141| CHANGE IN THE AIR

The next day hums with an undercurrent of excitement. Darine and I spend the majority of our Saturday morning with the female Azures on one side of the territory. Something I never knew about is a tradition to pamper the incoming inductee of the Pack like a bride on her wedding day. Darine is showered with gifts and delicious foods while the older women in the Pack, including Blue’s mom and aunts, wash Darine’s hair and style it.

The younger Wolven are just as excited, tittering and all but bouncing with energy. Even Valeria is perky. The feeling of change is heavy in the air, the smell of orange blossoms becoming more fragrant with each passing hour around my friend. Darine is glowing, I swear. Her lightly tanned skin flushed with color and a misting of dewy sweat clinging to the surface of her human-looking skin. But ever since we met up here this morning, I could sense something new emerging in her. Like a second half is slowly growing. A Wolven-like presence budding up and tangling into the human essence I’ve always associated with her.

It’s so strange, but I manage to hide my confusion and awe as I sense my human friend slowly becoming more than human. I hang out in the chair beside hers, watching over her and chatting with the others. There’s an extra bound to her normally calm and steady pulse, but it’s not from fear or anxiety. I can’t smell any fear from her and she’s so relaxed it’s like she’s in a spa rather than surrounded by predators…though I guess she’s becoming more comfortable around the women of the Pack. It strikes me, as Sandra brushes out Darine’s hair, that this whole morning has been for the sole purpose of soothing the human into the ranks of the Pack without it being overwhelming.

What’s more relaxing than a spa day and gossiping with friends? Well, not for me, I think I’d prefer hunting to all this sitting around, but I know Darine loves this kind of thing from the few times we’ve gotten together for sleep-overs.

It’s clear that Darine is closer to the Azures than I had originally guessed as she chats with them about everything and nothing. They artfully navigate around touchy topics, like Darine’s family history and anything related to the outside world of supernaturals. Until Darine herself is a full-Wolven, I know that sort of thing is kind of taboo. Sure, the Azures an tell the local humans about their own Pack , but not others. It’s the universal way of things as I understand it, and Darine seems to know this as well, because, though I see the light of curiosity in her eyes, she doesn’t push for answers.

“Yuri mentioned something about a run tonight,” Darine prompts as the conversation winds down after lunch. The delicious scents of stewed meat and vegetables still lingering in the air. I smack my lips as I polish off the remainder of my blood bag, one of three I’d brought as my day’s rations. The little lunch box I’d brought sitting on the ground beside my chair. No one said a word when I’d pulled out my ‘breakfast’ bag this morning, and - though I caught Valeria giving me the side-eyes - no one has acknowledged this one with my lunch.

“Yes, after you have shifted,” One of the older women explains from a cushion on the floor some five feet across the room. “We will all go for a run in our wolf forms and the bond to the Pack will be solidified.” She explains with a gentle smile in Darine’s direction. Darine tilts her head in an oddly non-human way as she considers this.

“I’m not much for running,” Darine admits after a beat, a blush blooming in her cheeks. A few of the women laugh at that and I reach over to pat my friend’s hand as I chuckle along.

“Believe me, Darine,” I tell her with a wide grin. “You may hate running now, but once you shift…” I sigh contentedly, thinking of how - even now - the sound of running with the Pack sounds amazing. My Wolven side stalks like the predator it is within me, pressing to the surface of my skin and sharpening my senses. Darine smiles back and nods, reaching back and squeezing my hand as if she senses my wolf. A feeling of being watched by another predator flickers through me as I look into my friend’s eyes.

Eyes that are less like that of a human, and are ringed with the slight feral glint of a wolf. It’s like looking into the face of another wolf. I feel my smile widen and the room seems to be standing at attention, all eyes of the others focused on the turning creature in our midst. I’m hit with a huge sense of relief, my eyes prickling as I realize my best friend is going to be just fine.

“I hope you’re right,” Darine sighs, dispelling the tension in the room. “I’d hate to be exhausted from changing and embarrass myself by taking a nap while the rest of you run.” That elicits another round of laughs from the women.

“Don’t worry too much about it,” I reply with my still huge grin.

“Fine,” Darine sighs the word and looks around the room with warmth in her eyes. “So,” She turns to Sandra, who’s untangling a mass of shimmery strings on the far table with Caly and a few of the other Wolven women. Though it’s a large room we’re all lounging in, there’s really not enough ‘chairs’ for every one. Cushions have been placed around the room where some of the younger Wolven sit in long lines and braid each other’s hair. Some of the slightly older Pack members fiddle with ornate carving tools and bits of metal or wood. Still others are fussing over the various gifts Darine’s received and stacking the boxes and bags in neat piles by the door. “What’m I wearing to the ceremony?”

The room falls into a hush and I look to the previous Luna for answer. Blue’s mom frowns over at Darine, not an expression of anger, but puzzlement on her wise face.

“Yuri didn’t tell you?” Sandra asks with a mischievous light in her eyes I know too well. “We all arrive to the ceremony in the same way as we came into this life, with nothing but our skins to clothe us.” There’s a long pause as Darine’s face first drains of color…then turns bright red, her blue-green eyes going wide when no one says a word. I blink too, a little stunned as I replay Sandra’s words in my head again.

“Seriously?” Darine breathes, her wide eyes turning to pin me with the horror I know is echoed in my eyes.

“Blue failed to mention that…” I reply dryly, a muscle in my jaw ticking as I realize that was probably by design.

“Can’t you make an exception-?” Darine starts, a hint of panic in her voice and exploding in her scent.

“The reason we arrive without clothing is because your first change will ruin anything you clothe yourself in. You won’t be able to control your garments until you become a more experienced shifter.” Sandra explains gently. I frown, recalling just how true of a statement that is. Even when I was older, last year in fact, I had issues with control because I had been out of practice shifting. It had been why I had to remove my clothes before each shift. It makes sense why Darine would need to be naked her first shift…but the rest of us?

“And the rest of us?” I ask dryly, wondering if Blue is behind the nudity.

“It’s to make Darine feel more comfortable. If she’s the only one naked, how do you think she will feel? If we’re all bare,” Sandra shrugs, having no problem with this idea, it seems. Darine groans, closing her eyes.

“Fiiiine,” She moans, face still bright red.

“It will be dark, if that makes you feel better, dear.” The older Wolven tells my friend gently. I don’t bother adding that, as Wolven, we have the ability to see even in the darkness of the night. Better to just keep that tidbit to myself… Darine’s nervous enough as it is now…and with just an hour to go, I know that anxiety is only going to grow.