Wolves talk and laugh in the background as they eat and celebrate but the sound of them drowns in the beat of my own heart rushing in my ears as Sophia starts to pant harder beside me before the sound of her pained groan slips through to bring me back in the moment. Rising to my feet and putting my hand under her arm, helping her to stand Dominic takes her other side and we walk her out the side door. Her skin burns with heat as she grunts before her teeth press hard against each other and she plants her feet deep into the ground, leaning over as her body and muscles tense. "Breath Amaris, you need to breathe through the pain." Sophia's eyes open as she looks at him and they shine brightly with the light of the wolf who peeks out from the clouds that hide it. "Keep yourself focused, breathe, don't fight her for your skin and let her out," he tells her before he starts to walk her towards an open area.

Rubbing her back she lets a low and deep sigh out as she leans against my side as her body twists to angle towards me more, sweat dripping down over her from the strain of this war for control she is internally having. "Sophia, I need to take off your clothes or you'll tear them." I try to tell her as a crack is heard and she gasps as her face morphes in pain while I have to hold her up right when her knees buckle. "Shh, look at me. I'm with you, breathe through this." She starts to thrash as she screams, fighting for that tether she holds over her self control. It's an effort to pull the drenched dress off her skin as it clings and a slight brushing of fur starts to bristle out through her skin as the cold wind blows through.

"We are going to help you through this baby girl but you have to do this for yourself. It'll last as long as you fight against it. You will still have control of your body with her. Don't be afraid of this." Dominic comforts as he takes his own clothing off and shifts to his dark black wolf. He comes over closer, going in a circle around us before standing and letting his wolf call out from deep in his chest.

Sophia's knees wobble again as her legs give out entirely and I have to hold her up completely before we both kneel on the cold ground. Her body trembles before Sophia's back arches and she makes a sound as if to vomit. I can hear a mimicking gagging sound before a scolding voice as I realise we aren't here alone when Nate, Luca, Conner and Chantel come into my view. Looking back at Sophia, tears stream down her face as her body lurches again.

"Breathe sweetheart, I know it hurts. You need to stop fighting it." A whimper slips out from the wolf as I rub at her cheek, holding and hugging her closely to me. Her nails dig into my arms and I feel the claws as they pierce skin and her head lifts slowly to meet my gaze. "I-it hurts," she grits as she fights back the sob I know she wants to let out and I can feel the way my own wolf fights to take control as he feels that pain down through the bond. Chantel comes over, kneeling beside us and she puts her hand on my shoulder in caution when my wolf bares his teeth. "I'm sorry," is all I can get out but Chantel shakes her head, "hey I get it. When she gets closer, go on and shift. I'll help her with the last stretch of it." She tells me before turning to Sophia. "You kick, scream, cry, punch, pinch, break your teeth, I don't even care. Whatever ya need to do baby doll, you do but we are shifting tonight!" She tells her and Sophia looks at her before nodding her head slowly as she breathes heavily.

Dominic's wolf continues to pace, growling and barking as he vocalises in his own way sounds of encouragement and calling to draw the wolf out from hiding. Nate joins him as he shifts before Luca does and they stand around watching and waiting, barking and growling from time to time. Her wolf lets out a loud snarl as her canines elongate from her gums and her grey eyes glow brightly as she looks into mine, her wolf watches through them before she looks to my neck and throat as bones once again start to snap and crack. "You can mark me after you shift. Pin me down if you wanna, I don't care but you need to focus and finish this." I have to grab her attention when she starts to murmur that word. Mate. Having to take control of my own wolf, he willingly exposes the full length of his neck for her in an invitation. Chantal nudges me as Sophia gasps, leaning over completely to the ground as her clawed hands grip the grass beneath her as bones start to move and realign themselves. She takes over from me, rubbing Sophia's back as she cheers her on and my wolf gives me no time to decide as he shoves me back away from my mind in his shift. He's immediately beside her licking at her skin and fur to comfort her through this last and final stage as her wolf howls through her throat up to the crescent moon as the wind carries the clouds completely away.

As the last of her bones shift and settle into place Sophia's wolf lays on the ground whimpering as she barely lifts her head. Dominic's wolf stands next to mine as he gently rubs his muzzle to hers, nudging her softly before he steps back as my wolf pushes to get closer to her, starting to groom her as he licks over her jaw and nose before moving over her eyes and up to her ears. Each of them come over to her and nuzzle their noses in welcome to hers and Chantel combs out her fur with her fingers, removing leaves and dirt off her black fur. Nate starts a howl and they each join in before howls are heard in the distance, getting louder as more join while Sophia's wolf slowly starts to stand. Mine nudges her up more as he stands by her side brushing into her wolf, almost toppling her to the ground before he nudges again with his nose for her to walk with him. We watch carefully as she takes those first wobbly steps forward on new legs one after another before they start to strengthen the more accustom she gets. In his excitement the wolf nips at her and she growls low as her tail straightens and he looks her over slowly while her teeth stare him down.

Mate

The word chants in our minds, growing louder and louder as he pushes it down the bond to her.

Mate

Its deeper, more primal. The reflection of eyes meeting and holding shines in hers like I know they are in ours right now and a natural instinct comes through the bond back at us. Her wolf takes a stance as she postures to ours. This she-wolf likes pinning teeth against teeth and she will not be swayed easily by bonds. What stands -staring us down, shredding away to the very core- is a first-born female looking to claim first.

The alpha and it's prey.

Only I'm a predator.

Taking the same posture we let it be known if she wants this, she will earn this. I won't give it away either. The circling begins and a dark warning growl comes from Dominic about his displeasures as they stand watching this moment that should be private. Reminding me that I should know better but my wolf is ready for this game. We danced inside and now he is here face to face with her, their dance is much deeper and bloodier than ours.

Its her that makes the first move, all claws and teeth this female shows her arsenal and it's an easy sidestep to make before pushing her back with mere body weight. Those fawn legs falter slightly. She rights herself before posturing again, tail fluffing out with her back fur as she makes herself appear bigger and my wolf taps his teeth with a low growl back at her. Waiting and waiting she decides to take a different approach as she crouches down and I almost think shes waiting for us but she takes those lowered steps forward as she slinks to the ground before leaping up towards our throat. Biting into her jaw before snapping at her ear in warning she pushes forward, ignore us and we press our paws down on her side and shoulder to shove her into the ground. She knows to hide her neck and shoulder away from us as she squirms and thrashes to break free from the pin as we put more weight down onto her. When she manages to slip free she backs up further away, taking a moment while panting as I watch the glow and lightning flashing in her eyes as Sophia clicks into place, putting a leash down on her wolf as she reins her in and tugs at the control.

Peering into her eyes I flash mine and the dance starts again as our wolves circle one another, we bound forward, colliding before toppling onto the ground. Sophia leads her wolf well, guiding her to attack the weak points she's taking notice of in my wolf so quickly and now I'm having to go for hers as she gains ground in an effort to pin me down to the ground. She's a fighter, my spitfire. Pure determination flashes brightly in her eyes as they cloud over and she lunges at my backside when she rolls out away from me, putting all her weight forward in her pounce, she manages to get us down to the ground under her. Her jaw snaps when she springs forward to grip into my shoulder but she's worn herself down too quickly from the shift and this tumble with us to move fast enough before my wolf puts his paws against her throat to push her away. Panting heavily her wolf tries again but we move faster as our teeth dig into flesh, pushing down deep in a claim. She tries to push us with her paws, biting into our ear before the bond sets and her wolf slows it's struggle before inclining her neck.

We incline our neck fully exposed to her.

Teeth tear into flesh and a searing pain spreads before it's heat is replaced by a different kind that moves and flows threw our body as we forge into one. Releasing her slowly she has a bite to her as she holds on, determining and gauging when she wants to release us but my wolf only pushes up against her teeth more as he grooms her neck. Equals is what he presses into her mind. Always our equal. Sophia slowly lets our neck go before she steps back and finally looks around as she sees the small group surrounding us, waiting for it to end and her tail starts to tuck in under her to press against her belly. Luca is the one to move first towards her as he rubs his cheek against her's before his wolf bites at her backside, starting to run and Dominic pushes her to follow before his wolf presses into mine to move as he starts to run.

Run Sophia, run fast and hard.

And she does. She takes off like a new race horse eager and determined as she pushes off the ground to propel herself forward, catching up easily to Luca.

Running past him, Luca's wolf barks in aggression as he falls behind and the rest follow. Her wolf glances to mine when I catch up and we run her around the territories edge before we dart out of it and into the farmers fields, running through the few last fields of corn waiting for the farmers to take them down. We zig-zag around one another and her wolf barks and growls playfully with mine. Running back into the territory line, scattering the night animals that lurk and linger in the forest, pressed up against one another, moving as one swift being, trailing through the lands. Past cabins and wolves, trees and smells that are caught on the breeze. Right through Grams yard we run and a slow old howl is heard from deep in that cabin as we pass by before we stand at the back of our cabin, panting and out of breath, looking for something to drink and getting it from the bucket of rainwater that sits outside my door.

We drink together and when she's finished we take our time to clean and groom each other. The wolf takes full advantage, rubbing his scent into hers and letting it cling to her like a second layering over her own.

Shifting back it's my turn to give her affection as we meet face to face for this first time. It takes a moment for the wolf to recognize and understand before she slowly starts to lay in my lap, nose tucking up into my neck as she whines softly and I give her all my attention and love before having to tell her it's time to give back to Sophia. The sound of her whimper and whine pierces my heart as she begs to stay. "You and I will have a lot of time together, right now it's time to rest. You did so damn good. Next time we will take you hunting, I promise." Telling her softly and scratching behind her ears to coax her into giving back the control. She does, reluctantly, but she does. Sophia and the wolf struggle to shift from the exhaustion leaving Sophia unable to get up from the ground when she finally emerges. Tired eyes and out of breath I carry her into the cabin and to the tub, sitting her in my lap and taking a wash cloth to wash her and myself down quickly. "we will shower in the morning, let's just get you to bed, sweetheart." Sophia keeps her head on my shoulder only making a slight sound in approval, sleep starting to take completely over. By the time we get into the bed she is already sound asleep and we both sleep deep throughout the night.