The Reincarnated Wolf

First Shift

[EMELDA POV]

My mother and I reached the altar that was erected to make offerings to the goddess. Usually, a private altar in the forest was used for shifting ceremonies, but mine would be a public affair. I placed the assortments of herbs, spices, flowers, and rum into the giant stone bowl.

My father, as the Alpha, placed the matching talismans on my mother’s neck, then on mine. The talisman was made of moonstone and had an engraved depiction of the Goddess on it. My mother took the oath to be my guardian wolf, then placed droplets of her blood into the bowl. I don’t know if it is my favorable perspective of my mother or because she is a mystic wolf, but her blood seemed to glitter.

I followed suit. I made the oath to my father and the pack. I made a formal thanks to the Goddess, then added my own blood to the bowl. I was slightly let down when my blood didn’t glimmer like my mother’s. Then my father dropped the burning incense into the stone bowl.

The smoke from my offering floated up to the moon. My gaze followed it up. I noticed the Moon was finally reaching the highest point in the sky. Then...a crackling.

It sounded like wood crackling in a fire, but I felt it. It was my bones.

“It shouldn’t be happening this fast.” My mother’s voice was urgent. However, her voice stayed low so as to not alert the audience.

That was the last thing I remembered hearing before the pain took over. It was sharp and overwhelming. I was shaking violently as my bones manipulated. Spots of dark fur began to break out over my skin. My vision was blurry beyond recognition.

If my mother was speaking to me, I couldn’t hear it over a loud ringing in my ears. I couldn’t hear anything beyond that ringing. I couldn’t see anything clearly. All that remained was excruciating pain radiating all throughout my body.

Emmy. A faint voice appeared in my mind.

My wolf? I asked. I don’t know if I said it out loud or just in my mind.

Yes, my name is Olivia. You can call me Ollie. Her voice sounded so soft and weak.

Are you ok? I asked frantically.

I am doing my best to take the pain from you, but it’s too much for me. It’s too much for your mother. When she mentioned my mother, I panicked. I could not let my mother endure this kind of torment.

Give me more of the pain. I requested. I wasn’t sure if just asking would work, but I suddenly felt a tidal wave of agony.

More. I can take more. I demanded. The pain had already completely overwhelmed me. What is a little more? I rationalized.

I can take…more. I requested before the pain took me under completely.

I must be hallucinating.

Suddenly, I get a glimpse, a flash almost, of a silver-colored wolf running beside me. It almost looks like my mother’s wolf, but it’s different somehow. This wolf looks dangerous. Its eyes were a deep red color. Almost the color of blood. Its fangs seemed unnaturally long as it galloped alongside me. It gave off the most ominous aura. Just this wolf’s presence felt threatening. I felt like it was chasing me rather than running with me.

The intimidating silvery wolf rammed into my side. I heard a yelp. I felt it. Before, I had only felt an immense amount of pain, but this was just a bump. My vision went out and back a few times. The silver wolf seemed to disappear into thin air. However, on my other side my mother’s almost white wolf nudged my side, motivating me to keep running.

Am I in wolf form? I thought.

Yes, it was a difficult shift. You are very strong Emmy. My wolf said. She sounded tired. I was surprised she was managing to continue her run.

Emmy? A beautiful voice entered my mind.

Uh? Yes? I thought my response. I was not sure how to do this.

It’s Ava. I have been waiting to speak to you. AVA! That’s my mother’s wolf. I have played with her countless times, but I’ve never been able to hear her speak! Her voice was as musical as my mother’s.

Mom! I thought. I felt Ava rub against my side.

Let’s stop here. She ordered.

I wanted to mention the other wolf I saw. The one that scared my very existence. But I thought I may have been hallucinating. I didn’t want to have everyone in chaos thinking there were rogues nearby.

We stopped, and my wolf form collapsed to the ground in exhaustion. She started licking her paws. My mother’s wolf nuzzled my side. I could feel her nose twitching as she sniffed me.

Your wolf. Ava began.

Ollie! I said excitedly.

She’s an omega wolf. Once the words came out, my heart dropped.

Omega wolves were the lowest ranked wolves in a pack. The only wolves under them are unranked wolves. Most wolves in a pack are unranked. Omega wolves are ranked, but they are looked down on by most wolf shifters.

How? I asked.

Omega wolves can be born to anyone. Unlike other ranked wolves whose power is passed through their bloodline exclusively, omega wolves can be born into any family. When an Omega is born to an upper rank family, they are typically kicked out of the family and become a normal pack member. They are seen as a punishment from the Goddess. That the family must have done something wrong to bare an omega.

But Ollie, she’s a great wolf. I argued.

I agree little one. I sensed her rank before you fully shifted. I carried you away from the public before anyone could find out or see her. My mother’s voice came through the mindlink. She sounded sad but not angry thankfully. I would die if I lost my family.

What do I do now? I asked.

For now, we need to get you to shift back. Then we will return to the pack. Your rank will remain a secret for now. Your father and I will figure something out. You are the princess of the Moonweaver pack even if you had no wolf at all. My mother’s words were resolute and brought a wave of relief over me. My parents would still love and accept me.

Shifting back to human form was easier than shifting into my wolf form. Maybe, in comparison, the pain felt easy this time.

I followed my mother back to the pack. An awkward tension surrounded us. My mother tried to cheer me up by complimenting me on how well I did on my first shift. She gloated about how cute little Olivia is. Our wolves’ fur is the same color as our hair, so Olivia had the same dark, almost black, color to her fur. It was the same color as my father’s wolf.

When we returned, the crowd went wild with cheers. It was the same reaction I was expecting if I had some mystic alpha wolf. My hair color and the fact my body was still frail, it was obvious that I wasn’t a mystic wolf like my mother. However, they probably assumed I just had an alpha wolf like my father. An alpha is born under the wolf moon. Turns out fate has a sick sense of humor.