Michael

"I-I can't."

He blinks, staring at me. "You can't run? But you're standing and you walked over here, I saw you."

"No." An awkward laugh bubbles in my throat. "No. I mean I can't...can't shift."

"Oh, is that all?" he says like it's no big deal. "Then we'll stay in human form and you can show me the land."

I tuck my hair behind my ear and nod like I've forgotten how to be suspicious. This man is a stranger and yet, he seems fine with me not being able to shift, and hope flares in my chest. No one has ever cared about me not shifting since I passed puberty. "Just to the edge of the forest and back?"

His eyes sadden in the corners and it makes me regret the words immediately. But my father taught me not to be too trusting of men or wolves. "Sure." He lets out a breath. "I'll even give you a head start."

"What?" I step backward, hating myself that I got wrapped up in the idea that this guy might be special and could help me.

"For fun." He holds up his hands. "We won't go far from the group so you can feel safe and call out any

time if you want. But it's the best high. Trust me."

His eyes twinkle and I can't help but nod in agreement.

"Even in human form."

No one else has offered to run with me except my dad and that was so long ago.

I move into a light jog and his footsteps sound behind me.

We roam through the crowds and he follows me. And for once in my life, I feel powerful, I feel in charge. The minute I do, something changes inside me. I don't know what it is, but my senses are working in overdrive.

I'm running. The sunlight is blinding, but I know every inch of this forest. I love it. My lungs burn as we hit the woods, but I'm not stopping. Michael's hot on my heels. He doesn't say anything, but I can hear his heavy breathing and the pounding of his feet hitting the cool earth. I dart to the left and he chases after me.

The thrill of the hunt with me being the prey has a feeling of euphoria sparking in my chest. There's a stirring behind my heart and a gasp breaks free from my chest. My wolf. I-I feel her.

This is it. This will make my wolf come out.

Michael is my fated mate. I feel this with every fiber of my being. I don't hold back as I leap over a fallen log and dart around a marshy hole.

He's gaining on me.

My heart races and the pressure builds in my lungs. He's going to catch me. He's going to think I'm a coward and a failure if I don't make this challenge.

My legs ache, but I'm not stopping. I push myself harder, dodging one tree after the other.

He's just behind me. I can feel his eyes on me. There's a hunger there, as though he wants to devour me. Only when I see the large trunk of an old tree ahead of me, do I know I can't escape. I can't win this race despite both of us staying in human form.There's a flash of something ahead of me. It's another wolf. The dark gray fur gleams in the sunlight as he passes Michael and me. He's huge. My heart is in my throat as I slow to a stop and meet the amber eyes that has me fearing a wolf for the first time in my life.

And I run Even though I know I'm

And I run. Even though I know I'm not supposed to.

I can hear his deep breaths, the crashing of the brush and the pounding of his footsteps. Then he's behind me and his hot breath is on my neck.

Then the wolf pivots, darting straight past me and disappearing

into the woods. In one fluid motion, Michael twists

me around and pins me to a tree.

"I thought we were running in our human forms-why did you egg on that other wolf?" he glowers.

"I'm not." I pause, my gaze drifting out to where the other wolf vanished before Michael clasps my chin a little too firmly and brings my attention back to him. "I didn't."

"You want to make it more interesting?" His human eyes flash silver.

My back is pressed against a tree and Michael's grinding his body against mine.

I'm panting from trying to outrun him and realize he must have been holding back to let me win. Sweat drips down my face and my throat feels like it's filling with rocks. "What are you doing ?

My wolf shudders behind my heart and I'm afraid to move, to breathe and lose this thread of connection. Afraid it will fray and break free from my grip never to surface again.

His hand slides down my side.

"Come on, honey." His voice is throaty and husky.

His other hand slides down my throat and his fingers find the bottom of my shirt as he hikes it higher.

And I'm so drunk on the high of my wolf showing signs of emerging because of Michael that I don't think about how any second we could be discovered.

All I can think about is how I won't have to fear being a rutting bitch used by any and all. Or how not even Casey can get me kicked out of the pack and blocked from joining any other.

When Michael touches my breasts, I let out a gasp.

"That what you want?" His breath against my ear makes my legs weaken.

The wolf that has pinned me is my mate. He's the one. 

I nod my head and I can feel his erection throbbing against my thigh. I want to feel him inside me. Michael's fingers find the clasp on my bra and he unhooks it.

The lacey texture of the fabric against my nipples sends shivers through my spine.

He glides a hand into my pants and grabs my ass, hauling me closer to his cock.

"You want me, don't you? You and your wolf."

"Y-yes." I can't think straight. A riot of emotions is crashing through me. My wolf is clawing to the surface and I'm willing to do anything to shift that I don't care about anything else.

A twig snaps behind us and we both freeze.

I try to turn to see who it is, but Michael's body is blocking me.

"No sex before the ceremony," one of the elders says in a harsh voice and moves sideways to meet my gaze and frowns at me. His lips are thin and he looks like he was born with a permanent scowl. Irritation flickers in those eyes. He's probably had a long day keeping others like us from celebrating too early. "You have to 

wait for your wolves to claim each other during the moonlight. I'll escort you two back to the main camp."

Michael leans back with a wolfish smile on his face and he winks. "No worries, there, sir." Then to me, he whispers, "I'll see you at the bonfire tonight."

A thrill shoots through me and I nod, tugging my shirt down. Tonight I will become a wolf and everything in my life will be perfect.

A heaviness settles in my stomach, but I chalk it off to my wolf finally waking and my anticipation.

The night sky is dark blue with a hint of pink as the fire rises in the middle of the circle.

I try to look around and see if Michael is here, but the elders are guiding us all in muttering about how we must first see the werewolf in us before allowing us to shift and how we must be in human form to be accepted by our mates.

Words I've heard my entire life, but somehow tonight they are full of promise. And I can't stop smiling while I feel like I'm shaking on the inside and about to burst.

A young man with sandy hair stands next to me and keeps giving me curious glances. I can tell he's nervous like me, but I'm restless, eager for Michael to claim me. When he does, it will bring out my wolf completely.

I look around the fire and all the other girls look just as anxious as I feel. Yet, I'm the oldest one here that hasn't been claimed and I lift my chin despite a few snickers.

The elders stand in front of us with the moon at their backs. They have a glow about them and my heart skips a beat.

Oh shit, this is really happenin

This time I'll shift. I know it.

Michael hasn't shown up yet. I chew on my lip, glancing around the circle again to see if there's anyone else missing. At the edge of the group, all the Alphas are huddled in a circle before disbanding with laughter and smacks on the shoulders. They head into the center in front of us and the talking and whispers before cease.

"We welcome these clans to our pack, to our fires, and to claim any mate they wish," our Alpha bellows to be heard over the vast crowd. Casey stands beside him with his chest puffed out like he did anything except be an asshole. "Though a few of our pack have already been promised this night."

Goosebumps dance along my arms. Has Michael spoken to my Alpha about me? I clasp my hands in front of me to keep from jumping up and shouting like a lunatic.

"Welcome the Ash Band Pack," he continues and all of us clap with a few who whistle and yell in joy. "The Aurara clan."

The two Alphas bow along with their next-in-line offspring who are both girls. One has light brown hair and the other a blond. Both of them

look terrified and hide behind their father's legs.

"Give your applause to the Blacktooth Pack."

A burly man with jet black hair and his son who is just as tall as his father, but yet to grow facial hair, nods.

"And the Crescent Moon pack."

Michael marches forward and my stomach flutters. He's with a man who looks old enough to be his grandfather. His grey hair is wild and uneven, his skin is tanned by the sun and his eyes look weary. A scar bisects his face with a white line that runs from his chin to his temple. He holds himself proudly and Michael and him have the same cleft chin.

My Michael is next in line to be an Alpha? My breath hitches in my chest. Damn when my wolf chooses, she goes all out.

Our own Alpha continues to spout pack names, but I can't hear him anymore. All my focus is on Michael and when he meets my gaze with a smile, my wolf howls inside my chest.

I'm tugged down onto my knees by one of the elders. A few of the 

married women from the pack braid and adorn my hair with flowers like I'm some kind of sacrifice.

After we're prepared, our Alpha marches before us in line and pauses in front of me.

Does he sense my wolf is finally awakening? I hold my breath.

"You will be mated to the son of the Alpha of the Crescent Moon," he says loud enough that many of our clan gasp in surprise and murmurs of both shock and wonder fan out around us. Then he lowers his voice and says with a snarl, "Don't fuck this up."

I open my mouth to protest, but then I know better. Contradicting him won't help me and I want this night to be perfect.

The drums start to beat in a rhythm that echoes through me. The Alpha moves down the line, patting some wolves' heads, kissing others on the cheek, and giving words of encouragement.

The fire burns higher and higher. The heat becomes almost unbearable. I feel like I'm burning alive and my heart pounds in my chest

I shuffle back and forth on my feet. I can't help but wonder what Michael will look like when he shifts. Will my wolf recognize him as our mate? Will his wolf claim mine as he will my human form? Deep in my chest, I feel a stirring and I place my hand on my breastbone to will my wolf forward.

It's like she's waiting for this too. For Michael and the start of our lives together. An Alpha's son. I shake my head unbelieving that my wolf has such high expectations. And I feel like this is the first day of the rest of my life. That I'm finally doing something right and my life from this moment on will change forever.

The elders continue their chanting and the power of the words fills me with excitement.

How much longer? I'm ready to be done with the ceremony and ready to be mated to Michael.

After what feels like an eternity, the ritual continues. Everyone softens their voices to murmurs while the elders' voices rise, but it holds some sort of magic. I can feel my heart beating faster and the humming of the wolves' voices sounds all around me.

"We must all first coo the wolf

"We must all first see the wolf in us," the elder woman says, then pauses and throws herbs onto the flames. Black smoke rises from the fire. "Close your eyes and see your wolf inside."

I follow the instructions and my heart hammers like it's going to burst out of my chest.

The world stops, I focus on feeling my wolf, and then everything is awash with red.

I run, the rest of the world frozen.

I race over a hill, my paws hitting the ground with a splat.

And then I'm running in a forest.

But it's not this forest and I'm not in my human form.

I'm aware of every sound, every wet leaf, and every snapped twig. Too many scents clash in my nose. The air is rich with the smells of rain and forest: the wet leaves, the odor of decomposition, the scent of prey.

A deer has a unique, almost perfume-like aroma.

I'm hunting.

I crouch low behind a log, looking at my prey: the deer.

Its legs freeze still, then it takes off running, but I'm faster, and I'm right behind it. With a loud growl, my sharp claws slice into its flesh, drawing blood that stings my nose. I can feel the blood on my face and taste it on my tongue.

The taste is salty, fresh meat, and adrenaline. Blood slides down my throat and fills my stomach.

But there's something wrong. My stomach heaves and twists. I haven't shifted at all. I'm still human.

My face contorts and my muscles begin to twitch. I want to scream, but I no longer have a voice. I will the pain if it will bring out my wolf. Except it's not happening. It's like I'm stuck in a never-ending loop of agony.

My eyes snap open and everyone around the bonfire is staring at me. I'm on the ground, writhing in pain as my wolf fights to break free, but can't. My skin ripples and it feels like someone is raking hot coals under my flesh. I whimper, wanting it to stop.

"Relax," an elder says kneeling beside me.

Is she shitting me? All my muscles are on fire. All my bones shatter at once, then re-heal and jerk back in place only to redo it all again. Yet