Never Give Up

Tomorrow I would turn eighteen, in a matter of hours I and my twin sister Reece would be out in the moonlight shifting for the first time, those first few minutes into the hour of our eighteenth birthday and we would want to be out into the moonlight in the hopes to encourage the shift, a massive step in the life of a young werewolf. We would get to meet our wolfs, see, we were werewolves and that meant a few things for us, turning eighteen meant the first shift, where we were finally able to change from our human form into our wolf form, the painful alteration of the bones changing shape was nothing compared to the exhilaration of being in wolf form out in the wild or so I had been told, and now both Reece and I would finally meet our inner wolf. …hmmm yeah, that first shift could be bad, as it meant your body wasn't used to going from human form to its wolf form so easily, from what I'd heard from other wolves it felt unnatural at first and hella painful too as your bones dislocate, shifting shape, altering and cracking into the right places as your form changes, I gotta say I definitely am not looking forward to that part of it but then I can't wait to meet my wolf either! Once you get past the first shift it isn't as bad, and the shifting between human and wolf form and back becomes easier and more natural to you; though obviously being werewolves we do have to watch where we shift as we don't want to draw attention to ourselves, as that could be dangerous. What I mean is that out in the human world I guess we are more a questioned myth, and we would rather it be kept that way so we avoid shifting around humans as much as we can, and tend to shift within our own pack territory or in other packs territory but that's usually avoided for other reasons which are more territorial. Each pack is like our group of wolves if you like, they vary in size and are run by one main Wolf, an Alpha. You see having a wolf in your head is like having another personality in your head I guess, it's another voice inside your head powering you to do the right thing, encouraging you, keeping you going. I finally get to meet my wolf and I couldn't wait to meet her! I imagine she will be amazing, hopefully strong and powerful too… she'd need to be if what everyone was saying was true... well, it had to be true... even the elders thought it… It seemed like it was fated… you see when a werewolf turns seventeen not only do you have the ability to shift and finally meet your wolf but this is the incredibly special part that I love about being a werewolf, you are able to find your mate… I say find you mate, they may have been there all along right next to you and you just didn't know it, but when you turn seventeen and your wolf is there you have the ability to sense your mate. Finding you own mate is truly one of the parts I love about being a werewolf, we have our moon goddess, Selene, she carefully fates us all a mate, and that mate has a sacred bond with us and our wolf, that brings an undeniable and amazing connection, or so I'm told. While this probably sounds crazy, it works, and is so special! Each wolf has their own scent, it helps a pack know who is who, especially when we are in wolf form, and that scent to a mate of their own is the most addictive scent imaginable, it is stronger to them than anyone else! Or again, so I've been told, I'm clueless really, as I've yet to find all this out, but it is all things that I've learnt as time has gone on, from friends gossiping and giggling, from what Mum has told me, I guess I'll find out for sure in a few hours… but anyway, this scent and draw to your mate pulls you to your mate like nothing else, and when you gain your mate the gain is like a static shock, a tingling, attracting you, pulling you to your mate. There is an undeniable connection and attraction to a mate that no other wolf can have with you, they are there to protect and support you like no other, making the bond so strong which makes these fated mates an incredibly special blessing from our moon goddess. I got to the bottom of the stairs in our house as fast as I could without falling over my feet, which, when you're as clumsy as me and in a rush, was an accomplishment in itself! Both my Mum and Reece were sat at the breakfast bar in our family kitchen having coffee, "Happy Birthday" I squealed to Reece and hugged her from behind. "Are you excited to meet your wolf tonight?" I continued as I sat down and shoved a piece of toast into my mouth. "Happy Birthday Taylor" Reece replied, ignoring my excitement. I eyed her suspiciously, but nothing was going to bring my good mood down. "Happy Birthday, sweet girl," my Mum gushed as she squeezed my hand. We ate in silent for a little while even as a big moment of turning eighteen, our normal routine wasn't broken. Reece and I although looked identical apart from our eye colour, we were definitely nothing alike. Reece was all glamour, popular and being in with the elite she-wolf crowd. Whereas I was more let's go running in the woods, climb trees or even the cliffs at the beach. Which just happened to be my favourite place to be, I found nothing more peaceful than listening to the waves roll onto the shore. Luckily for me our house was situated literally next to the beach, our pack happened to have situated ourselves in the forest close to the beach. Mum had chosen a home where she was close to both and far away from the hassle and bustle of pack life. Hours later, just as the sky started to enter twilight, Reece, mum and I walked to the beach. This is where we decided to have our first shift, unfortunately for mum and me being me, of course I was going to do a little climbing. “Taylor, what are you doing? You’re going to hurt yourself, child," Mama scolds as I climb the cliff. I don’t see what her problem is. I am perfectly safe. My twin sister Reece is doing her own thing with some guys from the wrong side of the tracks, this is supposed to be a family vacay. “Mom, seriously, I’m fine. I am not going to come to any harm. I promise.” I reach up to grab the next hand grip so I am able to pull myself up higher. It makes me laugh that Mama say’s cliff…it’s more like a rocky hill that all little kids climb up when they have no other worries in their life. For example, me right now. I’m eighteen years old, it’s summer and I don’t have a care in the world. I start college in September and that’s months away. I deserve some downtime. I look down to where my Mama stands on the beach, she’s been texting on and off to who I can only guess is my twin sister. That girl gets herself in more bother than I‘d care to admit. A dark car catches my attention as it drives onto the beach, it’s pretty quiet this end. Good job as the car seems to be speeding towards where we are. “What the f**k? Mama, move!” I shout. I jump from the cliff type face, as my Mama dives out of the way of the black Mercedes. I push myself up off the ground, brushing off sand as I turn to look towards my Mama. I need to make sure she’s ok. I spot her only a short distance, I rush over and make sure everything is where it should be, no blood or broken bones. “Mama, Mama, are you ok?” I don’t get to finish asking my panicked questions, an almighty pain shoots through my head. Colored spots appear in front of my eyes. What the f**k just happened? My final thought before I lose the battle of the darkness that sucks me in. ~~~ Darkness, along with a sickening feeling, surrounds me. Something isn't right. My throat feels like it’s been cut to ribbons, and my body is sore, as if I've been through five rounds with some heavyweight MMA fighter. Trying not to panic, I ease myself up. Looking around, I can make out the mattress I’m currently sitting on and the door with the tiniest crack of light coming through it. “Where the hell am I?” I scream. “Where’s my Mama? Why am I here?” No reply. I collapse on the mattress, exhausted, silent tears rolling down my cheeks. Why am I here? I always do as I’m told, I’m not Reece. God dammit I’m not my sister who thinks it’s ok to sleep with every guy that looks her way. That taking drugs is all kinds of cool, dammit I have never even spoken to a boy, I won’t even drink coke because it has caffeine in it. I’m Ms Goody-too-shoes… I just don’t get it.