“Alright. I agree to go outside with you,” Julia replied, even though deep down she wasn’t truly ready yet.

She kept herself locked in their room since Alpha Dimitri had died five years before. As time passed, the whole packhouse started a meeting in which she was not invited. They had talked about how they would have Julia step down as Alpha/Luna of the pack.

Alexa knew she had to let her Luna and best friend, Julia, know at all costs.

Even though her heart was broken, Julia knew all she could do was accept her friend’s suggestion. So, she inhaled the stifling scent of the bedroom, letting it calm her down, even if only for a little while.

Am I going to regret agreeing to her suggestion? Or is this going to help me combat the crazy emotions I’m feeling? She wondered as they slowly stood up from the bed.

The fear of not listening to her friend was far greater than the what-ifs that lay in her heart. So, she sucked it up and took what she said to heart.

Alexa looked at Julia, and a smile etched on her face. I’m glad she at least agreed. I hope I won’t regret helping her since the Moon Goddess knows how much she needs this. Alexa thought as they walked to the other side of the room.

She paused and peered at Julia, and her heart started beating rapidly inside her chest.

“Are you sure you’re ready to venture outside?” Alexa questioned, her voice low with worry.

She didn’t want to push her friend too much, too fast. But she knew that if she didn’t do something now, she would regret it.

Why is she asking me that? She knows that I can’t answer that right now. Yet, I have to respond, or else moon goddess forbid she thinks I have gone mute. Julia thought while she nodded, a simple response to her question.

“Okay, let’s go.” She answered quietly, then inched her way to the door that was between her freedom and her captured heart.

Alexa pushed the glass sliding door open, and the smell of freshly cut pine wafted through their nostrils.

“Mmm. Doesn’t this smell nice?” Alexa whispered as she sniffed the surrounding air.

Then, without much effort, she swiftly twisted and turned, allowing her inner wolf to appear. It was a large brown wolf with green eyes.

Once she finished her transformation, Alexa nudged Julia on her side.

Will she follow me? Or is she going to stay stuck in this house once more? She wondered as she peered at Julia with a playful glint.

Meanwhile, Julia crossed her arms as she looked outside, and her palms began to get clammy.

I’m not giving up on her. She needs to know that no matter the circumstances that come, I’ll always be there for her. Alexa thought while she looked at her with wonder. And her heart filled with excitement over her happiness.

“Come on, Jules. Let’s go for a run. I know you want to,” She mind-linked Julia, urging Julia to follow her to the forest.

But before Julia began walking, she shivered. A sensation that was both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. Then she inched forward, this time with slower steps, until she stood at the door's threshold.

“I… I don’t think I can do this.” She stuttered, as her eyes widened at the world around her.

Moon Goddess, I’m deathly afraid of nature. I don’t want to walk any further. This is too much for me. What… What if I die? Everything is new for me; I can’t fathom him not being here with me anymore. She pondered as tears began forming at the edge of her eyelids.

Out of nowhere, the wind picked up speed, twirling and twisting faster than they ever thought possible.

I need to hold onto something before I fall over. Julia thought while she searched her surroundings. But there was nothing in her reach.

The wind began picking up speed, and Julia started to stumble.

Not wanting to lose her footing, she looked from left to right in hopes of finding something to hold onto. But there was nothing in her reach. Everything happened so quick that she couldn’t stop herself from falling.

Slam! She fell on the ground with a soft thud.

“What the f*ck! Why would they do that?” Julia mindlinked Alexa, frustration building with each word.

I wish I could have walked out there myself. But no, they had to make it impossible for me to do so. She thought as the wind began swirling again, and the tendrils of magic started forming around her.

Her body started lifting into the air, and her nose elongated; a transformation was taking place. Something that was only heard in storybooks, and yet it was happening right in front of Alexa’s eyes.

“What is going on? Why the f*ck am I in the air?” She screamed, unsure of how to react to the sudden movement.

You are going to have your wolf back! But don’t lose heart, you are also going to have a second chance at love. The strange voice declared as white fur began protruding from inside her body.

Meanwhile, Alexa observed what was happening, and shock began filling her body to the brim.

That's interesting! How is that happening? The only person who could be lifted off the ground, surrounded by magic, would be someone related to the Moon Goddess! Alexa thought as she observed her and tried to figure out how to respond.

Seeing her suspended in the air was something she had never seen before. And she was astonished by it all.

Then, finally, the air began lowering Julia’s white wolf slowly to the ground. Just as Alexa was about to inch forward, a large green vine entangled her leg.

“Get this thing off of me! I have to go see if she’s okay!”