A Burning Rejection

Chapter 1 ~ The First Shift?

Jessie's P.O.V

Once again my books were knocked out of my hands and I was slammed against the lockers. I knew exactly who my tormentors were. They were my 'friends'. The people that I used to hang out with only a week ago and amongst them was the guy that made my life a living hell the alpha of the pack, Cameron Bane.

It was my sixteenth birthday and it was the first time that I would shift into my wolf. To say I was excited was an understatement, all of my friends had already shifted and I was the last of them to shift. Over the past two weeks my parents had been preparing me for this night, teaching me about the ritual, informing me about the shift and ways to help ease the pain. They told me that every bone in my body would have to break before I could take on my wolf form. Could you imagine every single bone breaking? It would be like breaking your arm but times that by 206 and the pain, I couldn't even imagine it. But then I would have to experience this pain later on tonight, in front of the whole pack.

My birthday happened to land on a school day so my parents let me stay home. I don't understand why though, I was feeling perfectly fine but they refused to let me leave saying that as the time grew closer I would start to feel the effects of the shift. I stayed at home just watching TV and getting the occasional phone call from my friends telling me good luck for tonight.

The time had reached one in the afternoon and I was due to meet up with the whole of The Moon Forest Pack at six. I was extremely nervous by this point because I still hadn't started to experience the headaches, the sickness or the throbbing of my body. My parents didn't help to ease the nerves as they said that it was unheard of for someone to not feel anything.

"Mum, Dad why haven't I started to feel anything? I mean it's almost time for me to change" I asked my parents with unease in my voice. They looked at each other quickly giving each other a knowing look that I didn't understand.

"It's going to be okay sweat pea," my mum said walking over to me and pulled me into her embrace. "Just give a couple more hours then you won't be asking that question again." She chuckled.

"Your mothers right Jess. You'll be wishing that it would stop." He said slinging his arm over us.

"Geez, thanks dad." I grumbled and pulled away from my parents.

They both laughed, "I'm only telling you the truth. I don't want you to not be prepared."

"I know," I smiled up at them. My smile dropped when I saw an emotion in their eyes, but before I could figure it out it was gone. I shook my head, telling myself that I was seeing things. I glanced at the clock and saw that it was half past five. My eyes widened in shock, it was half an hour before I was due to shift and I still felt nothing. I was being to panic. As if sensing my distress my parents embraced me in a hug and whispered over and over again that I was going to be fine. Only if they knew what was going to happen next...

 I was dressed in a simple white summer dress and black pumps in front of the pack. My nerves had escalated since earlier as I stared into the eyes of everybody around me. It was essential for everyone to be here so my wolf could learn their scents and to know that they meant no harm.

I had reached the pack house dead on six. I stepped out of the family car and stared up at the massive mansion, every time I visited the pack house I never got over how beautiful it looked. It was surrounded by miles and miles of forest out in the middle of nowhere. The building its self wasn't too modern and stood three stories high. There was around fifty plus rooms all complete with an ensuite, furniture and some even had balconies.

As we walked up to the front door it opened to reveal alpha Bane and his wife.

"Jessie! Sweetie!" Emily Bane cried as we moved closer to her. Emily had always been like a second mother to me after her own daughter sadly died a few years ago due to a rouge attack. Her daughter Samantha was my best friend when we were younger; we were stuck to each other like glue. When we all heard that Sam had been attacked I was devastated, I had lost my best friend, my sister but we all got through it together. Every year on her anniversary me and her family would gather together and tell stories about her. We'd laugh, smile and even cry.

Arms being flung around me brought me out of my thoughts. "Oh Jessie, it's good to see you!" Emily squeezed me tight.

"It's good to see you to Em." I smiled kindly up at her. I pulled away from her as my parents joined me at my sides. They exchanged greetings then the alpha spoke.

"It's time." He said and then gestured to the house. We trailed behind him silently; the only sound I could hear was my heart beating against my rib cage. As we neared the back of the house it started to speed up. The palm of my hands were clammy and I could feel tiny sweat droplets slide down my forehead, I quickly wiped them away as I stepped through the doors to the back garden revealing a huge amount of people all in a semicircle facing the forest. I followed behind the alpha as the swarm of people parted to let us through. As we passed I caught the sight of my friends smiling and waving at me, I gave them a small smile in return.    

And now here I am standing in front of everyone with my parents to my far left and my friends to my far right with only minutes to go until I can connect with my wolf. However, I still haven't had any of the symptoms that came with shifting. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the emotion spread through my parents' eyes again, I determined this emotion to be worry. What could they possibly be worried about? But before I could figure it out the alpha spoke.

"It is time for Jessie Brown to shift for the first time and to officially be welcomed to the pack," He said giving me a sideways glance. I crowd whistled and hooted in positive agreement. The people that had been stood around me swiftly moved away to join everyone else. Taking this as the sign, I sat down crossing my legs and waited for the transformation to begin. I took deep breathes and closed my eyes.

Some time had passed and I was still sat on the ground in my human form. Nothing happened and I felt nothing. I opened my eyes slowly to see the pack with disgusted and hatred in their eyes.

"She's not one of us!" Someone shouted.

"She's an outcast!" Another agreed.

The corner of my eyes started to hurt from the tears that had yet to be released. I didn't understand why haven't I shifted? Everyone changed on their sixteenth birthday. What was going on? And where was my wolf?

This was the day that everything changed.