Riley POV
It's been days of nothing but days of being confined to the bedroom with Bailey and as I wake up in the room with the sun shining through the windows, I feel different. Strange. Like my body is rippling and the pain that accompanies it is brutal, like my bones are breaking into a million tiny shattered pieces and then being pieced back together again. I scream, sending Bailey flying out of the bed as I fall to the ground, my body collapses on the ground, shaking violently as pain ripples through me.
Don't fight it. That will only make the pain worse. You need to surrender to it. Acknowledge it and embrace it. I will help you.
Who, what is this? It hurts too much, make it stop I plead within my mind, before I feel my leg jerk violently and then the bone snap, sending a blood-curdling scream from my lips while Bailey kneels beside me looking frightened and fascinated at the same time.
"Riley" he murmurs, touching me and then yanking his hand away as I let out another blood-curdling scream "this is, I think you're shifting," he says in awe.
Shifting? But I didn't have a wolf, did I? I couldn't shift, and yet, I could feel another bone break and realign as I screamed and whimpered.
I told you, don't fight it. Just let it take over. You're only going to experience more pain if you keep tensing up. Let what is natural happen.
The voice is chiding me now as I pant and scrabble at the floor. It hurts.
"Make it stop" I beg Bailey as he kneels beside me, looking uncertain on what to do.
"I can't," he said, placing a gentle hand on me as I began to shiver "I'm not even sure how this is happening. I couldn't sense a wolf before but now..." he trails off as I feel my body jolt and convulse.
I grit my teeth. My hand breaks and I feel the bones begin to readjust sending me into a spasm of howling and painful screeches. Bailey looks wrecked as he watches, biting his lip.
"There's nothing I can do but help you through it" he murmurs regretfully.
My heart is racing wildly in my chest and I can feel the blood pumping through my body. Claws begin to grow out of my nails as I continue to struggle violently on the floor. Bailey backs up, as my body begins to grow larger, fur growing on my limbs.
I snarl, feeling sharp pointy teeth inside my mouth. My claws dig into the ground clawing away, and I can feel myself growing steadily bigger, while my hearing begins to grow even more sensitive and keen. I can hear the sounds of the pack members walking around the grounds as I feel my body move for the last time before I open my eyes and stare at my mate who is wide-eyed and stunned.
Paws. Instead of hands, I have large paws. I slowly clamber to my feet, feeling slightly unsteady. It's unusual to be on four legs instead of two. I can feel a tail swishing behind me. I glance behind and see it moving back and forth. I can feel my canines in my mouth and my fur is a glorious white color. I sniff, smelling my mate's intoxicating scent. My wolf is purring inside my mind. The pain from the transition is gone, as though it is nothing but a bad memory. I shake my body like an eager puppy and begin to slowly walk to Bailey who is eyeing me with awe? Surprise? Eagerness? It's difficult to tell.
I hear my wolf in my mind. Finally. Do you know how long I've been waiting for this? All these years trapped in the very recesses of your mind, unable to communicate, unable to inform you I was here. I had just about given up all hope until now.
I don't understand. What changed? How was I able to shift just now and how are you able to speak to me if you weren't able to before?
Your mate. He marked you. He gave you part of his blood and part of his strength. It was enough for me to break free. Your siren side was stronger and kept me captive, but now, now you are able to wield both sides thanks to Bailey.
What is your name?
Snow.
Snow. It seemed strangely fitting for a white wolf I thought. I trotted to Bailey who cautiously reached out a hand and patted me on the head. "You're stunning" he said with awe "but you have a blue shell on the middle of your back" he added frowning "I wonder if that's because of your siren side."
It's a reminder that you are both, siren and shifter.
I nod my head up and down, while Bailey continues to stroke me, almost making me purr out loud. He could touch me like this all day if he wanted and I wasn't about to complain. I loved his hands on me. Snow giggled.
That makes two of us. I can never get enough of how strong and coarse his hands are on our skin. Feel how gently he's touching us though? It's almost as though he's afraid to hurt us she said with laughter in her voice.
I wondered what kind of powers a white wolf with a blue shell on its back might possess.
All in due time. White wolves are more agile and stronger than average shifter wolves, also partly due to Bailey's blood combining with yours when he marked you. But you're also a strong swimmer, and can also control the element of water in your wolf form.
I can? I've never heard of a wolf being able to do something like that I practically yelled in my excitement.
You're no ordinary wolf she chided practically rolling her eyes in exasperation or have you forgotten that already. Naturally your siren side would have some advantage in wolf form. But it's going to take training for you to be able to control water. It's not as easy as simply thinking about it her voice is kind but firm.
I didn't care. I was excited to know I possessed special powers. Bailey ran his hands over my fur. "So soft" he marvelled while Snow purred in my mind "you're so beautiful Riley" he complimented me as I sat there, revelling in his touch and his awe.
Enough of this. Should we go for a run with our mate? Snow sounded slightly impatient now.
Are we even up for that after such a transformation?
Yes, so long as we don't go too far or run too hard. Besides, I find I want to see Bailey's Lycan again. I want to feel the ground beneath my paws and the breeze on my fur. I've been dying to run again. It's been so long she moaned.
Then let's do it I told her.
We began to back away towards the door, our eyes wide as we looked at Bailey who looked confused for a moment. We nodded towards the door, trying to convey what we wanted. His eyes widen. "You want to go for a run?"
I nod slowly. I glance around the room and wince. The floor is littered with claw marks and so are the walls. Some of the furniture is ruined from my transformation. Bailey is oblivious to all that though. He strides through the door and then leads the way to the front, opening the door and allowing us to go through.
We sit and stare at him. He hesitates. "You want me to go with you" he points at himself.
Another slow nod. We give him a wicked grin. He looks pleased. He begins to strip and Snow lets out a low whistle in my mind.
That is one fine specimen of man right there.
I blush as she begins to envision what she'd like to do to Bailey, staring resolutely at the floor while he got undressed. But it's not as though I haven't seen him naked anyway, Snow reminds me and I growl lowly at her, making her chuckle. We hear the sounds of bones cracking and adjusting and then we glance up to see that he's transformed into his lycan. He looks majestic, I think in awe as he glances at me mischievously. There's a grin on his face as he views me and a look of anticipation on his face. He's not the only one looking forward to this run.
Oh it's on. Let's see if he can keep up with us Snow says excitedly let's at least make him give chase she adds wickedly and before I can utter a word or protest, we're moving forward, our body so fast that everything appears to be a blur as we make a beeline for the forest with Bailey's lycan right on our heels.