SHANNA

Every step toward the Moon Altar felt heavier than the last.

The chatter that had filled the sacred clearing moments ago had disappeared, leaving behind an eerie silence that wrapped around me like a second skin.

Hundreds of eyes followed my every move.

Some were curious.

Some were amused.

Most looked like they were waiting for me to embarrass myself.

Don't trip...

Don't fall...

Don't give them another reason to laugh.

I lifted my chin anyway.

Mom's voice echoed inside my head.

Lift your chin, baby girl. Never let them think they've broken you.

My hands trembled at my sides.

I quietly curled them into fists before anyone noticed.

"You've got this."

Killian's voice drifted toward me.

I glanced over my shoulder.

He grinned and punched his chest twice.

Our signal.

You're stronger than you think.

A smile tugged at my lips.

No matter how cruel the rest of the world was, I had them.

The best family the Moon Goddess could have given me and that was enough.

I turned back toward the altar.

The Chief Elder stood waiting beside the ancient stone, his silver robes swaying gently in the evening breeze.

"Step forward, child."

I obeyed.

The stone beneath my bare feet was surprisingly cold despite the warmth of the spring night.

Above me, the full moon hung impossibly large, bathing the clearing in soft silver light.

The Elder lifted his ceremonial staff toward the sky.

"Great Moon Goddess," he chanted, his voice echoing through the clearing, "we present before you Shanna, daughter of Beta Kelsie and Matilda of Cord Moon Pack. Bless her with the spirit destined to walk beside her."

Silence answered him.

A brilliant beam of silver light burst from the moon itself.

Gasps swept through the crowd.

The light surrounded me completely.

Warmth washed over my skin.

It felt like someone had wrapped me in the gentlest embrace imaginable.

The nervous pounding of my heart slowly faded.

The whispers disappeared.

The music...

The crowd...

Even the wind...

Everything melted away.

Darkness swallowed me whole.

...

When I opened my eyes again, I wasn't standing on the altar.

I stood in the middle of an endless silver forest.

Moonlight poured through towering crystal-like trees whose glowing leaves shimmered whenever the breeze touched them.

The air smelled fresh.

Peaceful.

Alive.

I slowly turned in a circle.

"This..."

I stared in amazement.

"This isn't the clearing."

"No."

A gentle voice answered behind me.

"It's home."

I spun around.

A white wolf stepped gracefully from between the glowing trees.

She was beautiful.

No...

Beautiful wasn't enough.

She was breathtaking.

Her fur gleamed like untouched snow beneath the moonlight.

Her blue eyes...

They were exactly like mine.

Emotion clogged my throat.

"My..."

I couldn't even finish the sentence.

She smiled.

"Hello, Shanna."

Tears instantly blurred my vision.

"You're real..."

She laughed softly.

"I've always been real."

Without thinking, I ran toward her.

She lowered herself just enough for me to throw my arms around her neck.

After eighteen years...

After wondering whether I would ever have a wolf...

She was finally here.

"I thought..." My voice cracked. "I thought maybe I wouldn't get one."

"I've been with you since your very first heartbeat."

A laugh escaped through my tears.

"I can't believe this."

"I promised I'd never leave you."

I leaned back enough to look into her eyes.

"Do you have a name?"

She lifted her head proudly.

"Lane."

"It's beautiful."

"So are you."

I blinked.

"What?"

"You've spent your whole life believing the lies people told you."

She gently rested her forehead against mine.

"But I see the truth."

Fresh tears slipped down my cheeks.

"They call me ugly."

"I don't."

"They call me fat."

"I call you strong."

"They laugh at me."

"They fear what they don't understand."

I frowned.

"What does that mean?"

Lane's smile slowly faded.

"There isn't much time."

Confusion replaced my happiness.

"What do you mean?"

She lowered her gaze.

"Our bond..."

She hesitated.

"...isn't complete."

My heart lurched.

"What?"

"I've awakened."

She looked back at me.

"But my strength hasn't."

"I don't understand."

"Neither do I."

She took a slow breath.

"It's like part of me is still asleep."

A knot formed in my stomach.

"Can it wake up?"

"I believe it can."

"When?"

"I don't know."

The joy I'd been drowning in moments earlier vanished.

"So..."

I swallowed hard.

"You're weak?"

She immediately shook her head.

"No."

"Then what?"

"I'm..."

Pain flickered across her eyes.

"Incomplete."

The word hurt far more than I expected.

"No..."

"I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to apologize for."

"If I were whole…."

"You are whole enough."

She smiled sadly.

"We'll figure it out together."

The forest suddenly shook.

The trees trembled.

Moonlight flickered violently.

Lane stepped backward.

"It's time."

"What?"

"You're waking up."

"No, wait!"

"I'll always be with you."

"I still have so many questions!"

"And we'll find every answer."

The silver forest dissolved around us.

Everything began fading into light.

"Lane!"

Her voice echoed one last time.

"Trust your heart... not your fears."

My eyes flew open.

I gasped.

The sacred clearing came rushing back into focus.

The Moon Altar.

The crowd.

The Elder.

My family.

Everyone was staring at me.

The Chief Elder smiled warmly.

"Did your wolf awaken, child?"

A smile spread across my face despite the lingering unease inside me.

"Yes."

Cheers erupted across the clearing.

Mom burst into tears.

Dad's proud smile nearly broke my heart.

Killian threw both fists into the air.

"I knew it!"

For the first time in my life...

I wasn't alone anymore.

I had my wolf.

I wasn't broken.

The Elder nodded approvingly.

"What is her name?"

"Lane."

"A beautiful name."

Then his expression grew serious.

"Release a portion of her aura."

I frowned.

"My aura?"

"Call to your wolf."

I closed my eyes.

Lane?

I'm here.

What do I do?

Just reach for me.

I focused on the warm bond connecting us.

A tiny pulse of energy escaped my body.

Tiny.

Barely noticeable.

The cheers stopped.

Silence settled over the clearing.

The Elder frowned.

Another Elder stepped closer.

"...That's all?"

Heat flooded my cheeks.

I tried again.

Nothing stronger came.

Whispers immediately spread through the crowd.

"That's pathetic."

"Her wolf is barely awake."

"I knew something was wrong with her."

"I guess even the Moon Goddess makes mistakes."

My stomach sank.

Lane had been right.

Something was terribly wrong.