Shifting Methods Novels & Stories

“Your body might be starting the shifting process, Sky. You can’t just discount discomfort.” I took her wrist and gently moved it away from my neck. “How about I try to make dinner and you tell me about how this whole thing works.” Her eyebrow went up. “Did you…did you not learn about shifting?” Pulling out a knife and cubing up the spam, I laughed. “I mean, you kind of tend to tune out things you don’t think you’re ever going to need. Plus, when everyone around us was shifting, we were pretty much on lock down to make sure we wouldn’t. Since it’s not a birthday thing, Father thought we might shift past the inhibitor.”

Oh, well. “Are there any close neighbors?” I ask. “Yeah. But ‘close’ is different for us. Because we can . . .” “Transform into wolves?” “No. Well, yeah, but . . .” His cheeks have an olive tinge. God, I think he’s blushing. Because of course they’d flush green. “Shift. We call it shifting. We don’t become something else. We just kind of toggle between two settings.” This time I do smile, keeping my lips sealed. “Love the coding references.”

“I didn't use ALL the methods of courting, there are three main aspects to Shifter courting. First I show that I can provide for you with gifts of food and clothing. Second I show I can protect you, I got the rules about shoes changed at your workplace and literally fought the Vampires to protect you so that counts. That just leaves proving that I will do the same for our children.” He concludes. I choke on my water. Bellamy is out of his seat in a second. He moves onto the bench next to me, patting and stroking my back as I regain the ability to breathe. He looks like he is trying not to laugh.

No hidden tricks jump out. “I don’t think it is,” I say. “But he expects people to rush.” “Research your chosen consequence carefully,” Professor Ashford continues. “Base your findings on fact. You have ten minutes to discuss with your partners. After that, we move on. Next semester’s focus will be the dangers of partial shifting.” Partial shifting. That draws a few uneasy looks. It’s not a comfortable topic. Losing control midway through a shift can end badly. Everyone knows that. Lee raises a brow at me. “Choose carefully? That sounds like he’s waiting for us to fail.”

Even in wolf form he’s bigger than me. Where’s the justice in that ? He nudges me with his nose and I know he wants me to shift. I take a few breaths and prepare for the pain. Shifting is painful for anyone but you eventually build up a tolerance to it the more you shift and it becomes quicker and easier. Unless of course you are someone like me who only shifts when I absolutely have to. Then it’s slow and painful. “Nala, it’s time” I call to her here. I feel her running in my mind , quick to want to take over. She reaches forward and pain slams into me as the shift begins.

He shifted in a flash of light and as he settled on his four feet, Adolph swept his legs from under him and tumbled him over before pressing the tip of the sword against his throat. Basil shifted back into his human form, panting. “You did good,” Adolph commented. “A very clean shift.” He looked up, “Most werewolves cannot shift while moving. This fact is something you should use to your advantage and seek to overcome if you can.” He sheathed his sword and pulled Basil to his feet, “Making your shift faster will help cover up this fact, but it is more important to keep moving.” Adolph steadied him and turned to his former partner, “A demonstration of what I mean.”

“But, if we are talking medical, then we should stick to the topic at hand. I’m not as well versed in theology.” “Right. What about the first shift? It lasted a few minutes for Mia. Will it be like that for us?” Sin asked and I can tell that is what makes her nervous. “Turning is different from shifting. It isn’t pleasant and I have witnessed it twice in my life. Both times, it was the same. It will hurt. The first shift doesn’t require a change to the DNA or other anatomical changes. A person born a wolf already has those things. I cannot sugar coat that for you. I can, however, be there and ease some of the pain with sedation. Towards the end though, there won’t be anything I can do.” I sa

I turned another heavy page, and a highly detailed sketch of a human mid-transformation forced me to stop breathing. "Oh my god," I whispered, staring at the horrific illustration of bones snapping and reforming under stretched skin. "What now?" Connor demanded, his patience wearing dangerously thin. "There is a drawing of the actual shifting process, and the anatomical notes describe the exact amount of pain the subject endures during the transition," I explained, feeling a phantom ache in my own joints. "The text says the first shift is triggered by extreme emotional distress or severe bodily trauma, and the subject relies on the pack Alpha to anchor their mind," I read the chilling facts

"Mr. Kane, researching rare shifts? That's advanced stuff. Most students don't bother with these old texts." Ezra looked up with his usual cocky grin. "Just trying to stay ahead. Got any tips on forcing a stubborn wolf out? Hypothetically, of course." The librarian chuckled. "Hypothetically? Push the body hard, combine movement with mental focus. But be careful. Some techniques backfire. Why the sudden interest? You shift fine in track events." "Improving my game," Ezra said smoothly. "Thanks for the help." He dug deeper into the records, scribbling notes on old methods involving resistance and pain triggers. Time flew as he read about failed shifters who eventually broke through with help.

He can't teach me something that should've been a part of my life since I was a pup. Then, there's the painful concept of semi-shifting, as he calls it. It's the impressive ability to shift a certain part of your body rapidly to make it stronger. So, you'd throw a punch at your opponent and shift partially, making the blow almost deadly. I can't grasp this whatsoever. I find it impossible to shift only one part of me and have no guidance or the damndest clue on how to do it. Instructor Wylde offers no advice. I'm standing amidst a relatively large group of people but I've never felt more alone in all my life.