Embracing My Wolf

Chapter 1

Shay's POV

I woke up to the sound of my alarm clock going off. Please let this all be just a dream. I sat up in my bed and looked around, realizing that everything that I learned hadn’t been a dream. I plopped back down and grabbed my blanket over my head. I don’t want to do this.

"Come on Shay. It’s time to get ready for your first day.” I looked up to see my Aunt Maria standing at my door smiling at me, but I could see the worry in her eyes.

“Do I have to go?” I asked her.

She walked over and sat beside me. “Yes you do. It’s really important for you to find out everything you need to. Get ready. I’ll be downstairs making breakfast.”

I got up out of my bed and started getting ready for my day. As much as I didn’t want to go, I knew that I had no choice. “OK, Shay, let's get this over with,” I said aloud to myself. I jumped in the shower and began thinking about what happened a few weeks ago that changed what I believed my life was for the past 12 years.

Flashback 3 weeks

It was nearing the end of summer break and although I was happy about the break from school, I was more excited about entering my senior year of high school, turning 18 and starting my own business. After grabbing a slice of pizza, I walked into my building and said hello to the people out front before heading into my apartment. Walking into the living room, I was surprised to see my aunt's home before me.

"Hey Aunt Maria." I greeted her. "What are you doing home so early?" My Aunt Maria was a nurse and usually didn't get home until after 8pm.

"Sit down, Shay. We need to talk." She replied with a serious expression.

I looked at her and sat down nervously. I've never seen her serious like this before. She was always laughing and joking with me. So I knew her looking like this meant something really serious was going on. Only I wasn't ready for what she said next.

"Shay your mother is alive." She paused and looked at me before continuing, "She wrote you a letter."

I was stunned. I didn't know what to say. My mother disappeared when I was 5 years old. I don't remember much about her, but I remember how hurt I was when she never came home. I always thought that either she didn't want me anymore or she was dead. I didn't even know I was crying until I felt my aunt sit next to me and wipe the tears from my eyes. I wasn't usually an emotional person, but this was literally the last thing I ever expected to hear.

"You can read her letter and any questions you may have, I can try to answer them the best way I can until you speak to her," she said. "Also, we will be leaving in 2 weeks to move to California. You will be starting your senior year there." She got up and grabbed two envelopes and handed them to me. "The big envelope is from your new school and the other is from your mother. I'll give you some privacy and I'll be in my room if you want to talk."

“Wait. California? Why are we moving to California?”

“Read the letter first and then we will discuss everything after.”

I walked into my bedroom holding tightly onto the letters. I sat on my bed and just stared at the envelopes. I wanted to read my mom's letter, but at the same time I didn't. My nerves were getting the best of me. I didn’t know how to feel. So many emotions were going on inside of me. I was still so angry about her being gone. I didn’t know how to feel about her being alive. Should I be happy that she was still alive and not dead? Should I be happy that she was reaching out? She’s been gone for 12 years. Why did she leave? Why was she writing a letter instead of coming to see me? I had so many questions. I tried to shake it off. I picked up the letter from my mother and just stared at it before pushing myself to just go ahead and open it. I pulled the letter out and began reading.

My dearest Shay,

First I want to start off by telling you that I love you with all of my heart. I am so sorry for the heartache me being gone has caused you. This letter will explain why I've been gone and also some things that I have found out since I've been gone, as well as why you will be moving to California.

The night that I disappeared was the night of my 20th birthday. I went out with a few of my coworkers to celebrate a promotion that my team had just received. I was asked to dance by a handsome stranger and I accepted. I already had quite a bit to drink with my co-workers but I continued to drink more with him. I didn't pay attention to how much I was actually drinking because I was having such a good time with him and felt so comfortable. I woke up the next morning with a major headache and in a lot of pain. The night's events started replaying in my head and I realized that I had went to a hotel with the guy that I met. While we were having s*x, he bit my neck and I passed out. I was terrified when everything started replaying in my head. Seeing that he was still asleep, I tried to put on my clothes as quickly as I could so I could get out of there. Before I could get out of the door, he got up and grabbed me. He wouldn't let me go. He told me that I was his mate and I belonged to him now. I tried to run but he was too strong and overpowered me. He injected me with something and when I woke up, I was in a different room. I was told that I was now at Red River Pack in California.

I was so confused. All I wanted was to get back home to you. I was secluded to the bedroom that I was in for 2 months, only seeing the woman who brought my meals and the man that brought me here. I learned that his name was Jason Wright and he was the Alpha of Red River pack. He is a werewolf. The bite that I experienced was him marking me as his. When I was finally let out of that room, I tried to run but I was caught and locked back in the room for another month. From that day on, whenever I was out of the room, I always had guards with me, making sure I didn't run.

After 6 months of being here, I found out I was pregnant. I was devastated. I knew that it would be harder for me to leave now. Two years later, I was pregnant again. I was no longer that happy, outgoing person that I once was. I did whatever I was told and had basically given up on everything. Then three years ago, we got a visit from a warrior from another pack. He came to complete a business transaction for his Alpha. When he walked in, my heart stopped. The man from many of my childhood nightmares was now standing in front of me. This man was your father. The man who r***d me when I was a girl was a werewolf and I didn't know. He didn't even recognize me.

After that day, I had to figure out a way to get in contact with you and your Aunt Maria. I've learned many things about werewolves and I knew that I had to let you know what would be happening to you very soon. I became very close with an omega here and convinced her to mail letters for me. I knew I wouldn't be able to receive any without it being noticed, but as long as I got information to you, that was OK.

I got myself involved with Clear Lake School. I saved up money that I had been paid for the past few years and had your Aunt Maria use the money that had been saved in my old accounts to pay for a house here in California. I got you enrolled in Clear Lake School. This school is for both humans and werewolves. I am hoping that you will meet some great people here that will help you get a better understanding of the other part of you. I will see you there on your first day and we can talk more. There are so many more things that I have to tell you.

All My Love,

Mom

I was stunned and in tears. She couldn’t possible expect me to believe she was kidnapped by a werewolf. I walked out of my room and went to my Aunt Maria.

“Is she serious?” I said while holding up the letter. “She expects me to believe that she was kidnapped by a werewolf and that I am

part werewolf? Werewolves don’t exist and I don’t remember howling at any moons.”

My aunt started laughing but quickly stopped when I gave her a serious expression. I couldn't find anything funny. "That's not exactly how it works," she started. "I got some information about werewolves that your mother wrote for you to get some of an understanding about what to expect." She handed me some papers. "Did you open the packet from your school?"

"Not yet. I'm still trying to wrap my head around this werewolf stuff. This has to be a joke, right?"

"It's not a joke, Shay. We leave in 2 weeks. Everything your mother said is true. Trust me, it took some time for me too, but everything will be OK."

Present Day

After showering, I took another look at my school packet. "Welcome to Clear Lake School For Girls" was written in bold letters at the top of the packet. I couldn't believe I had to go to an all-girls school. And not only was it an all-girls school, it was a uniform school. What ever happened to individuality? I rolled my eyes and continued reading over the welcome packet. Most of the curriculum seemed to be the same as a regular High School. The only differences were a few things that said training. It tells us how it's against school rules to use wolf abilities on humans. I guess I got the werewolf welcome package. So far, I was not happy about this school, but I had no choice but to attend.

The school uniform consisted of a simple gray skirt, a white shirt with the school logo on the top left side, and a gray tie. It didn't say anything about a specific type of shoe, so I was sure I could jazz this uniform up a little to feel like myself. I threw on my uniform with some red knee high socks, my white air force sneakers and grabbed a red sweater to go with it. After putting on some eyeliner and mascara, I untwisted my hair, used my wide tooth comb to pick it a little and put on some lip gloss. I looked myself over in my full-length mirror and was happy with how I looked. I looked better than I felt. I've never been conceited, but I know that I am a beautiful girl. I stand 5 feet 2 inches...I know, I'm small. I had a nice shape; small waist, nice plump booty and decent-sized breasts. I had naturally curly dark brown hair that stopped in the middle of my back. My skin was a nice cocoa color and my eyes were a beautiful shade of gray, almost silver. I grabbed my backpack and my phone and headed downstairs to grab something to eat before heading to school.

"I hope you have a great first day," Aunt Maria said while walking into the kitchen. "Try not to worry too much, we will figure everything out." She opened the refrigerator, pulling out a container of fruit and passing it to me, making me smile. She knew how much I loved fruit.

"Thank you Aunt Maria. I'm so nervous. This is a whole new world for me. I don't know how I'm supposed to understand being a werewolf. My birthday is in 6 months and that's when I'm supposed to get my wolf. My mom is alive and I'm supposed to meet her today. And I have to deal with being in a new school."

"You are the strongest, smartest, most talented girl that I know. You will do great. And I will be with you every step of the way," Aunt Maria said, hugging me. The blue car out front is yours. The school address is set in the gps. I thought you might like that instead of riding the bus."

"That's awesome." My Aunt Maria knows me better than anyone. I'm already dealing with a lot, so a quiet ride to school alone would definitely help settle my thoughts. There was never a need to drive in New York with so many public transportation options. I was nervous about my first day, but I tried to keep my cool on the drive there.

I thought about my mom's letter on the drive to school. The page that listed things to know about werewolves had me thinking about myself. I already had some of the abilities. My senses were heightened and I hadn't thought about it until I received the information from my mom. I could always hear and smell things way too perfectly. My vision was perfect and I never had trouble seeing in the dark. I ran track at my old school and my coach always said my speed was impressive. I guess I can thank my werewolf abilities for that.

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Maria's POV

Three years ago, I received a letter in the mail from an address in California. I didn't know anyone in California, so I couldn't understand who would be writing me. When I read the letter I was shocked; it was from Denise. I knew she would never leave Shay willingly, so I thought she was dead. She told me what happened to her the night she disappeared and everything after. At first I didn’t want to believe it, but the more she wrote, the more I was convinced. She said that she would continue writing as much as she could and not to tell Shay that we had contact until she could figure the rest of her plan out. I felt horrible keeping this secret from Shay, but I felt like it was for the best. It was hard because every time I received a new letter, I wanted to tell her so badly.

I was relieved when I finally received a letter saying it was time to tell Shay. I didn't know how she would take things. I know that she doesn't have many memories of her mother and she always felt abandoned. I feel like her being reconnected with her mom would be a good thing, especially with all of the changes that are about to happen to her. I just don't know how she would react to this. It's kind of information overload but I know if anyone could handle this, Shay could.