Mat

I couldn't take my eyes off Killian as he paced back and forth, tugging at the collar of his flannel shirt as he sweat, “Why is it so hot?” he asked and his father who looked just like Killian walked over to him. He quickly unbutton shirt and took it off.

“It's starting.” his father said. “You blood is changing, it's heating up.”

“So it really is this bad.” Killian said and I finally looked away.

“I wouldn't pay too much attention, it makes you nervous.” Devin said and I scoffed.

“Why do I have to be here?” I asked him.

“Close pack member stick together. You go to school with Killian, it'll be more supportive having his friend’s around.” he said. “We all go through the change slowly, it's not that bad—it's worse. His bones will start moving and cracking to re-shape to fit his new body.”

“That's comforting.” I sarcastically said as he smirked.

“It only hurts the first time, once all the bones are fit with his new body, he can change every night without being in pain. You'll actually want to change, the need is strong.” he said.

''I don't—I feel very human, Devin. Like nothing has changed.'' I said.

''Nothing about you should change Mat, even after your birthday. You'll just have something connected to your soul.'' he said.

Killian

Oh, my God. Oh, my God can someone make this stop? I questioned myself as I paced, sweat rolling down my face. It was forty degrees out, but it felt like a humid summer night.

My dad gave me a water bottle and I chugged it down. He and my mom made it this morning for today, but ever since I woke up, this nauseated feeling in my stomach wouldn't go away. Everything I eat, I would puke it up.

''Hey, hey you're doing fine Killian.'' my dad said, grabbing my face and made me look at him. ''The moon almost in its direction, no more ten minutes. You can do it.''

''Dad—dad, I should tell you something. When I change, I . . . I . . .''

''Yes Killian?" he questioned.

I might run over to a girl who's my mate, so prepare to have a pissed off Alpha, I thought, but a ball formed my throat and I just shook my head, ''N-nothing, it can wait actually.''

''Okay,'' he said. ''Lets get you jeans off, they cost me a good penny for you.''

When I got them off, Will came over to me and put his hands on my shoulders, ''You'll be fine, cuz.'' he said, playfully slapping my face.

''Will, you gotta make sure I run into the woods.'' I said.

''Trust me, jeez.'' he chuckled. ''I don't need to see Alpha Lincoln angry, it's not pretty.''

Mat

''I don't know if I want to yet.'' I said to Devin who brought up me moving in. ''Even, I'm sure it's not going to be easy. You'll just walk in and say what? You're my brother and you have the rights? They won't believe you.''

''No offense, but I heard things about you and they probably wouldn't hesitate to get rid of you.'' he said and I gave him a 'whatever' look. ''Alpha Lincoln can make anything happen, Mat. With a snap of his fingers, you can live with me. Zoe said it'll be excited to move close to the Alpha family. She has no problem with it, she's excited to meet you.''

''I spent my whole life at Wings Hope though, I never even been over at a sleep over since the girls were scared of me. Yet they have no problem with choosing me first for dodge ball in middle school.'' I said, scoffing.

He shrugged, ''I loved dodge ball.''

''So did I.'' I said, making both of us laugh. ''Never got hit once. Even got pretty face Marco over there in the right eye.'' I chuckled. ''He was pissed.''

I looked into the fire that built and the fire cracked here and there. Devin held a s'more in my face and I could see it was burned a little. I pushed it away, but he wrapped his arm around my neck, ''Eat it!"

I laughed, finding it funny, ''No!" I said, squeezing my mouth shut. Devin tickled me and I tried fighting it, but my mouth opened as I giggled, then he shoved the s'more in my mouth.

''I made it for you, you need to be nice.'' he said and I grabbed my water, spraying some on how face. He scoffed, smacking his teeth, ''Because I'm the older sibling, I'm going to be the mature one and let that go.''

I swallowed the burn s'more and took a sip of water, ''Next time, don't make it so crunky.''

''Ahh!" I heard Killian cry at the other side of the big circle of people. He was on his knees, his body bending forward as his left hand held himself up, his left touching his forehead. Even from where I was, I could see his ribs—moving. ''Ahh!'' he cried, grabbing his left side as he sucked in deeply in pain. He squeezed eyes shut tightly, crying in pain again.

I bit my bottom lip, stopping myself from running over to him like I so badly wanted. I just wanted to comfort him and help him along with this.

''Mat?'' Devin said and I forces myself to look away from Killian. He looked down and I followed to see I was squeezing his hand. I quickly let go and turned back to watch Killian.

Killian gasped, his eyes finally opening. They were wide like he was surprised. He scratched at his abdominal part, but it looked more like he was clawing as if he was trying to rip his skin and grabbed whatever was making the pain stop.

''God!" he yelled, bring his one of his hand up to his face, scratching at it.

''Someone should help him.'' I said to Devin, looking at him and he looked confused. ''Look at him! It looks like something killing him.''

''This is how it happened, Mat. None of us can make it stop.'' he said.

I scoffed, ''But Devin!" I said and it was as if someone pushed me up from the log seat. I ran over to Killian and Devin called my name, asking what I was doing, but I ignored him. I stopped when I got to Killian and kneeled down next to him, touching his arm, ''Killian?''

He cried as if I burned him, so I started to pull away when his body fell against me and he buried his face in my chest, ''It hurts, Mat. It hurts.'' he said as he panted.

My arms went around him, but I felt his ribs move, making me pull away. I felt hands go under my arms, pulling me away, ''What? Hey! Let me go!'' I yelled and looked behind me to see it was Will. I fought him to let go, but he had a good grip, ''Let go, Will!''

He grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at him, and he didn't look happy, ''Stop it.'' he said coldly. ''You're causing a scene.''

''I don't care!" I said.

''Mat! This is how it goes, sorry if this scares you.'' he said loudly and I was confused since it was like he was explaining myself to the crowd of shock wolves. ''I know you're new to the pack, but he's alright. Come sit next to me.'' he said, wrapping his arm around my neck, pulling me forward but something tugged my shirt, stopping me.

Both Will and I turned our heads, looking down at Killian who was holding me back. My eyes widen when I saw his canines lengthen like fangs, then the rest of his teeth changes as he growled. His beautiful powder blue eyes turned to some neon gold color. The gold outline was spreading over the blue.

Will reached down and took my shirt out of his hand, ''Focus Killian, it's important.'' Will said as he pulled me over to log, sitting me down with his arm kept around me. He brought his mouth to my ear to whisper, ''Don't do that again.'' he said angrily and I pulled away, glaring at him.

''Fuck off.'' I whispered back before looking back at Killian since Will kept a good grip on me to stay down.

He grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at him, ''You have to understand packs are serious. Killian at the moment belongs to Melinda, Alpha Lincoln isn't happy with you.''

''I'm supposed to just watch?'' I asked.

''Yes.'' he said, then he pecked me on the mouth. I brought my hand up to slap him, but he grabbed my hand, ''Don't forget pup, you belong to me at the moment. Now everyone will just think you idiotically ran out there because you're concern since he is in pain.''

''Kiss me again and you won't be able to have children.'' I warned and pulled my chin away. I looked back at Killian who was laying on his side, breathing roughly. His biceps flexed and so other things in his body moved. It was like watching this out of a horror. And just like a movie, Killian started to grow hair--long hair over his whole body. He got back on his knees and growled just like a dog. Then it happened, his whole body changed from a human to a wolf.

''Stay here.'' Will said, getting up and ran towards Killian, but Killian growled at Will. Will stopped quickly, ''Whoa, relax Killian.'' he said as he starting to strip. ''Wanna race me, huh? I dare ya.'' he said playfully as Killian barked. ''You won't keep up, you're too slow.''

Killian took a risky step towards Will, growling before he howled.

''Yeah!" Will cried out along before he shifted into a wolf.

Both wolves circle each other before Killian attacked first, but Will quickly got Killian down. Killian looked at me and I digs into the wood of the log as people around got up, undressing from their clothes as Will let go of Killian and both ran towards the woods. More and more wolves joined, running into the wolves.

I stood up right, staring where Killian went off to when Devin came over, ''Hey, what's up?'' he asked, grabbing my arm and I looked at him. ''What the hell? Running out there is dangerous, Killian had little self-control.''

I swung my arm back to get him to let go, ''He wouldn't have hurt me.''

''How do you know that?'' he asked, snorting. ''Mat, why do I have a feeling you're keeping something from me?''

''I don't need to tell you anything, I hardly know you.'' I said and he didn't look happy I said that as he breathed heavily out his nose. He glared at me, so I glared back to show I wasn't scared of him.

''Stay here with the others, most of them don't have much control. You smell like a human, they might attack if you stupidly go out there next.'' he said and I breathed heavily out my nose at how he was treating me like a child!

''I'm not a human though.'' I said, then looked away awkwardly since I was shocked that I said that. It just came out.

''You've spent a long time with them, stay here.'' he said running off and I angrily stomped my foot before sitting down, looking around the others who went off into their own age groups. I was left with Nate and Billy, who weren't very talkative with me, but talked alone to each other.

I ranked my hands threw my hair as I looked down at the dirt. I squeezed my eyes since I felt like adrenaline was running through my body. When has anyone knew me to just sit patiently? No one. I was the freak with ADHD, I wasn't going to sit here when I should be going to make sure Will was okay.

I got up and looked around to make sure no was watching me as I sneaked off into the woods.

Killian

My paws were pounding against the ground as I ran back towards Marchand. I had been running most of the night, but the need to stay was wearing off since the sun was coming up.

I felt amazing though, strong. If I could, I would continue running out Oregon to Washington, but one of the wolves wouldn't hesitate to attack for coming on their land.

I was able to go off alone after a while and I felt like I could think again without a bunch of voices in my head from a mile away. Every once in a while I would hear someone else, but I would go the gossip way.

I saw something in the corner of my eyes and I quickly stopped. I turned, seeing a bundle against a tree. I walked over and I smelt human. I bares my teeth as I got closer, not helping it. The thought of a human in the woods angered me. I saw her face though and I stopped myself from growling.

Mat? I questioned myself, shocked to find her. I pressed my nose in her hair and I could smell clearly passed the humans scents. Now I could smell her clearly, never forgetting it.

I felt my bones moving as she moaned as she woke up. ''Killian?'' she questioned, then turned around right when I change back into my human skin. Her eyes widen as her arms went around my neck, hugging me, ''I tried looking for you all night. I was so scared I might have gotten you in trouble.''

''Trouble?'' I questioned. ''Oh, last night. Everyone probably forgot by now.''

She pulled away and looked at me before jumping up, closing her eyes, ''You're naked!" she said, running behind a tree. I got up and went over to the tree, chuckling as I stood on the other side.

''What in God name are you doing out here?'' I asked. ''Don't you know it's dangerous?''

''I know . . . but I was worried then I got lost.'' she said, peeking over the tree at me, but kept her face on mine. ''I may have seen a few wolves, but once they got a few feet away, they went away.''

''Still Mat, wolves have little control. Be lucky they hesitated.'' I told her and she scoffed.

''I'm not a child.'' she stubbornly said.

I grinned and reached around, taking her hand, ''I know. I just can't believe you fell asleep out here. You looked peaceful.''

She shrugged, ''I'm actually a little cold—keep behind the tree!'' she said when I moved towards her, but I stopped. Even in the dim woods, I could see her blushing.

I heard wood cracking and my head snapped to my right to see three wolves running this way. I quickly recognize their scent and Mat hand slid from my hand before they could see.

Melinda ran towards Mat and when she was only a few feet away, she changed back and did not look at half as she went towards Mat, ''Melinda, don't—'' I started but Melinda didn't listen as she wrapped her hand around Mat throat, pressing her against the tree,

''You think you can embarrassed me like that and get away with it?'' Melinda asked coldly. ''I don't think so. I held back last night but seeing you out here? Bad idea.''

''Let go!'' Mat breathed out roughly.

''Melinda!" Blue said. ''Stop it.''

''Shut up!'' Melinda said coldly.

''Blue is right,'' Marco said. ''Let go of her Mel, she's new remember?''

Melinda glared at Mat for a moment before letting go. Mat sharply sucked in some air and I moved to her. She was rubbing her neck and I put my arm around her waist to hold her up.

''Killian,'' Melinda coldly said as I looked at her. She was pissed. ''Come here.'' she ordered.

''No,'' I said and she scoffed, laughing humorlessly.

''Excuse me?'' she asked.

''I said no.'' I said.

''Killian?'' Marco questioned.

''You're picking her over me?'' Melinda asked. ''You can't change who you want to be with? Alpha daughter better than poor little daughter of Rogue parents, her story will start to get boring.''

''I always knew you were a spoiled bitch.'' Mat said and Melinda breathed heavily out her nose as she glared at Mat.

''I'm not going to argue with you, you aren't worth my time.'' she said. She looked back at me, ''Now Killian, I'm going to run away and you better be at my house later for breakfast like the good pretend to be boyfriend you are or else. You do want Matilda apart of this pack, right?''

''Melinda?'' Blue questioned. ''Stop it, Mat will be a part of this pack.''

''Not if I bat my lashes a few times at my daddy and give him daddy little girl look.'' she grinned at Mat. ''And you know, you're brother along with that pretty wife and child of his--''

Marco came over and grabbed Melinda arm, ''Stop it.'' he ordered his sister. ''We're going home, we don't threaten our kind.''

Both siblings glared at each other before Melinda jerked her arm out of Marco, ''She's hardly one of us.'' she said before running off, shifting into a wolf as she ran. Marco gave me a hard look before turning to Blue, nodding at her before changing back into a wolf. Blue gave Mat and I confused looks before shifting, following Marco lead as he left.

"Are you alright?'' I asked her.

''Peachy.'' she sarcastically said as she looked at me. ''She's lying though, right? She can't get Lincoln to kick my brother and his family out, right? I mean, me I don't care but my brother didn't do anything.''

''Yes, of course.'' I said. ''Alpha Lincoln knows it's important to have you both in his pack. Just because Melinda is throwing a tantrum doesn't mean he's going to change his mind.''

''Okay.'' she said then cleared her throat and looked away, ‘‘Killian . . . you’re still naked.''

''Right.'' I said as I let go of her and she awkwardly turned away. She took off her coat and held it behind me, ''No, it's cold.''

''I need you to show me back though and I won't walk with your butt naked. Wrapped this around your front at least.'' she shyly said and I was surprised since Mat was usually tough. She was showing me her innocence and I found it adorable. ''Take it!'' she hissed, making me chuckle as I took it.