The First Shift

Sienna POV

Alpha Conrad and Luna Celine politely stepped away, giving us some much-needed space. My father gave them a brief nod before leading me out to the quiet, dimly lit porch. The cool evening breeze did nothing to calm the violent churning in my stomach. I stood there, a nervous mess, tightly clasping my clammy hands together.

"What is it, Sienna?" my father asked, leaning against the wooden railing.

"Father, I..." I fidgeted with my trembling fingers, desperately seeking the right words to make him understand. "I don’t want to marry Ryker. He is Roxy’s mate and marrying him would ruin Roxy. He is going to hate me for the rest of his life, and so will Roxy. Please father, don’t push me into a lifetime of misery."

He stared at me. His expression was tender, yet completely unyielding. "Your mother and I had decided long back that Ryker would be best for you. I know that this is going to be hard initially, but as time progresses, you both will like each other."

My jaw dropped. How could he just brush off the mate bond? "But daddy—"

"Sienna!" he cut me off angrily, his booming tone leaving absolutely no room for argument. "This is a decision that the Elders have taken along with Alpha and Luna. I can’t go against them. So this will happen! As for Roxy and Gemma, don't worry. I will convince them."

He completely dismissed my valid protests, strictly ordering me to go back inside, help with dinner, and prepare for my first shift. I trudged heavily back into the manor, my heart sinking to my toes. For a brief while, I was distracted by Brody's lighthearted banter during the dinner preparations, trading quick jokes over the kitchen counter. But a deep, dark pit of misery forcefully opened in my stomach when dinner was served and I realized Ryker had failed to return.

I knew with absolute certainty that he was with Roxy. He was tenderly nursing her wounded emotions, holding her close, while I sat here trapped in an engagement I never asked for. Was this destined to be my everyday routine? Pining helplessly for Ryker while he stayed intimately by her side?

Near the stroke of midnight, we all gathered quietly by the edge of the tree line. The night was bathed under the intensely bright, ethereal light of the full moon. The silver rays completely washed out the surrounding stars. My father, Brody, and the Alpha pair waited in eager anticipation. But Ryker's glaring absence stung like a physical blow to my chest, bringing fresh, hot tears to my eyes. Even for my first shift, he couldn't bother to show up.

"Go on, feel your wolf," Luna Celine encouraged warmly, her gentle voice acting as a much-needed anchor in my sea of panic.

I closed my eyes and focused. Tingles suddenly spread rapidly through my body, racing all the way down to my toes. A deep rumble vibrated in my chest. Then, a wave of excruciating, mind-numbing pain took over. A blood-curdling scream ripped out of my throat as my bones violently cracked. I fell to the dirt, gasping for air as my skeleton fractured and elongated under my skin. The pure agony of the transformation tore through my muscles.

*Let it go...* a strange, soothing voice whispered directly in my mind.

I surrendered to the tearing sensation. When my blurry vision finally cleared, I blinked and found myself standing firmly on all fours. My clothes were completely shredded into useless rags on the ground around me.

"I knew it!" Luna Celine squealed in absolute delight. I turned my elongated snout to see my father, Brody, and the Alpha pair staring at me in pure wonder.

*Hi Sienna,* the soothing voice echoed loudly in my head, completely diverting my attention from the audience. *It’s nice to meet you. I am Kira, your wolf. Sit back and relax. We are going for a run.*

Kira took off with incredible, explosive speed, launching us forward on all fours. My heightened senses rapidly multiplied in the cool, crisp night air. Every rustle of the leaves, every distant chirp of insects, and the rich, earthy scent of the forest floor slammed into my awareness. It was intoxicating. We ran wildly for hours, feeling the damp earth beneath our padded paws, moving effortlessly through the heavy brush until we reached a small, babbling stream. Kira paused at the water's edge to quench her thirst.

Suddenly, the distinct scents of my father, Alpha Conrad, and Luna Celine’s wolves approached quickly from behind. They were tracking us.

A profound, overwhelming sadness abruptly engulfed Kira. It was a heavy ache born entirely over Ryker's continued absence. The fact that he wasn't among the scents tracking us shattered her completely.

*He's a fool,* Kira muttered angrily in my mind.

Feeling deeply dejected and completely misunderstood, she refused to let them catch up. Kira leaped effortlessly over the babbling stream, completely ignoring their warning growls. We fled from the others, pushing our legs to the absolute limit until we were completely alone in the dense, shadowy woods. The sounds of their pursuit faded away into nothingness.

Tired, hungry, and emotionally drained, Kira lumbered slowly beneath a massive, ancient tree. She circled once before settling on the cool dirt. Just as she tipped her head up to let out a sorrowful, heart-wrenching howl into the moonlight, a tall, immensely muscular black wolf silently emerged from the pitch-black darkness.

Kira immediately stood her ground. She growled fiercely, her defensive hackles rising sharply along her spine. She bared her teeth at the imposing threat. But her fierce growls instantly turned to soft, welcoming yelps, and she wagged her tail happily when we simultaneously realized exactly who this was. It was Ryker's wolf.

My heart pounded wildly against my ribs. Had he finally come to take us back to the pack? Or was he here specifically to witness my very first shift after all?

The massive black wolf stepped right in front of her, moving with a terrifying, predatory grace. He waited patiently as his glowing amber eyes fixed intently on us, piercing straight through the darkness. And then, without any warning, he let out a low, dangerous growl.