The Lost Wolf

“Happy birthday to you… Happy birthday to you…” The songs of my loved ones drowned out to the echoing of my own thoughts. Today was my birthday, and in 3 days I would enter the constellation during the full moon and meet my wolf, my first shift and run will be in 4 days. Today, my life changes. “Happy birthday, dear Saige. Happy birthday to you… Hip Hip, Hoooray!’ The birthday song ended and I leant down to blow out the candles on the chocolate cake with 18 candles, wishing that the transition would be smooth. “What did you wish for?” My brother Luke draped his arm over my shoulder and pulled me in tightly, landing a soft peck on the corner of my forehead. “If I tell you, it won’t come true will it?” I grabbed the knife off the bench. “Who wants cake!” My family and I are close. We always have been. My brother Luke and I inseparable since I was born, he has always been very protective over me, but will always make a point of taking my side in every situation. We’ve been mistaken as twins before, being close in age and looking quite similar. We both have blonde hair, however mine has an unnatural silver tone to it, we’re both tall and both have a dark tanned skin. We look ethnic, Latina, however our parents are both pure Australian. My mothers side of the family is darker skinned, there’s where our colour has come from. We’re close with our parents also. As any normal family would be, except with werewolf blood running through our veins, feeling and emotions are enhanced. My mother and I could pass as sisters, she looks merely a few years older than me, the same skin, the same silver toned blonde hair. She’s absolutely beautiful, every man in our pack has wished for her as their own, but unfortunately wishing is not how the mate bond work. She is head over heals inlove and infatuated with my father. His dark hair and big brown eyes, his soft and silly sense of humour, the way he doesn’t take much too seriously. I always hope that id meet a man like my father one day, and seeing their mate bond in action, I can only hope I get to experience the same. The next couple of hours went by slowly, I didn’t know what I was supposed to be feeling, but I felt nothing. Nothing new, nothing old. I know that I won’t meet my wolf until I engage her during constellation, however I was told that I would feel another presence within me, meaning that the Moon Goddess was pairing us. Our wolves roam freely in the constellation, we are paired at birth, but they had no purpose until we turn 18. A wolf may only pair one time in their entire existence, if something goes wrong, there is really no chance in fixing it. When our human bodies turn 18, the wolves are presented to the Moon Goddess who then begins the pairing process. Everybody I know has felt some sort of instant shift on their birthday. “Saige. How do you feel?” My dad pulled me aside to sit out on the back patio swing. “You can talk to me about any strange emotions you’re feeling, or not feeling.” “I don’t feel anything, Dad. Nothing at all.” He furrowed his eyebrows. “Are you sure you know what to look for?” I shrugged, “I guess I don’t. I just thought it would be obvious. What if I don’t have a wolf?” “Oh, don’t worry, you will. She’s out there, and she’ll be found. I’ve heard of cases throughout my years where a wolf might be hidden from sight in the constellation and needs to be located before the pairing process can begin. But they got there eventually.” “Could she be in danger?” Worry struck me at the thought that my potential wolf could need my help and I’m not able. “I’m not sure, Saigey. I think it’s a possibility. My transition was easy, but there’s a lot that goes on for this process to work and for the two of you to be matched correctly. Whatever happens, its all going to work out.” He reached over and embraced me in a tight hug. The fact that I was so worried, convinced me that my wolf was in trouble. I am not sure if I could wait 3 days for the full moon. *** The next morning I woke up extremely sick. My head was pounding and my body ached, I knew something was wrong. I was weakening, and fast. My dad informed mom on what was going on, she called on the Luna-Gens who are the 3 Luna Generations of our pack who initiate the constellation, they agreed to meet us this morning and try and get a sense of what was happening. Luna Avery, current 1st generation Luna, the mother in law to Luna Jerica, who is the mother in-law to our current 3rd generation Luna Hayley. The Luna’s are an extremely important group in our pack, they have some sort of ancestry power that allows them to heal and initiate the constellation. They’re kind of like witches, or healers. It’s like when the Alpha takes them as their mate, their power is ignited The 3 of them entered the room and sat at different sides of the bed. Luna Hayley, being the current Luna spoke first. “Hi Saige, we’re really glad you reached out to us. We want to help in any way we can. Your mom has told us that you are extremely sick today, and yesterday you mentioned that you couldn’t sense the pairing process.” I nodded. Luna Jerica cut in. “While it is not common for this to occur, it can and does happen. We want to reassure you everything will be okay.” “Somethings wrong.” Luna Avery, the oldest of the 3 stared into my eyes intently. “We need Alpha Hudson here now.” Luna Hayley nodded and exited to the room to go fetch her husband. It took a whole 10 minutes, and in that time, nobody spoke a word. She arrived back with Alpha Hudson in tow. I haven’t had much to do with Alpha Hudson, from what I know, he is fair and kind. He’s friends with my father and took my brother under his wing with training. Looks wise, he’s pretty much perfection. The chiselled jawline, the toned muscles, perfect teeth. I always wondered if becoming Alpha made them more appealing then what they would be as a human. He stood beside me and ordered, “Bow.” I didn’t move. “Bow. Now.” He repeated. Again, I stared at him in confusion. “Saige, how do you feel toward me?” He asked intently, he was not angry. “I’m not sure what you mean, Alpha Hudson. I know you’re my alpha, but I don’t know why I need to bow to you.” I then heard my Dad whisper to my Mum in the doorway, “She’s rejecting him. Something is wrong.” “I’m rejecting you, what does that mean?” I questioned the Alpha who had a concerned look on his face. “Your body is rejecting me, its shutting down, Saige. When you turn 18, your body changes with your mind and soul during the Moon Goddess’s pairing process. Your body is changing, but your mind and soul are not changing because the pairing process has not even begun. You don’t have the wolfs connection to strengthen your ability to live in this form. You’re shutting down and quickly.” He turned to his wife, mother & grandmother. “We need to initiate the constellation ahead of time.” “Its not possible, is it?” Luna Hayley looked at Luna Avery. “We need the full moon.” “Anything is possible, my dear. I mean, wolves exist. I can tell you, its not easy and there are a lot of risks. Saige may not survive. And one of us may not either, as she will need to hold onto a life line to cross the constellation.” “Of course it will be me.” Luna Hayley took my hand. “I am her Luna, she is my responsibility.” Her husband nodded, with fear in his eyes, however he knew it was the right thing to do. “Go set yourselves up by the lake, we will begin at dusk.” *** By the time dusk arrived, I was completely weakened, I could not move, my eyes barely opened and my chest barely lifting to get enough air in. Alpha Hudson, his father, my father and brother carried me on a stretcher. They walked for what seemed like hours before laying me down by the crystallised lake. I opened my eyes to see the Luna-Gen’s sitting in a circle, candles lit. On the opposite side of the lake was my entire pack in shift form, except those that were too young who stood by their parents and watched in silence. Luna Avery took my hand. “In a moment, we’re going to attempt to contact the Moon Goddess, we will be linking your life to Hayley’s. This does not mean she will be in there with you, it just means if we notice your body is struggling, she can pull you back out. If we are successful, you will enter the constellation. From there, it is up to you.” “Up to me…?” I was terrified. “I can’t tell you what happens next, dear, because I don’t know. There is something stopping your wolf from connecting with you.” “What kind of something?” “I’m not sure, my Dear. We have had to complete this ritual many times, however when you wake up, you will not remember anything from your time in the constellation.” I gulped and closed my eyes. “Lets get this over with.” The Luna-Gens began to hum softly, the most beautiful tune my ears have ever heard. I felt as if the entire world was opening up before me and before I knew it, I opened my eyes to view paddocks of grass that went for miles. I was all alone. Suddenly, a thunder bolt struck “You are not supposed to be here yet.” “Who’s there?” “Leave.” The voice boomed from every direction around me and I found myself spinning frantically trying to pin point its location. “I’m not leaving until you tell me why I can’t sense my wolf? I turned 18 two days ago and I began rejecting my Alpha.” “Our alpha.” It screamed and screeched. “Your alpha?” I questioned. “It’s not supposed to happen like this. I’m not ready. I’ve got to kill you now to make room for the next!” I was confused. The same voice whispered softly, it trembled. “You can’t kill her in the constellation, or you will never be able to take your true form.” Suddenly, two large blue eyes entered my vision and I saw the faint outline of a large silver wolf beckoning me over. My wolf. I followed it and found myself running along an ocean coastline that wasn’t there moments ago. “Stop, please.” I called out to it, but it continued to run, until it reached a large cliff and it turned around to face me. Before I knew it, the wolf launched its self at me and I found myself facing its vicious snarl. I tried to fight it off with every ounce of my being, but I was no match for this wolf. Then it stopped, and I was no longer face to face with the wolf, but I was cradling two tiny baby girls whose screams were piercing. I laid them on the ground and kneeled over them trying to hush them. One of the girls quietened, but the other continued screaming, her face turned blue, and then she dropped into the ground that was now a seeping black hole. I tried to lunge to catch her, but the hole was gone and I face planted into the grass. Another wolf stood before me, a smaller wolf who was brown in colour. It held its paw out and I took it, bringing myself to my feet. “I’m not your wolf.” It said. “But I’ll help you until you’re strong enough to fight this.” I was so confused, but I found myself hugging the wolf tightly, crying into its fur. “Where is my wolf?” “I can’t say. I shouldn’t have even shown myself to you, but I couldn’t stand back and watch you be terrorised. My name is Ecko. I am a Lycan.”