A Pheonix Wolf Rising

No shift

As I walk up the driveway after school, my stomach churns with nerves. The sleek black SUV parked in front of our house confirms what I already suspected—Alpha Marcus and his family are here.

They must be here for my shift.

I take a deep breath and mumble under my breath, “Please don’t let him be here.”

“Please don’t let who be here?”

I freeze, my heart stuttering in my chest. Of course, the one person I was hoping to avoid is standing right at the doorway, arms crossed over his broad chest, a teasing smirk tugging at his lips. Kian Blackthorn. The Alpha’s son. My brother’s best friend. And the source of far too many of my sleepless nights.

I mentally curse werewolf hearing as I fumble for an answer. “N-no one,” I stammer, avoiding his sharp gray gaze.

Kian raises a perfect eyebrow, clearly amused. “Sure,” he drawls, but thankfully, he doesn’t push.

Before I can come up with a decent comeback, a warm voice interrupts.

“Hi, sweet girl,” Luna Vivienne greets, pulling me into a hug before I can protest. Her scent—lavender and honey—wraps around me, soothing my nerves just enough to keep me from bolting. “Happy birthday, Zara.”

“Thank you, Luna,” I mumble into her shoulder, feeling a moment of comfort before she pulls away.

“Are you ready for your first shift?” Kian asks, his voice softer now.

I try to muster confidence, but the nervousness in my tone betrays me. “Yes.”

He notices. Of course, he notices.

“Hey, relax,” he says, his expression gentler. “You’ll be fine. First shifts can be nerve-wracking, but you’ve got this.”

I nod, offering a small, grateful smile. It’s sweet of him to try and calm me. I wish his kindness didn’t make my heart race the way it does.

_____

The moon hangs high in the sky, silver light cascading through the thick canopy of trees that surrounds our clearing. Crickets chirp in the distance, the rustling of leaves blending with the steady rhythm of my heartbeat pounding in my ears.

My family stands around me—Mom and Dad watching me with hope, Celara’s usual confidence wavering, and Lucian standing tall and protective. Even the Alpha and Luna are here, their presence adding weight to the moment.

“Just relax, sweet pea,” Dad says, his voice steady. “Your wolf will come when the time is right.”

I nod, swallowing hard as I take a deep breath. I close my eyes, reaching deep within myself, searching—waiting.

But… nothing happens.

No voice. No warmth. No stirring of the wild presence I’ve longed to meet my entire life.

Seconds stretch into minutes. Minutes into an hour.

The silence in my mind is deafening.

I open my eyes, blinking back the sting of tears as I glance around. The encouraging smiles are fading now, replaced by flickers of worry. Even the Alpha and Luna exchange uneasy glances.

“Do you feel anything different?” Alpha Marcus finally asks, his deep voice cutting through the quiet.

I hesitate before shaking my head. “No, Alpha.” My voice cracks, sadness seeping through.

“Hey, cheer up. We got you,” he says, patting my back with a reassuring smile, but I can see the concern in his eyes.

I try to smile, but it feels forced, fragile.

Why isn’t it happening?

Mom steps closer, her arms wrapping around me tightly. “It’s okay, baby. Maybe she’s just taking her time.”

But I can see the tension tightening Dad’s jaw, the way Lucian’s fists clench at his sides. Even Celara’s usual calm is laced with worry she can’t quite hide.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, stepping back from Mom’s embrace. The weight of their expectations—of my own expectations—crushes me.

“Don’t be,” Lucian says firmly, his voice thick with emotion. “You’ll get your wolf, Zara. We just have to be patient.”

But patience doesn’t stop the knot of dread settling deep in my chest.

Alpha Marcus sighs, exchanging a silent look with my father. “Zane, Lena, we’ll talk later,” he says, clapping Dad’s shoulder before offering me one last smile. “We’ll figure this out, Zara. Stay strong.”

The Alpha family leaves soon after, and I barely make it to my room before the tears spill over.

I throw myself onto my bed, sobbing into my pillow. What’s wrong with me?