Chapter 349: Chapter 349: Welcome To The Pack, Maya

"That’s why new wolves stay close to the pack during transformation. We keep you away from situations where you might lose control." Brynn’s expression turned serious. "Maya, I need you to promise me something. If you feel a shift coming....partial or full and you’re not somewhere safe, you find another wolf immediately. Any pack member. We’ll help you ride it out."

"I promise."

"Good. Because losing control in front of humans is dangerous. For you and for them."

***

Week eleven brought increased aggression.

Maya found herself snapping at people for no reason. Getting into arguments over trivial things. Feeling an overwhelming urge to fight, to prove herself, to establish dominance.

"It’s instinct," Damian explained after Maya had nearly gotten into a physical altercation with a pack member during training. "Your wolf is trying to figure out where you fit in the hierarchy. She wants to prove her strength."

"I don’t want to fight people," Maya protested.

"Your wolf does. And right now, you and your wolf are still learning to coexist. Her instincts are bleeding into your behavior." He paused. "The good news is, once you’ve shifted and integrated properly, you’ll have better control. The bad news is, between now and then, you’re going to be aggressive and irritable and probably piss off half the pack."

"Great."

"It’s temporary. Everyone understands what new wolves go through. They’ll give you grace." Damian’s expression turned stern. "But Maya, if you genuinely feel like you’re going to hurt someone, you remove yourself from the situation. You don’t push through it. Understand?"

"Yes, Alpha."

The words came out automatically....instinctive submission to authority. Maya blinked in surprise.

Damian smiled. "See? Your wolf already understands pack hierarchy. She knows I’m Alpha. Knows to submit when I give orders. That’s good. That’ll keep you safe."

***

Week twelve, and Maya woke to wrongness.

Her entire body felt like it was vibrating. Her skin was too tight. Her bones ached. And underneath it all, a voice that wasn’t hers was screaming to be let out.

Run. Hunt. SHIFT.

Maya stumbled out of bed and barely made it to the bathroom before she collapsed. Her bones were moving under her skin....actually moving, shifting, trying to reform into something other.

"Eve!" Maya’s scream was raw. "EVE!"

Footsteps pounded in the hallway. The door burst open and Eve was there, dropping to her knees beside Maya.

"What’s wrong? What’s happening?"

"She’s coming," Maya gasped. "My wolf. She’s coming and I can’t stop her...."

"Don’t stop her." Damian appeared in the doorway, already moving toward them. "Maya, listen to me. This is it. Your first shift. If you fight it, you’ll just make it worse. You have to surrender to it."

"It hurts...."

"I know. But fighting makes it hurt more." He lifted her easily despite her thrashing. "Outside. We need to get her outside before she shifts fully."

They moved with supernatural speed....through the estate, out onto the grounds, to the forest edge where the pack often ran. Maya could barely process the movement. Could only feel the wolf clawing at her from the inside, demanding release.

Damian set her down on the grass. "Let go, Maya. Stop holding on to your human form. Just let go."

"I’m scared...."

"We’re right here. You’re not alone. Now let her come."

Maya stopped fighting.

The transformation was agony.

Her bones broke....she heard them crack, felt them splinter and reform. Her spine elongated. Her jaw stretched. Fur erupted across her entire body as her skin reshaped itself.

She screamed, but the sound that came out was a wolf’s howl....raw and wild and absolutely primal.

And then.....

The pain stopped.

Maya opened her eyes and the world had changed.

Everything was sharper. Clearer. She could see in colors she’d never perceived before. Could smell individual scents in the air.....earth and trees and water and pack.

She tried to speak and realized she couldn’t. Tried to stand and fell forward onto.....

Paws.

Four paws covered in silver-grey fur.

Maya looked down at herself and saw a wolf’s body. Smaller than the Alphas’ wolf forms but sleek and strong. Her fur was the color of moonlight, and when she moved it rippled like water.

We did it, a voice said in her head. Not her voice. Her wolf’s voice. We’re whole now.

Maya tried to respond and found she could, mentally. We’re actually a wolf. I’m actually....

We’re pack, her wolf corrected. Finally. Properly. Pack.

Movement caught Maya’s attention. She turned to find Damian, Damon, and Silas all shifted into their wolf forms, massive and powerful and watching her with clear approval.

Welcome, Damian’s mental voice was warm. Welcome to the pack, Maya.

How do I....can you hear me? Can I talk like this?

You can. Pack bonds allow mental communication when shifted. You’ll learn to control it. To speak only to specific wolves or to broadcast to everyone.

Maya tried to take a step and nearly fell. Walking on four legs was completely different from walking on two. Her wolf’s instincts knew how, but Maya’s human consciousness was still catching up.

Easy, Damon’s voice was amused. It takes practice. Just let your wolf guide you.

Maya surrendered control slightly, let her wolf take the lead. And suddenly moving felt natural. Her paws found purchase on the ground. Her muscles coordinated properly. She took a step, then another, then actually walked a few feet without falling.

I’m doing it! The mental equivalent of laughing. I’m actually....

Then she caught a scent.

Rabbit. Nearby. Fresh.

Every thought in Maya’s head vanished except: HUNT.

Wait....Silas started, but Maya was already running.

She didn’t consciously decide to chase the rabbit. Her wolf took over completely, and Maya was just along for the ride as they tore through the forest at impossible speed.

The rabbit zigzagged. Maya matched it instinctively, her body moving in ways her human form never could. She got closer, closer....

And caught it.

The kill was quick. Clean. And when Maya tasted blood, something wild and satisfied settled in her chest.

Mine, her wolf purred. Our kill. Our prey.

The Alphas caught up to her seconds later, all three of them radiating amusement through the pack bond.

Well, Damian said. That’s one way to celebrate your first shift.

I killed a rabbit, Maya said, still slightly shocked. I actually....

Hunted, Damon corrected. You hunted and killed. That’s what wolves do. It’s instinct.

And you did well, Silas added. Fast. Clean kill. Your wolf has good instincts.