Esmeralda
My jelly knees collapsed on the wet floor once again as my legs could support my body.
Panting hard, I struggled to take control of my leg, by raising it but my strength failed me, leaving me crashing on the floor in a thud.
I couldn’t control my body anymore. Another force took over.
I rolled to my back, spitting out the few strands of grass and grains of wet soil that entered my mouth while my eyes rested on the full moon that hung in the sky, staring at me in return.
“Ahh!” A painful scream left as my bones began to crack and shift, engulfing me in unbearable pain.
The cracking sounds of my bones silenced the creakings of locusts.
My harsh breathing could be heard as I struggled to catch my breath, holding onto my chest while another hand was placed at my back for support.
Wallowing in confusion, I lay quietly on the floor, oblivious of what to do.
I had never done this before and there was no one to assist me.
Not even Selene or Alpha Kade.
Tears pricked my eyes, threatening to spill out as loneliness enveloped me.
I just wanted someone by my side.
I wanted someone that I would share this moment of pain with.
I wanted my mate.
The sound of clothes ripping filled the air as my body grew larger and my flair gown tore into shreds before falling on the floor like a pack of cards.
My pants and my bra weren’t left out as they tore to shreds.
Great.
Now I was naked in the open field.
I hoped no one would bump in to see their Luna naked on the floor.
I didn’t even make an effort to place my ripped cloth on my body, I was too tired.
I didn’t care anymore if anyone saw me naked.
Pain enveloped me as my bones resumed shifting inside me, replaced by thicker, longer and bigger ones.
A horrid expression settled on my face as my eyes caught sight of my pronounced hairy nose that stuck between my cheeks.
Okay. I don’t think like this anymore.
I wanted my small pointed nose back.
Another scream shot from my throat as my hands and feet turned into paws rapidly. They held onto the sand firmly.
What in the world was going on?!
I thought shifts were less painful.
What was I even going to look like?
My screams turned into long howls as light brown fur, resembling strawberry sprouted from my body.
I stood on all fours, admiring my new body and my sharper senses.
I think I was beginning to like this.
I couldn’t help but feel thrills of happiness flow within me though my body was in severe pain.
I just had my first fucking shift!
After all these years.
I just became a wolf. A full wolf.
Not just a weak Omega as I had been branded. My joy knew no bounds as the images of Alpha Kade and Selene popped into my head.
I couldn’t wait to give them the full details of my transformation.
I’m sure Selene would love it. She loved gists.
And Alpha Kade too. Lately, he started paying attention to me, listening to my everyday speech. Our communication level was on the high side.
Involuntarily, I let out a loud howl at the full moon before my paws swung into action, hitting the ground before racing.
I was running.
Running had never felt so good in my entire life.
It was beyond incredible.
I loved the feeling when my paws hit the moist soil and when the wind brushed my soft furs. While I stuck out my tongue as I raced in the open field.
My pains were long forgotten as it was replaced by ecstasy.
“Hy,”
I halted, almost crashing to the floor as fear shot up in me when I heard a feminine voice.
The sound was distant, I quickly turned to look behind me.
Was someone following me?
Did someone see me shift?
“No one saw you calm down,” The voice sounded again and my screams turned into whimpers as my eyes scanned the entire field.
But there was no one with me.
With my new sharp sense of hearing, I concentrated on listening to sounds, but there were none, except for the hooting of owls from a distance and the creaking of insects.
My heart started to race faster as I started to feel paranoid.
Was someone stalking me?
“It’s me, Esmeralda,” It said again, almost easing me with calmness.
I was tempted to ask, but I couldn’t use my voice in my wolf form.
“Don’t be afraid, I am your wolf,”
Silence ensued in my head again as I tried to digest all that was happening.
“You can talk to me. I’m right in your head. I’m one voice away,” It chuckled lightly.
Something about this voice was familiar. Her words were soft and calming, yet powerful.
And I could almost swear that it had a resemblance to…
Maybe I was just exaggerating.
“What’s your name, wolf?” I asked, using a mind link.
How did I even do that?
It was cool.
“I am Emerald, your wolf,” Emerald replied curt and sharp.
“Nice to meet you, Emerald,” I replied, not knowing what else to say.
Confusion filled me once more as my eyes darted to my surroundings, before resting on a pond.
I raced to the pond before stopping at it.
A smile crept into my head as I saw my reflection in the water that was illuminated by the full moon.
“We have beautiful fur, Esmeralda,” Emerald complimented.
I checked out my reflection in the pool again.
Indeed, we were beautiful.
Strawberry-coloured fur that Phoebe had always wanted.
I couldn’t be more grateful.
Thank you, Moon goddess.
“Thank you for letting me out, Esmeralda,” Emerald growled before slowly fading away in my head.
Slowly, my body turned back into my human form and I lay tiredly on the cold wet floor.
Tiredness hit me like a ton of bricks. It was like I was carrying a huge weight on my shoulders.
My legs brushed the floor and my hands fell on my chest as I gasped for breath.
“Esmeralda?” A familiar voice called.
No matter what happened, I still recognized that voice anywhere.
I raised my eyes to see Selene’s worried face as she knelt before me, almost breaking into tears.
She dumped the fabric that was in her hands as she raised me to her knees.
“Goodness, what happened to you? Did anyone attack you? Are you okay?” She asked with a cracked voice.
“How do you know I was here?” I asked, cocking my face to meet hers.
It was strange because I didn’t tell anyone where I was going.
Hope Selene wasn’t…. no, she couldn’t. She was my best friend and I trusted her with my life.
“I have been watching you closely these days and you’ve been behaving somewhat weird, especially when the full moon was close. I was chatting with my friends before I heard strange sounds coming from your room. And by the time I got to your room, you were gone so I used my powers to locate you by following your footsteps.
“Even in this pitch darkness?”
“I’m a witch and my powers are activating, Esmeralda,”
“I’m so happy for you,” I stretched my arms, wrapping her in a loose hug.
Her hands pressed the cloth on her hands as she broke the hug.
“You brought me clothes, so thoughtful of you,” I smiled weakly.
“I knew it was your first shift and your clothes would be torn,” She said, carefully wearing the cloth on me, “Let’s get out of here, it’s creepy as fuck,”
***
“Let me tell you how it went, please,” I grabbed her arm when she was about to leave my room.
“Trust me, I also want to know how it went but tomorrow, you have to rest first. When you’ve regained your strength, you will tell me in detail,” She said, brushing my hair and planting a kiss on my forehead before covering me with a blanket.
“I will prepare something for you to eat. I know you are tired and hungry,” She laughed as my stomach growled as if on cue.
“Don’t tell anyone yet, Selene,”
“I promise,” She left for the door, taking the handle in her hand.
“By the way, your new hair and eyes are beautiful and weird,” She complimented before leaving the room and shutting the door behind her, leaving her witchy scent behind.
Her powerful witch scent grew stronger by the day.
As my eyelids grew heavy as each second passed, the only person that filled my mind was Alpha Kade.
I couldn’t wait for his return in the morning.
I couldn’t wait to tell him how I had my first shift and see his reaction.
And I could wait for my wolf to recognize him and call him… MATE!