Willow Ross's Story

That morning, Christian had awoken a good few hours before his alarm clock screeched into life, unable to sleep for the niggling uncertainty that bothered the pit of his stomach. He knew that the day ahead would be a big one. There were things expected of him and his pack that Christian wasn't entirely comfortable with. He had never really thought much of the phrase 'true love at first sight', and now that he was expected not only to believe in the notion, but experience it, Christian was nervous that he wouldn't be able to perform his duties satisfactorily. So, hours before the sun had even crawled it's lonely way above the horizon, Christian had dressed and had a long, cleansing shower, before leaving a note for his dad that explained that he was leaving early and wasn't sure when he'd be back.

After that, Christian had packed a bag and slung it over his shoulder. It carried a spare change of clothes, a bottle of water, and a notepad and pencil. It was light, which was just the way he liked it. Walking through the streets of town, Christian was the only conscious soul around. The streetlamps provided the pathway with a dull orange glow that barely managed to penetrate the thick night with their flickering lights, but Chris didn't need them. His eyesight was perfectly suited to the dark as he made his way to the meeting place where he knew that in a few hours he was supposed to meet the rest of his pack. There, he stashed his bag beneath a seat, and then turned away from the bus stop once more. He was still restless and uncomfortable, and way too awake for the few hours of sleep he'd had.

As he turned, he exhaled slowly and moved away from the feeble light of the streets into the shadow of an alley, where he pulled off his shirt and jeans so that he could shift into his wolf form without ripping his clothes. He'd brought a spare set, just in case, but he preferred not to use them just yet.

Moments later, where a man had once stood, stood a toned and muscled wolf, with soft fur that rippled in the slight breeze. Christian huffed softly, and shook his fur out, quickly adjusting to his other form. He felt more comfortable in this shape when he became restless or irritated. It helped to run. To just run as far and as fast as he could and not look back until all the breath had escaped his lungs and his legs burned with fatigue. Carefully, the wolf picked up his human clothing and carried them swiftly to place them on the seat that his bag was tucked under. If anyone came by, they'd instantly recognize it as his property, so he knew that it would be safe.

After that, though, Christian turned away from his material possessions and ran. His wolf body was little more than a lighter shadow, flitting between the darker shadows of the buildings he passed under as he escaped the town. Though his body was heavy, it was also lithe and agile, and his gait was graceful and silent as he ran through the town, weaving between gardens. He shut off his brain, momentarily forgetting his worries about 'soulmates' as he let it all go. Each time his paw struck the ground and carried him further, he let the repetitive drumming push his concerns into the ground, which he then left behind. Running as a wolf always felt so much more natural than living as a human. He could feel the workings of his body as he ran - the bones and muscles working in unison, as his heart beat precious oxygen around his body and his lungs expanded and contracted with each breath that he took. It was refreshing, and invigorating, and undeniably soothing.

The first few rays of sunlight were just peeking timidly over the horizon when Christian finally came to a stop, slowing to a stand where he stopped and sat. He was panting heavily with the effort of having run so far that the town he had come from was just a speck on the horizon. There, on the crest of a dewy hill, Christian watched the sun rise and let it lighten the last of the shadows that bothered his mind. As the sun crept over the horizon, setting the sky ablaze with myriad shades of scarlet and amber and rose, Christian pulled his body up again and stretched. That was one of the best things about being wolf - it took him almost no time to recover from a long run.

On the return journey, Christian shifted the gait of his lope, moving instead at a sustainable pace that he could keep up for hours. It meant that it took him slightly longer to return, but he didn't mind. He knew that he'd still be one of the first to arrive. By the time he got there, people were just starting to leave their homes for work and school. For a while, Christian lay behind a bush to watch their comings and goings before turning away and closing the distance between himself and the bus station, which thankfully, was deserted.

It took Christian less than a minute to shift back into his human form and clothe himself again, and when he did, he felt a lot more human. He felt better now, and at peace with the notion of the day. Christian drank from his water, and slowly, the rest of the pack started to arrive. He greeted each one by name with an easy smile and a nod, exchanging small talk with most of them as they stood around waiting for the bus. When it eventually arrived, Christian let the others on first, before taking a seat at the front. He kept the one beside him free for the Alpha, who it was only right should be seated at the front. He counted each person as they came past him, impatiently waiting for each member of the pack to arrive, and he was just about to suggest that they move on when the Omega, Shiloh finally arrived. He sighed with exasperation, and hid a smile. He had expected her to be late.

"Come on, take a seat, Shiloh. It's good to have you," Christian paused and looked at those around him before addressing the driver, "I think we're good to go"