I close my eyes for just a second, taking her words to heart. “You’re right. It is a gift, and I’m so excited to join all of that tonight.”
She leans forward and kisses my forehead. “And we’re so excited to have you join us, even your brother.”
I laugh at her words. “All right. Put me to work.”
“Not in that beautiful dress. Go change and then come see me.”
My mom and I spend the next few hours getting food ready for the huge party. A few of the ladies show up when it gets closer to time. Each woman has some sort of variation ofcongratulations for me, and each one makes me more nervous. The closer we get to dusk, the more nervous I get. My shift will take place once it turns dark. I don’t need the moon to shift, but the pack run will take place only after dark. So traditionally, the first shift takes place when the sun officially sets. Then we run.
My father comes home a little after seven. “Where’s the birthday girl?” he calls out over the people who are already here.
I smile. “Hey, Daddy.”
He grins widely. “I like the yellow.”
“Thanks.” I changed back into my dress a little while ago. He pulls me into his arms, and I breathe in his scent, letting it calm me. He pulls back and kisses me on the forehead.
“You look beautiful tonight, my Daughter. Are you ready for your first shift?” I swear my teeth grind together at the question I’ve been asked so many times already tonight. My father, who misses nothing, notices. He drops a big hand onto my shoulder. “There is absolutely nothing to worry about tonight. You will shift; I’m not worried in the least.”
His words as my dad bring comfort, but as my alpha, they bring me the reassurance I need. I take a full breath for what feels like the first time in hours and smile up at him. “I swear you know how to read minds.”
He chuckles. “No, you just broadcast much on that face of yours.” I scowl, which only makes him laugh again. “Why don’t you go take a walk? Clear your mind for a little bit and then come back when you’re ready.”
Suddenly, I can’t get out the door fast enough. “Thanks, Dad.” I kiss him on the cheek and head towards the front door. I slip outside and down the steps. As soon as I’m away from the house, I start to relax. I take in the gorgeous night, the palm trees blowing in the breeze, the brilliant colors of the sun setting, and remind myself how thankful I am to live here with our pack. I know that anywhere I walk on our land is safe forme. Of course, there’s also an enforcer behind me. I didn’t look back to see which one, but I know there’s one there. If I tried hard enough, I could figure out who it is by the scent. But I’ve been breathing shallowly for just that reason. I want the illusion of being alone, but I know my dad would never send me out into the dark without protection, especially after the threats from this past year. I keep an eye on the sky and take in as many colors of the sunset as I can before they start to fade. Only then, do I turn back. I don’t want to be late to my own party.
Not wanting to be the center of attention quite yet, I slip in the garage door and into the house. From there, I make a beeline for my room. I sit on the bed and force myself to take slow, even breaths. There’s a knock at my door, and I know it’s my mom before I open the door. “Come in.”
She steps inside and closes the door behind her. “It’s time. Are you ready?”
“Yes.” I’ve been looking forward to this day for a very long time, but especially since Zane shifted for the first time and got to start running with the pack. I’ve wanted to since then. “I’m ready.”
“All right then. Let’s do this. Go ahead and get undressed. Dad’s right outside the door. He can be in here in an instant if we need him.”
I nod; I already knew he was out there. My dad’s presence is unmistakable because of the alpha power he carries with him.I’m here if you need me, but I know you’ve got this. I can’t wait to meet your wolf. And Riley,I pause a moment, waiting for him to finish.I’m so proud of you, of the woman you’ve become.He must have spoken the words to my mom as well because her eyes tear up.
“We are so very proud of you, Dearest Daughter.” With those words, I find the courage I need to do this. I finish taking off my clothes, setting them out so I can change into them later. Iclose my eyes and relax and reach for my wolf. “Just let her come to the surface,” my mom coaches quietly. I feel my connection with her, and then suddenly I feel her rising fast. Before I realize what’s happening, there’s a burst of pain; and I’m standing on four legs instead of two. I’m trying to still catch up with my human brain, but my wolf is confident. I hear my mom laugh and watch in this form as she opens the door. My father steps inside, and my wolf growls. I’m surprised but don’t know what to do to get her to stop. My father kneels in front of me, smiling the entire time. “She charged right through the shift,” my mom fills him in. “I don’t think Riley was even ready.”
My father smiles. “She’s got some alpha in her; that’s for sure.” My wolf nips at him, and I feel awful. But my father lets her; he just strokes her back calmly. Then he stands to his feet. “Let’s get you outside to run some of this aggression off.” She starts forward, ahead of him but hits an invisible wall.
“Wait for me,” he says in a command that we can both feel. My wolf strains against it, even as I try to pull her back. My father’s power hits us a little harder, and I can feel my wolf react to it. “I have to know that you can follow orders.” Then he projects his power into her mind. It’s weird because I can see what he’s sending her; it’s more feelings and thoughts than actual words. But he shows her how a pack has to have one leader to keep us all safe, and that leader is him. He helps her to understand her place in the pack. After all that, she seems to release some of the aggression.
I want to apologize for my wolf, but I don’t want to belittle her. She is powerful; I can feel that already. I don’t want her to lose that; she just has to understand authority. But we have nothing but time to figure this out. This time, she waits for my father to go out first. Only at his command does she follow.I’ll have you scent the air for your mate when we get outside,my fathers sends to me. I take that in and continue to follow him.As soon as my wolf makes her appearance outside, the crowd gathered applauds for us. I wonder if it will be too much for her, but she seems to instantly know that these people are pack, family. She knows instinctively that they’d never hurt her, nor she them. “Pack, I’d like to introduce Riley’s wolf to you,” my father says proudly.Anything?He asks, expectantly.
My wolf scents the air.No,I send back, not at all surprised.
My dad turns back to the crowd. “Let’s run.” A chorus of cheers sound, and soon, everyone divides up to strip and shift. My wolf is anxious to get moving, but she stays close to my dad. I turn back when there’s a presence behind me. I know without turning that it’s my mom. Her scent closes around us, making us feel safe and secure. I take in my mom’s white wolf through my wolf’s eyes, and she looks just as fierce as she always does. Suddenly, there’s a large dark gray wolf bounding through the group. He charges right into my wolf, earning him a growl as she spins and turns on him. But she knows it’s Zane. I don’t know how she knows; she just does. I guess in the same way she knows all these people are pack. Zane’s wolf nudges us again, and she yips at him. He gives the equivalent of a wolf smile and backs down, but I notice he stays close.
Finally, my dad gives the command. He takes the lead, and I realize just how fast he is. Without thought, my wolf takes off, chasing after him. I take in the world around me as a lightness fills my chest. We’re so fast; it feels like we’re running on air. She’s so confident, so surefooted. I find myself pulling back and letting her take the reins. She takes control easily and runs faster. The moon shines through the trees, but we don’t need it. We can see clearly with our wolf sight. The world speeds past us, and I don’t think there’s ever been a more perfect moment in my entire life.
Chapter 7
Reid
I knock lightly on the front door and then let myself in. “I’m in the kitchen, Reid,” my mom calls out, not that I need help finding her. I can just follow her scent. “What are you doing here? I figured you’d already be at the party.”
“Not yet. Is dad here?” I already know he’s not here because I don’t scent him, but it saves me from answering why I’m not at the party yet.
“No, he should be home any minute though. We should have already left.”
