Chapter 1 Annual Event
Phoebe
“Remember, take a deep breath and don’t get tense! Alpha and all the high-ranked werewolves are here to see your first shift.”
Mom’s warm hands gently ran through my brown hair, falling just past my shoulders. Her encouraging words eased my nerves, but my eyes kept darting toward the stands where my father sat beside our Alpha.
If it weren’t for this annual event, I’d be in my room, lost in music or binge-watching a teen drama. As a she-wolf in the Mystic Guardian Pack, today marked my transition into mature age; I had to prove myself by shifting for the first time.
Honestly, I found it amusing. I viewed this event like a show, grateful I hadn’t shifted yet. If Dad knew how I felt, he’d scold me mercilessly. The mind-link—the werewolf ability that terrified me the most—hovered over my thoughts, and he watched me from his seat, unable to breach my mind.
“You have to succeed, or you’ll be waiting until next year to join the pack,” came a heavy voice from behind me. “And you know the ranks will change. You don’t want that, do you?”
I snorted, irritated as Phoenix ruffled my hair. How could he still think of competing with me? He could shift perfectly, but that didn’t justify his arrogance. I couldn’t see his words as encouragement; he always underestimated me.
Phoenix raised his hands defensively after I growled at him. I turned my attention to a petite she-wolf nearby, her name slipping my mind. She’d successfully shifted, drawing whispers of admiration from the crowd.
“Phoebe!” A voice called, slicing through my thoughts. I inhaled deeply, exhaling slowly to calm the racing of my heart.
“Good luck, dear,” Mom said, her warm smile a small comfort.
I approached the center of the hall, my steps steady. I caught my father’s nod, a silent signal of support, before halting at the white dot on the grass. The initial pang of fear gripped me as I awaited my first shift.
Moments passed, but I felt no vibrations from within. My heart pounded louder than ever, drowning out the murmurs of the crowd. I forced myself to concentrate.
Half an hour slipped by without any change. Cold sweat beaded on my skin, and I dared not open my eyes, yet I could hear the whispers around me, laced with disbelief.
Had I failed? I opened my eyes just as Dad descended from the stands toward me. I caught a glimpse of Phoenix laughing, and a tear slid down my cheek.
I felt completely lost. There's no change in my body, not in the slightest. I glanced around, but that only heightens my anxiety. I clenched my fists tightly, but it’s all in vain.
Why didn't I shift?
"What the hell is happening to me?"
I struggled to inhale against the tightness in my chest. Dad grabbed my hand, pulling me back from the center toward Mom and Phoenix.
“You’ve embarrassed me in front of the pack!” he snapped, his voice tight with disappointment. “How could Phoenix succeed while you couldn’t?”
“I’m sorry, Dad. I tried my best,” I pleaded.
“This is why I can’t count on you, Phoebe. Phoenix is better than you.”
The words stung, each repetition of “better” igniting my anger. I clenched my fists, staring at the ground beneath me.
“Calm down, Ralph. Maybe it’s just not her time yet. Be patient,” Mom intervened, trying to soothe the tension.
“Dad’s right,” Phoenix chimed in. “You’re a werewolf who can’t shift. The pack doesn’t need weaklings.”
“Can’t you just shut up?” I shot back, my voice trembling with frustration.
“At least I didn’t embarrass the family,” he taunted.
My anger reached a boiling point. I was furious with Dad for his constant comparisons and with Phoenix for his cruel jabs. I wanted to scream, to fight back, but instead, I felt something shift inside me.
A powerful vibration coursed through my body, pushing me to fight against the constraints of my own fears. My heart raced, blood pulsing through my veins, igniting a heat I’d never experienced before.
My body trembled violently as I let out a guttural groan of pain. Bones cracked and elongated, my knee-length dress tearing as the muscles beneath my skin surged. I planted my hands on the ground, staring at my blackened fingernails as brown fur erupted from my pores. Finally, I stood firm on all fours, howling into the hall.
I understood my purpose now. I growled at Phoenix, baring my fangs. He looked red-hot in my gaze, an aura of challenge radiating from him. My vision shifted, granting me a new perspective of the world.
“Are you challenging me, little sister?” Phoenix smirked, his bravado unshaken.
In a flash, he shifted into a wolf, instantly rising on all fours, snarling back at me. He sprinted to the center of the hall, and I charged after him.
Dad shifted too, leaping into the fray, growling fiercely as he displayed his fangs. I was the first to back down, submitting to him. In an instant, we shifted back to our human forms.
I dashed to the side of the hall, grabbing a blanket from a nearby table to cover myself. Dad knelt before the Alpha, his head bowed in apology for the chaos we had caused. Mom quickly followed suit, but I remained frozen in place, sweat pouring down my face and exhaustion overwhelming me.
I had managed my first shift, but the lack of acknowledgment stung. I linked my hands together, praying Dad wouldn’t be too angry. Phoenix, however, raised his head as Dad approached us.
In that instant, I felt the weight of Dad’s gaze upon me. With a flushed face, he said, “Your reckless actions are unacceptable. We’ll discuss this at home!”