ARI

My mother and I went back home to grab our stuff. Although I protested, Nathan, Matt, Zander and Alex came along. We reached back at the pack house around 2am and by then, I was pooped so Aimee led my mother and I to our rooms. My moms rooms was on the fourth floor with all the other adults. I noticed she had her room right next to Zander's. She blushed every time he looked at her. I found it adorable now.

I was led to third floor and into a rather large room. It mimicked Alex's room except the colors were a little lighter.

I didn't bother unpacking or showering. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out.

****

The next morning, I was up by 7am. I showered and got ready for the day. I was told I would be training today so I decided to dress in my long-sleeved black fitted shirt and a pair of tight fitting sweats.

Slowly, I opened my rooms door and peaked out into the hall, instantly regretting it. The door of the room across from me was wide open and inside stood a very shirtless Alex in only his underwear.

Alex looked at me, then his chest and then his underwear, sprinted to the door and then slammed it shut. I could swear I saw a tinge of red on his cheeks.

I silently laughed to myself, bouncing down the stairs. I rounded the corner into the kitchen, my mouth watering from the smell of bacon.

A women who I've seen before but never really talked to, was by the stove. Aaron was helping her cook, pouting every time she slapped his hand away from the bacon.

Aaron noticed me and came to hug me. "Good morning!" He greeted cheerfully.

"Good morning." I said politely to the lady and to Aaron. I'm pretty sure it's his mother. "I'm Ariana." I said, extending my hand.

The lady smiled and slapped my hand away before attacking me with a hug. "Finally! I've wanted to meet my daughter-in-law for so long!"

"D-daughter-in-law." I squeaked.

She raised her eyebrow and looked at Aaron who was snickering.

"Are you not my son's mate?" She asked me with her hands on her hips.

I gulped. "Yes, But-"

"But nothing! You are now part of our family! Deal with it." Then she turned back around and continued cooking.

My mouth hung open in shock. Aaron bent over laughing the longer I stood there.

I turned towards the back door and walked out, my mouth still open.

Jen noticed me and ran over. "Hey, um is everything okay?"

I finally shut my mouth and blushed. "Nothing."

She looked at me weirdly but didn't say anything.

Once we reached the middle of the field, which was filled with a lot of teenagers, Matt greeted us. "Good morning everyone! I hope you got a good nights rest because we have a lot of catching up to do!" Everyone groaned.

"Groan and Moan all you want, you still have to finish today's exercises." He clapped his hands and everyone took off into the Forrest.

I ran after them but was stopped my Matt. "Not you Ari. You will have separate training from everyone else."

I was confused but ready to learn.

"First, I want you to change."

I looked down at my clothes and blushed. "Oh, am I wearing the wrong thing?" I rubbed my neck sheepishly.

Jen burst out laughing. "No, silly, Uncle Matt wants you to shift into your wolf!"

I mentally slapped myself. "Oh. Slight problem with that. I don't know how. I usually shift when I can't control it anymore." I shivered remembering the pain.

"I forgot that you don't shift as normally as we do." Jen said with wide eyes.

"How much is normally?" Maybe like once a month or twice?

"Probably more than two times a day." Matt said nonchalantly.

I gasped. "Twice a day!" I squeaked in horror.

"Yes, sometimes even more times. Especially if you're training because we have some exercises we do in wolf form." Matt explained.

"So, the best way I can tell you to do this is to think about yourself in wolf form." Jen shrugged.

The back door opened and out walked Alex.

I already felt nervous and now Alex was here and I was even more nervous!

Closing my eyes, I imagined myself as a wolf. My body began to shake and I started to panic.

I opened my eyes and looked at my shaking hands feeling the panic spread throughout my body.

"Why are you panicking, just imagine yourself in your wolf form." Jen told me rolling her eyes.

I glared at her and Alex laughed making my eyes shift to him.

He immediately shut up and looked away.

"Look I just don't want to deal with the pain okay." I crossed my arms and huffed like a child.

"Pain? You shouldn't feel any pain at all." Matt told me, confused.

"WELL I DO!" I screamed in frustration.

Matt stuck out his hands ik front of him. "Okay, Okay, just asking."

I felt a surge of power passing through me, my body shaking some more.

I guess pissing me off is the way to make me change.

"No, keep saying stuff to piss me off."

"Realllly..." I swear I saw Jen's eyes light up mischievously. "You're fat!" She blurted.

"What the heck man!" I pouted.

Alex chuckled and I narrowed my eyes at him. "What! You think it's true!"

"Wh-I-no!" Alex's mouth opened and closed like a fish.

"Hey! Don't say anything to him! He's like my brother alright!" Jen told me, defending Alex.

"Hey! Our parents are brother and sister! We are basically siblings!" Alex said a little offended.

I laughed and all three turned to me.

"Stop laughing! You're supposed to be shifting!" Matt stressed.

"Well then do a better job at pissing me off!" I laughed again.

Jen's face scrunched up as she thought up ways to piss me off.

Matt beat her to it. "Hey Jen, uh, I mean Jennifer, uh, I mean Ari!"

"That doesn't piss me off, it's just annoying." I rolled my eyes at him.

"Ooo! I know!" Jen jumped up and down and then said something that actually pissed me off. "Imagine Alex with another girl!"

"What did you say?" Alex's eyes widened as my fists clenched.

"I said-" Jen moved closer to my face. "-Think about another girl touching Alex."

My body actually started to shake from anger and then something unexpected happened. My arm twisted in a painful position making me scream in pain.

Alex was by my side in half a second. "Im here, I'm right here." He grabbed my hand squeezing it which only hurt my bones.

"No! Don't touch me!" I shoved him away from me and immediately regretted it. His eyes flashed with hurt.

I fell to the ground when my leg twisted into a painful position. Another scream flew out of my mouth.

Alex stepped closer to me but hesitated. His face was twisted in pain. Did he feel pain for me or was he in pain himself?

Whatever it was, I didn't like the look on him.

As my body slowly transformed, I only whimpered, afraid of screaming and hurting Alex.

"Why is she in so much pain!" Alex gripped at his hair, his face torn every time I whimpered in pain.

"I don't know." Jen looked like she was going to cry.

"She isn't relaxing. She's too tense." Nathan said out of nowhere.

I looked around to see most of the pack surrounding me.

My mother stood next to Zander, squeezing his hand every time a whimper flew out of my mouth.

It felt like almost an hour later and I was still on the floor gasping because of the pain I felt.

A loud growl ripped through the air, making my whimpers silent.

"I can't take this anymore! She's been in pain for more than 5 minutes now but it feels never ending!" Alex yelled in frustration.

Suddenly he was by my side, wiping the sweat off my forehead. "Listen to me Ari. Don't think about the pain please."

I kept my mouth shut but my body was still too tense.

My leg twisted and a small scream flew out of my mouth. Alex flinched and wiped his face.

Suddenly his face twisted in anger, surprising me.

He stood up taking me with him. "LISTEN TO ME!"

Everyone was surprised too. My mother stepped towards me but was stopped by Zander. She gave him an incredulous look but obeyed.

"Relax." He seemed so frustrated with me and I couldn't help but listen to him.

I relaxed my body, even though the pain was still eating away at every nerve ending.

"Think of the incredible power it takes to be a werewolf. Don't feel it, just let it wash over you. Imagine being this incredibly powerful beast that resides within you. Feel it coming out."

I closed my eyes and I swear, all the pain in my body slowly disappeared.

Listening to every word Alex was telling me, I finally turned into a wolf.

That was the fastest I have turned. It usually takes about an hour for me to be fully transformed.

I shook out my body and pranced around the field, taking in everyone's different scents my nose was finally picking up on.

A warm hand touched my back and I spun around quick, baring my teeth.

My mother snapped her hand back in fright. Zander came and stood in front of her, protecting her.

But my mother being my mother, pushed him out of way. "That's my daughter! She won't hurt me."

I whimpered and bowed my head, telling her I wouldn't, not again.

Zander grabbed my moms arm and pushed her sleeve up showing her the scar I left behind when I had accidentally scratched her.

Three straight lines about 2 inches long, decorated her arm. I whined as my mom pushed the sleeve of her top down. "That was not Ari's fault! I shouldn't have touched her in mid-transformation."

Zander let it go but still eyed me as my mother came closer. I sat down and let her pet me.

Alex looked at me and from the corner of my eye, I could see his eyes turning into this dark charcoal color. Whoa he looks scary but hot at the same time.

Those eyes made me shiver though and I was surprised to learn that it wasn't in the good way.

Alex stepped forward and I barked. Surprising everyone around me, including Alex. He frowned and tried to step closer.

No matter what he did, I barked again. His eyes were freaking me out. I didn't like them.

"It's your eyes, son." Nathan said chiming in. I had backed up right at the edge of the Forrest and was growling at him now. I wanted to slap myself but couldn't control my body right now.

"What do you mean?" Alex asked him frustrated.

"Your eyes tortured her ever since she's met you. I mean met Shawn. Being in her wolf form must have triggered something and now she's reacting this way." Nathan closed his eyes and concentrated on me before he opened them and frowned again. "We haven't added her to the pack yet. I can't mind-link her."

Alex took another step towards me, I backed up again.

"I-is she afraid of me?" He sounded so heartbroken. I whined for him to come closer.

But as soon as he did, I took off into the Forrest, my legs pushing faster and faster.

"Let her go son! She will be back. Just give her space." Nathan shouted at Alex.

I didn't even know I needed space! Stupid werewolf body being scared of the person she loves!

My ears perked up when I heard water splashing against some rocks. I followed it to a creek and sat down, enjoying the view.

I liked being a wolf sometimes. Nature looked absolutely beautiful through my enhanced eyes.

A branch snapped somewhere behind me and the hairs on my back stood up. I sniffed the air and followed it to a man that was watching me through the trees.

He looked around too before approaching me.

I was obviously on high alert, especially when I noticed the gun in his hand.

I knew him, deep down in my brain, I knew this man. He even triggered a memory. I was in a cell and I believe I was sick. He was taking care of me. Should I trust him then?

If I could then why would he bring his gun?

"Well, hello their Jennifer."

I gave him a sharp bark, telling him it's Ariana but he obviously couldn't understand me.

He raised his gun at me and flinched away. "Now, now. Don't make me use this. I'm sure your familiar on how they work considering you were killed by one 18 years ago."

I didn't move a muscle. And then another memory came into view. Me and this guy were running away and then he betrayed me by choosing the enemy's side and then betrayed me again when he helped murder Alex and I.

"My name is Micheal." He said through a toothy smile.

Micheal? As in the dude who was rehabilitated and living as part of the park? What did he want?

"Now I don't have time until your mate comes to look for you but I need you to come back to this exact spot tomorrow at 7pm sharp.

I gave him a chuckle which just sounded like a choked growl. Why the hell would I do that?

I tried walking away until he stopped me by loading his gun. "Don't move. You wouldn't want your mate to suffer the same fate? Or how about your fragile human mother?"

A deep growl made its way out of my throat.

Micheal smiled. "Now nod your head if you understand what you need to do by 7pm tomorrow."

I nodded my head.

"Just remember, if you try to warn anyone or have backup, then all it takes is one bullet and everyone you love is dead. See you tomorrow." He chuckled and then backed up into the Forrest.

I relaxed when I couldn't hear him anymore.

What the hell just happened?