Chapter 11: 11

NOVA.

The first thing that came to my senses was hushed voices.

"She's stirring."

Next came my feeling. The itchiness of the ground irritated my skin, sharp on my bare skin.

Grass. It was grass.

My brain felt fuzzy, but I could smell the flowers and the trees surrounding me. Next came the smell of sweat and the metallic hint of blood. My nose twitched in disgust, but soon the most delicious smell overwhelmed me and the fog lifted.

What was that?

It smelt musky, yet... peppery, almost.

Something whimpered in my mind that had me freeze from trying to move my body. Ok... Now, what was that?

'Hello, Nova. 'It whispered.

What... Who...

I couldn't think straight. There was a feminine voice in my brain, and it wasn't mine. This time, it articulated.

'I'll start with the basics.' It cooed. 'You have shifted, and I am your wolf.'

I gasped. Sh-shifted? I thought I couldn't-

That is for another time. I have been awakened because we have found our mate.'

Mate?

'Yes, the alpha.'

Alpha Phoenix?

'Yes, he is your mate.'

A hand on my side had me jolting upright. I wobbly landed on four paws with a growl. A growl? Wait- FOUR LEGS? WHA-

Oh, wait, wolf. Right, got it.

I shook my body, my wolf joining me in mind to help me get my bearings. I was on four legs, and I was smaller than normal. My usual five-three height had dropped to only four feet tall. Glancing down at my fee-paws, I saw black fur coating my ankles. Flexing my toes, I found sharp claws covered by fluffy, soft fur.

My eyes widened, and I looked up to find worried glances from a group of people. I landed on Steven first, who had his arms crossed with a smile on his face.

"Nova, you've shifted." He stated.

I almost snorted at his comment, but shook my wolf's head instead.

'Can you hear me, Nova?' His voice came from inside my head.

I panicked, realizing I did not know how to block people out. My heart raced, and I stepped backward in alarm. This wasn't right, this was a dream... I was a non-shifter...

I was becoming overwhelmed and felt the panic settle in.

'Build a wall, Nova. Wrap your mind in comfort where only you have the key.' He spoke.

I calmed my mind for a moment and closed my eyes with a deep inhale. I envisioned a warm, fluffy blanket securing me, keeping me snug and safe. Hearing my wolf snort, I threw in a chain and padlock too, just to spite her.

Her attention, however, was demanding me to look elsewhere. My eyes opened and immediately fell upon a six-foot-something towering shadow with glimmering hazel eyes. My world seemed to fade away, and all I heard was the rapid beating of my heart and the blood rushing through my ears. I felt like I was looking at him for the first time.

I watched as his pupils dilated until they were nothing but an abyss. I felt myself falling into it, his smell pulling me into the deep end, unforgiving yet gentle in its caress. It closed around me and filled my head with goo. My heart raced, and my mouth was as dry as a scorching desert.

All too soon I blinked away the feeling, and the worry settled in. It was too much, too much. I've shifted because I've found my mate, who is an alpha. I nearly got killed this morning for dropping a goddamn coffee, but now I understand why I was so startled, why it didn't settle in. The brush of his fingers ignited something feral and until I shifted, I could not see it; that he was mine.

My wolf purred.

No. No. I couldn't do this.

This wasn't me. He couldn't be mine.

I had to get away; I had to run.

With a yelp, I bolted, stumbling slightly as I learned to move on four legs.

I heard them all gasp and shout behind me, but I didn't care. This was too much. I gained my balance and picked up speed. I ran and ran, not knowing where I was going. All I knew was I just had to go.

I eventually stumbled to a stop by a lake. I could sense the border's pull, knowing I was close to the edge.

I collapsed by the small lake's shore, tongue lapping at the water in desperation. Deciding it wasn't good enough, I slowly slid myself in, trying to calm the aching of my muscles.

Shifting was horrendous, and the thought of it did not make me want to change back in fear of the same fate. Every piece of me was aching, and the distance I had instinctively run did not help.

I sloshed around for a few more minutes before deciding to climb back out, exhausted. Standing on the edge, I shook out my fur and glanced down at my reflection. What I saw startled me immediately. My enormous wolf's head stared back at me, her eyes also green like mine.

But not only was the shock of being a wolf overwhelming. The fact I was pure black made me question my heritage. Only high-rank, strong-blooded wolves had the pleasure of being pure black. Even Steven was not pure black; he was a deep brown. But every fur on my body appeared black.

Where had I come from?

Why did I shift so late?

And why was it Phoenix's fault that I did?

So many questions.

'We will find out answers eventually, Nova. I can feel it.'

I hope so. I sighed.

I let out a wolfy sigh as I rested my head on my paws, allowing my mind to empty of all thoughts. I concentrated on the birds in the trees and the animals scurrying across the forest floor. It was serene.

The new senses had overwhelmed me at first, but now I felt in control of myself. The tail was something new, but it would come to me.

A huff of breath and snapping twigs caused my ear to twitch behind me. The sound of paws trotting across the earth had me slowly standing to a crouch, hackles raising.

A low grumble left my lips just before the wolf entered the clearing. It was him; I was sure of it.