The Runaway Shapeshifter And Her Alpha Wolf Mate

Arianna The moon hung full and radiant above us, glowing in a cloudless sky. It was the perfect night for the Moon Festival run. All around me, wolves gathered, buzzing with anticipation. Their excitement was infectious, though I tried to keep my nerves hidden beneath a calm smile. “This is so exciting, Arianna! I don’t think we’ve ever had a pack run before,” Jenna whispered beside me, her eyes sparkling. “Really? You’ve never done one?” I asked, surprised. She shook her head, curls bouncing. “Not with humans in town. Too many risks.” I nodded. That was part of why I’d chosen this pack in the first place—here, blending in was easier. Jenna’s head suddenly whipped toward the crowd. Her whole face lit up. “Oh, Easton’s here!” she squeaked. “Easton?” I asked, amused by her sudden excitement. Her cheeks flushed. “He’s the lead warrior—strong, brave, dreamy. Honestly, I hoped he’d be my mate, but… fate didn’t agree. Still, a girl can dream.” I laughed softly. “That’s quite the dream.” Before she could argue, Alpha Aiden stepped forward with his brothers and their mate, commanding silence. His presence was magnetic, his voice booming with pride. “Thank you all for coming to our first Moon Festival run. Our ancestors once ran together beneath the full moon to honor what it means to be a wolf. Tonight, we bring that tradition back. Shift, and let’s show our pride!” Excited squeals rippled through the crowd. Clothes were shed quickly as bodies shifted and bones cracked, fur replacing skin. I edged toward a nearby tree. “I’ll change over there,” I murmured to Jenna. She paused mid-strip, down to her bra and panties, and gave me a skeptical look. “Since when are you shy? We’re wolves. Nudity comes with the territory.” I forced a small smile. “I’m… insecure about my body.” Jenna rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right. You’re gorgeous.” I didn’t answer. Instead, I slipped behind the tree, my heart pounding. Shifting wasn’t the problem. The problem was that I wasn’t what they thought I was. I wasn’t a wolf at all. I was a shapeshifter—able to take any form at will. Pretending to be one of them was safer than the truth. I’d learned the hard way that my secret brought only suspicion and danger. Closing my eyes, I willed my body into the form I’d carefully crafted: a silver-and-white wolf, sleek and striking. When I stepped back into the clearing, Jenna—now a stunning honey-colored wolf—bounded toward me. Her wolf, Ginger, was as radiant as she was in human form. For a fleeting moment, I wished I’d chosen her coloring for myself. But no. Jenna had been kind to me from the moment I arrived. Copying her would feel like betrayal. I focused on the pack, mimicking their movements. Unlike them, I couldn’t link minds. Every nudge from Jenna was a mystery. She pressed her nose against my shoulder, and I playfully swatted her with a paw. Her soft whimper told me I’d misunderstood, but I had no way to explain. Then the wind shifted. That scent again. Ocean waves, crisp and endless. It had haunted me for weeks, coming and going, prickling my nerves. Tonight it was stronger. The wolves threw their heads back, howls splitting the night air. I joined in, my voice blending with theirs though my heart wasn’t in it. The run began, and the forest exploded with movement. I ran with them, my paws thudding against the earth. Within minutes, I lagged behind. My lungs burned, my muscles screamed. Wolves were born to run; I wasn’t. Slowing to a stop, I let the others surge past. I’d make up an excuse later. Then he appeared. A massive grey wolf emerged from the shadows, his fur rippling, his eyes sharp. And that scent—waves crashing, salt on the wind—poured from him, suffocating me. He nudged me firmly, as if ordering me to move. I shook my head. He didn’t like that. His second nudge was harder, almost a shove. My lips curled back in a growl. Leave me alone. The wolf tilted his head, as though intrigued by my defiance, then growled low in return before bolting off, his paws kicking dust into my fur. Asshole. Handsome scent or not, he was insufferable. I forced myself to finish the run, lungs aching, paws dragging. This wasn’t fun—not for me. But Jenna had been so thrilled, and I couldn’t risk standing out. At last, the pack circled back, the run complete. Relief washed over me. I found Jenna and nudged her playfully; she nudged me back, her eyes bright with joy. Before shifting back, I scanned the clearing for that grey wolf. He was gone. Good. Behind the tree, my body melted seamlessly back into human form. Clothes appeared with me, one of the few perks of my kind. When I returned, Jenna was tugging her shirt over her damp hair. She froze when she saw me. “Wow, you’re already dressed?” I smirked. “I’m basically an Olympic champion at changing clothes.” She laughed, then frowned. “Why didn’t you answer me during the run? I kept trying to talk to you, but all you did was swat at me.” “Oh.” I hesitated, scrambling for something believable. “I, um… have a disconnect with my wolf sometimes.” Her brows lifted. “A disconnect?” I lowered my voice, glancing around at the others still pulling on their clothes. “It’s… rare. But sometimes I don’t feel like a wolf at all.”