Luna or Reject?

Shifting!?

Trey POV

I wanted nothing more than to have Melanie stay in my arms in that hallway, but I couldn’t stand there like an i***t just staring at her. I had to say something. So, being the smooth talker I knew I could be, I invited her to sit with some friends of mine at lunch, then to my annual Hallowe’en party. Every person in our grade is invited, plus some. It’s always a banger of an event, but this year was going to be even better.

This year, I had my eye on someone; and that someone was Melanie.

Her pale, icy blue eyes, long brown hair, and quick wit made her the most beautiful human I’d ever seen. She was funny, smart, caring, and kind but not afraid to stand up for herself and others. She would make a great member to the Wind Warrior Pack. Maybe as a nurse or something; I wasn’t sure what she wanted to do with her life, but I could picture her in a tight nurses outfit all day and not get bored.

I just hoped she wore one to the party.

That, would make it the best party ever.

I just wasn’t prepared for what came next.

**Friday, Party Day**

Melanie’s POV

As I got ready for Trey’s Hallowe’en party, I couldn’t help but feel a little restless inside. It was like my stomach was churning, but not making me sick. My skin was itchy as hell, and started getting red and blotchy. Although my hair seemed to be cooperating in ways it never did before; which was always fantastic; as it’d be prone to getting knotted extremely quickly in my past. My mom used to complain at me as she brushed it out each morning and night when I was a child. She’d ask if I met a bat and had it make a nest in my hair, when all I’d done that day was hang around the house. Meh.

Deciding it was time to actually put on my costume I’d hastily bought from the local party shop yesterday after school, I took it out of the package and stared at it.

“How in the hell do people dress like this in public, normally!?” I yelled to myself, staring down at the itty bitty nurses costume I’d bought. I hadn’t been thinking about my hips and breasts when I’d bought it, but now, I was wishing I had.

The top was extremely low cut, showing half my cleavage to anyone and everyone who wanted to see it, and the skirt barely covered my back end; stretching to its absolute maximum to do so.

The tiny nurses hat had clips on it, luckily, to keep it in place atop my head.

Overall, I looked hot. But I felt uncomfortable as hell. I was a sweatpants and loose tshirt girl, not this.

Just as I was deciding it was time to go meet Melody, I got a text from her.

‘Be at your place in 5!’ The text read.

‘Sounds good! I’ll be at the front door!’ I sent her back.

“I really hate myself right now…” I muttered as I put on a pair of white shoes I’d dug out of my closet, trying my best to not bend over too much, squatting instead. I needed to get used to not just bending over to do, anything.

I heard Melody’s car pull into my driveway. Sighing to myself, I reluctantly grabbed my trench coat, threw it on and tied it up.

‘Now or never.’ I told myself over and over again, whilst locking the front door.

“Okay; judging by the hat, I want to say Sexy Nurse, but the trench coat screams Murderer.” Melody laughed as I got in, trying my best to keep my costume in place under my coat.

“Former. You’re right. And I’m regretting this so much already. I’m already an outcast, and now it just looks like I’m begging for attention. Wait till you see the skirt! It barely covers my ass!” I fill her in, seething. Melody started laughing at my seething hatred for the skirt already.

It’d barely been 20 minutes in the car before we pulled up to Trey’s family mansion- and when I say mansion, I mean mansion. Although it was set back into the woods quite a bit, it was still grandeur, and absolutely breathtaking.

The place was huge, made of the same white stone that the school and bakery were made of, but with little for a contrast colour. It had three floors, and probably a basement. It was huge, but it also screamed at me that Trey’s family wasn’t super stuck up, for some reason. Maybe because I actually knew Trey, and knew he wasn’t a total prick like a lot of rich kids tended to be.

The place was lit with string and fairy lights, and you could see the students from our school all over the place. Standing out on the front porch, sitting in the hot tub around one side, and on a dance floor on the other. I wondered if there was a pool around back I couldn’t see yet.

I also couldn’t help but wonder if everyone in my school lived like this, but promptly stopped myself. It didn’t matter how rich they were, only if their heart was in the right place- something my mom had taught me from a young age. I also wondered who lived in the small homes in my area. Were there student from Wind Warrior High that didn’t live in huge mansions? Or was I the only one?

‘Way to make yourself feel like more of an outsider. Moron.’ I thought to myself as Melody pulled into a free spot amongst the other students cars, parked on the front lawn. Many of the other cars were sports cars, and highly expensive. I could recognize a few symbols, but some had to be imports- an easy tell from the fact the steering wheel was on the right side, not the left.

“Leave your coat in my car. You won’t need it once we get up to the house. And, you can show off that fat-ass of yours. Make the guys squirm a little bit!” Melody piped up with a wink to me.

“I’d be offended right now, if I didn’t know you meant ‘my fat-ass’ in a loving way.” I teased her back, taking my trench coat off and leaving it on my seat.

Just as I was shutting the car door, I heard someone whistle. I figured it was one of the guys looking at another girl, so I didn’t think too much of it. No one had ever whistled at me before, but when I turned around, I found Trey standing there, eyes wide and mouth agape, but with a small smile, staring straight at me.

“Hey, Trey. Thanks for the invitation. The party seems to be a banger!” I said simply, waving at him and ignoring the fact he kept checking me out, his eyes sweeping up and down my figure. Guess I’d fooled him into thinking I didn’t have a figure. Perfect! I didn’t like being gawked at, but when Trey did it, I felt like stripping down and showing him everything.

‘Do it.’ I heard a voice inside my head say.

WHAT!? Where did that come from? I’d never thought like that before, and that certainly wasn’t my voice. It was, sultry, seductive, confident, and definitely not me.

“Damn girl! I’d be lying right now if I said you weren’t hot as f**k in that outfit. But, I don’t lie, so.” Trey said with a wink, as he came up and enveloped me in a hug.

I couldn’t help but inhale his intoxicating scent as he enveloped me in his arms. I felt safe with Trey. I didn’t understand it, but I didn’t have too- it was just a crush.

“You guys are late, you know! It’s almost 11 already. What were you doing?” Trey asked Melody while still having his arms around me.

“Simple. Getting ready. You think it’s easy to look this hot!? I don’t think so!” Melody sang back as she did a little twirl in her Sexy Superwoman costume.

“Fair enough! And might I say again, you look hot as hell.” He said, looking down at me again with a wink.

I couldn’t respond, so I just buried my face in his shirt as my cheeks got hot.

“So what are you supposed to be? A football player? Seriously?” Melody piped up as we walked towards the main entry, Trey’s arm around my shoulders, keeping me close to him.

“Yeah, I am. And it looks like I picked a damn good one too, because I might just need to see the nurse later. Might get a small concussion.” He teased, knocking himself on the head a couple times lightly.

“Well, if that’s the case, I recommend an Aspirin, and to be woken up every 2 hours to prevent falling into a coma.” I piped up, remembering the time I fell off my bike as a child and smacked my head on a curb, and the doctors advice to my mom.

“Alright! As long as you’re the one watching to make sure I don’t go into that coma, I can deal with that.” He said as we reached the top of the steps. Many of the other students were staring, some waved, some said slurred hellos to us, but many just stared. It was actually a little nerve wracking because I hated being the center of attention. I’d rather just blend into a wall, but in this outfit, that wasn’t an option.

“So, ladies! Vodka or rum?” Trey piped up as we got to the expansive white marble kitchen.

The center island was filled with snacks, drinks of all kinds- including water- and some bigger, heavier foods like sandwiches for if people got a little too drunk.

‘He’s responsible. He’ll make a great father to great pups.’ The voice inside my head said again.

Pups!? What was this voice going on about now!? Pups! Ha! That’s ridiculous! Humans don’t have pups, we have babies.

Setting those thoughts and that weird voice in my head, aside, I decided to have a little fun while I was here.

I drank a few drinks, ate a lot of snacks, and danced with Trey till I was out of breath, which, in all honesty, didn’t take very long due to the alcohol.

The night was going fantastic. I hadn’t seen Karri, and didn’t want too, I was having fun with my new best friends, and I felt hot as hell in my tiny skirt and top after about, 4 shots.

All of a sudden, the music stopped, and Trey stepped up onto a coffee table to make an announcement.

“EVERYONE! I know this is a little strange, but I wanted to give everyone a heads up. Our new student, Melanie, turns 18 tomorrow, November 1st! And since it’s close to midnight, I figured we should celebrate!

GUYS! BRING IT OUT!” He hollered at the top of his lungs. Not a minute later, two guys also wearing football jerseys, came out of the kitchen wheeling a giant five tiered cake with purple frosting and flowers all over it.

It had, ‘HAPPY 18th BIRTHDAY MELANIE’ written across the sides of the tiers.

I stood there, motionless and speechless as they wheeled the thing in front of me.

‘How did they know my birthday? I never told anyone. Not even Melody.’ I wondered to myself as everyone began to sing me happy birthday.

“Well, go on! Make a wish, birthday girl!” Trey said, throwing his arm around my shoulders again. Something I was getting really used too.

I didn’t have to think to hard about what I wanted. It was right here beside me. He was right here beside me.

I blew out the candles, and everyone cheered. A housekeeper showed up with a knife, plates and forks, and began cutting the cake. I got the first piece, as it was my cake.

It was red velvet and vanilla tiered, altered. My two favourite kinds of cake. I hadn’t told anyone that, so I’d assumed Melody made a guess at it. She was spot on.

The cake was moist, flavorful, and even smelled decadent. I was actually enjoying this party more than I thought I would. Maybe it was the alcohol, though I was no where near drunk. Maybe a little tipsy, but not where I’d thought I’d be by this point in the night.

Just as I was finishing up my last bite, I felt a giant pang in the side of my head. Then another on the other side. Suddenly, my whole body was enveloped in heat and ice at the same time.

My skin became extremely itchy, red and blotchy. It started to burn like someone had poured acid all over me.

“Melanie. Melanie. Baby girl. Look at me. Look at me, sweetie.” I heard two voices say. Trey and Melody.

“What’s… what’s going on!? IT BURNS!” I screamed. Everyone stopped talking to look at me. I dropped to my knees on the living room rug, dropping my plate at the same time.

“We need to get her outside. Now.” I heard Melody say. Immediately after, Trey had me bridal style in his arms and was running through the house with me.

“It hurts… what’s going on!? What is going on!?” I screamed as the pounding in my head became more unbearable.

“I don’t know, babe. I don’t know. But I’ve got you. I’m right here.” Trey cooed in my ear.

He gently put me down in his lap as he got outside and sat on the grass.

“KYLE! Get everyone inside! Close the windows! NOW!” Trey barked at one of the guys who had wheeled my cake out. Not long after, Melody, Trey and myself were the only ones outside. It was quiet. I started to panic.

“What’s wrong with me!?” I screamed, tears streaming down my face.

“I thought she wasn’t…” Trey trailed off, looking at Melody, then back at me. He hugged me tighter to him.

“I don’t know! I’ll call her mom!” I heard Melody say before the ringing in my ears started up.

I screamed. I screamed so loud, I didn’t recognize it. I didn’t know I could make a sound so awful.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” I kept repeating over and over again. I’d ruined Trey’s party. Everyone inside was probably wondering what the hell was wrong with me.

“Shhhh, baby girl. It’s okay. You have nothing to be sorry about. No one is mad or upset. I promise.” Trey kept repeating in my ear as he stroked my hair. His touch was helping the fire that erupted on my skin to subside.

“Let her go. Let her touch the grass. She needs to be on the grass herself.” I heard a voice say.

MOM!

Wait, my mom was here!?

“Sweetheart. Can you look at me? Look at me, Melanie.”

I did what she said too.

“She’s shifting. She doesn’t know. She’s scared. Can you two help her? Show her what to do?” My mom asked Trey and Melody.

“We can.” They said in unison, before Melody got up, walked a couple steps and turned to face me.

“It’s going to hurt. Like a b***h. And it feels like your head is going to explode, right?” She asked.

I could only nod.

“Relax. Let it happen. It’ll subside if you stop fighting the pain. I promise.” Trey piped up from beside me, still stroking my hair.

“What? What’s going on? Mom. What don’t I know? Shifting? What?” I managed to squeak out before another wave of pain ripped through my head.

“Sweetheart, remember all those stories I told you growing up? The fairytales about Fae, werewolves, witches, all those?”

I could only nod.

“I haven’t been honest with you about them. They weren’t fairytales. They were real events.”

I could only stare through tear blurred eyes as I watched my mother take a few steps back, and begin the strangest thing I’d ever seen.

Where she’d stood just a moment before, now stood the most beautiful chocolate brown wolf. It was huge. She came over to me and licked my face.

Suddenly, it was as if my body knew what to do. I was on all fours, my back arching towards the sky, as a howl ripped out of my chest.

I saw fur begin to sprout on the backs of my hands, causing the itching, burning sensation to stop. I felt my bones break, reform, and realign in new positions not possible for a human.

I howled again, this time, it didn’t sound like the pained cry of a child. This time, it sounded like a call to let others know I was okay.

As I looked around, I saw Trey and Melody standing next to my mom, both transforming into wolves themselves.

‘Is everyone in this town a werewolf!?’

“Yes babe. They are.” Came the voice in my head again.

‘Who are you?’ I asked.

‘I am you. I am the Moon. I am the voice of the wind in the trees, and the ripple of the streams. I am everyone, and everything.’ It said cryptically.

‘Okay, I’ll ask again. Who. Are. You?’ I asked the voice, becoming more agitated with the voice and it’s non-answers.

‘Child, my name is Selena. I am the Moon Goddess incarnate. And you, my child, will do wonderful, great things for our kind.’ The voice, whom I now knew was Selena, the apparent Moon Goddess, said, finally answering my question.

Whilst I was busy having this internal conversation, I failed to notice my mom, Melody and Trey all staring at me. Even though I was staring at a small group of wolves, the surprise on their face was evident and abundant.

‘What’s everyone looking at? I get I’m a wolf but, you’re all really freaking me out right now.’ I said to them through my mind.

‘Sweetheart. Your forehead. That mark… it’s the Goddess’ Mark…’ my mom trailed off, stepping closer to me to stare at my forehead.

‘My best friend is…’ I heard Melody start to say, but she trailed off and bowed her head to me instead.

Trey followed suit.

It was at that point that I turned around and looked back into the koi pond, at myself, and at my Mark.

I stood there for a few minutes, not really knowing what to do or what to think. Selena was quiet in my head, and neither my mom, Melody or Trey were speaking, either.

Taking myself in, I saw my eyes were such a light blue, they almost looked silver. My fur glistened in the moonlight like it was covered in pearls.

I strutted around the koi pond, hoping to see more of myself, but something caught my eye when I reached the opposite side from where I’d shifted- the entirety of the partygoers, were now out in the backyard, either shifting themselves, or simply on their knees with their heads bowed, in human form.

I looked up at my mom, confused.

‘Every wolf will know the Moon Goddess when they see her. It’s in a wolf a nature to submit to their Alpha; or rather, their Goddess.’

‘But I’m not…’

‘That mark on your forehead would say otherwise, kiddo.’

Taking another long look at myself, then back up at the partygoers, all watching me now, I couldn’t help but feel scared and proud at the same time. I’d been chosen for something. Something I had yet to figure out.

Forcing myself to look away, I turned my back on everyone, let out a howl, and took off into the forest.

It felt right. Like something was calling me there.

Something big.