Running with the Pack - 26. Chapter 26

During the past week, Ethan was increasingly on edge. His mood shifted from happy one minute to sad the next. At times, there were angry outbursts for no apparent reason. He was snappy with everyone; yelling he needed space, and telling them to stop crowding him. Only to turn around needing to be held by his mate. His body ached and itched, and nothing he did would alleviate the discomfort. Everyone, including the former ferals, was thankful there had been no new arrivals entering the territory. They didn’t think their friend was in any shape to help anyone.

His focus at work slipped. Joe approached him once to see if he could help his new brother with what he was working on or simply talk to him. The oldest Tucker boy decided it might be safer to give Ethan a lot of room after a hammer became imbedded in a tree about ten yards away. Ethan went on one of his rants about being fine and wanting to be left alone. Right after throwing the tool, he was apologetic, and said he didn’t know what was wrong.

Everyone kept explaining the changes his body was going through at a rapid pace were wreaking havoc on his system. A few times when his mood became intensely sad, small clouds formed overhead, most often mere feet above his head. If it began to rain, it was usually directly over Ethan. It was difficult for others not to laugh at his expression, as he glared at the clouds he had caused, annoyed at getting soaked when he was already feeling depressed. During one of the weather episodes, he felt exceptionally cold; a localized blizzard hit while it was still eighty-five degrees outside. The two feet of snow melted once his mood changed again. No one took it personally if his temper exploded in their direction, but they did pay attention when a pond nearby began to boil. Whenever his mood was calm enough, Aiden held him, and did his best to reassure his pup everything would soon be okay.

******

It felt as if the lunar month took its sweet time to pass, but it finally reached its peak. It was the first full moon since Aiden bit Ethan. Waking early, Ethan laid watching Aiden, knowing when the moon rose that night he would at last become a wolf. He would get to run with his mate the way he had dreamed of doing since the first time the beautiful black wolf turned into a man before his eyes. To him, it felt almost like waking on Christmas morning as a little kid. The feeling of being unable to sleep, knowing there were presents waiting under the tree. Only in this case the present was still hours away, and was the culmination of the fantasy sparked by reading his first book about lycan.

With Ethan’s recent extreme moodiness and emotional swings, Aiden was surprised his pup appeared totally at peace. The sullenness, sweating, chills, and all the other symptoms of the last week had vanished. The day seemed to drag on, and all though Ethan felt calm—he was distracted by the anticipation of what was to come. He could feel something at the very edge of his mind, stalking through the shadows, just out of reach. He was unable to understand what it was. The pull of the moon brought brief moments of focus, before chaos would cloud his thoughts again.

Throughout the day, Aiden kept a watchful eye on his mate. When he felt the need, he would do something to distract Ethan from thinking about the upcoming night’s events. He thought it was adorable when his pup began scratching behind his ear, using his hand in the same fashion a wolf would use his paw. Only a few times during the day did Ethan’s unusual serenity break. Aiden worked hard to focus his mate’s attention when he started to hyperventilate for no apparent reason.

As evening approached, Aiden drove them out of town to the same meadow where Ryan had his first shift. Ethan had heard it referred to as the sacred meadow, and many families went there to celebrate the first shift of a family member. This was the first time in the known history of the pack the meadow was being used to celebrate the turning of a human. Or as was known to very few, someone who was neither a born lycan nor a human.

Entering the meadow from the trail, Ethan could see the people who had become his family and friends in the few short months he had been with the pack. The alpha and Jackie watched over the gathering, always the caring leaders who looked out for everyone. Ian MacRae, the talented doctor with his kind bedside manner, mingled amongst the crowd, showing his more social side for a change. Tyler, Connor, and Kevin were former foes who had turned into strong allies, and became important friends. Anthony, and Jonas, the once lost souls who helped teach Ethan about his true nature by arriving in need of his help. All new friends who brought humor and joy to his life among the many present. His eyes traveled to Trevor and Casey, who he felt especially close to not only due to their friendship with Aiden, but from how they had helped him since they first met in the woods. He looked to Mary and Rafe. The pair had become the parents he so desperately wished for while growing up.

Uncharacteristically for those about to undergo their first shift, he maintained an almost serene calmness. Going person to person, he thanked them for coming to share in the big night, as well as giving hugs to all. Alex, Nathan, and Cody were also there at Ethan’s insistence. Three non-wolves he very much wanted to be part of his first run. Darius was there as well, though Ethan knew since he could not shift, he would stay with Zack.

The sun dropped below the horizon and darkness creeped in. Rafe lit two bonfires before he addressed the assembled family and friends. “Oh behalf of Mary, myself, and the entire Tucker clan, I would like to thank you all for coming out to share in this special night of our son Ethan’s first shift. We are honored to have a bear, tiger, coyote, and human join us for the first time, bringing our community closer. and including all friends.”

As Ethan went to thank everyone again for being there for him, the effects of the lunar pull increased. Feeling unsteady on his feet, he leaned heavily into his mate for support, as Aiden addressed the gathering. “My mate and I are both humbled by the love of our friends and family who are here this night. It’s not just his first full moon, but the holy night of a Blood Moon that welcomes Ethan into his animal form. While I didn’t plan his turning to coincide with the Blood Moon, I can’t think of a better gift for my mate than for his wolf to join us on this special lunar event.”

People stripped and shifted into their animal form as the glow from the moon could be seen behind the trees.

“Pup, it’ll begin soon. When the rays of the moon wash over you, you’ll start your shift.”

The glowing orb began its slow rise above the tree line, with the first rays of moonlight hitting the plains of the meadow. The shadows from the bonfire were chased away as the bluish grey light washed across the landscape.

A subtle spark of light took hold in Ethan’s eyes as his body started to tingle.

Aiden hugged him tight, and gave him one last kiss. “Remember to stay focused on my voice. You can do this. You’re going to be fine. We’re going to finally go on that run we’ve both been dreaming of.”

The moon had risen enough its rays finally touched Ethan’s skin. With a scream, he fell to the ground in agony, rolling around in more pain than he had ever experienced. His skin felt like it was crawling, and anywhere illuminated by the lunar light burned.

“Hurts bad…,” was all he managed to get out before letting out another scream. The spark in his eyes slowly built as tears streaked his face from the intense pain.

Aiden had seen many wolves go through their initial shift, but never a human. This appeared so much more painful than anything he had to face his first time. Mary, Rafe, and Casey all came over to try and comfort Ethan.

Aiden was on his knees beside his mate who cried in agony once again. “I know it hurts, but listen to my voice, try to stay focused on my voice and nothing else. Your wolf is in you, and he’s ready to come out. He knows the way to the surface. I know it’s difficult, but you need to relax and let him out. Try not to fight him. I love you so much, Pup.”

“You try to fucking relax while hurting this much.” He got out through clenched teeth.

Ethan rolled around wracked by yet another burst of excruciating pain, his breathing became labored. His screams drew looks of concern from all those present, and Doctor MacRae rushed to his side to help if needed. This was by no means a regular first shift. Aiden could only watch as the light in his pup’s eyes appeared to fade. Moisture from the ground and air coalesced into a light mist surrounding the young couple. Above the mist, snowflakes formed, and hung midair. A gentle breeze picked up within the meadow, but didn’t affect the mist or snow swirling around Ethan. Radiating from where his body contacted the ground, wild flowers spontaneously sprouted, and instantly grew to their natural height before blooming. They encircled those present in a sea of color lit by the bluish grey moonlight. It looked as if the trees surrounding the meadow were bowing in recognition to something special happening. Streamers of flame jumped from one bonfire to the other, similar to streams of water in dancing fountains. To the onlookers, it appeared as if all four major elements were making themselves known.

Aiden ran his hand lovingly over his mate’s face. “Don’t fight him. I can feel him nearing the surface. You’re almost there, Pup. You can do this.”

With one final scream, the light in Ethan’s eyes amplified a thousand fold, and radiated from him in brilliant pulses. There was no chance anyone in the meadow could have missed the blue glow emanating from his eyes as it caused the mist surrounding him to glow even brighter than the light of the moon. Fur erupted all over Ethan’s body, spreading rapidly from his head, down to his toes, and growing thicker by the second. Loud snaps were heard as his bones reformed, and his body increased in size. His hands transformed into enormous paws, with razor sharp claws growing from the tips. A large bushy tail sprouted from his hind-quarters, quickly growing in length while his legs and feet took on their new shape. His face elongated into the muzzle of a wolf, his mouth filling with long sharp teeth. His ears grew tall and pointy, shifting to the top of his head.

After several minutes, the shroud of mist began to dissipate while his eyes returned to a more moderate glow. A very large and extremely muscular wolf, with near perfectly white fur rested on the ground before all those gathered. A very large two-legged wolf. The once short blond would now have been over seven feet tall if he stood. The only coloring anywhere on his fur were marks on the face and both upper arms. An intensely intricate silver one with sapphire blue flecks mixed in ran up his snout in what resembled a fierce blaze. It started as a point just behind his nose with fingers of silver flame-like mark rolling off the sides of his muzzle. It curled under the eyes, and moved up his face, going between them with a spur of the flame-like markings circling over each eye. It ended at the top of his head in three points. It gave the appearance of a highly detailed tattoo in the fur. On each shoulder were two triangles separated by a circle. Unlike the markings on his face, these were not the same vibrant silver, but a very light shade, you could easily miss. Each of the four triangles made up the symbols of the various elements of water, earth, air, and fire, with the circle representing spirit.

As the pain receded, Ethan raised his head off the ground, turning towards Aiden with a confused expression. Before even thinking about his speech ability, he spoke in a deep, gravelly human like voice. “Why didn’t I change into a wolf like yours?” Tears steamed from his eyes, causing what could only be described as a bluish ghost flame to emanate from the corners as each tear vaporized, and was lit by the glow. Ethan feared he would never be a lupus like his mate. He tried to sit up, beginning to feel somewhat stable in his new form, even if it was not the wolf he was hoping for.

“You look incredible.” Aiden ran his hand along the large snout, rubbing the side of Ethan’s face as he leaned in to kiss his mates forehead. “My beautiful pup.”

The moon continued its rise in the night sky. Ethan managed to stand, and took a few tentative steps as he learned how his new feet worked. He quickly realized he needed to use his tail for balance. After five or so minutes in an apparent lunis form, Ethan grabbed his midsection as he doubled over. His body once again in agony. He fell to the ground, landing on his side. He felt like he was on fire. Aiden rushed to his side, speaking into his mate’s ear. Ethan looked between, Rafe and the alpha, not knowing what was happening. His scream came out more like a pained howl as it boomed throughout the meadow. Aiden’s face was etched in worry as panic for his pup’s safety set in. Again Ethan’s body tingled, and the bones once more reshaped themselves. After another painful few minutes of a second transformation, he laid whimpering and exhausted.

A white canis lupus laid on its side. His fur as pure in color as before and as bright as fresh snow. He was a little smaller in size than Aiden’s wolf, but still larger than the non-lycan variety. The same silver markings as before were present on the muzzle and head. Ethan rested on the soft ground of the meadow panting, and emitting small cries as the pain subsided. His wolf glowed as the moonlight reflected off his fur.

Aiden knelt beside his mate, running his fingers through the soft fur. “Are you okay, Pup?” Concern filled his voice as he watched Ethan’s breathing smooth out. “You’re just as beautiful as I knew you’d be, in both your wolves. I’m so proud of you, Pup. As soon as you’re able to stand, I’ll shift. It’ll take a little practice again to walk around.” He continued to stroke the side of his mate’s face. “When you’re ready, we’ll go on our run. Stay at my side, and listen to your wolf, he’ll guide you. Your human mind will want to fight him for control. Try to relax and enjoy the ride. I love you so much.”

Ethan raised his head and nuzzled Aiden’s hand, licking it before trying to get up. By the third attempt, he was able to stand.

Aiden crouched on all fours and effortlessly shifted into his black wolf. The contrast between the two was striking, polar opposites and yet perfectly matched. Ethan managed to take his first unsteady steps on four paws. As he took a few more tentative ones, he noticed the difference in how the ground felt. It had the same cool feel as being barefoot, though it was comfortable. The way the soil compressed under the pads, the blades of grass against his fur, it all had an incredible feel to him.

The black wolf approached and nuzzled his pup. While the night and Ethan’s first shift was shared with all present, his first touch with his mate was like they were the only two present. Walking around the white wolf, Aiden rubbed himself up one side and down the other, covering each in the other’s scent before nuzzling again. Lowering his muzzle, Aiden pressed his forehead to Ethan’s, staring deep into his soulmate’s eyes.

When Ethan seemed steady on his feet, he threw his head back and bayed at the moon. The night quickly filled with howls from the rest of those present, along with roars from Nathan’s bear, Alex’s tiger, and the cry of Cody’s coyote. Off in the distance, radiating out to all corners of the territory, like the rings from a stone dropped in a pond, other lycan of all types having their own Blood Moon celebrations, howled or roared their happy response to the newest wolf’s first shift. There was no telling how far the reply to Ethan’s howl extended.

The white wolf looked over to where Zach and Darius had been, only to see Zach taking pictures as he stood with the sheriff. His attention was drawn back to the Earth’s faithful companion, as the Blood Moon eclipse entered its next phase. Watching as the color slowly changed, he felt the need to howl again. Those gathered followed suit. The newest wolf was surprised to hear a new roar join the chorus. A massive lion paced in front of him before it walked over to join his other non-wolf friends.

Aiden gently nudged Ethan to follow him over to John and Jackie. Though she rarely used the title, she was every bit the pack’s luna tonight. The black and white wolves stood before their leaders; Aiden lowered his head with Ethan following his lead. The alpha pair each licked the top of the younger couple’s heads before taking a step back.

Casey took up his position to Ethan’s right, and Trevor moved to Aiden’s left. The alpha and Rafe took positions behind the group of four with Jackie and Mary at their mate’s sides. The rest of the group fell in at the rear of the eight lead wolves. Formed up at the very back of the group were the other types of animals. They were unsure what to do in the group, unfamiliar with being in a wolf pack, until others nudged them into the center. The group wanted them to know they were welcome and accepted. Finally, Aiden gave a howl, and the pack took off on their run.

Ethan quickly adjusted to the sensation of a second consciousness in his mind as his wolf led him. He now understood what others told him about it being like looking through a window, or playing a video game. The exhilaration of running beside his mate as a wolf was far beyond anything he had dreamed possible. Ethan thought he knew what he would feel, but even his most vivid dream paled in comparison to the actual act. The two mates moved with a fluidity that belied the fact it was the white wolf’s first run. Every action they took was in perfect harmony.

The new wolf loved the exhilaration of running through the forest at his mate’s side. The joy of leaping over logs and dodging branches. He marveled at the crunch of pine needles under his paws, or the softness of moss growing on the ground. His wolf was at the forefront of his mind, enjoying the thrill of the run while his human mind had moved to the back and enjoyed the ride. The wolf spoke to him as they ran, telling him not to fear, and he would protect him. He made sure the human mind understood what they were doing.

Looking to the sky, all could see the Blood Moon nearing its zenith. They had run for an hour before the group picked the scent of a nearby elk herd; the pack was now on the hunt. Ethan could smell it, and became excited at the prospect of bringing down his first prey. The predator in him was set free, and his instincts to hunt came to bear. Receiving a nod from their leader, Aiden and his smaller pack moved off under the watchful eye of the alpha and luna. Ethan’s wolf worked perfectly with his mate and their two friends, as the four singled out one animal from the herd. Casey and Trevor moved in from behind to guide it to where they wanted, while Aiden and Ethan moved in for the kill. At precisely the same time, the two mates made a leap for the elk’s neck, clamping down with their powerful jaws, and using their momentum to sever the spine. It was an instant kill.

The mates threw their heads up, and howled for joy at the succesful hunt. The black wolf nudged his pup to the fallen animal, letting him know he would get first portion on this kill. Looking to the alpha for confirmation and receiving a nod, Ethan ripped into the tender flesh; his wolf rejoiced at the taste of fresh meat and blood. Due to the large number in their group, he only took two bites before stepping back for Aiden to have his turn. They were followed by the alpha pair and his parents, before the rest of the group all took a turn, sharing in the prize of the kill.

Aiden tenderly licked the blood from the side of Ethan’s muzzle, restoring the white fur to its pristine color before they found a stream to drink from. An hour later, the pack headed back to the meadow.

Alex and Nathan padded over to the newest wolf. Nathan’s huge bear rubbed his nose first against Ethan’s, and then did the same with Aiden. Alex’s tiger was an incredible sight to see, far larger than any found in the wild. In cat-like fashion, he gently cuffed the side of Ethan’s head with his huge paw, before rubbing his face against the young wolf. He repeated this with Aiden before returning to his mate, letting his tail run over Nathan as they stood side by side. Darius slowly approached, moving first to the alpha and luna. The massive lion knelt, bowing to the pack’s leaders. Walking over to the young couple, he did the same. Jonas had been staying back from most of the group, mainly due to his sheer size, until several of the wolves moved to sit by him. In his full lunar form, he looked to be well over seven-feet-tall. Even with his size and strength, Jonas would not have been a match for the power of an alpha’s hybrid wolf.

Darius moved to Casey, who had watched him intently as he paid his respects to the young couple. The lion stood before the auburn wolf. In an attempt to show dominance and rank over the large cat, Casey lowered his head, growled, and bared his teeth. Darius raised his massive paw, and gently cuffed the wolf’s head. A small smile spread across the feline’s face as he pushed Casey over, and laid down on him, rubbing his scent all over the young enforcer. Everyone watched with amusement as Casey worked himself out from under the lion. The two played and chased each other around the meadow for a few minutes before bowing to each other in respect. The cat laid down, and pulled the younger wolf into his strong paws, wrapping them around the canis in an embrace. The wolf struggled until the lion’s tongue licked him with feline tenderness. Casey rested his head on Darius’ leg, enjoying the attention.

With a final combination of howls and roars, most of the group changed back to their human forms. Jonas would have to remain wolf until the moon finally set. A few wolves stayed in their fur, and laid at his side to keep him company.

In the shade of a tree, Ethan was able to change before the moon dipped below the horizon, yet he still felt its strong pull. The change to human was very painful, but nowhere near as bad as his shift into the wolf.

“If you move into the moonlight before it drops below the horizon, it’ll cause you to shift again, so you might want to stay in the shade for a while.” Aiden warned. “I’m not sure if you can handle another two shifts tonight.”

Once dressed and able to stand on human legs, questions popped into Ethan’s mind. “Why did I shift the way I did? I thought I’d become a lunis.”

Aiden ran his hand across his pup’s face, Casey shook his head, and the alpha gave a knowing laugh before he explained. “You just did an alpha shift on your first one before going into a full lupus. It’s really quite remarkable and possibly a first for any turning. The Blood Moon may have accelerated your alpha abilities, or it’s just you being you.”

“So, I’ll be able to take either form?”

“Correct. It would seem you and your mate are matched in virtually every way from what we’ve seen so far, wolf wise at least.”

Ethan directed an accusatory glare at Darius. “I thought you said you couldn’t change during a full moon, and didn’t want to let people know what you are.”

“Being a Blood Moon, the solar and lunar forces are joined as one. It’s the only full moon where a solaris can shift. Given your invitation to include someone who’s a stranger to your community in something so intimate, and your desire to have as many other lycan here as possible, I thought I’d surprise you as well as take your advice the people here would be accepting. It was an honor to be a part of the first shift of one as special as you. If I were to live a thousand years, I doubt I would ever encounter one of your kind again.”

There were some questions about Ethan’s unusual shift, and the special side effects he caused. The alpha and Rafe did their best to handle it, and asked for people’s silence on the subject for now. They impressed the delicate nature of the knowledge as well as wanting to keep the new white wolf safe.

Ethan relaxed and enjoyed the night. Even though he was tired and hurting from the pain of the shifts, he was happier than he could ever remember. He had been able to finally run with his mate after shifting to a wolf, two if he counted his surprise hybrid alpha form. Ethan had at last lived out one of his deepest and longest held dreams, to not only be around wolves, but to turn into one. He and Aiden walked around their friends and family as the celebration took on a party atmosphere. Approaching Jonas, Ethan grabbed the lunis’ arm, and pulled himself up some before Jonas helped lift him off the ground. Ethan threw his arms around his friend’s neck, giving the hybrid a long hug.

“I’m glad you came to our pack and became my friend. It was awesome having your wolf running with the rest of us. I hope it happens often.”

Jonas returned the hug, making sure to be gentle enough not to hurt his friend, this special person who had saved him. “The honor was mine, young alpha.”

“This means I get to run with you sometimes in the same kind of wolf as you.” Ethan’s excitement grew at the possibility of spending time with his lunis friends in their special shape.

Exhaustion finally took hold; Ethan could no longer fend off sleep. The party continued, and lasted until the early hours of the morning before people started heading home.