Legend of the Shadow Wolf

Chapter Two

Half the day went by pretty quick, thankfully now it’s lunch time. I get my food with Scarlett and we sit outside on the grass talking about the upcoming competition when Julie and Taylor join us, followed by Damien and Brittany. It’s not that Brittany and I are sworn enemies, we just don’t care for each other.

She’s had a thing for my brother since elementary school, hoping they will be mates or he will choose her to be his luna when he takes over the pack. She can be selfish and act entitled at times, cares more about her looks than personality. She is what others like to call her, Barbie or plastic. She refuses to train, thinking some man is going to protect her and save the day. She wouldn’t dare act like that around him though, afraid he will cast her aside without a second thought. But I love my brother so I do my best to either be nice or just ignore her completely. “Hey guys,” Damien says, sitting down next to me as he waves to the group.

“Hey Damien, hey Brittany,” I said waving back and giving Brittany a slight grin. I can be cordial and respectful, I am the daughter of an alpha after all and I can’t bring shame or problems to my adopted family. If we had met on better terms, things probably would've been different. She hasn't actually done anything wrong to me like her friends but she doesn't stop them from saying hateful things to me either, which I ignore as well. She looked a little shocked but kept composure with a slight wave. “Hey Layla, have any plans for your birthday on Wednesday?” Damien asked, directing his attention to me. “Um, I’m not too sure. Think I want to just do a kick back and keep it simple. Do some training, maybe a little bonfire and go for a run.” I replied. Im not big on my birthday and haven’t really put any thought to it other than getting more training in.

“You know you do that like every year almost. Why not shake it up this year? It’s not every day you turn 18. Are you excited to get your wolf?” Taylor asked. No one besides Alpha Ransley knows I already got my wolf last year. I know I’ll have to tell my friends before my birthday so my shifting isn’t a surprise.

You can trust your friends, there’s nothing wrong with shifting early Kali encouraged. She’s a very good judge of character and is never wrong about people, I trust her judgement more than I trust my own.

I’ll tell them tonight, I don’t want Brittany around though I replied back to her. Agreed She said before receding to the back of my mind. I open a mind link with my three friends and Damien.

Hey guys I have something important to tell you, meet me in my room at the pack house but don’t tell anyone.

Ok sis I’ll be there Damien responded immediately.

You can count me in, I’ll bring Tay and Julie. What time? Scarlett replied back.

After dinner around 8 I said before closing the link. The bell went off signaling the end of lunch and we all got up, threw our trash away and went our separate ways to class. The rest of the day went by pretty smooth with no issues. After leaving campus I walked towards the forest line, making sure no one is watching or following me.

I get deep enough into the trees where no one can see me and start stripping my clothes. I shove my clothes into my back pack and get ready to shift. I give control over to Kali and start shifting into my big black wolf. Only color I have is my amber eyes with flakes of red and gold in them. I’m a little bigger than an alpha in my wolf form and we are unsure why.

After fully shifting, Kali picks my bag up in her mouth and runs off deeper into the woods until we hit a small clearing. She sets my bag down by a tree and walks to the center.

Ok Kali, ready to try out some new training methods? I ask her.

Let’s do this She replies with a huff.

Ok we are going to do it in human form first, then try it in wolf form I instructed and Kali hands over control as we start to shift back into my human form. I head over to my back pack and pull out my leggings, shirt and shoes before scaling up the closest tree until I reach a thick high branch. I sit there looking around, getting ready to execute my new training idea. Keeping to my strength and stealth, I start making my way through the trees, jumping from branch to branch making no sound.

Focusing on shifting all my weight up and making myself practically weightless as I make my way around the clearing, making sure to choose the sturdiest branches that will not only hold me but also Kali as well. After making my way around a couple times, I jump down and start stripping so Kali can practice as well.

Ok Kali, are you ready to try it out? I ask as I shove my clothes back into my bag.

Bring it on, this is going to interesting and very beneficial for us if we accomplish this Kali said with a slight chuckle at the thought of a giant wolf leaping through the trees like a monkey.

I giggle and relinquish all control over to Kali, confident we will be able to mail this down before the competition. The competition consists of three parts, hand to hand in human form, then again but in wolf form and last is held inside the forest that surrounds the arena on one side. That’s where you this training will come in handy the most. Nothing will stop me from being picked for the assassins academy.

After completing two laps around the clearing as Kali, she jumped down and relinquished control back over to me. I decided to just throw my leggings and muscle tank back on, threw my backpack onto my back and started walking back towards the pack house. I walked into the house and started up the stairs, taking two at a time. I was exhausted and with a little over a half hour to spare before dinner, I went to the bathroom for a nice hot shower.

Stripping my sweaty clothes off, I started the water and felt instant relief as the hot water hit my sore muscles. I quickly washed the sweat from my body and got out. After drying myself, I shrugged on some jogger sweats and a tank top, pulling my hair up into a messy bun before heading downstairs for dinner.

After dinner was finished, Damien and I headed back upstairs to my room and waited for the gang to get here. “So what’s goin on Lay? Is this important secret something super serious or what?” Damien asked curiously. “Haha nice try Damien, you’re just going to have to wait and find out when the others get here.” I said, laughing at my brother’s curious impatience.

Just as he was about to say something else, Scarlett barreled through the door with Taylor and Julie close behind. Scarlett threw herself onto my bed, almost knocking Damien off the side. “Oops, sorry dames, didn’t see your giant butt there haha,” Scarlett laughed as Damien caught her side before he fell. “You’re one to talk Scar, I think you caused an earthquake somewhere with all that weight landing on the bed,” Damien teased. Scarlett stuck her tongue out at him then turned her attention to me as Taylor and Julie took seats on the other side of the bed.

“So what’s up Lay, what’s so important hush hush that you couldn’t tell us earlier?” Julie asked, catching the attention of everyone else in the room. I got up and shut my door, thankfully my room is completely soundproof. “Ok, so as you all know that normally we get our wolves at 18 and shift for the first time right?” I started. “Ya that’s a given is it? It’s very rare to shift early or late.” Taylor stated, he’s the all knowing one in our group. “Ya well for some unknown reason, I got my wolf and shifted last year when I turned 17.” I said as everyone looked at me with shocked faces.

“Wait seriously? How is that possible? Does anyone else know about this?” Damien inquired, looking at me confused. “No one else knows except for Alpha Ransley. He helped me with my first shift because we were talking about last years party before the shift started.” I explained to Damien and the others. “Wait, so my dad knows? Why did you tell me? I could’ve helped you, been there for support.” Damien said, a flash of sadness and hurt went through his eyes.

“I wanted to tell you but dad said until we knew for sure why I shifted early, he wanted me to keep quiet about it for now. There were rogues at our borders the night that it happened so he didn’t want to cause any distractions and I agreed.” I said reassuringly. “Ya I guess you’re right, he had me out that night dealing with the rogues. I thought it was just him trusting me with it since I’m going to be alpha once he steps down, but that makes sense too. Well I know it must’ve been confusing and stressful on you at the time but I’m glad you’re telling us now.” Damien said with a warm smile.

“Ya I mean, we get it too. If people knew, they’d either think you’re some kind of freak or something crazy folks like to come up with,” Scarlett said with a laugh. “I’m glad I have such great friends and family that I know I can trust no matter what.” I said with a smile. No matter what, they are my family and I’m just two days, we will all be able to meet our wolves and run together. Except Julie, we will have to carry her on our backs but we’d never leave her out.

We finished up the night just talking and laughing, Scarlett is trying to get me to plan something better for my birthday. Finally it was time for everyone to leave and go home for the night since it was a school night. Damien was the last one to leave, but before he left he turned to me and gave me a big hug. “Thank you for telling me, even though I know it must’ve been hard. Before I go, what’s your wolf’s name?” He asked curiously. “Her name is Kali, she’s beautiful and she loves you and Fang just like I do.” I said with a smile. He smiled big and gave me one more big hug before pulling away with a confused look on his face.

“Wait, if you’ve had your wolf for the past year, how did we not notice?” He asked. I thought about that.

I was able to hide our scent so it would smell like we were wolfless till the time was right Kali explained to me. “Kali just told me that she was able to mask our scent so we would smell like the rest who didn’t have wolves yet. She’s pretty secretive about certain things but it helps a lot when trying to be stealthy.” I explain to him with a giggle at the end. “That makes sense. Haha you’d make one deadly assassin though, I doubt anyone else has that ability,” he chuckled. “Alright I’ll let you get some sleep, I’ll see you in the morning. Good night lay, good night Kali.”

“Good night Damien and good night Fang.” I replied before shutting the door and turning out the lights. With a sigh, I flopped down on my bed and pulled the blankets up while praying for a dreamless night before the darkness took over and I was out.