Ch. 50: Nick's First Shift

CHAPTER FIFTY:
Jake ~
“Let’s go! It’s almost time!” Evan yelled excitedly.
“Coming!” I called back.
Today was Nick’s birthday and he was having his first shift tonight. He was currently out in the forest with his parents and a small group of pack members, excluding my parents who were out visiting a neighboring pack about some changes they each wanted to make on our alliance.
I was working on some homework and pushed it to the side to get up and follow Evan out. Heading down the hall and down the flight of stairs, my mind immediately went to Rachel. It had been a miracle that I had been able to get my thoughts focused on homework earlier. A miracle made from running until I thought I would pass out. I was so riled up. I’d been this way since Monday, over three weeks ago now. That night when I’d texted Rachel, and the next morning when I had tried speaking to her, I knew it was true. We were definitely connected. Somehow my body knew when she was sinking back into whatever hell she had crept out of this past weekend.
It had to be someone or something at her school. I never hated going to separate high schools more. If I were over there I could figure it out, I’m sure of it. I had even gotten a hold of Ally for help and though she agreed that Rachel needed help, she wasn’t able to provide me with much information. My gut told me there was something she was leaving out, but after pushing a little I thought better of it. For now. If Rachel was going through life like that much longer I was going to raise hell. I could feel it building, something stirring. Could Nick really be right? Is there some way I am sensing my wolf this early?
I made it outside and jogged to the gathering space in the forest. Nick had his knees on the floor and had his back arched in an odd position. He had already taken off his clothing. It really would be any minute now.
“Thank you all again for being here! This is another important step towards our next generation of West Woods pack leadership!” Nick’s father boomed in pride.
“It’s nearly time!” Nick’s mother called from beside him, looking at her watch. It was 11:59pm and Nick would turn in one minute.
The seconds built up with anticipation and before I knew it Nick was groaning from his position on the floor. Jet black hair sprouted from his skin and his bones moved and cracked.
“Breathe through it Nicky!” his mom encouraged from the sidelines.
Everyone had stepped back to give him space. After more cries of pain, it was done. Before my very eyes was Nick in his wolf form. He was a dark black wolf with blue eyes. And he was pretty large for a Gamma, he was really Beta sized. He howled. Everyone yelled and cheered in their human form and those who had wolves already started to undress to shift and join in on his first run. Nearly everyone around me shifted and off they went, following Nick on his first run. After a quick nod from Xavier, Evan’s wolf, he took off quickly picking up his pace. I watched his large brown figure disappear up ahead. I knew he would get to the front of the group in no time. For a large wolf he really was very fast too and surprisingly agile.
“Got some time before yours huh?” Mitchell said from a few steps away.
His birthday wasn’t until late January, and with mine being in March, we both had some time to go before really joining in on all things werewolf. Most higher ranked wolves turned on their 17th birthday, with most Omegas turning by their 18th.
“Yeah, it’ll be here before we know it though,” I replied, more for him than me.
I was going to have to wait months to find out for sure if Rachel was actually my mate. And either way I was sure my wolf would be able to help me make sense of what has been going on. But all I could do for now was wait. The worry and anxiety may just kill me before then. She was barely responding to my texts these last few days, and had missed my call last night.
“Poor kids,” Rob tousled Mitchell’s hair, “you’ve got to wait such a long time.”
Mitchell shoved Rob and the two took off to join some of the girls. Rob was a senior and turned last year. They were all planning to have a bonfire tonight. Nick and the older crowd would join once they returned from their run. My heart wasn’t into it and I wasn’t planning on going. Instead I headed to the gym to see if I could punch my way to a clear mind. I could always stop by the party in a couple hours, it was Friday night anyway. Nowhere to be tomorrow except Melbourne. But I didn’t tell Evan and Nick that tonight. It was Nick’s night. I could tell them in the morning, and I had no problem going on my own. I needed to try to see her again. I had to try to make things better for her.

A few hours later Evan came in. I was sitting on a bench and drinking gatorade, taking a rest between sets.
“Jake, man, what are you doing hiding in here?” Evan called.
“I planned to stop by - I just don’t feel like partying. And I don’t want to bring down the mood,” I confided in him.
Evan sighed and sat down at the bench across from me. “I know things are… hard. I mean, I know they’re more than that - you know what I mean. Whatever,” he waved away his jumbled words. “I’m trying to say, sh*t is super crazy and I’m feeling a bit of what you’re feeling. But we’ve got to pull it together as best we can for Nick. Just for a bit. People notice when our boy wonder isn’t at an event. You don’t want people thinking that you’re not there as a diss to Nick, you know?”
“I know. You’re right,” that was one of the longest explanations Evan has ever given me for anything. “I’ll go change and meet you there.”
Usually he was the man of action or comedy, but I knew this was just one more indicator that he really wasn’t at his best either. Something really was going on. In my gut I knew more and more each day that Rachel really was my mate. I didn’t admit that to the guys yet but I know this. I still didn’t understand why this was happening or what this news was going to do to my life. But I did know I wanted it.
I knew she has been dating that guy Sean, but I also know that she’s got to feel some of what I feel for her. I don’t deserve it, not after the way I treated her when she confessed her feelings. But I could see it there. I would wait. I would be here and I would help her. And if all I ever was to her was a friend, then I would proudly be that guy. I would take any scrap of affection she would throw my way.