Moonlight’s chosen

Chapter7

Serene went quiet.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I should not have attacked him, knowing how you feel about him. All I could think about was how much it was hurting Fin. Lacey, I truly do feel the evil in him. I truly believe he has bad intentions. I’m not just saying it because he is not the mate the Moon Goddess chose for us. I am your wolf. You are supposed to trust my instincts.”

“Well, I am your human,” I snapped back, “and you are supposed to trust mine—especially since I have already told you I’ve known Ben since we were children. We have been together for years, and I have planned on choosing him as my chosen mate for years.”

“You absolutely should not have attacked him,” I continued, “and you better hope he forgives us for that, or I will not forgive you.”

Serene whined.

“I am sorry,” I went on. “I was going to break my promise and reject Fin, but he is not the one I love. Yes, I feel the bond. Yes, it is magical. I feel something for him, but it is absolutely not the deep-rooted love that has built with Ben over the span of years.”

“I understand,” Serene said. “I still do not trust him, but I will never harm him again without your permission.”

“Good,” I muttered. “We have been off to a really rough start. Your wolf is supposed to be your other half.”

“I agree,” Serene said, “so we will work on it.”

“Would you like to shift?”

I nodded excitedly in my own mind. Yes, but I want my mom here.

I felt a static in my head for the first time, a very strange feeling, before a connection snapped into place and my mother’s voice broke through inside my head.

Are you okay, honey? Where are you?

I’m fine, Mom. Serene wants to shift, and I really want to as well, but I don’t want to do it without you.

I’m on my way, honey. Are the herbs I gave you still in your room? You’re definitely going to want that tea—especially being a silver wolf. This first shift might be a bit brutal.

I began taking my pretty heels off, then my beautiful dress and jewels—anything I did not want ruined. I neatly folded everything into the dress and held onto it patiently while I waited for my mother.

I didn’t wait long. She arrived carrying two bags and a large water bottle. She always did come prepared. I was so happy I had thought to ask her to be here with me.

“Hey, honey,” she said as she stepped up to me. I was standing in just my underwear. “This bag is for the clothes we’re wearing,” she explained, holding it out so I could put my things inside.

She set it aside, pulling a blanket out of the second bag and laying it out. “There are some robes left in there for after our shift,” she informed me as she sat beside me, offering the water bottle.

I raised it and took a sip, surprised to find it delightful. It tasted floral and sweet with honey.

“Oh, yum,” I said, smiling at my mother.

“Yes, it’s quite good—and very good for you.”

“You will definitely need to start working with herbs as well, my sweet. It’s very important the silver wolf be skilled in many areas. You will need to start training in many new things starting tomorrow,” my mother warned.

“I would be happy to start with herbs,” I said, “especially if you will be the one teaching me.”

“Of course I will be the one to teach you, sweet girl,” my mother assured me.

I nodded, suddenly looking forward to tomorrow just a bit more. I took the last drink of the tea.

“Um, Mom, I’m not really sure how to start shifting.”

“I know, sweet girl, but Serene knows. Feel what she feels. Feel the moon and the breeze. Focus on the wolf form. Imagine what she looks like—what her fur feels like.”

I felt the first snap and let out a scream as it snapped back into place. Tears formed instantly.

“I know it hurts, but you are so strong, my girl,” my mother cooed. “You have to focus more.”

Another snap happened, this one not snapping back as quickly.

Sweat formed all over my body, and tears poured from my eyes, sliding down my cheeks. I screamed as the snapping continued, my spine arching violently, bringing with it the most pain I had ever felt. I leaned off the blanket, vomiting everything in my stomach.

“Just remember, this is the only time it’s this bad,” my mother comforted me. “Yes, it will still be painful for a while, but it will never be this bad again.”

The snapping and screaming continued for what felt like an eternity until finally I stood in front of my mother in full wolf form.

“You are just as beautiful in this form,” my mother said.

Serene was in control again, but this time it was different. There wasn’t an imaginary wall. It seemed like we both could be in control at the same time.

“What is your name, pretty silver wolf?” my mother asked.

Serene, I answered through the mind link.

“Mom, it’s like we’re sharing control. I’m not going to lie—it’s been a power struggle most of the day, each of us fighting for control, but now there is no wall, no struggle. Just peace.”

“Yes,” my mother said. “It is possible to share control for some of us. And with a powerful wolf usually comes a power struggle,” she assured me.

“I want to take you somewhere,” my mother said excitedly as she stripped her clothes off and shoved them into the bag. She shifted quickly—only a few seconds passed before she stood beside me in wolf form.

Her wolf was about half the height of Serene, but Serene was very large—even larger than my father’s wolf.

My mother’s wolf bounced around in excitement, lightly nipping at my fur before taking off.

“Keep up if you can, my girl,” my mother said as she ran.

I bolted after her, trying to catch up.

As I ran after my mother, something shifted inside me.

Not Serene.

Something else.

It was faint—barely there—but it curled deep in my chest, cold and unfamiliar.

Serene stilled.

Do you feel that? she whispered.

I frowned, my pace faltering. “Feel what?”

But she didn’t answer.

And for the first time since my shift…

I wasn’t sure if everything inside me belonged.