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I’m a bit confused as to why he would say they are fat. None of them have an inch of fat on their bodies! James is huge, like seriously massive, but it's all muscle.
He turns and heads back the way he came from and August and James scramble to get up. August helps Mandy to her feet and James reaches both hands out to me and Abby. We each take one to get up, but when we place our hands in his, he tugs hard and we go flying into the air. Abby finds her feet quickly, but James has to catch me before I go tumbling to the floor. I go really high into the air as James’s booming laugh echoes around the large room. Abby is laughing too and the sound of the two of them giggling makes me chuckle, despite me being a bit upset at the way James just threw me through the air. The smell of food hurries me on my way, so I leave the hyenas in the living room and follow the sound of Mandy’s voice to the table.
The kitchen is modern, all high tech smart appliances and marble countertops. The cabinets are matte black to match the rest of the room and the tiles on the walls between the cabinets and the counters are a deep blood red. The contrast looks amazing and I can tell by scent alone that Charles rules the kitchen in this house. His orange zest scent is saturated in this part of the house and I find myself sneezing as I pass through to the fourteen seat formal mahogany dining table. The chairs pushed in around the table match perfectly and have cream colored padded cushions. Mandy is sitting on the right side of the table with her back to the window wall that has a stunning view of rolling waves. I stand there staring at the view for a second as James and Abby walk up to either side of me. James throws his big heavy arm around my shoulder and gives me a gentle squeeze. When I look up at him, he is smiling at me.
“The view is astounding, isn't it? I’ve lived here almost fifty years and I still can’t get used to how beautiful the ocean is.”
I want to ask where he was fifty years ago, or question how old he actually is, but the look in his eyes is screaming that it's personal, so I let it drop and hug him to my side. Walking forward without letting him go, I sit in the chair across from Mandy and next to Charles, who is sitting at the head of the table. August is on Mandy’s other side across from James, and Abby is looking around the room as if she is searching for something.
“Where are CJ and the boys? I thought I’d introduce them to Becca so she knows someone before starting her Early Start Classes.”
Mandy frowns, looking my way before giving Abby all her attention again. “They are with Sandy for the next two weeks.” Abby nods and sits beside James. The two of them seem very close, but when Mandy addresses me I let the thought go and pay attention to the table and conversation. “I didn’t know you were taking Early Start Courses.”
“Yes I am. Dean Sanchez set up classes on shifting and Shifter culture so I can get a better understanding of what it’s like to have a wolf before my first Shift. He also wants me to take a placement test since I went to the human highschool, that way he can put me in the correct classes when the Fall semester starts.”
“That’s really nice of Hector. He’s a great Beta.” Charles is filling the plates with food and sending them around the table.
All of the guys make sure that the women have plates before accepting plates for themselves. We talk about little things, people around the community and upcoming town events. Mandy mentions us girls going out to have a girls day, which me and Abby immediately agree to. The whole night is pleasant. The Lycan family, the members I’ve met at least, are all really nice and seem to genuinely enjoy my company. James gushes over my sketches and even offers to pay for some of them to hang in his office. I tell him he can just have them, but he still makes me promise to paint him a large canvas with a seascape, and that I will accept some money for the commission. I agree, but mentally tell myself I’ll leave the money for Abby when I go to my new family.
Thinking about going to a new family makes me feel sad. Abby is amazing and the Lycans are such a joy to be around. If I go to a new family, I may not be able to spend as much time with them. Would the new family be as nice and welcoming? Would they give me the Cinderella treatment, make me cook and clean and expect me to stay silent all the time? Not that I mind cooking and cleaning, but my mind is making up thousands of worst case scenarios. When it’s finally time for us to leave, I can feel the tears building in my eyes. I want to stay here forever. I want to meet CJ, who everyone here says is an amazing boy and Alpha. I want to be able to talk to Mandy about all the odd things I keep experiencing and feeling. I know that Abby will tell me anything I want to know, but something keeps whispering in my mind that Abby won't be able to help me with the dreams I’ve been having every night since I got out of the hospital.
Hugging all the Alphas and the Omega that made me feel so welcome, I trudge down the stairs to the car, each step feeling heavy. A pang in my chest tells me that I should stay, but my mind argues that I wasn’t invited and have no reason to even want to. Hell, I didn’t even know if they had a room for me to stay in, or if they’d want me to. So, I wave back over my shoulder when Mandy says she’ll call tomorrow to set up our girl’s day then get into the car. I notice Abby stands in the doorway for a few extra moments, the five of them talking quietly before they all turn to look at me. Abby nods at them and makes her way to the car. The ride home is quick and silent. When we pull into the drive, I move to get out immediately, but the sound of my name stops me.
“Becca, can I talk to you for a minute?” I sit back in my seat and turn to give her my full attention. “So, I’m supposed to wait a few more days, but after watching you at dinner, I think I should tell you now. Remember how I said there was a family that already applied to be your sponsor?” Nodding, I tilt my head to the side, curious about what she is getting at. “Well, the Lycans are that family. Technically, you're not supposed to join your new family until you manifest, but since all new wolves shift at the Alphas house for the first time anyways, I think it would be better, if you want, for you to move in sooner. I talked to them about it before we left and they agreed that the sooner you get there, the better.”
Her words make my chest leap in excitement. For some reasons that I don’t understand, I want to be close to them. They feel like family in a way that even more than Abby does. Still, the logical side of my mind has questions. Nothing about my changing has been normal. Every time someone mentions how things are supposed to go for Chosen, I can’t help but notice that it isn’t that way for me. Abby explains that Chosens don’t usually feel any different until they get their wolves on their first shifts. Even their sense of sight and smell isn’t that much different until their soul joins their wolves. Chosen usually spend a week or two grieving their old life before they are ready to accept it and start learning about their newly adopted culture. Abby even mentions that the last Chosen wolf waited for ten years before he allowed his Beta mate to change him because he was so scared.
I, on the other hand, haven’t grieved at all. I’m not sad my human life is over, I don’t need time to adjust or accept the difference. I just want to start being a member of the community and get my wolf, so we can start bonding. I smell everything, even if I don’t understand what it is I’m smelling. My sight is way more advanced than it was when I was human, and I can hear things happening miles away if I focus on it. I also have all these strange emotions bubbling in my chest. I don’t know what they are or how to deal with them, and that makes me anxious. Everything about me is strange for a Chosen Wolf, but maybe staying with the Alphas and having them to explain things will make it clearwhyI’m so different.
There really is no other way to handle my situation. I’m sad that I’m leaving Abby so soon, but I’m also happy to have a more permanent situation. I think a lot of the confusion I’ve been feeling these last few days is because I knew that I wasn’t done with the changes. In the back of my mind, I always remembered that I’d have to leave Abby’s and start a whole new routine with a family I hadn’t met and didn’t know. Now, I’m relieved to know that I’ll be staying with the Lycans. Sure, I haven’t met CJ or his pack yet and that makes me nervous, but this way I’ll have a whole week to settle in before I have to deal with the next wave of new experiences.
“So, you want to do it? All of this is up to you. If you’re uncomfortable with going there, then it won’t happen. I just need to know what you want to do.”
“Yeah, I want to go. I feel really safe with them.” She smiles at me, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. Her beautiful green eyes are full of worry that I don’t understand. Thinking back over my words, I realize she probably thought I didn’t feel safe with her and that isn’t it at all. “No! Don’t think I don’t feel safe here! Your place is amazing, and so are you. I love being your friend and talking to you.”
“Becca,” Abby puts her hands on either side of my face and makes me look into her eyes. “Breathe darling. I didn't think that at all. I’m just worried about how well you are taking everything. Something about your transition is so different from what I’ve seen before and I’m worried about what it might mean for you. I know that we are friends, before long we will be best friends. I adore you and I know the feeling is mutual. So don’t worry about it anymore okay? No matter what happens, us and the Lycans will handle it.”
She holds my gaze a bit longer before pulling me into a hug. “Let’s go get you packed up. I’ll text James and have them come help move your stuff in the morning so you have time to settle before starting school Monday.”
I hold her a bit tighter for a minute before agreeing with her plan. That night, we pack all my stuff up then pop some popcorn and fall asleep watching movies. It feels like hanging out with Sam when we were in middle school, before all the boys and drama that eventually drove us apart. The next morning, we are woken up by Mandy and the Alphas walking into the house. The three of them laugh at our disheveled state then ask if they could make us breakfast while we get ready for the day. It’s an amazing day and I couldn’t feel happier if I tried. My life as a wolf is finally settling down and I know that as soon as I get my wolf, it’ll be perfect. I’ll finally be living the life I was always meant to live.
Chapter Nine
Alpha Talks
WakingupMondaymorningis hard. The king sized bed in my room is extremely comfortable and the big down comforter is so soft I didn’t want to leave. The Alphas went overboard with my room. Everything is a pretty soft purple with black accents. All the furniture is black wood while all the linens are soft purple. The walk-in closet is full of new clothes that Mandy picked out, barely leaving enough room for the ones I bought with Abby the other day. I still haven’t explored what's behind the door in the back of my closet, but I don’t have time now. I have an hour before I have to be in my first class and I’m still laying in bed.
Groaning, I toss the blankets off of me and jump up to get in the shower. I want to make a good impression today. Sure, there aren’t many people in the Early Start Program, but this will be the first time I interact with other wolves my age. I’m so nervous my stomach is turning in circles and not even the smell of food can calm me down. Hell, thinking about eating is making me nauseous. Will they judge me for being a Chosen? How will they react when they find out I don’t have a wolf yet? According to Mandy, I don’t smell like a wolf yet because mine hasn’t manifested. Going by that information, I can assume that everyone I’ve met till now and everyone I’ll meet today will all know that I’m a new Chosen. Where I’m from, being the new girl is bad enough, now I’m the new girl that’s different.
I try my hardest to push the negative thoughts out of my head as I curl my hair and put on makeup. I’m still struggling to actually find a positive thought as I go to get dressed, so I decide to dress how I want to feel. I read the school handbook last night and I’m surprised by the lack of restrictive rules when it comes to the dress code. Hell, the only rule for the dress code is that the students must have bottoms, tops, and shoes unless they are in the designated shifting rooms. There is a clause in there that says swimwear and undergarments do not count as bottoms or tops, but that's it. Nothing saying how long the clothes have to be or how loose. They don’t even care if the guys leave their shirts open, as long as they have them on.
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that a school for shifters that is literally on a beach is so lax. I’m just used to thinking like a human still and humans care about ‘appropriate’ behavior way too much. Looking back, I can see that judgment and criticism is bred and nurtured in human society. From the time a human is born all the way to when they are put in the ground, they are taught to think and behave a certain way and anyone who doesn’t is instantly wrong. They are shamed and ostracized for being different and thinking for themselves. The wolves, though, are the exact opposite. Sure, they have Alphas and every manifestation has their place in this life, but everyone is encouraged to be themselves. Nobody holds back what they are thinking or stops themselves from trying for what they want.
I really hope that the wolves at the university prove everything I’ve seen so far. I hope that they accept me for me and understand that I had no control over what happened to me. I’m just trying to make the most of the cards fate dealt me. So, in the spirit of being more free, I chose to wear a soft, off the shoulder crop top that’s white with big sunflowers all over it with a pair of white denim shorts and sunflower yellow flats. The shorts are way shorter than what I’d wear to school in the human world, but I love the way they cup my curves and make my ass look perky. The shirt stops just under my breasts, but the accordion waist stops it from riding up and exposing my boobs to everyone at the school. My hair is falling in pretty beach waves down to my hips and my makeup is simple, just mascara, eyeliner, and clear gloss. My freckles are standing bold across my nose and cheeks. Looking in the mirror, I feel cute and courageous. I feel like I could take on the whole world with a soft smile and fluttering eyelashes.
The black bookbag purse Abby helped me pick out goes amazing with the outfit and it holds my phone, wallet, a notebook, and pens for class. So one more glance in the mirror has me leaving the room and heading to the kitchen. I have twenty minutes before class starts, and the school is a ten minute walk from the house, so I plan to grab a banana for breakfast and tell the Lycan's goodbye then leave. I want to be early to class so I have time to get lost a little. When I walk into the kitchen, I’m shocked to see everyone there already. Mandy is sitting on the island counter, sipping coffee and looking a bit grumpy. August is beside her making a sandwich, an open lunch bag is beside him and it looks like there is some stuff already in it. Charles is making breakfast sandwiches and James is putting stuff in a blender. I see bananas, strawberries, cream, and now he is putting in some kind of powder.
Even though I’m sure they all heard me coming, I clear my throat to announce my presence. “Good morning guys. I didn’t expect you all to be up so early.”
