#2 The first shift
1840 Words
“Are you f*cking serious right now?!” I almost shout at Maddow.
"Yes, I am." She responds.
I can't believe it. I knew the possibility would be there because my mother told me so. But I didn't expect it actually to be like this.
My parents sorted things out a long time ago so they could prepare me if I inherited it. And I thought I was pretty prepared.
But I was wrong. I have no idea what to think about it. How am I going to tell them this? Everyone probably thinks I'm a freak.
"You don't know that." Maddow says. "Maybe they think it's really cool."
I raise my eyebrows. "Yeah right. What do you think? Once it's out, no one will want to hang out with me anymore. Who wants to be friends with someone who can hear your thoughts? I know I wouldn't want to." I respond.
The idea brings tears to my eyes. I feel Maddow sigh.
"Please Maddy, believe me when I say it will be okay. Just look at your mother." She tries to reassure me.
I think about that for a moment, she's right. My mother has multiple powers, and everyone loves her. She is a great Luna for our pack.
"And she has her powers under control. I'm sure she can teach us that too." Maddow notes.
That's right, my mother can use her powers whenever she wants, she learned a long time ago to keep them in the background when she wants to. She can probably teach us that.
"Okay, okay. You're right. We can do this." I say to Maddow, and I feel her smile.
"That's my girl." She says approvingly, and I wipe away my tears.
"Let's go see if there's breakfast yet, I'm starving."
Maddow chuckles. I look in the mirror one more time before I go downstairs.
I hope there aren't too many people down there. Although I have accepted my power of mind reading, I don't want to tell everyone yet. And I'm afraid it will be overwhelming if there are suddenly a lot of people.
Fortunately, when I come downstairs, there is no one besides Mrs Monroo.
She makes my favorite breakfast, pancakes and waffles.
"Good morning young Luna. Happy birthday." She says cheerfully when she sees me coming in.
"Good morning Mrs. Monroo. Thank you." I answer politely and sit down at the table. "It smells delicious." She smiles and I expect to hear her thoughts at any moment, but it doesn't come.
"Maddow, why can't I hear anything?" I ask confused. I don't understand. If I can hear thoughts, why am I not hearing it?
"I'm trying to hold it back so you don't get overwhelmed. I thought I'd let you tell your mother first." She replied.
I feel like she's having a hard time with it.
"Thank you Maddow, but if it costs you that much effort, you don't have to do that. It's just Mrs. Monroo now. I can handle that. How about we agree that if I can't handle it anymore, I'll let you know?" I say.
I don't want her to exhaust herself just yet. Then I hear a soft hum.
I smile, it's from Mrs. Monroo. She hums a nursery rhyme in her head.
Not long after I started eating my breakfast, I got a mind link from my mother. She sounds worried. I tell her to relax and that I'm already down in the kitchen.
It makes me a little nervous, knowing that it will get busier soon.
"Don't worry, I will handle it until you talk to your Mom." Maddow says soothingly. I smile internally at her. I already consider myself lucky to have such a wonderful wolf.
Soon, my parents and brothers walk into the kitchen, followed by the rest of the pack members who live here. My parents hug me and congratulate me. Fortunately, the other pack members also know that I don't like to be the center of attention, and after the usual congratulations, they go their separate ways.
My mother asks what I want to do today. I have to laugh at the faces of my father and brothers when I say that I want to go to the new bookstore in another city. "Relax, I just want to go with mom." I reassure them, and they relax.
I've been wanting to go to that store for a while. It looks so cool on social media. Only so far, we haven't had time for it.
When my parents are talking to each other, it seems like a good time to ask how Maddow is doing. I don't know how she does it, but she blocks everyone out; I can't hear anyone.
"Hey, Maddow, are you okay?" I ask carefully.
"Yeah, I'm getting better at it. Although it does take a lot of energy." She says.
"I'm sorry; I'll talk to my mother soon." I promise her.
When I turn my attention back to the room, I see the proud look of my parents. "Everything okay sweetie?" My father asks. I don't need to hear his thoughts to know that he knows I have my wolf.
"Yeah, her name is Maddow." I say proudly. My parents get tears in their eyes, and I roll my eyes.
My father suggests we go outside. That can only mean one thing.
"Ready for our first shift?" I ask Maddow enthusiastically. I feel her jump up enthusiastically.
Because of her enthusiasm, she loses her grip, and I am suddenly overwhelmed by everyone's thoughts.
It's so loud I can't understand any of it. I try not to show anything and take a deep breath.
"I'm sorry." Maddow says shocked.
"It's okay, I have to learn this. I can't expect you to leave everyone outside all day." I assure her.
"Any suggestions?" I ask.
I don't want to admit it, but it's already driving me crazy, and it shouldn't last long, or I'm sure I'll get a terrible headache. Everything is so loud.
"Try to focus on one voice, one person." Maddow suggests.
We all walk outside. My brothers are coming too. In the meantime, I try to focus on my mother's voice. I think that's the safest.
We walk to the place where my mother also had her first shift. While I'm looking forward to giving Maddow control for the first time, I'm still getting a little nervous. Especially when I hear my mother's thoughts. She hopes it will be less painful for me than her first shift.
She must sense my nerves because she tells the others to stay here while we continue walking. I am suddenly overwhelmed by fear. What if I can't handle the pain of the shift? She tries to reassure me and tells me to try to relax.
But hearing her concern keeps me from doing it. She takes my hands and helps me breathe calmly. Fortunately, this does help somewhat.
"Are you ready?" Maddow asks when I'm finally calm.
"Ready when you are." I answer.
"Okay, I'll try to be quick." She says, and I feel her taking over my body.
I brace myself for the pain everyone talks about, but it seems to last forever. Then, out of nowhere, I feel a hellish pain throughout my body and I scream.
"Keep breathing." I hear my Mom saying. I try, but the pain makes it difficult. It feels like every bone in my body is being broken.
Which of course, is true.
Fortunately, Maddow keeps her word, and soon, I am standing on four legs and seeing the world through her eyes.
"Are you okay?" Maddow asks.
"Yeah, now that it's over." I answer.
My mother looks at me admiringly. I'm curious to see what Maddow looks like.
Oh my, she is beautiful. I hear my mother thinking.
That gives me an idea. While Maddow walks to my mother, I ask through the mind link. "Mom, can you show me what she looks like?"
It's handy that she has different powers. She smiles when she hears my question and nods.
What follows is a photo of the most beautiful wolf I have ever seen. Maddow is as white as snow. So white that she seems to glitter in the sunlight. And her eyes. They are bright blue, really beautiful.
"Wow, Maddow, you are absolutely gorgeous!" I say to her. If wolves could blush, she would be as red as a beet right now.
My mother shifts into her wolf, Dilailah and together we walk to the boys. They look at Maddow admiringly, and she beams with pride. My dad sends Aiden and Harvey back home so we can do our first run.
Maddow is raring to go. I'm curious how fast she is.
When the boys walk towards the house, we sprint away. Maddow is even faster than I thought; she easily keeps up with Dilailah and Loki. My parents' wolves.
After Maddow's first run, unfortunately, it's time to head back to the pack house.
I reluctantly go upstairs. I wait for my mother to finish herself so she can do my hair. If it were up to me, I wouldn't do anything special, but my parents think that's not possible. Because I am the daughter of the Alpha and Luna.
When she's finally done, we go downstairs.
Judging by the commotion, it is pretty busy inside. I hesitate for a moment before we go inside. I try to focus on my mother's thoughts, but it's hard. There are so many.
"Maddow? I can really use your help right now." I say.
She heeds my plea without answering. The voices slowly fade and I breathe a sigh of relief.
"Thanks Maddow." I say conceivably. "Anytime." She Answers.
I nod to my mother, who looks at me questioningly, and we walk inside.
Of course, everyone starts singing and I wait uncomfortably for them to finish. Luckily, they only stick to one song. I thank everyone for coming and rush to my friends.
I feel my father's disapproving look. I try not to react to it.
My friends are of course, all curious about my wolf. I proudly tell you how beautiful she is. I even let her come up to the front so she can introduce herself.
Unfortunately, that makes me hear everyone's thoughts again. I try not to listen to it and focus on my best friend's. Harry.
To my surprise, he is not cheerful like the rest. He sounds sad.
Of course, someone like her is not my mate. How could I be so stupid to think that.
I don't understand it.
Does Harry have a crush on me? But he's my best friend, why didn't he ever say anything?
I hesitate to listen any further. I decided not. It feels wrong.
I intend to discuss it with him when we have the chance.
I try to focus on someone else, and then I see my mother coming our way. Oh thank goddess, it's time to go.
- Writer
