Feral

Chapter 13: Closure

I hear whining, like a dog whining. That can't be right. I'm stuck in a cell, right? I let my eyes flutter open and am bombarded with clarity. Such clarity and brilliance, like I'm seeing the world before me anew. Everything is crisp, clear, defined, and amazing. So amazing that it seems my vision is way better than 20/20, if that's even possible. I hear the whine again, being pulled from my splendor, and shift my gaze to the source.

There, on the the other side of the bars, is a massive brown wolf with heavenly blue eyes. Shock and awe flood my mind and I go to scoot backwards only to realize that that isn't possible. I, too am on all fours. Fear courses through my veins and I turn about, seeing a body not my own. I'm covered in thick black fur.

Ana, relax. A voice invades my mind. I whip around, facing the brown wolf.

Yes, it is I, Cade. This is not a dream. You are a wolf right now. And-

What the hell is wrong with me? I scream in my head, cutting off the voice invading it.

This is how we communicate while in this form. He says soothingly in my head. Now, sit.

Surprisingly, I obey and find myself sitting like a dog. WTF? I say aloud in my head.

Sorry, your body naturally obeys those in a higher authority than you. I'll hold back. He sighs.

I give him a look of confusion.

You were bit on Halloween by a wolf, correct?

I simply nod, wanting him to continue.

Well, that was no ordinary wolf; that was me. I am a werewolf, but we prefer the term shifter.

My eyes go wide and the hairs on my scruff stand on end.

He continues. Settle down. I didn't intend for you to know of this world, Vinnier pushed too far. The scumbag from the club is not human, either. He is a lowly blood sucker. His lips curl up, revealing sharp, glistening canines. Anyway, he crossed over into our territory to feed. Sadly, you were his chosen prey for his group. He pauses, trying to control his anger. They had drained you dry and if I had not stepped in and bit you, you surely would've died.

This is a lot to take in. I lay down, resting my head on my paws. That's right, paws.

Being a yearling a.k.a a newly turned, is stressful. Although, I was born this way. I must warn you, that now that you are part of this world, you must never speak of it to an outsider. if you do, you'd surely be killed.

I let out a whimper, fearing my life, fearing my future.

You are part of our family now.

I immediately perk up my ears at this. Family? An actual family?

Cade steps close to the bars, sticking his head between the two bars he spread apart earlier. I rise and go to him, resting my forehead against his.

I'm scared, Cade.

No need to be scared. We are all here for you now. You are of our flesh and blood now. We protect our own, at all costs. He rubs his cheek against my own.

Will it always be like this? I ask.

The first shift is always the hardest because your body basically re-writes it's DNA. Now it will be like shedding.

I chuff out a laugh. Like a dog shedding fur?

Yes. Imagine a wet dog shaking off the water. Shifting from human to wolf and vice versa is as easy as that. Except the older form is kind of thrown off. He grimaces.

Gross! How often must I shed?

Whenever you like, yet our bodies are forced to shift on a full moon, like tonight. If you fight it, it will surely be as gruesome as tonight's shift. Let the pain in.

I sigh and begin to pace, suddenly feeling penned in. I need to run! I have this itch inside to feel freedom! Let me out! I bark and howl.

Not tonight. Alpha will keep you here for the night. Freedom will come in the morning. Cade states.

I paw at the bars and groan. For now, I must be contained, but when I am free, Alpha will have to watch his back. I narrow my eyes, throw my head up and howl out all of the frustration, sorrow, joy, anger, and stress that has built up all my life inside of my soul. Cade howls along with me and soon I hear the distant howls of my new family. We share each other's strife together as we howl. And damn it felt good.