Dare to Shift

CHAPTER FIVE

Awakening and Acceptance

I stood in front of the mirror, studying every inch of my body. Like I might discover some hidden truth in my reflection. My eyes widened as I leaned closer, checking for any change in color, any sign that something inside me had shifted. I was still trying to make sense of what Alpha Dale said last night. How could it be possible? Everyone knows I can’t shift. I’ve never even felt my wolf stir. So how could I have shifted?

EIGHT HOURS AGO

“What in the world are you talking about?” I asked, my voice unsteady. His claws still pressed against my throat.

“I don’t think you want me to repeat the question,” Alpha Dale said. I winced as a sharp prick bit into my skin—a warning. A thin trickle of blood escaped.

“You have to believe me. If no one else does, you should,” I whispered, my voice trembling.

“You were there when it all happened. You saw Harold reject me—chose my best friend over me like I was nothing.”

“You were there in the auction hall. You saw me, broken, tattered. How could I ever work for the man who murdered my parents?”

My voice cracked. I shut my eyes tightly, preparing myself for the worst. Then, I felt his claws retract. I opened my eyes slowly. His hands were back to normal. Relief flooded my body as I touched the small wound at my neck.

“Just who are you, Deanna?” he asked quietly. “And why are you hiding your ability to shift?”

“I’m as surprised as you are. I swear I don’t understand any of this. It’s all so confusing.” I rubbed my temples as a dull ache began to build in my head.

Alpha Dale stood upright, pacing the room like a storm trapped in a bottle. Then he stopped and looked at me.

“I believe you,” he said finally, his voice even. “Be ready by six tomorrow morning. I’ll be introducing you to the people of this domain.”

I nodded, too stunned to say anything else. That wasn’t something we did in Alpha Harold’s domain. Only the strong were introduced. The weak were hidden—or worse. But Alpha Dale… he was treating me like I mattered. His eyes drifted to the shallow cut on my neck, and he sighed. He moved to a drawer, retrieved a small tube of cream, and returned to sit beside me.

“This will help it heal,” he said, leaning in closer. I inhaled sharply as the warmth of his breath touched my skin, and an involuntary moan escaped my lips. He paused, eyes locking with mine. My gaze flickered to his lips. I bit down gently on my lower lip, pulse racing.

He blinked and looked away, focusing back on the cut.

“I did it intentionally—to see if your werewolf healing would kick in. It didn’t. That’s why I believe you.” He explained, but all I could think about was how close his lips were to mine, how natural it felt to be near him. What would happen if I kissed him? Would he push me away? Reject me like Alpha Harold?

Without another word, he closed the tube, returned it to the drawer, and made his way to the door.

“Don’t be late. Goodnight, Deanna.” And with that, he left.

I collapsed onto the bed and let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.

“Get it together, Deanna,” I muttered.

PRESENT

Now I blinked back tears. I'd been staring into the mirror too long without blinking, hoping to see proof of something I couldn’t explain. My eyes were the same. My reflection was the same. But inside? Something was different. I could feel it.

I sniffed, tucking my hair behind my ears and forcing a smile as I admired the beige floral dress Jane had given me. Its flared hem and soft fabric felt like freedom. A knock came at the door.

“Ma’am, you’re needed at the open field,” Jane said, opening the door.

I nodded and followed her. As we arrived, I flinched, startled by the sound of clapping. All eyes were on me—smiling, watching. My legs trembled beneath me. This felt unreal. When Alpha Dale said he’d introduce me to his people, I thought he meant the elites, like in Harold’s domain. But this… this was everyone.

Could I really be accepted here?

On the raised podium stood Alpha Dale, his face glowing with pride. To his right stood Stacy, who clung to his arm like a second skin, and to his left, a younger man with dark, curly hair and a build nearly as strong as Alpha Dale’s. He stepped forward, clapped his hands once, and the crowd fell silent.

Alpha Dale cleared his throat and took the lead.

“Before you stands Deanna Woodall,” he began. “She’s from Harold’s domain.”

The smiles vanished. A ripple of murmuring passed through the crowd like a cold breeze.

“She is the daughter of the late Paul Woodall,” he continued. “So we will welcome her with open arms.”

Someone in the crowd yelled, “What if she was sent by Alpha Harold?!”

Instant chaos. The crowd erupted into protests and sharp glares. My stomach churned. I began to turn away when Alpha Dale’s voice thundered over the noise.

“SILENCE.”

The field went still. Not a breath stirred.

“I’ve evaluated everything,” he said. “She’s clean. And she is one of us. Am I understood?”

A unified murmur of agreement echoed back. The man beside him made a few brief announcements, and the crowd began to disperse. Some people approached me, offering kind smiles and even gentle hugs. Their warmth pierced through the armor I didn’t realize I’d built around my heart. But others… others glared as they passed, as if daring me to prove I belonged.

I was about to leave with Jane when I felt a sharp bump on my shoulder. I turned, startled. A girl around my age stood there, taller than me, with golden eyes that flared with resentment. Her long blonde hair danced in the breeze, but there was nothing soft about her expression.

“There’s no place for you here,” she said coldly. “No one wants you. So leave.”

She walked off before I could say anything. The sting of her words was sharper than the bump, but it sparked something in me. A fire. I was done being the outcast. Done being the weak link.

If I shifted by the riverside once… I could do it again.

Later, I stood outside Alpha Dale’s room, hesitating. My fist hovered in the air, unsure whether to knock or walk away.

“You can come in, Deanna,” his voice called from inside.

I stepped in slowly, closing the door behind me and leaning against it with a deep breath.

“What’s wrong?” he asked as he removed his shoes and began unbuttoning his shirt.

I tried not to stare, but my voice came out low and steady.

“I know I might not be strong enough yet… but I have to bring Alpha Harold down. Not just for me—but for all the others still suffering in his domain.”

His lips curved into a small smile, slow and dangerous.

“Tomorrow,” he said, “we hit the training ground.”