The Luna's Alliance

Chapter 3: Shift

WARNING: s****l CONTENT AHEAD

This would be a day when Lucy would miss her mother fiercely. Today she turned eighteen, the age of maturity, becoming a fully grown she-wolf. Her life was about to truly begin. Soon she would meet her wolf spirit and shift. She could find her destined mate. She could also be sent to battle.

Luna Mary remained true to her word not to throw a party, but insisted on an intimate dinner at the packhouse before her first shift. Lucy was born at 7:35 pm. Her mother had always told Lucy that she arrived with the first moonbeam. Lucy smiled at the bittersweet memory and blinked away tears. If all went well today, that was the time she planned to shift. Somehow, her mother would be a part of that moment.

It was time to get out of bed and force herself to dress for the day. It wouldn't be easy since she had been nursing a headache all night. The throbbing pain behind her eyes was not normal for wolves, so she hoped this was a sign her wolf was ready to surface. Lucy had spent much of the night tossing from the annoyance of the migraine, and the images she conjured of what her wolf might look like.

I will look much like you, Lucy.

A beautiful sing-song voice made itself known in her head. Lucy’s wolf.

Oh, my! I have been so excited about meeting you. Lucy paused. She had an introduction prepared and well-practiced for this very moment - if her mind would stop racing long enough to remember it. My name is Lucy and it is a pleasure to share myself with you. I swear to put your needs first and be a strong body for us. May I ask your name?

Lucy had heard many wolves became like protective older siblings and best friends to their seemingly human counterparts. She longed for such a relationship. That is why she chose to be polite. Lucy had always been a people pleaser, and she yearned for her wolf's approval.

Lucy heard her wolf snickering in her head. The sound was entrancing.

No need to be so formal, darling girl. I have been in your head for a while now. I know your secret heart's desires as well as your favorite fears. I watched you long before I appeared. I am amazed by your capacity for love of others. You should know, I am an old spirit who has seen many pasts and had many counterparts. You are quite unique though, girly. The Moon Goddess sent me to you for a reason. After watching you grow, I believe she was right in choosing you. To answer your question, my name is Imogen, and I swear to guide and protect you all our days together.

Lucy sat down at her small vanity to watch her eyes glow as Imogen spoke of the Moon Goddess. Lucy felt elated, yet confused. Lucy believed in the Goddess' power to rebirth and shape fates. That was the goal of a Parting Ceremony after all; to say goodbye to the human spirit as the wolf ascended back to the Mother, carrying pieces of our stories with them. Wolf spirits were created or reborn as the Moon Goddess saw fit. It was quite a gift to be given such a wise wolf. However, the mention of being 'chosen' was casting a fog over her initial joy.

Lucy had always felt like a normal girl. She was the daughter of a Beta, but nothing else seemed to scream ‘special’ to Lucy. Her long golden blonde hair and lean body had gotten a few attentive glances from boys at school over the years, but nothing out of the common way. She was kind too, but she felt that she gave as she got. Her pack had earned her compassion by supporting and fighting for another. Pack life was a thing of beauty that she was happy just to be a small part of. Why would the Goddess choose her for anything?

Oh, girly. I can feel your emotions spinning out of control. We can discuss this as time goes on. When you live several lifetimes, you learn to use time to your own advantage. I am going to rest for a while in preparation for our first shift tonight. It will be painful. I’m sorry about that. Just let me take control tonight, and know that I am here now.

Okay, Imogen. Thank you. I am so lucky to have been given a wolf spirit like you. Lucy thought.

You don’t know the half of it, girly.

With that, Lucy felt in total control of her mind again. It was surreal. Her wolf was wise, but she also had sass. Lucy was most definitely pleased. She could hardly wait for her first shift into Imogen’s wolf form tonight.

Hours crawled by. While many girls wasted their time with salads to keep their figure, Lucy was a meat and potatoes kind of girl. Daily training kept extra poundage at bay. Luna Mary had prepared a grand steakhouse dinner for her special day. When Lucy had filled to bursting on a giant rare rib-eye and loaded baked potato with gobs of cheese and butter, she pushed her plate away and checked her watch for the millionth time.

7:30 pm. It was finally time! They all hurried outside. Her father and brother, along with the Alpha’s family, were talking excitedly as they exited the packhouse. The older members were reminiscing about their first shifts, trying to give Lucy advice about how to ease the pain. Her brother, Freddy, and the Alpha’s two little twin boys were roughhousing with each other, despite the age gap, and making guesses about what Lucy’s wolf form would look like. Her father also carried a large mirror with a heavy metal frame outside. It was Lucy’s only request so that she could see herself as soon as possible.

7:34 pm. Imogen seemed restless. Lucy didn’t know exactly how to give over control, and the palpitations of her heart gave her away..

Just clear your mind. It may help if you sit on the ground too. As I said, this will be painful, but I will make it quick. I have a lot of practice. Imogen reassured her.

Lucy shrugged off her jacket and shoes quickly, then sat on the ground cross-legged, and sensed her onlookers growing quiet. She placed her arms gently on each knee. She imagined how foolish she must look in some yoga pose, about to meditate on bringing out her wolf. Certainly not the position an experienced wolf would take. Nevertheless, she tried to clear her mind.

She heard cracking. If she breathed, she would scream. She felt every single bone break multiple times as they reformed and settled into place for the first time. The pain was quick, thank the Goddess, as Imogen had promised. She felt herself rise higher off the ground. She understood she must be standing in her wolf form.

“Sweetheart, open your eyes,” Lucy’s father called to her.

When she blinked her eyes open, she was stunned to see the rest of the world unchanged. Surely, nothing could be the same now. She saw everything around her as clearly as before, but with a slightly yellowed tint, almost as if she was looking at a moving version of a sepia photograph. Then she heard a bird take flight. Her new eyes could zoom in on a target. The crow was farther away than any human eyes or ears could have detected. A squirrel jumped playfully from branch to branch of a wooded area and Lucy watched it mesmerized. Lucy’s, or rather Imogen’s, fur ruffled in a gust of wind and she lifted her silhouette into it, the cool mountain air no longer noticeable by her body.

“Over here, sweetheart,” her father called again. Lucy felt her ears twitch at the sound and moved her new eyes in search of him. He was holding up the mirror so she could glimpse her wolf for the first time.

If wolves could smile, this would be it, Lucy thought. Her wolf was gorgeous. Imogen had been right, she looked like herself. Golden blonde fur shone around her body, except her paws, which looked like a pair of creamy socks, and golden eyes, wider, but the same color as her human ones. Her stature was average for a she-wolf, too. She wasn’t very large, but would be able to hold her own in a fight. She was glad of that too, because a fight was surely coming.

Her father set the mirror down when he thought she’d gawked at herself long enough. He and Alpha Cain Greene started undressing down to their boxers and shifted quickly, shredding the remainder without thought. She was right in estimating her approximate size as she came up to the neck of both the male wolves. They looked at each other once, then back at Lucy. Then, with a short howl from the Alpha, they took off running into the woods. Lucy chased them, loving the feeling of air whooshing through her fur and the dirt packed under her paws with every padded thump. This was freedom.

***

Theo was restless tonight. Nico’s presence at meetings was agitating at best. Plus, his father had just publicly announced his intention to retire as Beta, effectively promoting Theo at that same moment. He had been trained his whole life, but he was nervous. Alpha Brock was not an easy man to spend time with. Moreover, the war was reaching a turning point. Theo could feel the tension in his bones, as if they were ready to snap any minute. Theo itched to shift into Daemeon's form. He contemplated leaving his room in the Beta quarters of the pack house and going for a run.

That’s where Sarah found him. She was a pretty she-wolf about a year younger than Theo. She had only shifted a month before they became acquainted. Sarah had lost both her parents at the beginning of the war. Her elder brother didn’t live much longer. He died on what should have been a simple tracking mission on a secure route into Southern Forest territory. Their territory was extremely defensible, though, and he was killed in the skirmish before he could relay any useful intel. Her grandmother was all she had left, but her dementia was worsening lately.

At their first meeting, when Theo informed Sarah of her brother’s MIA status, Theo tried consoling her as a friend. After about a year, she started signaling she wanted a more physical relationship. The stress of training to be a war-time Beta was extremely demanding. Neither of them had any illusions about maintaining a real relationship, but they often sought comfort from the day's trials in each other's arms.

Sarah walked over without talking and sat on Theo’s lap, spread eagle on the desk chair. She nuzzled her nose to his neck, seeking approval. When he didn’t send her away, she took it as permission to continue. Sarah slid off his lap and onto her knees in front of him. She undid the fly of his pants and pulled out what she wanted from him in a single well-practiced move. Sarah took his semi-hard masculinity into her mouth, sliding as far down as she could before gagging. Theo twitched at the warmth of her mouth on him. She pulled up and repeated the motion a few more times until he was fully erect and felt his head hit dip into her throat. Her tongue worked in tandem with both her fisted hands as she started moving them up and down his shaft. Theo closed his eyes, shutting out the sight of Sarah, and just focusing on the warm feeling of the inside of her mouth.

When he was sufficiently hard, he pulled Sarah off of him. Her suction made a popping sound at the sudden withdrawal. Theo quickly grabbed a condom from his nightstand and rolled it onto himself, then sat back down on the chair. Without speaking, Sarah adjusted her legs across his hips, using her arms to hold herself in place, with his c**k just in front of her entrance. Theo grabbed her hips to begin thrusting in and out of her. Sarah started moaning his name as he picked up speed. Without warning, he let go of his self-control, shooting ropes of c*m into the condom. She continued to buck her hips against him, searching for her own pleasure. He reached down, finding and rubbing her c**t between his thumb and forefinger to help speed along her release. She called his name a final time before falling onto his chest.

When their breathing had returned to normal, Theo pulled her head back and her hazel, doe eyes peered up at him. There was usually something wanting in them, and tonight was no exception. Theo cursed his own weakness for not sending her away earlier. He kissed her forehead once. She gave him a small, satisfied smile and climbed off his lap. Sarah left his room without a word, per usual.