I jumped up off of Cole's lap and ran to my room. I slammed and locked the door before throwing myself on the bed. I wasn't ready to deal with this. I started to cry, unable to do anything else. I must have sat crying for a good ten minutes before there was a soft knock at my door.

"Hey, honey. Are you ok? No, that's a stupid question. Of course you're not ok. Can I come in?" Tara asked softly.

"No. I'm sorry but I want Cole," I responded feeling a little guilty. I just wasn't used to having a mother or a female figure I could open up too. Ms. Jean wasn't really one for sentimental talks. I did used to have a father and that was all I knew.

"That's ok, baby. I'll go get him," Tara said.

"Thank you."

A few seconds later, I heard a slightly harder knock.

"Sweet pea? It's me. Can I come in?" Cole's voice rang out.

I got up and moved to the door to unlock it. I threw open the door and jumped into Cole's arms. I started crying again as Cole closed the bedroom door and carried me over to the sofa in my room.

Cole rocked me back and forth like he did earlier. He held me tight and I relished in the feeling of having a father again. At some point I fell asleep, leaning on Cole's shoulder. The next thing I knew, I woke up in my bed to a sharp pain in my spine.

"AHHHHHHH!" I screamed as my back started to arch painfully and the rest of my body started to spasm. I tried to get up, but I fell and the spasming got worse. Cole and Tara rushed into my bedroom.

"Baby, what's wrong?" Tara asked holding my face.

"She's changing, Tara," Cole said.

"What? She shouldn't be changing for a couple more days!" Tara exclaimed.

"Well apparently her mother just wants her to get it over with already," Cole retorted.

I could feel sweat starting to prick all over my body. My skin felt like it was on fire and everything hurt. My bones felt like they were growing and my muscles tearing. Suddenly, I heard a sickening crack and felt tremendous pain in my back. My back just broke, I thought. I was in so much pain that I started seeing black spots.

"It's okay, sweet pea. Just try to breathe," Cole said. "Tara, go get some cold washcloths."

A few minutes later, Cole and Tara were wiping off the sweat on my body as I started my transformation. HOW LONG IS THIS GOING TO TAKE?!?!? I screamed out in my head.

"It's going to take about an hour for you to transform. And it won't get any easier today," Cole said. "You used what we call a mind-link. That's how I knew what you were thinking."

I heard more cracking as my legs started to bend in ways they shouldn't. My fingernails and toenails started growing and turning black. I screamed in agony. I think I would have preferred being burned alive at that point.

My face cracked and I screamed again as tears poured down my face. I could feel my face becoming disfigured as well as my gums and teeth. My ears started stretching and I heard another bone breaking.

A series of bones in my arms started breaking and twisting as silvery fur started sprouting from every pore. The black spots became more prominent and I have into the darkness.

I still felt the pain of the transformation, but it was much duller until it faded away altogether.

Wake up. Stella. It's time to wake up.

I heard a voice calling from afar. I reached out for it but grasped nothing.

I can't find you. I can't wake up.

Yes, you can, Stella. You can do it. Follow my voice.

I did as the voice said and followed it through the darkness. The voice was female and sweet as honey and warm as the sun.

That's it, Stella. You're almost there.

My eyes opened to bright sunlight. The first thing I noticed was that everything was really bright and vivid. After a few seconds, I could hear again and I heard a few voices. Two of which belonged to Tara and Cole but the other three I didn't recognize. Suddenly, my sense of smell hit me and it was very overwhelming. It was like each person was wearing a whole shipment's worth of perfume.

Wake up, Stella.

I heard the voice again and jumped to my feet which was an odd experience. I wasn't on two feet. I was on four. I started crying and whimpering in fear but it sounded like howling and yelping. The kind of sounds that come from a dog or... wolf.