~My First Shift~

EIRA

I ran out of the room…

My legs moved faster than they ever had, powered by grief and rage and betrayal. My breath came in ragged sobs as I ran, barely seeing through the tears streaming down my face.

The celebration was still ongoing, the sounds of laughter and music echoing felt like cruel mockery.

I didn’t stop. I couldn’t face them — couldn’t face anyone. I ran until the sounds of the party faded.

Until the only thing I could hear was the pounding of my own heart and the rustling of trees around me.

The full moon hung high in the sky, watching me. And then, my knees hit the ground hard.

Pain shot up my legs, but it was nothing compared to the ache in my chest. I dug my hands into the ground, my fists clenched so tightly that my nails broke the skin of my palms.

Why?

The word screamed through me over and over again.

Why would Kian do this? He was my mate. He told me he loved me. He swore he’d always be by my side. He promised he'll never hurt me.

And Mira… My sister… My blood.

She wasn’t just my sister — she was my confidant, the one who had stood by me through everything. She was supposed to be on my side.

But she was with him.

The memory of her smirking face burned in my mind. That look — it wasn’t guilt. It was satisfying. It was a victory.

Had she been deceiving me all these while to get me into trusting her and never suspect her of anything?

I gagged on the sob rising in my throat, the betrayal was too much to hold inside.

The world blurred around me, the music and laughter from my party faded into the distance.

My heart was still in pain, a broken, frantic rhythm that matched the pain of betrayal raging inside me.

My throat burned, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. People stared as I pushed past them, their confused murmurs swirling around me like a fog.

“Eira? What’s wrong?”

“Is she okay?”

I ignored all of them. My lungs screamed for air, my legs burned, but nothing hurt worse than the image seared into my mind — Kian, the boy I loved, tangled up with Mira. My sister.

I felt my throat tighten, a sob threatening to claw its way free, but I swallowed it down. The ache in my chest was unbearable. I wanted to rip it out. Rip everything out.

My skin tingled. A strange, electric buzz crawled up my arms and legs, but I barely noticed it. I just kept running fast.

Trees blurred past, the familiar scent of the woods surrounding me. I didn’t realize how far I’d gone until the sound of the packhouse disappeared completely.

Finally, I felt some peace and quietness. The tingling grew stronger. It wasn’t just my skin anymore — it felt like my bones were vibrating beneath it.

A sharp, hot pain shot through my ankles. And then…

CRACK.

I screamed out loud, stumbling forward as both ankles snapped, the bones splintering with a sickening pop.

I hit the ground hard, sand and leaves scraping against my palms. My breath came in gasps as agony ripped through me.

“W-What…?” My voice was barely a whisper.

Then it hit me. The full moon. That was my first shift. It was happening. Oh no.

“No, no, no — not now,” I choked, but my body wasn’t listening. It decided to act on its own.

My bones twisted and popped, reshaping themselves. Fire spreads through every muscle, every nerve.

My skin felt like it was being torn apart from the inside out. I screamed again, louder this time, the sound echoing through the trees.

It hurts, Eira, but you’re strong. A voice echoed in my mind — my wolf. Let go. Let me free.

Tears blurred my vision. I wanted to fight it, to stop the pain, but there was no stopping it now. My wolf pushed forward, and I surrendered.

The last thing I felt was my spine snapping before everything went white.

***

I woke up to the scent of pine and earth, my senses sharper than they’d ever been. The pain was gone, it was replaced by something else — strength, power, boldness.

I stood on shaky legs, my paws sinking into the soft dirt. Paws. Oh, now I have paws.

I looked down, and a strange thrill ran through me. My fur was pure silver lining, shining under the moonlight. I felt… different.

You did it, Eira. My wolf Uley, she sounded so proud, steady. We’re free.

I didn’t respond. My mind was too full of everything that had happened. Kian. Mira. The betrayal.

Before I could think too much, a rustle in the trees made my ears snap forward. My head turned on instinct.

Another wolf stepped into the clearing.

He was massive, his fur midnight black. His eyes locked onto mine — an icy blue that sent a jolt of something strange and warm through me.

My heart skipped a beat.

I didn’t know him. But… somehow, I felt like I did. There was a certain strong connection I felt.

Who are you? I asked cautiously through the link I didn't know I had.

His voice came through, strong, but gentle. I’ve been looking for you, Eira. I finally found you.

My breath hitched instantly. “Found me?” My voice trembled.

The wolf stepped closer, his eyes fixed on mine. The pull between us felt different from what I had with Kian. Stronger. Deeper. It wasn’t just warmth — it was fire, burning through my veins.

“You’re my mate,” he said firmly, “I’ve waited so long for you.”

I froze. My mind screamed no — it wasn’t possible. Kian was my mate. At least that's what I thought.

But this didn’t feel wrong. It felt… right.

Before I could process anything, the wolf sighed. I’m sorry for what I’m about to do.

My ears pinned back. W-What?

He moved faster than I could react.

Pain exploded in my neck as his fangs sank deep into my flesh. I screamed, the sound was raw and broken in my head.

It wasn’t like the burning pain from my shift — this was worse. It felt like he was ripping something out of me, tearing through my very soul.

And then, everything went black.