My name is Tori Blake. I'm 15 years old. Today is my birthday and I'm shifting into my wolf for the first time.

I've heard other girls my age who have already shifted say it's painful, but who cares? I can take it.

I've been preparing for this moment my entire life. To shift and run freely in my wolf, to have a friend...

Being social wasn't one of my strong suits so I'm a bit of a loner.

I had some friends when I lived in Texas with my brother, but since our parents demanded we come stay with them, we had to leave.

My head started to pound and my back ached. I changed my position on the couch to attempt to get comfortable again, but the ache kept getting worse.

My shift must be starting.

Anxiety flooded me as I got up and went outside.

We lived in an all werewolf community since many wolves in this pack have horrible tempers, it wasn't safe to live around humans.

I sat down on the grass and hugged my knees. Sweat built up on my forehead and I wiped the small droplets off with the back of my hand.

My right leg started to twitch, soon following my left.

My head felt hot , and I mean HOT.

"Are you okay miss?"

"She's shifting."

"Where are her parents?"

These are some of few things I heard being said by passing wolves.

Where were my parents?

My dad is beta to the Alpha so I guess he's busy, my mom is... I don't know.

I attempted to mind link one of them but a crippling pain shot through my body and left me unable to focus enough to do it.

Crack, crack crack!

The sound of my bones cracking made me feel like throwing up.

I shut my eyes tight and tried to steady my breathing to avoid screaming out in agony.

*

*

The pain stopped.

I opened my eyes to see my father and mother staring down at me with smiling faces.

I tried to stand up but immediately fell down.

I looked at myself in awe.

I shifted.

My wolf had light red-orange colored fur with black paws.

"Hello Tori."

I looked around to see who was talking but no one was.

"I am your wolf. My name is Saphira."

"H-hi." I stuttered in my mind.

"No need to be nervous to speak to me Tori. We are one. I am you, and you are me. Now, get up and take your first walk as a wolf."

I struggled for a few minutes trying to walk on all fours.

Soon my dad shifted in his large grey wolf with white paws and allowed me to lean against him as I tried to steady myself in wolf form.

After a few more tries, I could walk around on my own.

"I'm proud of you Tori."

"Thank you Saphira."

She growled approval before she moved to the back on my mind.

"Good work sweetheart, you're mother and I are so proud of you." My father said to me through the family mind link.

To hear those words from him never came too often, so it felt good to have him proud of me.

I'm finally a wolf.