I could not believe Sam was going through her first change. So many emotions were running through my mind. I would no longer have to share her with Nickoli anymore or I might lose her to Nickoli. But would I lose her to Nickoli? Something was off with him since we got Sam back. He never stayed to night. He only came around for brief visits and those were becoming further and further in between. Then there was Lawrence, he seemed to be around a lot lately.

Her short life had just been changed to a long lasting one we could share or have to watch from a distance. Also, she didn't ask for this so what would she do when she could think straight again. I was worried and waiting for the straw that broke the camel's back. Would this finally be it? I couldn't stop wondering what was going to happen after tonight. 

Watching her run with them was exhilarating, the thought of us hunting together was arousing. One of the most emotional changes I had in many years, I was fighting my own wolf to stay in check. The past month seeing Sam struggle with what I knew was tearing her apart and not able to help was torture, but seeing her go through this was almost worse.

Now watching her wither in pain, sitting in the circle of her first change was wearing me down. I wanted to take her in my arms and take the pain away. A hand on my shoulder stopped me in mid-step when she screamed out in pain.

"Dmitri, I know it's hard but you must stay and focus," Jack said with sympathy.

Crouching down, meeting Sam's eyes, "Don't fight it babe, let it happen," he pleaded.

"Please, Dmitri help me," she begged, voice raspy from screaming. On all fours she reached out, the first time in weeks she had initiated any touch from me, hand outstretched than fell forward.

Her body rippled like waves, bones cracking, making sickening popping sounds. Screams of frustration as she fought the change, tugging at her clothing, I knows how it was, the feeling of being restricted, the material adding to the pain and discomfort. Her shirt off, pants undone, back up on all fours, her face elongating, ears reforming and hair beginning to sprout. "Dammit Sam, stop fighting it!" I yelled my frustration of watching her in pain. This had to be the worst change I had ever seen. Not knowing if it was because the woman I loved was in pain or the fact I had never seen anyone fight their first change so much.

With her face distorted I knew she was glaring at me when she lifted her head. I was ok with that because the second she was angry with me was a second she wasn't fighting the change. The rest of her changed happened as smooth and fast as if she had done it a hundred times. Collapsing to her side, eyes closed, chest rising and falling with heavy panting. Staying in the circle was hard, all I wanted to do was rush over and hold her in my arms, but that could earn me a nasty bite.

It took him a full minute to really see her, her animal form was the most breathtaking creature I had ever laid eyes on; my earlier fears were no longer. My beautiful Sam was a wolf, a stunning white as snow wolf. Fur on all four paws was an amazing gold with a matching half-moon crescent on her chest. My soon to be mate was breathtaking. Getting up on shaky legs, head bowed, I whispered, "Sam." Lifting her head to the sound of my voice, meeting her eyes I was started at the sight. She didn't have the ice blue eyes or golden brown eyes of the wolf, they were the amber of the lion.

Covering up my shock quickly, Sam must have not noticed as she took her first step, and stumbled. Steading herself, getting use to four legs, she took another step with a whimper and headed towards me.

Jack moved in between me and Sam, "No Sam," he commanded.

To mine and everybody's surprise, Sam lowered her head, ears back, hackles up, teeth showering and growls at my Alpha. Her Alpha. Never leaving eye contact, she was challenging him. "Sam I said NO!" Jack's voice was firm, the command reached all the pack.

Body tensed, ready to pounce on the Alpha, which would only ended up badly. I took a step to the side, "Sam baby I'm here, everything is Ok. Please calm down baby," I kept my voice soft and body relaxed. Just like my Sam, she needed the last word, giving a growl before standing up straight and pranced back to the middle of the circle.

"My god she's beautiful," Nickoli broke the silence from the other side of the circle.

Sam stopped and turned her head towards his voice, tilting her head examining Nickoli before falling to the ground howling in pain. Bones snapping, hair receding, she was changing back, which was impossible on the night of the full moon before sunrise. Then what happened next was even more impossible. Half way through the change back to human, so I thought, her fur sprouted again, face changing, and body filled out. Collapsing when the changed was completed laid an amazing looking lion.

Staggering to her feet once more, everyone stunned at the sight, lifting her head to look at Nickoli, he seemed to have that same startled look in his eyes that I held moments ago, but then again seeing Sam do the impossible could give and gave everyone that same expression on their faces. This time with more grace, she looked over her shoulder at me. Already in complete shock over the day and nights events, I was not as startled when I saw the ice blue of the wolf's eyes staring back at me before she turned and went towards Nickoli. This time she was still the snow white colour but the only gold on her was the same crescent moon on her forehead.

Now Lawrence's turn, he stepped between Nickoli and Sam. "No Sam, stay where you are," he commanded, I felt his power. Sam let out a roar of frustration, but this time all her attention was for Lawrence.