As a mated pair, it was only natural that Alex and I now wore our marks on our necks… and yet, it made me feel proud and slightly self-conscious each time someone stared at my neck. I was fairly sure he only felt pride contrarily to me. Indeed, since he had played the waiting game, it was understandable how he wasn’t feeling any of my self-consciousness. Besides, marks were so common in the werewolf community that I was a bit of an odd one, according to mom that was.
Admittedly, I had much more pressing issues to worry about. Tonight was the full moon, and my talkative wolf was more than ready for our first shift.
The closer we were getting to the fateful hour, the more restless she was becoming. By the time the light went out and night set in, I was more worried than excited if I were to be honest.
What if something went wrong? What if much like my sixteen birthday, my attempts proved to be unsuccessful? I was beyond nervous, and full of insecurities too.
My 16th birthday was nightmare-material. Everyone had been present for the big event, family and friends alike… only making the embarrassment and the disappointment bigger.
And that was the reason why I only wanted Alex by my side this time. Indeed, my mate had wanted me before we even found out that I was a born healer. My loving alpha hadn’t minded the fact that I couldn’t feel the bond, and showered me with care all the same.
Let this be a good evening! I mentally prayed.
You have me now, my wolf told me in reassurance. Stop worrying.
As Alex rose to his feet, a little while after dinner, and looked at me lovingly, I knew it was time for us to head out to the field. I inhaled deeply, and stood up as well. My heart began to drum in my ears, and my blood was seemingly too hot for my veins. I gasped.
A quick glimpse outside made him let out a curse.
“I am sorry I got carried away with my duties, love,” he told me before grabbing me by the waist, hoisting me up, and hurrying outside. “We should have been outside already.”
“It’s okay,” I stroked his jaw lovingly, even as waves of pain started to hit me one by one.
The moment he placed me on the ground, I doubled over in pain, and began to shift immediately. I had no time to remove my clothes. It was somehow smoother than I had expected, though not as quick as I would have preferred. The pain had often been described as unbearable by fellow werewolves. In my case, while I did think it was harsh on the body, it wasn’t unbearable per se.
I caught sight of myself at the nearby pond. I was relatively small in size, but I knew from my parents that that meant I shall work on my speed. My fur was a beautiful silver gray, and my eyes the same shade of dark green as Alex’s.
I yapped happily, and Alex soon enough shifted as well, and let out a loud howl of victory.
It was a call for his pack to come out and play, to come out and celebrate their Luna who had shifted for the first time.
My parents, who naturally hadn’t been too far away, were only too eager to shift. Mom began to groom me lovingly while dad was nudging me with his snout playfully.
The weather was favorable for a pack run. The sky was littered with clouds but there was no rain in sight. The breeze was soft enough on us, not quite cold, just enjoyable.
Once we were back in the mansion-like house, back in our wing, in our room, after a shower together, Alex and I could finally express ourselves freely.
“You have no idea how beautiful it was to watch you run freely around the territory,” Alex told me softly as he caressed my face.
“I thought the shift wasn’t too bad…” I trailed off, remembering the whole process.
“Yes, it was rather quick for some reason,” he agreed at once, nodding in agreement.
“And not as painful as per the tales,” I added with a lopsided smile.
“I am glad. I have never been as happy to witness the shift of a fellow pack member,” he let out, his smile wider than mine. “Meeting your wolf for the first time was an experience that shall forever be engraved in my memory. And she has my eyes too… I am not quite sure what it means.”
I mirrored his smile, “Annabelle’s diaries don’t cover that much.” I paused before telling him on a dramatic sigh, “My parents will start training me tomorrow.”
“You don’t sound too pleased about that,” he chuckled as he played with a lock of my hair.
“How could I be when I already know I won’t be spared at all?” I cried out in a frustrated tone.
He made me sit and remained standing behind me, and began to comb my hair gently before saying, “You’ll be fine.”
“You clearly don’t know my parents.”
“I do. I also know what you’re capable of. I trust you, love,” he said, his voice brimming with pride and affection.
“And I love you,” I told him, choosing to let the conversation end there.
“I love you more.”
Alex began to place open-mouthed kisses on my shoulder, and moved along slowly until he reached my mark where he just about lavished it with kisses, before nipping at it slightly, making me let out a pleasurable gasp.
“You’re insatiable,” I told him softly. I was complimenting him, and he knew it.
“For you,” he let out in between kisses.
“You better be.”
He chuckled in response.
Those were the good times… hardships were on the way. We just didn’t know it yet.