Alpha Dane's Secret

First Shift

[EVA’S POV]

I went back to my chores. I could hear Leah’s sobs as she packed up some clothes. She had stopped arguing at least. In all our years together, I’ve never seen Alpha punish her so severely. The last few days Alpha spent spoiling Leah to an extreme. My stomach churned as I realized he was getting her out of the house for my birthday.

Alpha Dane excused me from my chores for the day. A birthday gift I will not argue with. It was the spa day treatment that made me nervous. Alpha insisted it was to prepare for my shifting ritual tonight. If I didn’t know his secret, I would enjoy myself. But everything felt conditional. Like he was doing all of this in exchange for something.

Midnight was approaching too quickly. I’d already changed into a lightweight black robe. It had silver ornate designs embroidered all over it. Alpha said it was commissioned just for me. He also had a priestess come early to adorn my skin with runic symbols. She then braided a few wisteria flowers into my long hair. This felt way over the top for an unranked wolf. Even more over the top for an orphan wolf. I was being treated like royalty. If I wasn’t privy to the Alpha’s secret, I would see this as him treating me like his own pup.

The moon was full tonight. It was said to be good luck for a first shift to be on a full moon. But tonight was the night of a Blood Moon. A total lunar eclipse. Usually, wolves that shift during special moons have special abilities. A Blood Moon was rare, and these wolves are usually incredibly powerful but struggle with bloodlust. Great. I didn’t know anything about this until I heard Alpha Dane bragging about having a new Blood Moon wolf. Then I investigated it and realized he was referring to my shift date.

The wind was chilly. The sky was tinged red already. I could feel my body starting to quiver. My shift will come soon.

I followed Alpha Dane out to the sacred clearing of our pack. This is the place where every new wolf shifts. It is the highest elevation to be closest to the moon. It is also the most open to be exposed to the moon. There were rocks placed in swirls all over the clearing. The largest swirl served as a pathway to a giant stone bowl.

I place my offering, a bouquet of sacred herbs, into the bowl. Alpha Dane placed the matching talismans on both of our necks. He then lit the herbs sitting in the bowl. The smoke from the herbs floated into the sky and up to the moon herself. I couldn’t help but smile. It was so beautiful. I looked down and saw Alpha Dane staring at me. His eyes were yellow. His wolf was pushed forward. I shivered.

I’d been avoiding looking at Alpha Dane since we walked out here. He was only wearing a black kilt with the same embroidered symbols as my robe. His body was carved to perfection. His hair is just long enough to brush his meaty shoulder muscles. I'd never once thought of Alpha Dane in an inappropriate manner, but something had awakened the day I found out the truth. Something primal.

I felt my eyes twitch, and a smile spread across Alpha Dane’s face.

“Your wolf is close,” he mentioned. He reached across the bowl of burning herbs to touch the side of my face. The sparks danced across my skin. I didn’t have to be educated to know what that might mean. “You have Alpha blood.” He smirked.

Before he could explain. Before I could ask why, he said that my body started to shake. It felt like a seizure. I focused on Alpha Dane’s warm hand on the side of my face.

“Focus on me. Breath with me.” Alpha Dane’s voice caressed my ears. I followed his instructions, watching his chest rise and fall. I synchronized our breathing. My body continued to shake.

My human is a strong one. A voice hummed in my mind.

Alpha Dane is my mate, isn’t he? I focused on the question. Not exactly sure how I am supposed to communicate with my wolf spirit. Is it like praying?

You’re asking a question you already know the answer to. My wolf answered. I knew what she meant. Ever since we became one being, my wolf and me, another bond has snapped into place. One I refused to acknowledge. I could feel it. The insatiable yearning was thumping through me like my pulse. I looked up and met Alpha Dane’s face. He was searching my face again. Looking for some reaction to give me away. He couldn’t find one. I continued to smile.

“My wolf! I heard my wolf!” despite the constant quaking my body was doing. I couldn’t help but smile at the excitement of finally meeting my wolf.

Alpha Dane nodded. I could tell he wanted me to say something else.

“How do I talk to her? Is it like praying?” I ask. He smiled at me. Annoyance is still in his eyes.

“I’ve never prayed but I suppose so. It’s like talking to yourself. You just think about what you want to say. The stronger your bond gets, the easier you will be able to read each other's minds,” Alpha Dane explained.

My skin began to itch and burn. I couldn’t tell if it itched from the burning or burned from the itching sensation. I wanted to scratch my skin back.

“The itching is the worst part. I’d take the bone breaking over the itching any day,” Alpha Dane joked. He’s not known to joke around, so I am not sure if I should laugh.

Focus on me. My wolf’s voice crept in again. I was so happy to finally hear her.

What do I call you? I suddenly felt embarrassed for not introducing myself to my wolf.

Eluvite but you can call me Elle. And you’re Eva. She had the most soothing voice. It was so warm. A warmth that is so foreign to me. Of course, my wolf would know my name. Our wolf spirits have been with us from birth, but they lay dormant until we turned 18. Elle was there for every moment. It was a reassuring feeling to know I was no longer alone.

“Focus on me Eva.” Alpha Dane’s voice interrupted. I felt the sweat start to rain down my skin. Somehow it was making me itchier.

“My wolf said the same thing” I joked. Alpha Dane gave me a puzzling look.

He wants to take on your pain. That’s why he’s asking you to focus on him. Elle explained.

But how do I focus on both of you? I asked.

You don’t. You focus on me. I don’t want to give him the satisfaction. He needs to know just how strong you are. I will take on the pain with you. Elle went on.

I wasn’t sure if this was a normal thing to do. Usually, the wolf spirit is supposed to focus on the act of shifting and the person takes on the sensations. I can’t imagine having to take on both.

I can handle it. Elle assured.

And so, I did what my wolf requested. I focused on her. I wanted to see her. I imagined her having the prettiest fur. Black as night with a blue shine to it. Most wolves' fur matched their human’s hair. So, Elle would have black fur of that I am sure. She will be the most majestic being I’ve ever seen. I focused on thoughts of Elle. What she looked like. How fast she must be. How agile she will be.

CRACK!

“It’s happening. Eva look at me!" I felt the electric tingles cover my face as Alpha Dane cradled my face. I tried to look up at him, but my eyes rolled back, and I felt my body collapse.