Chapter Seventeen 

Serenity’s POV 

The day of the full moon was here, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something big was going to happen. I wasn't sure what it was, but I knew nothing would be the same for me after tonight. 

I could feel Artemis’ excitement at the thought of finally being free to race through the trees with the wind brushing through our fur. And I couldn't help but get excited at the thought as well.

 ‘A little excited are we?’ I asked Arty.

‘Of course, I am excited this is going to be the first time you will get to see what it feels like to be a werewolf. I know that this is something you have longed for for quite some time.’ Arty's words were sweet and genuine as she spoke. 

I stretched my arms over my head, “You are right about that.” I looked at the digital clock on my nightstand; it read 8:30 a.m. “Looks like we slept in, but since it is Saturday, it should be fine.” I swung my feet over the edge of the bed and pulled my hair back into a ponytail as Quinn flung my bedroom door open. 

“Is it true,” He excitedly questioned as he bounced up and down before me.

“Is what true,” I asked as I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.

‘What could this goofball be so excited about?’ Arty asked me. I shrugged my shoulders and shook my head; I didn’t have the slightest idea what he was so ecstatic about. 

“Is it true that you are going to shift and go on the forest run with everyone?” The grin on his face nearly covered the entire length of his face.

“Wait, how did you…” 

I began to ask when Quinn cut me off, “I overheard Alpha Derrick and Jace talking about early this morning when they were doing their morning stretches before their run. Unfortunately, I could not get to you sooner because they made me join them on their run when they noticed me eavesdropping on them.” He pushed out his lips as if he was about to pout, “Why didn’t you tell me that you could shift? We could have gone on runs together.” His eye widened as he continued, “Unless you intentionally tell me because you didn’t want to go on runs with me or…”

I held up my hand, halting his downward spiral, “I only just found out last week that I will be able to shift, but I had to wait for the full moon. And Alpha Derrick told Jace and myself not to let anyone know I could shift. Honestly, I can’t believe that Alpha Derrick and Jace were so careless when discussing what they didn’t want to spread through the pack.”

At about that time, Derrick and Jace entered my room, their heads downcast. “If it helps, we’re sorry,” Jace said with a sheepish limp smile.

“And when Quinn overheard us, I decided that your first real transformation should be surrounded by those who care the most for you.” Alpha Derrick said as he walked up next to me and patted me on the back.

“So I don’t have to hide my abilities from everyone?” I asked with hope in my voice.

“I think that that is what would work best for you. That way, you don’t have to keep secrets from the people you care for most.” Derrick had always been considerate of my feelings, and his saying this made it feel like a weight had been lifted off me. The fear that I had been feeling about shifting seemed to fade, leaving only excitement in its wake. 

A smile spread across my face. “Thank you, Thank you, Thank you,” I shouted as I hugged Derrick and motioned for Jace to join us. 

Jace willingly obliged and tightly wrapped his strong arms around us.

Derrick wrinkled his nose, “You could have at least showered before you rushed up to Ren’s room. You smell like a wet, sweaty dog.” He said as his cheek was forcibly smooshed into my shoulder when Quinn joined the hug as well. 

“Dude, you do smell like a dog!” Quinn shrouded as he tried to force Jace from the group hug. 

“Hey, that’s not nice,” A pout touched his lips as he spoke. “And I did jump into the show before coming up here.”

Alpha Derrick glared at Jace, “But did you use soap?”

Jace mumbled something that was inaudible, causing all of us to question, “What?”

“No, I just let the water touch my skin and hair before I race to your room.” An embarrassed look washed over Jace as shock touched Derrick's, Quinn’s, and my faces. 

“You have got to be kidding me? Go take a shower, now you smelly mutt.” Alpha Derrick ordered as he smacked the back of Jace’s head and then shoved him towards the door. “We’ll let you get ready for the day.” He said, nodding for Quinn to leave as well.

***

The rest of the day went by fairly quickly, and before I realized it was almost time for the moon to rise. I stepped out on my parent's back porch and breathed in the brisk night air. Goosebumps rose on my arms as I stared at all my loved ones gathered around the roaring bonfire. Having my first shift at my family home surrounded by family and close friends would make me more comfortable. So that is precisely what we did. Alpha Derrick had asked Luna Emily to run the full moon event, which would make it so that no one other than the invited people would be around. Of course, she wholeheartedly accepted since she enjoyed being able to run things.

I stared at the red and orange sunset and let out a breath to steady my preshifting nerves.

‘You don’t have to worry. I’m here for you, and so is everyone that you love.” Artemis said in a comforting tone.

“I know,” I whispered as my mother came up behind me and hugged me.

“You have nothing to worry about, so just relax,” She said as she gave me a peck on the cheek, “You’re going to do great. You can handle this, for you have been through far more pain than transformation will ever cause.” 

“Thanks, Mom,” I whispered as my skin began to tingle.

“It looks like it is about time. Why don’t you step behind the veil, and when you’re ready, you can come out and show us what a beautiful wolf you are.” Her words were soft and full of love when she spoke.

I nodded and slipped inside the makeshift changing room for me to shift in.  I let out a slow, steady breath as the tingling vibrated in continuous waves, and howls rang out through the night. 

‘Are you ready, Ren?” Arty asked me.

“I’ve been ready for a very long time,” I said as a tear of joy escaped the corner of my eye and a smile spread across my face. 

The gentle tingling began to increase, changing into an almost pricking sensation. I crumpled over in pain as a crushing ache sprouted in my chest and fanned out, working its way through my entire body till no part of me didn’t scream in agony. Just when I became accustomed to the crushing ache of the pain throughout my body, my bones began to jigsaw and enlarge. I could feel the heat within me building as my transformation continued. I tightly clenched my teeth in pain as my fangs began to grow. My skin began to tear, ripping open to reveal soft black fur. I dug my claws into the rock beneath me. My grip crushed it into a fine powder as a soothing breeze flowed through the curtains, caressing my aching skin.

“Serenity,” A whispering echo carried upon the wind said. “Serenity, I don’t have much time.”

I looked up to find a beautiful floating woman before me, and even though she had a spirit-like appearance, I could still clearly see her. Her long, raven black hair fluidly moved around her as she looked at me with her dazzling sapphire blue eyes. Her pale, translucent skin almost seemed to glow in the moonlight, and she had full pink lips. She wore a flowing white gown that faded into the wind that continuously swirled around her. 

‘She’s beautiful,’ Artemis stated with awe in her tone.

I nodded, ‘She really is.”  At that moment, Artemis and I realized that we were no longer feeling the pain of our transformation. I looked down at my hands. I was still in mid-transformation, yet I couldn’t feel it. ‘How is this possible?’ I wondered when the whispering echo spoke again.

“It is a technique I developed that slows time. So, you are still transforming but at a prolonged rate, which is why I don’t have much time. It is a technique that requires a lot of magic.” I turned my attention back to the spirit before me. Tears welled in her beautiful eyes as she gently touched my cheek, “You’ve grown so much, my beautiful child.” 

Tears began to stream down my face, and with a quivering lip, I whispered, “Mom.”