Moon Marked by the Goddess

One

A week before my 16th birthday and I've been feeling off, since last night. A horrible headache, and hot flashes. If I wasn't so young, I'd think I was going through menopause.

I'm sitting on the ground near my bed with my knees pulled against me and my head resting on them. My small fan is turned on to its highest setting and pointed directly at me.

It's the middle of January it shouldn't be this d*mn hot. This heat is starting to make me nauseated. My stomach is protesting the nutella sandwich I ate this morning.

I grab ahold of the bed so I can stand up, and make my way across my room to the bathroom, the need to vomit overwhelming. My knuckles are turning white from how firmly I'm grasping my the bed, spots are dancing across my vision and my brain feels fuzzy.

My legs give out and I fall to the ground. I hear someone knocking on the door. "Rylan are you okay? I heard a loud thump." I recognize the voice but can't place it right now.

"Help." I manage to whisper out.

I hear a door opening, and can feel hands on face. "Holy crap, you're burning up. Ry, I'm gonna take you to the pack clinic." Then the darkness pulls me under and I pass out.

---

I hear whispering but I'm unable to make out what the words mean. Slowly opening my eyes, I recognize the pale blue walls of the pack clinic.

"Rylan I see you're waking up, how are you feeling?" Loraine, the pack doctor says to me. She's beautiful with dark brown hair pulled into a bun, and her tan skin makes her emerald greens look enchanting. She's probably in her early 40's but looks to be younger.

"I feel like I've been hit by a truck, what happened? Everything hurts, and I'm so hot." My muscles are cramping, and I'm so sweaty the sheets are clinging to my body.

"If looks as though your about to begin the change. According to your record you're only 15, this isn't normal. As you know most wolves don't change for the first time until they're 18." She says, which is true. The earliest I've heard of someone changing is 17. It normally happens between the ages the ages of 18 and 25.

Panic grips me, and I feel bile rising. I turn my head to the opposite side of the bed, to prevent vomiting on her, and vomit onto the floor. She hands me a cup of water, that I didn't notice her holding. I quickly gulp down the contents, the cool water calming my stomach slightly.

"Why am I like this? I didn't think the change made people this sick." I'd always heard you felt cramping throughout your body, and then you would start feeling itchy, right before the change took over.

"Your body is young, and still developing, it isn't ready for the physical demand of the change. So you are experiencing different symptoms. I have never heard of it coming this early. I've reached out to other packs to see if anyone has experience with this, so we know what to expect."

Hearing a throat clear, I look beyond the pack doctor, and see Keith our gamma. His salt pepper hair, and the scowl on his face is the only thing that would lead you to believe he's older than 30. He has a strong jawline, with deep blue eyes, his hair kept short up top, and faded on the sides.

"Rylan how long has this been going on?" His deep voice carries over full of concern.

"I started feeling bad last night. I had a headache and was sweating. I thought I'd feel better in the morning, so I didn't say anything. I'm sorry Gamma Keith."

His scowl deepens, "The change doesn't usually take this long 3 or 4 hours from start to finish. Doctor are you sure she's experiencing the change and not something else?" He says while looking at Loraine.

She nods her head. "Unfortunately I'm positive she will change. I'm not sure what the repercussions will be of this on her body, but it is coming. Headache and fever, followed by body pain, you know the next step is itching, then the change."

Pain like burning molten lava pouring through my veins takes over my body. My vision was overtaken my a flash of white light, like lightning cracking. A scream bubbled up my throat, and I felt my bones snap. Starting at my toes and working it's way up. The pain before felt like nothing in comparison to what I feel now. Black spots dance in the flash of light, and I feel as though I might pass out again.

This must be it the change, or maybe it is death welcoming me into her arms. I can't hear my screams over the sound of blood rushing to my ears, but my throat feels dry, and sore. The snapping of bones has made it's way to my head and I feel my teeth elongate. The table beneath me cracks and gives way. I feel myself falling.

As quickly as the pain came, it is gone, replaced by a sense of strength. My vision has cleared, and I look down at my feet, which are now 2 solid black paws.

Looking over at Loraine, and Keith they seem shocked. I can hear each breath they take, and their hearts hammering in their chests

"Hello, my child." A feminine voice says. I look around frantically but I didn't see either of their lips moving.

Who said that?

I hear a gentle laugh. "They can't hear me, only you can Rylan. You bear my mark the crescent moon on your right eye. I can't wait to see the great things you do."

Who are you? What do you want from me?

"I'm the mother of all wolves of course. You have much to learn, I'll send you a guide. Remember, not everyone is as the seem. I'll see you soon my child."

"Link the Alpha, I will have to call the council." Loraine says.

Keith looks completely bewildered as he stares at me.

I try to talk, and all that comes out is a yip. Loraine walks over to me slowly, and puts a hand on my back. "Rylan I know you're panicking, but you have to calm down, the council will know what to do when they get here. Keith have to alerted the Alpha?" He nods while still staring at me. He must have mind linked the Alpha, because he never pulled out a phone.

"Loraine she's a child, why is her wolf so large. She's standing as high as the exam table was before she broke it. What's the marking on her eye? I've never seen a wolf with a moon marking, or any marking before." He looks almost fearful as he looks at me.

"I've never seen anything like this, I've just heard whispers about Goddess marked wolves." Looking up at her she is looking at me with concern on her face, and biting her lower lip. She looks as though she has more to say but stops herself.

"Rylan you should be able to focus on the sound of my voice and respond. I've spent time with the council, and have learned about your kind. You are different from us, and I can't explain it all now. You must be careful." Loraine says, even though her lips aren't moving.

What do you mean, my kind? Am I not a werewolf?

"Yes, you are but you're special. I don't know everything, just small pieces, but it could be dangerous for you." She says, her eyes look like she's pleading with me, she looks fearful.

I lay down and cover my snout with my paws, and begin to whine. Why does this have to happen to me. I don't want any of this.

I'm not safe in my own pack?

"I don't know. I don't think you have to fear this pack, but when other learn of you." Loraine paused for a moment. "You could be in dangers from other that would want to use you."

Taking her words in, it doesn't seem real. Things have always been difficult for me. My mother died from complications with my birth, and my father wasn't able to overcome losing his mate, and ended his life shortly after. I was taken in by the gamma and his wife, who have treated me well. Not quite like their own children, but they've always made sure I had everything I needed, and some of the things I wanted.

The door bursts open, I jump up looking at the doorway alarmed. The Alpha, and Beta are standing in the doorway, both looking out of breath. I assume they dropped whatever they were doing and ran here.

"Ry." The Beta, my surrogate father starts. He's about 6' with a deep bronze complexion, and striking green eyes. Copper colored dreads that fall to his shoulders are held back with a hair elastic. He looks pained as he takes in my current state. "Will she be okay? Is she hurting?" He says turning to the doctor.

This shocks me, I never realized he cared for me. I believed he just took care of me due to a sense of obligation to the pack.

"She seems fine, but I won't know for sure until she regains her human form. I'm not sure she's figured out how to mind link yet. I attempted, but haven't received a response."

Why would she lie? We just talked, she warned me to be careful. Oh, she must not trust them. The moon godess also warned me. I dont know who I can trust other than the doctor right now.

I let out several yips, and walk toward the Beta, rubbing my snout on his leg.

The Alpha clears his throat causing all eyes to look toward him, he closes the door as he walks in the room. He's a bit taller than the Beta. They look very similar, which makes sense he's my father's older brother. The Alpha doesn't have dreads though, his hair is a short black afro.

"Keith thank you for staying with her, until we could arrive. I need you to go stand in for me at the meeting we just left. You know I trust your judgement." The alpha said before turning his attention to me. Keith nodded before making his way out of the room.

"Loraine, I noticed you seemed nervous while talking about her condition. Your eyes darted between my brother's and Keith's several times. Why did you feel uncomfortable divulging the truth in front of the Gamma of my pack?"

"Alpha, I meant no disrespect to you or the pack." She begins, and then stops seeming to look for the words to express her intentions. "Rylan is special, special beyond measure. I only know a small fraction of what is going on with her, after my time with the council, where I was sent for my medical training. She is Goddess marked. I believe she is capable of direct communication with the Goddess. So she will be in danger if her existence gets out. She will have to be protected. I know they receive special abilities, but I'm unsure of how they manifest, or what she will receive."

"My daughter's life is in danger now?" He looks defeated. "What do we have to do to keep her safe? We can prevent her from shifting with the other wolves. Pretend today never happened, that can buy us up to 10 years before the pack begins to wonder about her wolf." His words are rushing out of him.

I'm sorry dad, I don't want to be a burden to you. I think to myself. All three heads snap to me in unison.

"How was she able to communicate with all 3 of us, at once? Only an Alpha has the ability to speak to more than one pack member at a time."

I... I don't know. I didn't try to.

"This will be hard to keep secret if she is unable to control the powers the Goddess has given her." Loraine states emotionlessly. "Rylan, focus on your physical form and try and call your body back to you, after your father and uncle turn around. There are some scrubs in the cabinet behind you, that you can cover your body with after the transformation is complete. It shouldn't hurt as much switching back, but I don't know that for sure because things are much different with you, than I am used to."

After my uncle and father turn around I close my eyes and envision my human body.

I'm 5'9, I have reddish brown hair that come down to my mid back in tight coily curls. My brown skin is light with warm undertones. I have high cheek bones with a scattering of small freckles. My eyes a deep grey color, like thunderclouds. My body is changing due to hormones, and I am growing into a more womanly body.

I hear cracking, and popping. My body feels like TV static, it's all fallen asleep, no actual pain, just very uncomfortable.

When the change has completed I get into the cabinet and pull out a pair of medium green scrubs, quickly covering my body. Which feels perfect, no headache, or hot flashes. I don't even feel the numbness from the change any longer.