Chapter 2

I expected the wolf to rip me apart physically and mentally the second I stepped out of the tent. But nothing happened, all that mental preparation for pain and torment for no reason.

Glancing around I began to take in the sight before me. The tent was on a stage decorated in gold and blush. On the screens slightly ahead and diagonal of me on my left and my right my naked body was plastered for all to see. The light glistened off the sweat sprinkled across my dark skin defining every bit of the results of the workouts I had completed while confined to my room. My meticulously styled wavy white hair and bright blue eyes glowed on the screen, bouncing back all of the lights that hit them. I looked like I should be on the cover of a comic with lightning and clouds behind me.

My father and mother half turned towards me almost in unison. Instantly I realized I hadn't moved from just outside the tent. I began to move forward, unable to ignore the look of their fake mask on their faces. They both had on the mask of the happy and proud parents, but behind my mom's smile was a mix of judgment and fear. Behind my Father's, the look of disgust and anger. I joined them putting on the happy public mask just as I came to a stop just beside them, falling perfectly in line with our bodies facing the crowd.

The pack was muttering and staring directly at me, all of them clapping weakly as they did. I could see their faces. The women were whispering to each other. The men watched me, some with desire, some with disgust, most with a mixture of both. I stared down at the man closest to me with the fake smile plastered on my face. My mask wasn't perfect like my parents, despite my smile my eyes told the truth.

He looked away. "Smart." I thought to myself, satisfied that I'd forced at least one man to look away. They were not welcome to look. This was not for them.

The Alpha of the pack, My father, began to speak; Instantly causing the spectators to fall silent.

"My daughter" He smiles at me. " Let us watch your journey to this moment"

The light dims and a slideshow with my name begins to play. My dad places his hand on my shoulder and turns me towards a screen. A picture of the baby version of me in a pink and white lace dress flashes across the screen, I recoil. My father grips me harder and pulls me in to him. Way too tight in an effort to bring me under his control. To the crowd it probably looked like an affectionate side hug. But I knew his intent.

I am not the small child I was in the picture.

I stand taller making sure I am at my full height, his full height. Rolling my shoulders, arms, back, I stick out my chest and flex all of the muscles in my upper body. His grip breaks apart. I can't help the smirk that spreads across my face. He can't react. Not in front of all these people. Not if he wants to keep the illusion. His body and his mask harden.

The slide show ends as we break our embrace and turn back toward the crowd. I no longer care about the crowd or the fact that I am still in the nude. My confidence soars and I hold my head even higher.

" As the moon rises above, remember that the Moon Goddess has given you not only a gift, but a responsibility. " My dad projects enough that even the people in the very back can hear his every word.

I glance into the sky and realize the moon is visible in the sky only as a misty glow behind silver clouds. That makes sense. An 18 year old werewolf will turn for the first time, the moment the first full moon on or after the 18th birthday shines light upon them. Lucky for me the full moon is exactly on my 18th birthday. After today I should be able to shift in and out of my wolf form as I please.

"The wolf that has watched you since your birth shall awaken fully today with your transformation. " My dad continues.

"Go in yourself, meet her, and tell us her name. So that I may know her soul and through my soul she may know her Alpha, and her pack.

The crowd howls. In their excitement clothes begin to fly as many begin to undress to shift into wolves themselves.

My mother comes in closer holding out a golden chalice filled with a swirling black liquid with a silvery sheen Towards me. All the lights on stage were cut out. Everyone there has heightened senses and can see in the dark perfectly, especially if they had already switched to their wolf form.

"Drink" she encourages sweetly. I take it and sip the bitter liquid. Willing myself for it to go down. She takes that moment to slip into the tent to change herself. My mother, the Luna. would never undress before anyone's eyes. Her body belongs to, and is seen by the Alpha alone.

By the time I finish I see my mother's yellow eyes staring at me from beside my father's darker brown wolf eyes.

My father howls as the moon emerges from the clouds. I watch the moonlight as it falls on us all. An excruciating pain shoots through my entire body. I collapse to the ground panting. The golden chalice crashing on the ground with me.

My mind and body feel as if I was in the middle of a hurricane. The smell of forest, water, ants, hundreds of people, thousands of plants fill my nose. To make it worse I can hear everything I smell. I can even taste the scent of my best friend's perfume. The pain and the senses keep hitting me in agonizing waves until I am literally pulled under. Drowning in an ocean of agony.

My eyes fly open, as I claw at my throat. Panicked, I realize I am actually in water. I am actually drowning. I look around the clear water but I can't tell what direction to swim. I struggle to find my calm as the burning sensation joins the symphony of torment. I can't think. My tears start to come, but are immediately whisked from my eyes by the water. The stinging tears come faster, and I blink hard to push them back and regain control.

I blink and ice blue eyes appear.