Chapter 30. SHIFTING

XAVIER'S POV

My heart ached seeing Athena being tormented like that. “Hey, hey, I’m here,” I whispered, struggling to take the pain away from her, only if I could. The issue was, I couldn't. I saw fur starting to sprout out on her face as her screams of agony echoed among the people who were gathered. Everyone had looks of worry etched on their face for Athena, as she went through the painful process.

“You need to take her in the open, Alpha. She is shifting. She'll feel more suffocated in the crowd,” Cameron said.

“Right,” I picked her up in my arms, trying to be gentle, but she hissed as soon as my hands met her back to steady her.

“Ow! It hurts everywhere Xavier! It feels like every bone in my body is breaking,” I could feel the pain in every word she said. I knew what it felt like to shift for the first time. Fucking excruciating torture. That, too, continuing for hours!

The experience was different for everyone. For some it took a few hours, others maybe half a day. And for t