Succumbing to the Wolf Within

Everything was peaceful for a while, my body didn't hurt as much and I was as relaxed as I could be, but it was still agonizing. Still, I found myself half asleep with the random twitches of my body muscles aching subconsciously. When I felt Alexander slip out from underneath me, I could feel my face pull a frown as I could feel his warmth leave my bed. I would admit I didn't want him to leave, but the scent of my mother and Jace filled my nose, telling me they were nearby. 'When will this end?' Aquafinia whimpered in the back of my head. 'Hopefully soon, just try to relax until then.' I tried to soothe her, but was only starting to feel the pain once again.

When Alexander lifted me into his arms, I groaned as I tried to force my body closer to him. Wanting to feel the warmth of his body, it seemed to help relax me in a way, but I didn't know the extent of it just yet. When he spoke about moving and wanting to talk, I groaned in denial of either of those choices. I felt the need to stretch, but knew I wasn't going to get much out of it, still I stretched anyway. I could hear my cousin's whispering among themselves in the distance, knowing they were worried. When they spoke of Alexander being revered, I smiled on the inside knowing they were too smart for their own good and then when he retorted back with his reply, I couldn't stop myself from speaking then. "They know such words because they are what's left of the true Bloode wolf line, my unfortunate uncle's remaining blood as I am both of Crescent and Bloode." I merely whispered, not bothering to open my eyes.

Once we were in the master bathroom of my parents room, he leaned me up against the tub. Watching Alexander move towards the toilet, I quickly averted my eyesight from him. Biting my lip, I dared to look over my shoulder only to find a pair of shorts now in my face. When Alexander said I needed shorts and a tank top on, I blushed brightly knowing we were the only ones here and with my current condition, he'd have to help me get changed. 'Oh Moon Goddess.' I thought as I looked at him, he was already blushing at the fact too. Maybe it was me, but the way he looked just now, it was actually kind of intriguing. His blue eyes seemed to hold a intimidated glance while his body was tense. 'Can we just take him already?! You are eighteen now.' Aquifinia growled seductively in the back of my mind, but something in me told me to wait, hold back and let the bait be taken. It sort of reminded me of fishing or hunting, patience was the key and I seemed to have none with Aquafinia in the back of my mind.

"A-Are you okay to dress yourself?" Alexander timidly asked as he looked at me. I gingerly took the shorts and tank top from his hand and nodded. "Y-Yeah, could you turn around?" I asked as I felt my cheeks heat up. I was getting hotter by the second and realizing I was in sweats, didn't help much either. Nodding he turned around and I could tell he was changing too. Pulling off the shirt I was in, I quickly slipped the black tank top on. Next was a struggle as I attempted to pull the sweats off in my dizzy state. It was hard to move with my supernatural werewolf abilities heightened, but most of my other senses were dulled. Somewhere in the middle of being drunk or looking like I was seriously on something. It had been some time with fumbling trying to get my sweats off all the way. Sighing and finally speaking lightly, "Alexander, I don't want to bother you, but I really need some help over here." turning to face him, I could already tell that was a sensitive question. He slowly turned around and our eyes met, that was when I could tell he was serious now like a primal animal looking at their prey.

When he stood up, I realized I might have been to hasty this morning when I ran out of the meeting. Noticing I had been staring into his eyes without hearing him even say yes, I blushed brightly and looked to the ground. "I'll be pleasant, your mother would have my jewels if I wasn't." he said as a chuckle escaped his mouth. I laughed along with him, it was just the knife to cut through all the tense emotion and static floating around us. Moving to help me get into my shorts, I leaned into his body and took in his scent again. 'Why is he even more intoxicating like this?' I thought as I could feel my legs getting weak beneath me. Placing his hands on my hips, he looked into my eyes and smiled. "You alright there?" Alexander questioned with a gentle smile tugging at the corner of his lips. I nodded, but didn't dare speak a word as I had nothing to say then. "Alright, well I will get in first and then I'll help you in. Heads up, it's like death." he joked and then got into the tub full of ice as quickly as he could.

Once he leaned over the edge of the tub and smoothly helped me into the tub with him, my body was hit with a shock wave of pain from the pure cold of the ice. Flinching within the resistance of the pain from the change, I whimpered painfully. Alexander pulled me into his embrace, my back against his chest and I could look up to him. "You said there were things to discuss? Might be the best time to do it now, while we are in this tub together." I said, but began to trail off in embarrassment at the words that flowed through my lips. Alexander looked down to me, while I looked up at him and he sighed gently. "Well I hope you are ready to spend the whole night with me, we are tethered together as if by destiny's design." Alexander said, but spoke more in riddles. I was confused and it was evident on my facial features.

He seemed to laugh and shuffled a little, getting more comfortable with the ice and my body weight slightly on him as well. "Your medic is wise, I learned things and got to read a sacred scroll." he explained with an amazed look in his eyes. I was wondering about the scroll, he mentioned it earlier and I did not want to talk. "Well, are you going to explain?" I asked as I snuggled in closer to him, for some reason the ice against my skin felt good and with him next to me, it just felt right oddly enough. Alexander chuckled at my inpatient behavior, but I was rather excited to hear what he read. I would get a few chances to read scrolls. My mother only wanted me to see them, about once or twice a year at most. "Well maybe you can help me decrypt some of the riddles within. Well with what happened and after you fainted, there were some underlying issues that we found. Apart from the change, you have also started your first heat. Together combined can cause madness or death, in rare cases." he started to explain, but stopped when he saw the reaction he hadn't been hoping for. "Well let's not talk about that. As for the riddling part, 'Until the break of dawn with the wolves within be tethered, feelings woven, and memories shared - then will the effect of the change and heat be broken'." Alexander said, although it did not sound like a riddle to me.

We had many things to say and laugh about as we watched and waited for the ice to melt while my body slowly grew cooler. My mind trickled back to the riddle that was no riddle at all. That was a mere thirty minutes ago and I am just not understanding a little of the saying. "I was thinking back to the riddle you told me, it does not sound like one nor does it even have rhythm to rhyme." I said, but was cut short when Jace and Alpha Rosebude appeared in front of us. I was rather taken aback by the visiting face, but was too embarrassed to even greet them in my state.

"No need to welcome us to this event deary, I merely came to help out with what ales both of you." Alpha Rosebude said as she looked at us with soft eyes. She examined the way I looked from head to toe and nodded. "The fever is gone, she will be well enough to go through her change, if she can handle the pain that is." the older woman said as she pondered for a moment's thought. She looked at Jace and then looked at the both of us once again. "I have a late gift, it was supposed to be a lunar gift, but I would prefer you to have it now. Alexander was adamant about wanting more information, so keep this scroll secret and hidden from prying eyes." she said as she placed an old piece of paper upon a table near the bathroom entrance. Nodding, I smiled lightly and then asked softly, "The line, woven feelings and shared memories, is that of the destiny that follows with the first tethered scroll? There are four in total, the one Alexander spoke of and now," I started to say, but was cut off by Jace saying, "And now this one. Four in total, two under watchful eyes." I laughed and shook my head at him as he stared at me for a moment. "There are three under watchful eyes Jace, my mother holds the first. One more remains scattered throughout the packs, if we can find it a mystery will be unlocked." I said with a smile belittling my lips. Alpha Rosebude laughed as I corrected Jace, she then bowed her head to us and spoke softly, "As the Moon Goddess gifts you, she has chosen a champion in you also. Stay to what your heart says and you will find peace everlasting. We must go, but you both must prepare for the final change, running wild and free as wolves have done for generations before. Stay on your toes with this one Alexander, now we will be off. The lunar moon will finish it's final crest at three, she needs to turn before then or she won't ever turn." The sternness of her voice sent chills down my spine and I looked down, avoiding to look at any of them for the moment.

When they left, I watched them quietly with a curious gaze, but didn't bother to say a word. Turning my gaze to look at Alexander, I couldn't help but giggle at the attention that we just got. My body felt lighter and I seemed to have more of a grip over my movements, but I still lacked the necessary sensory responses I needed to move and respond accurately. Standing to my feet, I could feel Alexander's warm hands gently holding my waist as if to help steady me. After I was out of the tub, Alexander soon followed after, but looking rather tired. I was feeling the same, although I was thinking back to what Alpha Rosebude said and I got a little nervous. We had already lost so much time with today's events and postponing the lunar party till tomorrow, even though it was supposed to be held tonight.

I sighed as I grabbed a towel and wrapped it around my body. "I hope this will go smoothly. I-I can feel my bones aching with every movement I make." I said with a pained and yet anxious tone. Alexander looked at me and sighed lightly. Wrapping a towel around his waist, he placed his hand on my shoulder next. Looking into my eyes, he spoke lightly, "You will feel better when you change, so we better hurry. It's exhilarating, so don't get too nervous about it all." Looking at him I nodded, grabbing the scroll off the table near the bathroom entrance as I walked into my parents room. I could smell my mother's scent nearing us as I looked around the corner of the bedroom door. She was speaking to my father as they seemed to be heading our direction. Walking out into the hall, I walked toward them and smiled gently. "A gift from elder Rosebude. Will you please hold it till the morning?" I asked as I held out the old piece of parchment to them. My mother nodded in understanding what I meant, when she saw the old scroll. "We're going out to change before three. I will see you both in the morning." I said with a gentle tone. Placing a kiss on both of their cheeks, I walked past them with Alexander in tow.

Once we were outside and I knew nobody was going to disturb us, I smiled gently up at him. At that moment, I had no reason to why I did it, but I wrapped my arm around the back of his neck and pulled him closer. Looking into his eyes, I could see everything I wanted to see. I could see he was nervous, but with a calm stoic face looking back at me. Leaning forward, our lips met with a sweet, but passionate kiss. It lasted for a few moments, until Alexander pulled back with the brightest smile I had ever seen on his face. We may have met this morning, but something inside felt like we had known one another for a much longer time. "Alexi?" Alexander asked softly as he looked at me. I could tell he was wanting an explanation, but I couldn't give him one at the moment. "I will explain myself later, but for now let's get the change over with." I said softly, though with a pained tone.

My body was so sore, but I knew after I changed it would be better. Finding a secluded area within the garden, I turned around to look at Alexander with soft eyes. I was still new to all of this after all. "S-So how am I supposed to change?" I asked softly with a gentle confusion to my voice. Alexander looked at me as if he was trying to figure out the words, his face contorted into a slightly confused look. "It's much harder to explain, rather than it is to show you. Just brace yourself on the sound of cracking bones." he told me with a slightly disgusted face. I could tell he was worried about me and I knew I felt all the worry he had, but why?

Nodding I watched as he took off his shirt and then stripped into nothing, but his boxer briefs. Blushing as he walked up to me, I tried to avert my eyes, but he just pulled my attention back to him as he spoke. "Don't look away, little wolf." he said in a more seductive voice than he ever had given me. At that moment, I couldn't look away if I had wanted to. I watched every movement that he made, then I heard the snapping of bones. I could see on Alexander's human face that the pain was excruciating. Gritting my teeth, I could feel my own bones snapping and following in suit.

As tears started to stream down my cheeks, I could hear Aquafinia in the back of my head saying, 'You need to relax! Just breathe and we will get through this.' Doubling over in the pain, I knelt down to the ground and grabbed a handful of grass and dirt. My breathing picked up rapidly and I looked up to the now, transformed Alexander. "Relax little wolf. It will only hurt when you change, but this is the most painful change you will ever have. Try to follow the flow and do not fight it. That will only make it worse." he spoke in a deeper voice than his normal voice. "B-But i-it…" I started to say with more pain in my voice, but was cut off quickly. "I know it hurts, but you must change." I could hear Alexander's voice push through the rushing sound of blood in my ears. Forcing myself to look into his eyes, I nodded my head as tears slowly streamed down my cheeks.

I could feel the bones in my legs start to snap and rearrange themselves to form my humanoid wolf legs. Arching my back, I let out a small whine of pain. I could feel my bones pushing and pulling, snapping and rearranging with every moment I made. It was hard not to fight any of this and that's exactly what I was trying not to do. Falling to the cool, but hard ground, a scream escaped my mouth as my torso started to shift. It was too painful, all of it was! "I-I can't!" I screamed out in pain as I could feel my body writhing in more agony. My vision started to get hazy and I could feel a numbing sensation trying to overcome my body. "You are already more than halfway done, you can finish this out, little wolf." I could hear Alexander's words flow through my ears, sending what felt like a shock to my system. Gritting my teeth and forcing my head up, I forced another small nod out. Looking up at the moon, I knew I could do this with those words he told me. And within a few minutes, I was a fully transformed werewolf.

All my senses and extra abilities seemed to be doing fine, but when Alexander pounced on me, I didn't know what to do. Looking up, I could see more in his eyes. "Catch me if you can, Alpha Lockwoode." I said in a teasing tone as I pushed his body off of my own. Taking off the instant I was free, I let the inner wolf within take over. I didn't know much of the form I held, but I knew it was much swifter than my own human body. I could feel the irregular weight it held, but it seemed to be easy to control as well. 'Alexander's getting close.' Aquafinia said in the back of my head. Looking over my shoulder, she was right and I smiled internally at the fact.

Bounding forward, I leapt over a few fallen trees here and there, finally coming to the lake a few miles back behind the pack house. Running alongside the water, I couldn't help but stop as I noticed the white fur mirroring in the still water. I was covered in white fur. It seemed to look thick, but was very fine to the touch. My nails looked more like claws than they had ever before. But the one thing that stood out to me, were the color of my werewolf forms eyes. A bright amber golden color, a sign of a Crescent Moon descendant. Out of my own family, I never once had seen the color of anyone's eyes like this. In the water, I could see a large black figure behind me, his eyes glowing red with the moonlight. "It seems I have caught you." Alexander said with a gentle chuckle as he placed his large werewolf hand upon my shoulder.

Spinning around, I looked into his deep red eyes and felt my body shiver under his gaze. "I guess you have. I still have questions, if you are willing to answer?" I said as I moved closer towards his body. I could see his hesitance, but I knew I could try and push my luck even further. Taking a chance of him being distracted, I tripped him with one swift kick of my foot. As he fell to the ground, I straddled his body and looked down to him. "If this is a way of getting me to talk, you have made a mistake, little wolf." he said, but I could hear his growl of pleasure underneath it. I looked into his eyes and narrowed my own, but before I knew it, Alexander had already flipped the both of us over and I was now on my back. "Just hold back your wants, we still have to figure out what the scroll means. We are tethered together after all." he said and then released me as he stood up. I growled deeply and looked at him with a glare, I could tell I was acting on pure instinct, but it felt right. Could he not feel it?! "You're right, we can work more on that later. Let's just run like wolves and feel the morning air flow through our furs." I told him as I stood up. Taking his hand within mine, I smiled gently and pulled him with me. "Come on, I want to show you the place I love to be alone, apart from the garden." I told him as he watched my movements closely.

I could tell his eyes were telling me to be good, but his own body was disobeying every notion of avoiding my touch. I could tell I had him under my finger now, but how was I going to use him? I didn't understand much of love and yet this felt too true. It was a wild feeling and I wanted more of it. Maybe it wasn't all instinct, but I could tell something was different. Now that I was a fully transformed werewolf, I knew things would change quickly for myself and the pack.