Chapter 7

I feel groggy, and it's hard for me to open up my eyes. I squint a bit because the sun is shinning through the window making everything so bright. My throat feels like I swallowed a while bunch of sand and my body feels heavy and beat up. Like I've been thrown under a semi truck and got run over a bunch of times.

Finally adjusting to the light, I feel around to try and find my glasses which I find were sitting on a nightstand next to me. I reach over with my left arm to get them, I try and move my right arm but I find it is in a sling. I glance around and notice I am in a gigantic bed, that isn't mine. I see Oliver is next to me in the gigantic bed. He wags his tail when he notices I was awake.

I assumed this was a guy's room, given the dark colors as well as it smelled like a guy. The furniture was a black wood and the rest of the colors were different shades of greys.

I noticed that this room was as big as the suite we had. This room had an L-shaped couch in front of the bed. Two long dressers in front of the L-shaped couch. Two nightstands on either side of the gigantic bed. Long glass windows that were on the left side, facing the mountains. It looked like this room had a balcony as well, with sliding glass doors leading outside. There was a door for a closet and for a bathroom. There also seemed to be a dog bed that had a name on it that read Baloo.

*That must be the name of the dog I saw earlier, still doesn't answer what his owner's name is though. And why I ended up here instead of the infirmary or another room. *

I see the door that probably leads to the hallway slowly open up a crack a and a head peers around it. I know that head from any where, it was Mikey, which means JJ wasn't far behind.

Mikey sees that I am awake and slams the rest of the door open. Dashing across the room, hoping into the bed and knocking the wind out of me. He literally strangles me, making it hard for me to breath. So I'm wheezing for air and as well as having a dry throat. I see JJ coming in with a tray, but hurriedly sets it down to pry Mikey off of me.

'Let her breath, bro, gesh. You're going to make her pass out again. And I don't think she wants to spend her Birthday that way.' JJ scolds Mikey.

Mikey glances at me apologetically and I nod my head and laugh because his expression is ridiculous. JJ hands me a glass of water and I gulp it down so quickly that I wanted more. I reach my left arm out to JJ, expecting to have more, like a child reaching for a sippy cup. JJ shakes his head, laughs at me and ruffles my hair. I stick out my tongue and pout a little, while crossing my left arm, somewhat over my right arm. It was awkward to do, seeing as my right arm was in a sling.

'You need to eat something, before I can give you more water. Because we need to get your energy up, for your first shift tonight.' JJ chuckles while handing me a plate that had: pancakes, eggs, ham, and toast on it. On the pancakes it was loaded with strawberries and whip cream and it spelt Happy Birthday on it with a candle sticking out on the top.

JJ lights the candle, 'Make a wish.' He signs. I make a wish and blow out the candle. I start digging in while my brothers explain how I ended up here.

'I was in conference room one, so that's why I didn't see you guy's. ' JJ starts to explain. 'I was going to check the other conference rooms to see if I could find my mate as well as look for you guy's. I was heading out the doors when I spotted Mikey coming out of conference room three. So I shouted at him to get his attention. We both your message of you taking a nap, so we were about to head into conference room two when we heard FIRE!

Then it was a frenzy, everyone started rushing in different directions. If you weren't careful, you could have been stomped on if you fell over. We hear a booming voice sounding like Queen Isabella's to try and contain the situation. Saying that we need to all file in a line and go outside, like a fire drill that they teach us at school.

Some people understood what she meant and was trying to get the others to do the same thing. Mikey grabs my hand, trying to pull me back inside because we had to make sure you got out all right.

We almost had our foot inside when we heard the news that some girl was about to jump off a balcony that was located on the third floor. Mikey and I rush to where all the commotion is happening and get there in time to see you launch yourself off of the railing.

By the way impressive launch we give you a 10/10 but for the landing part it's a 4/10. Seeing as you popped your shoulder out of place when you should have just stuck the landing.' JJ, signs while rolling around laughing. I just shove him off the bed, rolling my eyes. That made him sober up a bit so he could finish his story.

'We were going to come to your aid when you landed, when this guy appears out of no where. He rushes over to you and starts to pick you up, when you started struggling in his arms. That's how you guy's ended falling back down on the mattress. I give you props for using the mattress and bed sheets like you did.

We saw how he popped your shoulder back in and how you collapsed. We were going to get you and bring you to the infirmary but he starts carrying in into the castle. We tried to take you from him, but he wouldn't budge.

He just kept walking inside the castle, going up four flights of stairs. We realized this was the royals floor, so we were wondering who this guy really was.

We reached this room, and he set you on the bed. Didn't even care that we followed him in here. He just left for a while, then came back with a doctor. The doctor gave you a sling, cleaned and patched your wounds, and gave you an IV to hydrate you.

Queen Isabella heard the news about you and came and visited you. She introduced the guy to us as Aiden, her first born son. Then she left it at that, didn't say anything else about him.

Queen Isabella left and gave us the room next to Aiden's, to make sure you were okay through the night. I felt weary leaving you in Aiden's room, since we had no clue about this guy. As well as I got an uneasy vibe coming off of him.

Glancing at him though, the way he kept looking at you. Made me realize that you were safe in his hands for some reason. He was looking at you with curiosity written on his face. I don't know what he was going to find, while looking at you, but something was there. He told us, while I was hesitant to leave you alone with him that he was going to monitor your condition on the couch and I believed him.

And here we are now. I don't know where Aiden is though. Oliver hasn't left your side since the incident.'

'Do you know how the fire started?' I ask them.

They both give each other a look, seeing that look I know they know something more than they are letting on.

'What are you not telling me? And don't try to play it off like it is nothing. I know that look you guys are giving each other.' I sign to them.

Mikey gives an exasperated sigh, he's always the easiest to crack. 'So, we overheard Queen Isabella talking to someone, we think it was Aiden. Because Queen Isabella left after she made sure you were all right and then Aiden followed right behind her. They didn't close the door all the way and so we heard their discussion in the hallway.

Aiden asked what was the cause of the fire. Queen Isabella said not what but whom who started the fire. She said it was no accident, that someone set the fire on purpose and was trying to kill us. They somehow knew where we were staying and started the fire, because they knew you were in there. So, they assumed we must have been in there as well.

Queen Isabella asked Jeeves to look into the matter because she was suspicious that a fire happened all of a sudden. Let alone that it started on the third floor and it was the Wilson's suite no less. Jeeves got back to her and said that there was a cell phone that had a small bomb that went off when someone dialed the code in it with another phone. He said they found the phone in a gift basket that was on our coffee table that arrived before you got there.

Somehow the person knew someone was in the suite and so they set the bomb off. Queen Isabella said the person is most likely an assassin hired by our Uncle. Our Uncle somehow knows that we are here at the castle. They haven't found the person who is involved with the bomb yet.' Mikey finishes off.

*Wow, that's a lot to take in. * I give a big yawn, not realizing I was still so tired.

'We are going to take Oliver to get breakfast and go to the bathroom. He seems fine now that he knows that you are okay. We are going to let you rest some more, we both have a big night tonight.' JJ signs to me, while he gives me a kiss on the forehead. Mikey gives the peace sign while they both head out of the room.

I'm about to fall asleep when I realized I haven't seen Aiden since I have been awake. He probably gave us space to catch up.

I wake up with the feeling of someone watching me. And I was right, I glance towards the balcony doors and there is Aiden staring at me. *Didn't his mother ever tell him staring is not polite. Plus it's starting to get creepy, always having the presence of knowing that someone is watching you. *

Aiden has his head titled again, looking at me curiously. Doesn't say anything, so it's even more awkward. I start looking around the room and notice Baloo made his self comfortable on the bed next to Oliver and me so I reach out and start petting him. Oliver gets jealous and tries and nudge Baloo out of the way, but he's not budging even an inch. I chuckle, looking to Oliver's pitiful face.

'So…. Do you need something? Well besides I know that this is your room. Why did you bring me here?' I sign to Aiden, not knowing what else to do.

'You have piqued my interest's little one, I do not know why. It's neither a bad thing nor a good thing. Ever since I saw you on the balcony outside yesterday morning, I am somehow curious about you.' Aiden signs, while he leans against the balcony doors.

*So that was him I saw yesterday morning while I was sitting on the balcony. Well he cleans up real nicely, now that he doesn't look so rugged, nice jawline at that. Hmmmm… *

'Gee great I'm a freak that fascinates your curiosity. Let me know if I can be of more service while you study me.' I sign back sarcastically, haha, sarcasm.

'What is your name?' Aiden asks. *Oh, now you want to know my name, seeing as you keep staring at me creepily. *

'It's MacKenna, what is your name?' *Even though I already know it. *

'It's Aiden.' He says back.

'Do you know where my brothers are?' I ask him.

'JJ said he was going to see about looking into the activities that are planned for today and in the process look for his mate. Mikey asked where the library is and I gave him directions of the location.' Aiden informs me. *At least he's social. And we are back to dead silence again. Hmmmm, what to do, what to say. *

'Well, I need a shower and get cleaned up for the day. Maybe take part in the activities and try and find my mate as well.' I say, getting up out of bed. Don't think I haven't noticed that look on Aiden's face when I said mate. He had this sad, far away look and a little bit if jealousy? That look went away as quickly as it came when I glanced at him again. Then my legs wanted to embarrass me by collapsing on me because of the lack of use I used them for today and me jumping off the balcony didn't help either.

'Don't worry, I am fine, just show me which door leads to the bathroom.' I say, as I quickly bounce back up. I didn't want to end up opening the closet door and embarrassing myself further in front of Aiden.

'It's this one.' He points out to the door that's closer to the glass windows with a slight smile on his face.

'Umm… I need a change of clothes.' I say to him, realizing I don't have any clothes. And all my clothes probably got burned in the fire.

'I'll get you some and set them on the bathroom toilet.' Aiden says, while he goes to leave.

'Uh, thank you.' I say back.

I turn towards the bathroom and find out it's the exact replica as the one I had while I was in the suite. I get in the shower and make sure the glass is tinted so he doesn't see in when he drops the clothes off, not like he is perv or any thing. But he is a boy who has hormones. I take a relaxing, long hot shower that was well over due. When I step out of the shower I smell like a guy because that's the only soap and shampoo he owned. I see the pile of clothes on the toilet like he said he was going to put them. I noticed he even provided deodorant and a toothbrush, how very thoughtful of him.

I step back into the room, realizing his mate is no where to be seen. Meaning, when you find your mate, you would move in with each other. I would assume they would move in here seeing as he's going to be the future King. I didn't see any female soap or shampoo products. I didn't see another toothbrush or an extra set of towels. No, I was not snooping, just making an observation. Seeing as he is older than me, so he should have a mate as well since he's past the age of 18.

I walk to the balcony doors and find a gorgeous view displayed out in front of me. I would say it was more of a terrace. It had a fire pit in the middle with couches surrounding it. There was a railing that I leaned against and saw a lake down below. There were steps that led down to the lake from the terrace.

I go down the steps and notice a gazebo not too far from the lake with a swing inside the gazebo. The view is just stunning, white lilies surrounding the gazebo with calla lilies popping up here and there. Those two are my favorite flowers, white lilies and calla lilies.

I walk up to the gazebo and notice a plaque above the entrance. It read "In memory of Sarah Costella. Slow down and enjoy the simple pleasures in life." What a beautiful plaque and quote. I wonder who Sarah Costella is, I wonder if she was Aiden's mate. I sit on the swing that is facing the lake, and start swinging quietly. Oliver lays down next to me and we enjoy this peaceful breeze blowing in while we look out at the lake.

I realized that this area isn't over run by the visitors, that's why it's so quiet and peaceful. I wonder how it is that no visitors are over here on this side, crowding it. I am fine with the peace, people are too much to handle anyways.

The swing suddenly comes to a sudden stop, I glance at what caused it to stop. Not what, but whom and that person looks really pissed. It's Aiden, but he does not look happy and I don't understand why.

'What do you think you are doing?! Who said you can be here?! Like you can just roam around and not care about anybody else's belongs!' He's shouting at me. I don't know what he's even talking about or why he is shouting at me.

He grabs me roughly by my left arm, squeezing hard that it's starting to bruise. While he also shakes me, that it feels like my brain is rattling around inside my head. The look on his face is scaring me, I'm trying to tug my arm free but it's useless. He has a death grip on my arm and I'm scratching at his hand, but he doesn't seem to budge. He's like in a trance consumed with anger and his eyes are starting to turn black. His aura around him is getting black as well. My eyes are starting to tear up, because he's hurting me. I feel so helpless, crying in front of him and desperately pulling my arm free from him feeling scared for my life.

The last resort, and I really didn't want to do it was kicking him in his jewels. That got him to snap him out of what craziness was going on inside his head. He keels over, looks up at me with watery eyes. Then sobers up when he sees the look on my face, about to reach out and grab me again. When I just sprint out of there, not wanting to have it happen to me again.

I race into the woods that are nearby, not wanting to deal with anyone else right now and get questioned on why my face looks the way it does. I have no idea of where I was going or how long I was in the woods. I trip over roots and get scrapped up by branches. Twigs are probably getting tangled in my hair, I fall a couple of times. So now I'm covered in mud and I'm sweaty and probably have mud on my face.

I start to slow down when I hear a waterfall nearby. I move aside some branches and stumble upon a waterfall that had the clearest pool beneath it that I have ever seen. I could practically see all the way to the bottom of the pool. I could see colorful fishes swimming in the pool and coral, which means the ocean isn't far from here. I love the ocean; the smell, the waves crashing against the shore, the sand between my toes, the clear ocean water, and the breathtaking sun sets.

I sit by the pool, having no idea where I am. I look up to the sky and realized that the sun is setting. *Great, I get to spend my first shift by myself. And of course, I don't have my phone on me because I never grabbed it when I was jumping off the balcony. So, it probably burned up in the fire. *

These past two days have just been the worst for me. I just wish everything was back to normal. Yeah, my life wasn't glamorous and amazing, but it wasn't so crazy like it has been for the past few days. I am cold and hungry, and I don't know how to get back to the castle. Also, I am going to shift soon and I just don't want to be alone while it happens.

I feel it starting to happen, the shift. I don't know how I should feel: happy, scared, afraid, worried?

It started in my hand; it was a tingling sensation. It felt like when you were sleeping on your arm too long and then you get the tingly feeling when the blood doesn't circulate through your arm anymore. It traveled all the way up through my arms, not stopping. I take off the sling, because my right arm was getting uncomfortable to hold it in place.

Then the pain started in my legs, they were cramping up, it felt like a charley horse. So, I'm hobbling around trying to get it out but it just isn't going away. Then the worst comes, my bones start to break. And I'm like screaming my head off, tears streaming down my face. Just wanting the pain to go away or black out from it so I don't experience this anymore.

My legs break and so I am doubled over on the ground. I see them bend in directions that's not normal for human legs to go and turn into paws. Then my arms break, the same directions as my legs turning them into paws. Then my back breaks, like that saying goes, "You'll break your mother's back if you step on a crack." Well that saying goes for my back. I just want this all to end and of course it doesn't stop there. My jaw cracks and breaks, realigning it and elongating it. My ears start to extend and they feel like they shape into a point at the end. It feels like all my ribs are expanding, so they are breaking inside of my chest. At this point, it feels like I was going to pass out from all the pain. I would rather take the blackout than to continue with this pain. I knew it was going to be painful for the couple of shifts, but I didn't realize it was going to be this painful.

Then this odd sensation happens at the rear end of my butt. I turn around and realize that a tail is sprouting from there. Just looking at it made me want to scream even more. Then I see black fur sprouting all over my body, I'm just amazed at looking at this mind-blowing transformation. I feel like the transformation finally stopped because the fur stopped growing and my bones stopped breaking.

I pad over to the pool and glance into it. From the light of the full moon I see a stranger staring back at me. It's me as a black wolf with green eyes looking back at me. I guess being able to see in color still stayed while I transformed. It's so weird looking at myself as a wolf, I never would have pictured something like this. It's just mind boggling how I was just a human and now I'm a wolf.

My smell has heightened to about 100 times. My vision has enhanced greatly, I can see very clearly especially at night. I even grew a couple of inches. I knew if I stood next to my wolf forum in my human body the top of my wolf head would probably reach my shoulders. If I stood on my hind legs, I know I would be towering over my human body. The down side though, I still can't hear anything. Guess my wolf is deaf, just like my human forum.

I give a big yawn, realizing that I am exhausted. Seeing as I used up all my energy to transform into a wolf. I decided to stay here near the waterfall and pool because I was too tired to try and find my way back to the castle. I turn around a couple of times, trying to get comfortable in the grass and then curl up in a ball. Just as I was about to welcome darkness to take over, it almost seemed like I heard something. I shake my head, thinking that's just crazy and let the rest of the darkness consume me.