Chapter 12: Chapter 12

Time goes by for Calliope. She went through her entire 13th year with no shifting. Then, her 14th year, and it’s the same. Now she is 15, and she hasn't felt anything yet.

It’s late summer and the first night of the full moon. Calliope is in bed, sleeping...dreaming.

She is dreaming of running through the woods - in wolf form. She jumps over a fallen tree and slides across the forest floor on the leaves. She looks up to the sky and sees the large moon overhead.

There was a howl in the distance, but she didn’t seem phased by it. She continued to run, but she couldn’t tell in what direction. It’s like her wolf moved on its own now. She tried to look left or right, but her wolf only looked forward. She began to struggle against her wolf.

As she started to freak out, her wolf came to a clearing. It’s familiar. In the distance is her home. Did she run home? Suddenly, she looked down at her feet. Black fur. Black fur! It’s not her wolf.

Calliope sits up in bed, trying to catch her breath. She had broken out in a cold sweat, but she felt hot to the touch. She looks out the window. It’s barely dawn out. She stands from her bed but must lean against the wall. Her body hurts, but she doesn’t know why.

She changes into her training clothes. She needed to go outside; she needed to get to Theo. Calliope took a moment to take a few breaths. She used her sleeve to wipe the sweat from her face. When she felt calm enough, she left her room.

She walked down the stairs and to the front door. There was an omega who was guarding the inside of the house.

“I’m just going for a morning jog before lessons,” she said as she waved to him.

The guard gave a nod and opened the door for her. She stepped outside and started to jog. She jogged to the woods towards Theo. He was just barely in the forest, sitting on a stump. He had been waiting for her.

She stood before Theo, looking at him. For a moment, she forgot about the pain she was feeling. But only for a moment. She wrapped her arms around her stomach and winced.

“What’s happening to me!?” She cried out to him.

He reached over and took one of her hands. His bare hand against hers helped to dull the pain. She took deep breaths, and her heart rate slowed down.

“You’re shifting today,” he answered.

“How did you know? How did you know to come?”

“I could sense your wolf,” Theo replied, gently rubbing the back of her hand. “I can feel your power that is ready to surge.”

“Why today?” she questioned. She was starting to calm down and relax. Her mind was less foggy, and she felt only minimal pain.

“Do you not know what today is?” he asked, confused. Calliope shook her head. “10 years ago today we met for the first time.”

“Wait, really?!”

“Yeah, I’m surprised you didn’t know,” he replied.

“I was 5, Theo,” she scowls. “I didn’t know what months were yet.”

Theo chuckled as he let Calliope’s hand go. “I’m sorry, I forget sometimes that you aren’t over 100 like I am.”

Calliope groaned and gave him a gentle push. She looked at his face. In 10 years, he didn’t change; he didn’t age. He was like a living statue. She reached up and felt the stubble on his jawline. Theo closed his eyes and leaned slightly into her touch.

“You left in a hurry; you have a beard growing.” she teased.

“It’s hardly a beard,” he says, feeling his chin.

“I’ve never seen you with a beard,” she thought aloud as she took her hand away.

“Perhaps I’ll grow it out for you one day,” he smiled. He looked up and saw the sun was rising. “You should go back home. I’ll wait for you.”

“No! Please come with me. Having you near has helped with the pain. I’ll be miserable if you stay here.” Calliope pleaded as she took his hands.

She didn’t need to plead too much; Theo nodded, caving quickly. Calliope let go of his hands and led the way back to the pack house. The guards took notice of Theo from a distance. Asher, Nova, and Calliope’s parents were awakened and alerted.

Theo and Calliope enter the house where her parents are up and waiting.

“What’s wrong?” Wyatt asked. Theo never visited them, so his coming unannounced was alarming.

“I’m shifting today,” Calliope replied in a whisper.

The room went silent. Her quiet whisper seemed to echo across the room. Tears began to stream down her mother’s face.

“No, it’s too soon,” Evelyn whimpered. “How can you be certain?”

“I can feel it,” Calliope answered. “Theo can feel it. I woke up in a cold sweat but hot to the touch. I am in horrific pain if I’m not near him.”

Wyatt frowned and looked at Theo. Theo looked at Wyatt with a hard, stern gaze. However, Wyatt couldn’t look Theo in the eyes long; the Great Alpha aura was too much for him.

“When?” he asked through gritted teeth.

“Tonight, under the full moon,” Theo responded.

“So she is leaving tomorrow?” Evelyn questioned Theo.

“No, she leaves tonight. What you two need to understand is that the moment she goes to shift, a wave of energy will be released. Wolves thousands of miles away will feel it. She will leave and return with me. She will become a member of the Royal Moon pack tonight.”

Wyatt wanted to argue, but when he looked at Theo, he instantly looked away. Theo wasn’t going to put up with arguments, not today. His Great Alpha aura was so strong that Asher and Nova waited outside, not daring to come in. Only Riley came in. As a 16-year-old and not old enough to shift, she couldn’t feel the aura the adults felt.

Riley ran up to Calliope and took one of her hands. The two girls looked at one another. They had known each other for ten years; after these ten years, they didn't even need to say words. They understood each other’s body language and could read the other’s facial expressions.

“Go and pack what you need. Riley, you better go do the same,” Theo said to the girls.

Riley looked at Calliope before she nodded to Theo. She ran back outside to her dad. Theo relaxed a little when Calliope and Evelyn headed upstairs. He looked to Wyatt.

“If you have anything to say, you say it now while she isn’t here,” Theo said.

Wyatt sighed and took a seat. “I don’t want to disrespect you, truly. But you need to understand that she is my daughter, my only child. I still see her as a little girl.”

“I’m just scared,” Wyatt continued. “For ten years, we have hidden her well. Not even a hint of trouble. But tonight, she shifts, and as you said, everyone will know. How much danger is she really in?”

“At best, none; at worst, perhaps a few rogues or sun wolves will come close to the Royal Moon lands to get a look at her,” Theo responded as he sat across from Wyatt. With his aura at a normal level, Nova entered the pack house and sat near them. “We still can’t put an official number on the sun wolf population. With the human kidnappings that happened a few years back, we can only assume there are more being born. The adult numbers, we think, are around only several hundred. Not enough to risk an attack from the Greats.”

“They are trying to grow their numbers,” Wyatt said as he thought aloud. “Can you guarantee me her safety? With you and your pack?”

“Do you know why we ban members of the Royal Moon pack from fighting in the Moon Festival? Not just because we need guards and support staff but because the warriors in my pack are the strongest. You saw Nova all those years ago, even without Calliope’s blessing she could have won. I have to practice fighting, too, and who do I fight? My warriors. I can assure you that some of the strongest wolves will protect her.”

“Why bring Riley? She won’t shift for another two years?” Wyatt asked.

“She has a duty to Calliope, wolf or no wolf,” Theo answered.

“Where is your companion then?”

“Josiah and Owen are both out on the edges of your borders. They will flank Calliope and me on our run back to the palace. My wolf will be a bit occupied watching her. I know I’ll need eyes watching from the sides in case we get attacked on the way.”

Wyatt nodded and looked at Nova. “Are you leaving too?”

Nova shook her head and smiled. “No, and neither is Asher. Only Riley is leaving. Our duty to our little Luna is done.”

“One more question, and I ask you as a father-” Wyatt began before Theo interrupted him.

“I’ve told you the answer to this before. I will not mate; I will not mark her until she is 18 and only when she tells me. If it puts your mind at ease, she will be in a separate bedroom than me. And I still don’t feel attracted to her, not in that way. I love her as I would any family. But I’m not in love with her. Make sense?”

“When can we come visit?”

“You may come with Riley and their things. After that, you can come every few months. You still have a pack to lead, and you must be here to do that.”

Wyatt sighed and nodded. He stood and went upstairs to help his daughter pack.

The day slowly passes. Calliope and Riley both pack up their rooms. A wagon started to become full of trunks and luggage. As the sun began to set, the entire Riverbed pack gathered around the back of the pack house.

Calliope stepped outside as the Moon began to rise. Theo walked past her. He went several yards away and then turned around to face her. He took a breath in and felt her energy. Calliope was taking long, deep breaths, preparing for her first shift.

Theo’s eyes turned black. “Shift.”

Hearing those words, a burst of energy released from Calliope. It knocked over those who stood too close. The energy rippled out from her like a wave and traveled far into the distance.

Her eyes began to glow white, and her bones began to break. She screamed in pain as she shifted for the first time. Theo watched as the young woman before him turned into a large, white wolf. The wolf growled and snarled as she became accustomed to her new form.

Theo walked over to the wolf. He stood a few feet away and held out his hand. Calliope walked over; her wolf sniffed him before pushing her head against him. When a wolf first shifts, everyone has to be cautious. The pain they are feeling, the new sensations, and everything else going on can confuse a new wolf. It can make them accidentally injure someone. But, thankfully, Calliope seemed to calm down at Theo’s scent and touch.

Theo touched her fur and felt its softness. He looked up at the wolf. She was twice the size of a normal wolf, but now he was curious if she was larger than his wolf. Without wasting another moment, he stepped back and began to shift.

His large black wolf now stood in front of Calliope. Theo was larger, but barely. But there was something about Calliope’s Wolf that looked more... like a wild wolf. Feral perhaps.

Theo turned and started to run to the woods. Calliope was quick to follow. It took a moment for her legs not to feel so stiff, but after hours of running, she felt free, and being in her wolf form felt natural. She howled at the Moon when they ran through a clearing. Theo followed her lead and howled as well.

The two ran through the night, not stopping until they entered the Royal Moon Pack lands. Theo led her past the palace to the arena at the festival grounds. He shifted back into his human form. Calliope also wanted to shift but had trouble returning to a human. She felt stuck, like she couldn't do anything.

“It’s time to make you a pack member,” Theo said as he grabbed a knife. He couldn’t tell she was struggling, she had no way to mind link him until she became a member of the pack. Internally, she began to freak out. She wanted to shift, to even move, but couldn't. After another moment, she was able to shift.

She gasped for air and struggled to stand on her human legs. Theo ran over to help her keep her balance.

“It’s ok,” he said calmly. “This will happen the first few times. You’ll get used to it after a while.”

Calliope nodded and stood up straight. Theo held the knife out to her.

“Calliope, to join my pack, you must bleed on pack lands. Cut your hand and let the blood run into the sand.”

She took the knife, and without hesitating, she cut down a line into her palm. She instantly started to see steam, so she closed her hand and squeezed. A few drops of blood dripped out from the bottom of her hands and sizzled as it hit the sand.

Theo put his hand behind her neck and pulled her so their foreheads could touch. He went into her mind, and she went into his. When Calliope closed her eyes, she saw Amarok, Theo’s wolf spirit.

Finally, Amarok said as he sat waiting for her. Calliope smiled and walked over to him.

Is that it? Am I now part of the Royal Moon pack?

Typically, another wolf would bow to me and Theo, but that is something you will never do. So for you, yes, this is it.

Calliope gave Amarok a quick pat before she felt like she was being pulled from him. She opened her eyes and saw Theo leaning away from her. He had tears brimming in his eyes.

“What’s wrong?” She asked as she placed a hand on his cheek.

“Your wolf spirit is just something to behold,” he whispered as he hugged Calliope.

Welcome, little wolf, he mind linked to her.

I’m not a little wolf anymore, Calliope retorted.

Theo chuckled aloud. “As long as your wolf is still smaller than mine, you will be my little wolf.”

Calliope looked up and saw the Royal Moon pack members gather in the arena.

“Friends, Nieces, and Nephews,” Theo said as he and Calliope looked around at everyone. “Behold our newest member, your Great Luna!”

Cheers erupted in the arena. The excitement couldn’t be contained. Even though she wouldn’t be the official Great Luna until they marked one another, no one would dare treat her any less. Since she was five, she was known as the Great Luna to all here. Nothing would change that for them.