Finding the Orphaned Luna

An Evening of Many Surprises

Avery awoke sometime later, as it was still dark, but she was utterly naked. Which was quite odd, as she hadn't taken any of her clothes off when she'd raced in here earlier at least not that she remembered. She slowly sat up, the pain in her head and body down to a dull ache, and looked around her. It seemed she hadn't lost her stomach. Looking down, she saw a strip of fabric. Confused, she picked it up and realized it was a piece from her shorts earlier. Avery's heart started racing as she looked around her and saw that she hadn't removed her clothing; instead, it was torn to shreds in a circle around her. Pale as porcelain, She clambered up to her feet, backing away, trying to find an explanation, any explanation for what could have happened. She looked down at her naked frame, and then into the mirror ro make sure her body was still hers. The walls, the rugs, everything had talon slashes dug into it as if a beast had gone wild in her tiny apartment bathroom. Avery ran her fingers through her mussed and knotted hair and wondered if that hadn’t been exactly what happened.

She slid on her robe, and went shakily into the kitchen to make herself a cup of hot camomile tea and grabbed a blueberry bagel, as she was suddenly ravenous. She put it in the toaster, and grabbed peanut butter and a knife absentmindedly. The water finished bowling as she was waiting, so she finished making her tea and then spread peanut butter on her bagel. She brought her snack over to the couch with her, munching and trying to keep her breathing regularly and calm. It never does one good to ignore a rumbling stomach, and she would think clearer if she wasn’t distracted. She finished eating, slid her dishes into the wash, and leaned against the counter. Avery closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. Time to deal with whatever the hell had happened earlier.

Avery went into the bathroom to inspect the scene once more, this time with a clear head. She opened the bathroom door slowly, dreading what she would see on the other side.

Her clothes were, indeed, completely ripped to shreds as if she had exploded out of them. They were completely scattered around the room. The claw marks seemed to be born more out of panic than aggression. Pain even. She wasn’t sure what made her think so, or even why she now felt comfortable enough to slide her finger along the ridges of the claw marks in the wall’s paint and exposed dry wall.

Avery felt her heart in her throat again — she felt her panic rising as she considered what could have possibly made these marks while she was unconscious in front of the toilet. As her anxiety rose, there was pressure building in her hands. She looked down and saw them growing long claws, and — fur? She watched as the fur started to grow up her arm. She felt her joints pop as the fur grew down her legs and back. After a flash of intense pain, and before she knew it, Avery was standing in her bathroom on all fours.

Fuck.

What in the flying f**k was happening to her? What was she?

She put her hands — front paws, she noted with a shiver down her spine — on the bathroom counter and rose to look into the mirror above the sink. Her heart sank into her stomach as she beheld the transformation that had once again occurred.

She was a giant, jet black wolf. Her eyes were bright green, same as when she was human. She examined herself as thoroughly as her shock would allow. She looked like a giant, black wolf. She was three times the size of an average wolf, and her bright green eyes sparkled with an uncanny intelligence that would have been incredibly unnerving if anyone had ever seen her like this. Her paws had long, razor-sharp claws that slid out at the slightest panic or provocation.

If she ever found her parents, they would have some serious explaining to do.

When she realized she could no longer take it, she desperately willed herself to return to her human body. After some crackling, disorientation, and pain, Avery stood once again in her human body, naked as the day she was born.

She had no idea what to do. None. Zero.

Were there more of her? Was she some sort of fluke, or some freak? Were here parents like her? Did it have anything to do with why they died? Every breath brough 10 more questions, and yet she was no closer to any answers. She came out of the bathroom to a man she had never seen before sitting on her couch, smirking.

“I see its time we talked, then,” he said, his ice blue eyes sparkling as he took all of her in. She quickly grabbed a blanket to cover herself with and wrapped it around her shoulders as her fear rose again.

“Who the hell are you? How did you get in here? What the f**k do you think you’re doing?” She said, tensing, and backing away.

“Your parents knew me, Avery. Or at least, knew of me. I was still quite young when they--uh — you know,” he said, looking away with discomfort and embarrassment.

“As for your other questions, we can start with the fact that my name is Conley Silvers. I’m the alpha of the Silverstreak pack here in Seattle. Our parents were friends, and I’ve been looking for you since they were killed.”

Avery started, and wrapped herself tighter in the blanket. Killed? Looking for her?

“What do you mean you’ve been looking for me since they died? It took you 14 years to find me? If i was so important to look for why did you let me be taken in the first place? And what do you mean Alpha? What the hell is a pack? Who do you —” Avery was geared up to keep answering questions when his scent hit her. It was easily the best thing she had every smelled. Her body was going insane as she drank in the waves of teakwood, cedar and mint that rolled off the man lounging on her chair. She felt the place where her thighs met instantly heat up, and dampen. No one had ever had that affect on her before. She watched as Connley’s nostrils failed, and he closed his eyes to savor her scent. In an instant, he was on his feet, prowling her direction.

“Mate.”