my skin, my nose begins to elongate, there's fur everywhere, I throw my head back and scream but it comes out as a howl, I'm exhausted, I hadn't even noticed that Red had moved from under me and was standing a few feet away from me grinning " you did it kid, your first shift, congratulations and happy birthday!" I hear laughter "he's wagging his tail at you Roro" she chuckled, my tail? I make a spin to try and see and they laugh even more, I make a stumble and fall over, I just need to close my eyes for a second, I'm so tired just one second.

' Hey, human ' who is that? I just said I need a second to rest, leave me alone will you? there's a snicker ' human, wake up', I feel like I'm being nudged in my mind ' who is it? ' it's me silly human, your wolf' ' my wolf?' ' isn't that what I just said? yes I'm your wolf human, my name is Finn, I've searched your memories Beau, you won't feel alone anymore because now you have me! now get up I want to go for a run! I'm excited to finally wake up!' I open my eyes and I'm now surrounded by wolves of different colours and size, Red is also here, she walked over to me and cautiously reached her hand out to me and I nuzzled her hand and gave it a lick ' hehe I like this human, she smells great'.

" Beau" she said gently, "open your mind to pack mind link so you can hear the others, they want to go for a run with you" open my mind? how do I do that? ' look at the Black wolf over there and think of nothing but him, you'd feel a nudge in your mind just like you felt when I started talking to you, open your mind and let him in' I do as Finn said and surely I felt the nudge and soon voices came flooding into my mind, Alpha Woods voice came through ' Beau just focus and one by one close the links and feel the minds of all the wolves here with you and Roro' I turn to watch her and she smiled encouraging at me, soon it was only her and me ' hi human female! ' she giggled ' hi, what's your name handsome' ' do you hear that human, she said I'm handsome, my name is Finn' she rubbed his head ' hi Finn, I'm Roho but I prefer to be called Red'.

' Why haven't you shifted to run with us Red?' ' I've never shifted Beau, you go and enjoy your run, I'll be fine '

Finn laid down ' hop on female, we're not leaving you behind ' she shook her head and climbed on our back ' hang on female' we took off running raising our snout in the air and howling, the others howled and followed, we ran for what felt like miles and hours and even hunted and fed.

When we got back, my dad and uncle talked me through the shift back and gave me some clothes to wear, Red was waiting at the edge of the woods for us along with my cousins." you should spend some time at the packhouse Beau, with your family, come back to the house when you're ready" " why don't you stay here with us as well?" " nah, I rather be home plus I have work early so I'm gonna head back to rest up " I was about to ask when Joao spoke up and rushed out, let me give you a ride home Ro" " thanks Jay " they headed off and I felt a pat on the shoulder.

" Come on son, let's head in, you can stay on my floor with me, there's more than enough room for you there" I nod and follow my dad in after watching Red ride off with Joao towards our home.

' Finn, is Red our mate?' ' I don't think so but I do like her scent very much human'