Chapter 4 Shifting and Summer Goodbyes

Alpha Chase was continuing with his speech. "Well done, everyone, for a fantastic month! Next month's get-together will be much smaller, won't it?"

What did that mean?

"Lastly, as always, a special mention to my love, my mate, your beautiful Luna!" Cheers erupted again. "She put on another fabulous event. Any words, my love?"

"Not really, just plenty of food left over for everyone when you return from the pack run. If not food, then drinks will be here too." Even bigger cheers this time.

"Okay. There are about forty-five minutes until midnight, so enjoy the rest of the evening, and I will sound the horn to get ready to run." Alpha Chase said at the end.

This was really what the whole event was about. Everyone shifting into their wolves and running through our pack area together.

Normally, you are around four or five when you first shift. Some people are late bloomers, but most change before they are ten. I don't know anyone older than that with no wolf, and the only one I know who was four when he shifted was Felix, and that was only a few days before his fifth birthday. There's no rhyme or reason; it happens when it happens.

I was seven. My dad talked me through most of the first change. You get terrible stomach cramps and sore, achy muscles a day or two before, and you usually lose your vision for a bit. It's scary thinking it won't stop, but over time, we have evolved to help minimize the pain. Various herbs and soothing balms are used, but you have to allow some pain to register, or you won't be able to handle the shift.

My dad spent every minute with me, rubbing my back and talking me through what was happening and why. Finally, when my wolf emerged, he was there in wolf form to show me the ropes. Unfortunately, my wolf Sheila had my coordination skills, so the initial run through the woods was more of a stumble, belly flop over tree trunks kind of event. My dad laughed so hard, and I got mad. When we got home, I told Mom, and he got in trouble.

Even then, I knew it was pretend trouble. He wore his "told off" face with a dramatic sigh while winking at me behind her back. It made me feel like we had a secret.

It is hard sometimes to run with the pack without my dad here. The little pups who have yet to shift are part of the run, too. They are carried on their mom or dad's back, and the squealing and laughter fill the air. It always reminds me of my dad laughing at me and what I wouldn't give to have that back. I still imagine him running beside me sometimes-just a flash of golden fur in the corner of my eye, or the feel of his steady presence near my shoulder. Even if it's only in my head, it helps.

Even now, the thought of running without him made my chest feel tight. The full moon cast long shadows on the forest edge, and I felt my wolf stir beneath my skin-calm but watchful. Sheila always got quiet before a run, like she was bracing herself for something bigger than a sprint through the trees.

"Daydreaming again?"

"What? Oh, hey, Kaia. How are you?" she wasn't really the person I wanted to chat with.

"Did you hear the announcement? The other young warriors and I are off to training camp for the summer. It's a shame you don't train, so I guess you aren't coming with us?" She was not saying this maliciously. Kaia was nice enough. We didn't really have that much in common, and nothing for us to be friends, but she wasn't mean. I wasn't fond of her because she was really into Canne, and I knew she'd eventually be a perfect Luna for him. Jealousy could be a nasty beast.

She had the perfect posture, perfect hair, perfect future, and probably even perfect socks. If anyone was destined to stand beside Canne one day, it was her.

"Oh no, I didn't hear that I was in the kitchen. That's cool, though. Where are you guys going for camp?"

"Colorado. Near Boulder, Colorado, I think."

"Hmm. Cool. How long?" That was so far away.

"The whole summer. Oooh, there's Claire. Gotta go, see ya!"

"Umm yeah, b..bye," she had already left.

The whole summer.

Wow, every teenager my age was leaving the pack for the summer, and I would be left alone. Not hanging with everyone was fairly standard but not having anyone around would be weird. Canne would be gone, too. No hanging out at the waterfall, no baking raids in the kitchen, no quiet glances from across the room that I pretended not to over-analyze. No familiar footsteps on the stairs. No jokes passed between bites of cookie dough. No, him.

Just me, my mom, and about fifty young ones trying to bite each other during moonrise. Living the dream.

That really was the suckiest news that ever sucked.