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 claws and having an incredible sense of smell do not cut it.

The night before, I pranced around the pack, telling anyone who cared to listen about my shift day, which was also my birthday. Then I met up with Bale, who was a friend of mine but had shifted about two years ago when he clocked eighteen. His father is the Alpha of my pack, 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 was close to the Pack den.

“Tomorrow, I'll be clocking eighteen, 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.

“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 douchebag 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's 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 refused to allow Bale’s rotten attitude to 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 a heated, hushed conversation that 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 was 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 chose to be together, and recently, they've been having some issues. They continually see me as a child and refuse 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 was my birthday, the full moon would be coming out that night. Some people have clocked eighteen years, but they would have to wait until the full moon. However, 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 throwing 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 could 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's 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 good luck before she left.

By 11 pm, I stood up and quickly got ready. I made sure all my essentials and additional clothes were 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 who 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 families and their children were waiting there, along with Alpha Taylor and Bale. I stood together with the younglings who were 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 lives,” 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 was enough space for everyone. I decided to remain clothed. I don't mind ripping it off in the course 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 its peak, I started hearing groaning and tearing of clothes. I put in the pressure and force I've been taught to use, 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 had shifted aside from me.

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

I started panting. Terror and shame were written all over my face.

“Calm yourself down. You just need to try it again. Breathe in and out,” my mum said.

I tried it, and only my claw came out. Nothing else.

“Aria, stand aside. The other new wolves 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... what do you mean?” I stuttered, looking between my mum and dad.

“Why don't you ask your mum? Ask her who was the person she slept with days after our marital rites?”

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