Mia's POV

I felt strange as though I was in an endless void.

It felt like I wasn't conscious but as if...as if I was in my mind?

I looked around me in confusion but it suddenly changed— becoming a very beautiful and ethereal scene with birds chirping and lush greenery all around me. There was even a waterfall.

While I was fascinated by all this my gaze suddenly landed upon a majestic sight.

There she was, my beautiful wolf who was as tall as me if not taller standing at around 5ft tall and had white fur but with a light blue tinge on the tips, they were beautiful, she was beautiful.

She stared at me with her hauntingly beautiful silver eyes. They were as bright as Alpha Taylor's.

"Hello Mia, my name is Rowena, I'm blessed to you by the Moon Goddess as you are to me." I suddenly heard her speak in my mind and strangely enough, this bought me contentment as if I was finally complete.

I grinned brightly.

Jumping up I ran towards her.

I heard her wolfish laugh in my head as I tackled her with immense joy.

Overcome with emotion, tears started to fall like a waterfall. "I have been waiting for you for such a long time."

"Yes, I know. I'm sorry dear one. The process was so agonizing and I could do nothing but send comforting feelings. I was forced to not be able to join you as soon as you turned 13. Causing the shift to be so much more painful than it should be, but I was always there, just not enough to be with you through everything." She said with sorrow in her voice.

"It isn't your fault. We are together now. I want us to become our best and show those monsters that we are not worthless or weak." I replied with determination.

"That we will, very soon," she growled with dark promise.

I felt joy as I knew from this moment on she was my strength and my joy.

"As you are mine." She exclaimed happily. "Although I'm sure you must have questions, so go on ahead I will try my best to answer as much as I can at the moment."

Just as she said that I felt the actual softness of her fur. They were the softest ones I have ever felt before. All I wanted to do at the moment was cuddle her forever but like she said I did have questions.

"Why is your fur tinged light blue at the ends?" I asked, having never seen such a unique colored fur before.

"Well that is a bit complicated, but no worries, I shall explain. As our Alpha mentioned, you and I are very powerful. We aren't normal wolves. We are different beings altogether. I'm sorry I can't tell you exactly what we are because there are things which you must learn only over time. I know it's frustrating but I can't answer all your questions right now. But about the blue tinge; It's because we are wielders of lightning." She stated proudly and looked at me in the eyes, waiting for it to sink in.

I just gasped at her in disbelief.

I knew she wouldn't lie to me. Why would she? This is such a shock I just— Wow. All my life I never imagined I would ever be something powerful.

I knew this because I never read such a type of power to be wielded by werewolves....I have spent my fair share of time in the library hiding and reading in the dark. It's where I knew of this pack in the first place.

The old pack constantly reminded me about how I was weak, a slut, and....wolfless. That word haunted me the most because their torture worsened after I turned 13, everyday I had some sort of bruise or a cut, resulting in many new scars.

Her eyes held sorrow as these thoughts went through my head. She could hear it all because we were one.

"Dear one, I know that your past haunts you but remember, there are many new and strange things that you are going to learn and some of them aren't good."  She growled at the last part and looked at me with no deceit in her eyes and only sorrow for the lie and the horror all of my past had been.

"I'm ready for anything as long as you are with me." I cried, nuzzling my face in her fur.

She lied down and wrapped her body around me as I stared at the beautiful nature around me.

We sat in comfortable silence and just enjoyed each other's presence.

*+=*+=*

After a few long minutes, I realized alpha Taylor must be worried sick and sprang up in a panic.

"Don't panic dear one, time passes differently her right after we shift to allow us to get comfortable with each other as much as we can. In the real world, only a few moments have passed as opposed to an hour here."

"An hour?! Wow, I can't believe that much time has gone by, guess I like you just that much." I grinned with mirth.

She chuckled in my head with a wolfish grin on her face. "Let's go now?"

"Yes."

I opened my eyes to realize that I was in the real world now, but there was a huge difference as to how I saw this world.

Everything was so much more sharpened, I could see even though it was dark. I  could hear insects crawling and birds ruffling their feathers in the trees and if I focused hard enough I could see those birds tucked away in the large canopy. My eyes widened in shock at this.

I could suddenly hear and see everything at the same time. I whimpered slightly, overwhelmed by so many sounds.

"It's okay Mia, just focus on one sound at a time and keep doing so, you'll get used to it soon," said Rowena with a gentle tone.

I nodded my large wolf head and tried to stand up, though I was a bit wobbly at first.

Getting the hang of it I stood up and shook my new form.

I then realized that I felt this strange energy within me. It felt like something I had never felt before. With this energy, I felt hidden strength and power residing deep within me. It felt like something long lost had finally reunited. I grinned a wolfish grin realizing it, of course, it was Rowena. She is my strong wolf, it is her that I sensed.

With that thought, I looked around, and soon my eyes landed on the Alpha. She stood there staring at me in shock, which soon changed to a look of pride.

Strangely enough, I didn't want to bow or submit as I looked into her eyes seeing much more detail than before. They had flecks of dark blue mixed with light blue in fact as I focused even more I could see tiny flames of blue in there which shocked me. What shocked me, even more, as they appeared to be moving?

And then I realized that I felt this strange bond with her too. It was hard to describe though. It felt as if I was feeling such a bond after a very long time.

It felt as if....as if it were a....familial bond? Yes! Exactly like a familial bond. And because of this bond, I felt protective of her.

I would've cried if I was in my human form. This bond is just.....it's as if it awakened some part of me that I didn't remember anymore. I huffed in frustration.

My wolf didn't return my confusion as to why I didn't have the urge to bow to my Alpha as everyone who shifted for the first time always did. Neither was she concerned about the Alpha with blue fire in her eyes or the familial bond.

I decided to bow nevertheless but my wolf stopped me. She didn't want to. Again I got confused but decided to leave the matter as I saw the Alpha preparing to shift.

My eyes widen in shock as I see her morph into her wolf. Not shift but morph. Not even my old alpha could do that.

I then began to notice her odd features.

She had the same bright blue eyes which glowed more than ever and the blue flames seemed more prominent now. But her fur was the strangest shade of blonde. It was such a light color it was almost white but it also had a dark blue tinge at the ends of it, exactly like my wolf. Though mine was a way lighter and spread haphazardly, hers seemed to be spread evenly and was seemingly on every single piece of her fur.

She noticed my perplexed gaze on her and said, "I know it's an odd shade of fur as are my eyes but it seems we both have similar features as if we were family. And I plan to figure out how and why, but right now let's enjoy your first hunt and run shall we?" She finished nodding to her right.

I nodded. Still confused, but I decided to let that matter go for the moment.

I began running in the direction the Alpha had nodded towards.

If I were human right now I would have been laughing loudly but instead, I howled to the full moon thanking the moon goddess for blessing me, Rowena.

I felt myself becoming in sync with her as I ran, faster than I ever have before with the Alpha running beside me I felt happiness at how freeing this felt. How the ground felt under my paws, how the trees seemed to blur past into different shades of green. How the air felt through my fur as I ran. Everything was just.....euphoric.

I soon heard howls joining mine and felt wolves, my pack running, surrounding me.

I feel someone nip at my back legs, turning around to look at the person in annoyance, my eyes fell upon the familiar bright green eyes looking at me with pride and playfulness. And I also noticed her fur was the same color as her hair, midnight black.

I slowed down a bit to catch up with her but already knew she could have easily caught up with me as this wasn't even the full speed of her nor of the Alpha and.....the Beta as I realized she was near me too. She had dark chocolate brown fur and bright golden eyes which looked at me with the same pride as the Alpha and Shadow.

Just as I slowly reach behind her I got my revenge by biting at her the tip of her tail to which she yelped but soon started to laugh wolfishly.

I joined in with her and started to laugh but suddenly I smelt a tantalizing scent coming from somewhere in the forest.

My ears perked up as I looked towards my left hearing distant munching of what I assumed was good.

I started to follow the scent making sure to be as quiet as possible, the thrill of the hunt exciting me and my wolf.

We crept closer with slow but sure movements to not scare away whatever it was. All I cared about was that it was my food.

Crouching down behind a bush I slowly peeked up and realized that it was a deer.

The munching sound had been from the grass it was eating and I was a bit surprised, wondering as to how I heard such a low sound from that far away.

It seemed like it didn't know a predator was lurking around in the shadows waiting to lower its guard.

My natural predatory instincts kicked in and I looked for its weaknesses.

The thing I had to be wary of the most was one of its horns as they were broken and had a sharp edge to them. It also seems to be taking shallow breaths as though it had been running.

Soon I hit the jackpot, it was somewhere near its ribs; a wound which probably was making it harder for it to breathe.

I could use my speed to my advantage here.

I knew what I had to do.

I waited a few more minutes longer when I knew the right moment had come and I so jumped from the shadows into a huge leap landing on its back.

I raked my claws deep into its back and jumped off the moment I sensed it turn around. With my wolf guiding me I landed gracefully.

Without giving it a second to recover I ran around it at full speed, confusing it.

It tried to run but I pushed it back.

I saw my opening and slid under it, belly up. I once again used my claws to rip its underbelly, making blood splash onto my fur.

I breathed heavily wondering how I managed to pull it off. I was amazed at what I did just then.

I knew it would die in a matter of minutes but I decided to put it out of its misery, I didn't want it to suffer in its last moments.

It was already weak and so its legs gave out.

I jumped for its neck, biting as hard as I could.

Just as I heard a loud snap I let go.

I could smell the copper scent of blood and could even taste it in my mouth.

It didn't faze me one bit as I was used to seeing blood on the daily.

Hearing a rustling in the trees I turned around immediately looking at the tree line with caution and alert.

I realized that it was just the pack and sighed internally with relief.

I heard my stomach rumbling so I turned back around and began munching on the deer.

They all congratulated me on my first kill and I thanked them back while continuing to eat my food.

Soon enough I was full.

I dragged the remains to where I knew the Alpha and Beta were, as a 'thank you' I offered them the deer and they both give me a wolfish grin.

"Thank you, Mia." Both of them mind linked at the same time.

"No, thank you for saving me and giving me a home," I replied with gratitude.

They both nodded and came forward to start munching on the remains.

I tore a piece from it and looked around for Shadow.

Soon enough my gaze landed on her, I saw her staring off into space which seemed a little odd to me but I ignored it.

I jogged towards her with the piece dangling from my largemouth.

I dump the piece in front of her, nudging it towards her I looked at her expectantly.

She looked at me in surprise at first but then congratulated me, "I'm proud of you, in a matter of days you have come so far, I can't wait to see you bloom into the beauty that I know you will."

I felt overwhelmed with emotions again. "I'm happy and I consider you my closest friend not that I ever had any but you are someone who inspires me, that piece of meat is me and my wolf thanking you." I smile internally and with a huge wolfish grin I continued, "By the way my wolf is—"

Rowena cuts me off, "Hello Shadow! I'm Rowena, I appreciate you for saving my dear one."

I smiled fondly in return, wondering how she came up with the nickname.

Then I sobered up when suddenly memories of the night Shadow saved me appeared.

I shook my head in an attempt to get rid of those memories but I failed miserably.

I managed to give full control to Rowena and retreated in the back of my mind, whimpering.

Rowena's POV

"I'm sorry Shadow and Elena but we need to go, please excuse us," I said urgently and took off without waiting for a reply.

I ran to a different area, away from our pack members, and sat down, whimpering worriedly for Mia.

"Please Mia listen to me, it's okay, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought that up please listen to me." 

Not getting a response I closed my eyes and went back to the back of our mind, looking for her.

It was just like when she shifted but instead of the greenery, horrors of her past surrounded her on invisible screens as she sat there curled up in a ball.

I ran towards her with a loud whimper.

"Mia! I'm sorry, please forgive me, listen to me, Look at me!"

She whimpered again, "I thought I was happy. I thought I had left my past behind but....but it isn't...true, I was so weak and pathetic, I couldn't....couldn't even fight b-back."

"Mia look at me right now!" I roared.

She slowly raised her head to look at me with bloodshot eyes.

"I wasn't there for you then but I'm here for you now, yes the past hurts, yes you'll never be able to leave it behind but that's because it is a part of us. Maybe we can't leave it behind but what we can do is learn from it. Now let me tell you one important thing, back then they easily hurt you but now they can't. Do you know why? Because you were strong enough to get away from them. You were strong enough to survive a shift that was delayed 5 years. Many have died because of that but you didn't." I looked at her to see if she was paying attention, realizing she was I continued.

"Strength doesn't always come from how strong you can punch or how many times you have won while sparring. No, it also comes from your heart. It comes from how many times you can stand back up after being beaten down. And you did, you got up from your bed every day after being torn apart mentally and physically, you got back up. And one day you left them for your future ahead. You survived all those torturous years in that hell of a place. Now tell me do you still think you are weak??"

She continued to look at me in despair which soon changed into an expression of realization.

Her tears slowly came to a stop and I leaned forward licking her face making her laugh brokenly but at least she laughed.

She nodded her head and once again tackled me, making me purr to which she giggled again.

"Okay.....it isn't your fault please don't blame yourself for what you said to Shadow, I'm sorry I—"

I growled, "Don't be sorry for the things that aren't your fault."

She glared at me, "Yes, and the same goes for you."

I nodded sheepishly.

And we just sat there for a while, in each other's arms. I knew I had to give some time.

"Hey, Rowena?"

"Yes, dear one?"

"I love you." She seemed a bit surprised at first not having used those words for anyone before but smiled against my fur anyways, still in wonder at how soft it was. I purred even more.

"I love you too, dear one," I replied immediately without any doubt.

I smell her confusion first and soon enough she asked, "How is this is possible? I mean, I thought this only happens when we shift for the first time?"

"That is because we are both special. I told you, we are different beings altogether so we can do this whenever we want and not only the first time we shift."

She gasped lightly. And soon enough I felt her tiredness sinking in.

She sighed with exhaustion. I stood up nudging her, pulling her up with me.

"Let's go home."

She smiles in return.

Alpha Taylor's POV

I felt extremely proud, my suspicions of her being in my family were confirmed the moment she didn't feel the urge to submit to me.

There were hints before, such as the bond that I felt with her and then her wolf's fur color. It was way too similar to Athena.

I'm a bit worried about her though. Yes, she has finally shifted but her past does not seem to have completely left her behind. For some odd reason, her previous pack has sent out search parties for her.

And that is very odd considering she didn't exactly matter to that pack as they seemed to bring her to the brink of death every day. 
And she was also omega, it's not like that lacked them. I growled.

I knew all this because of my spies and assassins.

She was a mystery and it seemed somehow she managed to get more and more mysterious each day. She is no doubt safe here but the slightest possibility of her being in harm's way angers me, including my wolf.

My wolf and I both feel extremely protective of her.

I sighed, that pack even before she arrived, have tried many times to take our rank as no.1. They tried attacking us, sending spies, and even tried capturing our members, but failed miserably.

They have a war coming.

Shadow's POV

I smiled as I heard her howl. I wondered what her wolf's name was and so does my wolf.

I hoped I would get to train her though.

I know I'm qualified enough. I will be sure to ask the Alpha.

I couldn't wait to start her training and I'm sure she is gonna hate me in the start but well gotta do what you gotta do, I chuckled lightly.

Mia's POV

I felt completely drained as I'm barely able to walk but I dragged myself, entering the same clearing again I see the Alpha there waiting for me.

I mind-linked her in a panic, "I don't know how to shift back."

"It's okay, Just imagine how it feels like when you are human and imagine your appearance as well. It's really simple, give it try." she encouraged calmly.

I nodded in return.

Closing my eyes, I imagined how I looked like a human. I imagine my grey-blue eyes and my pale skin. How it felt today standing straight without pain in any part of my body.

Then I imagined how it felt when I walked through the woods with my bare feet, how the slight breeze felt against my face.

I groaned as my body started to shift. The pain was comparatively better to handle than the first time I shifted and for that I was grateful.

I was pretty sure I wouldn't have been able to handle it.

I wondered how people shifted so easily and how the Alpha doesn't even shift but morph.

Soon I realized I was naked but I'm covered by a blanket as I shivered a little feeling cold air attack my bare legs.

I looked up to see the Alpha smiling at me gently. She gave me her hand, helping me stand up.

"Thank you," I whispered not having the energy to barely even talk forget walking.

Just as I took a step forward I stumbled, expecting the ground to hit me I closed my eyes.

I felt someone wrapping their arms around me.

I looked up in surprise to see the Alpha sigh sadly.

"It's okay Mia, I'll carry you. Don't push yourself, dear, you are still weak and after a painful shift like that, more so." She finished looking at me sadly.

I sighed knowing she was right.

Suddenly I groaned as I felt darkness cloud my vision.

I remembered the feeling of being in someone's arms for the first time and soon enough I felt the darkness take over completely.

Hello Shadowlinks!

I hope all of my awesome readers are doing okay in such hard times, if you aren't then please try to take care of yourself.

Maybe go and do something you like today, it could be anything, playing a video game, drawing, singing, listening to music, anything.

Do what makes you happy for once and cherish that feeling. True happiness is rare to find these days so whenever you feel down, think about the things that make you happy.

I'm cheering for you!!

The questions I ask are so random 💀 but I don't care lol so,

Q. What's your favorite aesthetic?