Chapter 1

Aria's POV

I've never been more excited about a day, tomorrow is the day I'm to shift for the first time in my life, there have been minor signs that I'll be an incredible wolf, but showing of claws and having incredible sense of smell does not cut it.

The night before, I pranced around the pack telling anyone who cares to listen about my shift day which is also my birthday, then I met up with Bale who is a friend of mine but have shifted about 2 years ago when he clocked 18, his father is the Alpha of my park and my father is the Beta, automatically we became close.

“What's with the excitement Aria?” Bale asked with an uninterested look on his face. I entered the Alpha lodging area that's close to the Pack den, 

“Tomorrow, I'll be clocking 18, and you know what that means?” I excitedly asked, jumping from one leg to the other.

With a raised brow, Bale looked at me, carefully taking in my appearance properly.

“Is that why you're this excited?” He asked.

“Urm… of course it is!” I exclaimed.

“If you're excited over that then you really don't know about what's been going on in the pack.” 

“Enlighten me Bale and stop scaring me,” I said fidgeting.

“I'm not trying to scare you, I'm only trying to tell you about what's been going on, if you don't want to hear it then you can get out,” he said angrily.

“Why must you always be a douche bag and spoil my mood?” I asked him equally angry.

“Aren't you supposed to be my friend?” I asked.

“Friends? With you? That was when we were kids, grow up Aria, you're the pack weirdo and no one wants to be associated with you, I only talk to you because your dad is my dad's Beta and that's the least I can do for my dad.” He said with a smirk on his face.

I felt shitty and my mood dropped drastically, I turned around to leave, on getting to the door, I turned back towards Bale and said, “well Bale, you are nothing but a spoilt brat and I'm grateful you don't consider me a friend, stay away from me from now on, I refuse to deal with your disgusting behaviour,” turning on my heel and with a last glance at him, I walked out heading to my dad den.

The cool breeze blew on my face all the way back home, I felt like crying but I willed myself to be strong and I refuse to allow Bale’s rotten attitude spoil my mood, he has always been spoiled, even as a child.

On getting home, I walked straight to the kitchen, where I saw my parents in hush heated conversation which stopped immediately I entered.

“Mum, what's going on?” 

“Nothing sweetie, where are you coming from?” She asked me trying to change the topic.

“From the Alpha den”

I looked at my dad and I noticed he's doing everything not to meet my gaze.

“Dad? What's wrong?” I asked him.

“What do you mean?” He retorted.

“You and mum are acting strange, that's why I'm asking”

“There's nothing wrong sweetie, why don't you go to bed early tonight?” My mum suggested, trying to force out a smile.

I looked between the both of them and decided to let it slide.

“Good night,” I called out to them as I made my way to my room.

I grew up in a fairly stable family, my parents were never mates, but they choose to be together and of recent they've been having some issues and they continually see me as a child and refuses to share it with me, it's really affecting me and I actually don't want my parents to separate, but I'm holding on to sheer luck that they would renew whatever feelings that brought them together in the first place.

I laid down on my bed, staring at the ceiling for a long time before sleep engulfed me.

The next day which is my birthday and the full moon would be coming out this night, some people have clocked eighteen years but they would have to wait till the full moon, but I feel lucky and special considering the day the full moon comes out is the same day I clock eighteen.

I spent the day with my parents, I didn't really see the need to go out, because I was nervous about the shift that would happen at night.

“Aria!” I heard my name, I jumped off my bed, and headed downstairs, knowing who that person could be, I entered the sitting room just in time to see my best friend smiling and conversing with my mum.

“Rita…” I called out.

“Happy birthday Ari!” She said while she threw her hands around me, with a smile I hugged her back.

“You must be all nervous about tonight, don't worry yourself, you've got it, I wish I can come with you,” she said.

“No it's fine,” I said, trying to smile without seeming nervous.

“I'm very certain that prick head would be there, just because he is the Alpha son,” she said with a bit of anger, 

“Stop calling him names, he's my friend.” I retorted.

“Friend? You call that pompous jerk a friend, he does not see you as one, so I suggest you don't waste your time.” Rita said, rolling her eyes. I just laughed in response.

We talked and laughed about everything. She narrated her experience for the third time, when she shifted during the last two full moons, when it became late, she had to leave.

She hugged me and wished me goodluck before she left.

By, 11pm I stood up and quickly got ready, I made sure all my essentials and additional clothes are in my backpack, I have been tutored my whole life about this day and I really can't wait to shift for the first time, those in my school that have shifted kept on saying how painful it is but I really can't wait to experience it for myself.

After a while, I hurriedly went downstairs, where I saw my mum sitting in the living room.

Immediately she saw me, she stood up and hurried to the door, “let's go, Tim is waiting outside” 

“Why is dad waiting outside?” I asked.

“Don’t worry about it” was her response.

When we got to the forest, some other family and their children were waiting there, also Alpha Taylor and Bale, I stood together with the younglings that are here to experience their first shift.

“I believe you all already know the instructions, considering you've been preparing for this moment for most of your life” Alpha Taylor addressed us.

“If you want to take off your clothes you can do so, if you want to remain dressed that's also fine, but I want you all to space out and then take up the stance you've been taught to.”

We were only six younglings, so there is enough space for everyone of us, I decided to remain clothed, I don't mind ripping it off in the cause of shifting, two people took off their clothes, among everyone here, I know only three and I'm not particularly close to them aside from Bale who's probably here because his dad is the alpha. 

Immediately the full moon hit it's peak, I started hearing groaning and tearing of clothes, I put in the pressure and force I've been taught to do, but nothing happened, I tried over and over again but I couldn't shift.

I looked around me and noticed all the younglings with me have shifted aside from me.

I decided to take off my clothes and try again, but it was futile.

I started panting, terror and shame was written all over my face.

“Calm yourself down, you just need to try it again, breath in and out” my mum said. I tried it and only my claw came out, nothing else.

“Aria stand aside, the other new wolf would need to take their first race,” the alpha instructed me.

I quickly wore my clothes and walked quickly to the other side, filled with shame and embarrassment.

“Does that mean you can't shift?” My dad asked, aggravated. Shaking, I couldn't respond.

“Answer me!” He bellowed.

“Do not raise your voice at her,” my mother responded to him.

“Are you so certain this girl here is my daughter? Are you?”

With a shocked look I looked at my dad “wha..t do.. do you mean?” I stuttered, looking between my mum and dad.

“Why don't you ask your mum? A

sk her who was the person she slept with days after our marital rites?”