Between Two Worlds

Chapter 5 A Rift Already?

Duke’s POV

I have never seen the packhouse this crowded! I didn’t even know half the people who had gathered to celebrate with us. I fist-bumped a couple of guys from school as Neve, Fleur and I weaved through the crowd looking for our friends. I glared at some random guys whose eyes lingered on my sister a little longer than I liked. Why did she have to dress like that? Surely she knew how attractive she was, and that guys were going to drool over her if she showed too much skin. I wasn’t protective of her in a possessive, I’m-madly-in-love-with-you way. It wasn’t like that. It was hard to explain… I just felt this incessantly niggling feeling telling me if I didn’t look out for her, something bad was going to happen. I don’t know what, but I just knew if I took my eyes off her that was when it was going to happen.

“Duke, my man! Over here!” Jake was waving at us from outside on the deck. “Happy birthday, bro!” He cried as he man hugged me, slapping me hard on the back. Neve squeaked as Jake picked her up in a friendly bear hug, quickly setting her back on her feet when he saw my wolf momentarily come forward, making my eyes black. The closer it got to midnight, the more my wolf started to surface, and the more protective I became of Neve. I scowled again as I witnessed Neve shyly whisper hello to Samuel, but didn’t pursue it further when I saw Samuel only smile briefly in response. Neve looked hurt, before turning her attention to her two best friends, Fleur and Anita.

“Let's go get a drink.” Neve shot daggers in my direction as she addressed her friends, clearly blaming me for Samuel’s lack of interest. I didn’t care in the slightest, Neve could hate me as much as she liked as long as she was safe.

“You need to dial down the protective big brother routine, dude,” Jake said shaking his head at me. I just shrugged in response. “It’s our birthday. Relax for once and celebrate. It is going to be awesome!” Jake grinned, pulling both Samuel and me into dual headlocks, before running down the back steps out to the lawn.

I sighed loudly, as I grabbed a beer from a server who was doing the rounds of the party. Jake was right. This was our night, it was meant to be fun.

Two hours and two?... four?... maybe six (???) drinks later, we are all on the dancefloor in the great room of the packhouse, jumping up and down like lunatics. I look around at my mates and it is like we are moving in slow motion- Jake has both his arms in the air with his head thrown back laughing, Fleur and Anita are swaying their hips side to side in sync slowly shimmying down to the floor, Neve has her arm around Samuel’s neck, his arm is wrapped around her waist jumping up and down to the beat… and me? In my buzzed state, I am carefree. I am whooping loudly jumping around in circles. Could this night be any more perfect? If I could freeze time for one moment, this would be it.

Jake looks up at the massive clock hanging over the fireplace, and using his hands indicates it is almost midnight. Jake, Samuel and I have planned to shift together for the first time in the sand dunes, and have asked Neve, Anita and Fleur to wait near the water for us afterwards so we can share the moment with them.

We all move outside onto the deck. Jake, Samuel and I start running down the stairs heading towards the beach, removing our shoes and shirts as we go. Neve, Anita and Fleur run behind us, giggling at our drunken clumsy attempts at removing our clothes, picking up each item as it is discarded. As the clock edges closer to midnight all six of us instinctively start howling at the moon, laughing in between breaths. To anyone watching, we must look ridiculous, but who cares? This is our night.

When the clock strikes midnight, Jake nudges Samuel and me, and we run off into the sand dunes together. Removing my shorts and briefs, I brace myself for the pain of snapping bones. Alpha has talked us through the process, explaining that our first shift would be the most painful. He advised us to imagine ourselves already in our wolf form to help speed up the process. I try to focus my mind on what it would be like to be a wolf when suddenly I realise we all have completed the process.

I look at my two best mates as a strong offshore gust blows the scent of Neve, Anita and Fleur in our direction… and that was when all hell broke loose.

***

Third Person POV

As the scent of the girls hit their nostrils, Duke’s wolf instinctively snarled as he sensed Jake and Samuel’s wolves simultaneously became aroused.

Dude! What the f**k? Jake snapped at Samuel over mind link.

Me? Samuel snarled back. What about you? That is just messed up.

You are both messed up! Duke yelled as his wolf let out a menacing growl.

This is not how this type of shift was meant to go. The bond between Alpha, Beta and Gamma is sacred, this was the strongest relationship within the pack. They felt one another’s emotions, anticipated each other's decisions before they made them, that is what made Sangue Luna Pack so unique and strong- their three leaders were seemingly one person. If the three leaders were at odds, the whole pack was vulnerable.

Images of Anita in compromising, provocative positions flashed in Duke’s mind. Cut that s**t out! I do NOT need to see that.

Jake growled at Samuel, Samuel growled at Duke, and Duke growled at Jake. This was not good.

Jake struggled to compose himself before stating over mind link: we need to shift back NOW! We will figure this out later, but for now, NO ONE is to mention what happened tonight. Got it? Jake’s wolf glared at Duke and Samuel menacingly.

Whatever muttered Samuel

No arguments here, I do NOT want to relive those disgusting images any time soon, Duke’s wolf shook his mane, trying to remove any memory of events moments ago.

Good. Now SHIFT! Jake ordered.

***

Neve

“Oh, here they come!” Anita pointed towards the three future pack leaders emerging from the sand dunes.

“How was it?” squealed Fleur excitedly, her smile fading as she received three grunts in response.

“What’s wrong?” I asked worriedly. Suddenly I had three sets of angry wolf eyes on me and I stepped back uncertainly.

Jake’s eyes scanned my body, in what almost appeared a hungry way before his eyes stopped on the pendant sitting between my cleavage. “Isn’t that outfit a bit too revealing to be wearing in public?” he spat at me. Reflexively I pulled the sides of my top closer together, and although still looking at me with hatred, he nodded in approval.

“Jake?” Anita looked at her boyfriend in confusion. At the sound of her voice, Jake snapped his eyes away from me to look in her direction. He roughly grabbed her around the waist muttering “Let's go!” before stalking away. This action elicited a growl from Samuel. Fleur and I both eyed him suspiciously when he too muttered he was going home, stalking off in the opposite direction to Jake and Anita.

I looked at Duke questioningly. His expression was also filled with hatred. He looked at both Fleur and myself before barking at us, “The party is over. Neve, we need to leave. Fleur, we will walk you home.” Then he spun and started marching in the direction of our home. Fleur and I looked at one another in disbelief before running after Duke.