Chapter 5. The First Shift

Emma’s POV

A few moments later, I was standing on all fours, my white fur shimmering under the moonlight. I took a deep breath and lifted my head proudly.

My friends and family turned around and gasped.

“She is white,” Luna Gloria said.

I looked at her and cocked my wolf head. Is that something special?

‘We are a pure white wolf, Emma. Nobody is a pure white wolf,’ Eliza said.

‘What do you mean?’ I asked her. ‘There are white wolves. I have seen them before.’

‘Yes, but none of them are pure white,’ she said proudly. ‘They all have a spot in a different color, or their paws are different. We are all white.’

“What does that mean?” Amy asked quietly.

“I don’t know,” my brother said, not taking his eyes off my wolf. “But she is beautiful.”

“She is,” Jacob said quietly.

I looked at him and immediately felt disappointed. No sparks. No connection. He was not my mate.

‘We are not his,’ Eliza said. ‘We belong to somebody else.’

‘What do you mean, Eliza?’ I asked, surprised. ‘Do you know who our mate is?’

‘I do,’ she said. ‘You will know soon.’

‘Who is he?’ I asked. ‘How do you know?’

It wasn’t common for a wolf to know who their mate was before seeing them. What was going on?

‘I am not talking to you about it,’ Eliza said. ‘Now, stop thinking about this and focus on your friends and family. Andrew is trying to mind-link you.’

I pulled my focus away from our conversation and tuned into my brother’s voice inside my head. Now that I had shifted, I could mind-link the entire pack.

‘Emma?’ he called. ‘Emma, can you hear me?’

‘Yes,’ I responded. ‘Sorry, I was talking to Eliza.’

‘You are beautiful, Emma,’ he said proudly. ‘Do you want to go for a run?’

‘Yes!’ I said, excitement filling my voice.

My brother told the rest of the group to shift, and we all went for a run. Eliza met all the wolves, and I could tell she loved them. And they loved her—especially Asher. He was attentive and careful with Eliza, just like Andrew was with me.

When I had enough, I mind-linked Andrew to tell him I wanted to go back. All the excitement and nervousness had gotten to me, and I was tired.

We returned to the clearing and picked up our clothes in our mouths. We all went behind a tree to shift and change.

Shifting back hurt as well, but not like the first time.

‘Each time we do this, it will be easier,’ Eliza said. ‘After a while, it won’t hurt at all.’

I walked back to the clearing, where my friends and family were already waiting. They hugged me and gave me a lot of kisses. They were proud of me and happy that I finally had my wolf.

Nobody mentioned that I was a pure white wolf again, so I decided to forget about it.

It’s nothing special. I’m nothing special.

Luna Gloria left first. We stayed at the clearing for a while, just chatting and laughing. After a few minutes, we started walking back.

Jacob walked beside me while Andrew and Amy were in front of us.

“So, we’re not mates,” he said, sadness lacing his voice.

“I guess not,” I responded, not looking up at him.

“That doesn’t mean we can’t be,” he said. “I would choose you as my mate. I love you, Emma.”

I looked up at him, surprised. But before I could say anything, my brother interfered.

“Jacob, no,” he said strictly. “At least not yet. I know you love my sister, but she’s only 18, and there’s a chance she will meet her true mate. If she doesn’t in a few years, and if you don’t find your mate by then, you can make her your chosen mate—if she wants to. But not before she has had a chance to find her true mate.”

I looked between Andrew and Jacob.

Jacob wanted to argue, but he knew my brother was right. I loved Jake, but I deserved a chance to find my true mate.

After a few seconds of Andrew and Jake glaring at each other, Jacob finally nodded and lowered his head.

“You’re right,” he said quietly. “But I will wait for her.”

“I’m sorry, Jake,” I said, taking his hand in mine.

“You have nothing to be sorry about,” he said and gave me a small smile.

Amy had been quiet the whole time, but I could tell she was sad. She had really hoped Jake and I would be mates.

We continued our walk through the forest, and soon, we were back at our house. Jake and Amy said their goodbyes and went home.

Andrew and I went inside, and I checked my watch. It was 10 p.m.

“Hey, do you want to watch another movie? It’s not too late,” Andrew asked, taking my jacket to put it away.

“I would, but I’m so tired,” I said.

He smiled. “Yeah. The first shift will do that to you.”

“I’ll just go to bed,” I said. “Thank you for today. I loved it.”

“I loved it too, little one,” he said with a big smile. “Asher and I love your wolf.”

“We love you too,” I said and smiled.

I walked upstairs while Andrew went to the living room.

I hopped in the shower, put on my pajamas, and got under the covers. I closed my eyes immediately.

I didn’t think I slept long before I was woken up by a loud knock on our front door.