Chapter 2：Shift

Cynthia’s POV

I don’t know how long I spend in a haze of pain as my limbs twist and contort, reshaping into those of an animal. When finally, I regain some sense of clarity, I’m shocked by the acute awareness with which I now view the world.

‘Hello, Cynthia.’ The ethereal voice echoes in my mind once again.

‘You’re my wolf!’ I realize, speaking to the voice through our mind link.

‘That I am!’ The voice is playful. ‘My name is Lumina. I’m so happy to meet you.’

I pad over to the edge of the lake and stare into the crystal-clear water, where I can see my wolf form for the first time in the beauty of the moon. My fur is fluffy and gray, mottled with white specks, and my eyes are the exact same shade of piercing emerald green.

“Oh my goodness, you’re gorgeous!” Elena’s reflection appears in the water next to mind. Her hand ruffles my fur, and it feels surprisingly nice. “Are you ready to turn back yet?”

I try to speak, but realize I can’t. I nod instead. 

“Good. Just focus.” Elena’s voice is soft and soothing. “Imagine yourself in your human form. How you look, how it feels. The shape of your body. It’ll be less painful this time, I promise.”

I close my eyes and let her words sink into me. I picture myself as I am a human–short and slim, with slight musculature and a smattering of freckles across my skin. My hair is long, wavy, and raven-black. My eyes are green as new leaves. I feel. I remember. And when I open my eyes again, I’m standing on two feet once more.

Elena looks at me, beaming. I can’t help but match her smile, ecstatic peals of laughter ringing through the air. 

“I did it!” I squeal.

“You did! And your wolf is with you forever,” Elena cradles the picnic basket under one arm. “What’s her name? Also, we should head back to the pack house and eat there. You must be tired.”

As soon as she says it, I realize she’s right. My limbs ache with fatigue. My stomach rumbles. 

“My wolf’s name is Lumina,” I say as we start to walk back.

Elena smiles. “Sounds beautiful.” 

We return to the pack house in silence, basking in the glow of the moon. Just as Elena and I are about to sit down and dig into the picnic basket she’s prepared for us, I’m caught off guard by a sudden and overwhelming burst of emotion.

I gasp, stumbling away from the table. Elena and a few other pack members turn to look at me. Their eyes are wide. My heart feels like it’s about to thud out of my chest, and my vision has gone blurry. A surge of sheer, powerful need washes over me. 

‘Mate! Our mate is in the pack house, I could feel it!’ Lumina tells me urgently. ‘Go! Go to him! Go to him now!’

I stand up straight. Elena looks at me, concerned. “Is everything okay?” She asks.

“I-I need to go,” I manage to tell her through the racing of my heartbeat. I can barely think about anything but finding my mate. “I need to find…”

I trail off, sprinting down the hallways and shoving pack members out of my path in my desperate attempt to find my mate. His scent is intoxicating as I rush through the pack house.

‘Here,’ Lumina urges suddenly. I nearly stumble as I come to an awkward stop in front of a very familiar door.

It’s Liam’s room.

My mate is Liam?

Oh, Moon Goddess, you hear me. It all feels so perfect I can’t help but smile as I prepare to knock on the door. I am his, and he is mine, and I’ll be in utter agony until I’m in his arms.

Just as I’m about to throw the door open, it swings open from the inside.

“Liam! Liam, I have something I need to tell you, I–”

I freeze as I see Liam before me, wearing nothing but a pair of sweatpants. His hair and upper body are wet, presumably from the shower. I actually have to pause for a moment, just to look at him in his perfect, almost sculpture-like beauty. I need him. I need him in a visceral, primal way I’ve never needed anyone before.

“Cynthia?” He asks. “What are you doing…”

Liam’s hazel eyes lock with mine. I’ve stared into his eyes a million times before, but it’s never been so piercing in my life. I’ve never felt so seen. I’m drawn to him like he’s the center of the universe. Like when the stars first exploded, our atoms were right next to each other. 

He wants me, too. I know it. I can see it in his eyes. He looks me up and down like he’s seeing me for the first time, and I can tell he wants to take me right here against the door. 

‘Tell him,’ Lumina urges. 

He already knows, but I tell him anyway.

“Liam,” I tell him softly. “You’re my…”

He blinks at me in utter shock. “My mate,” he finishes.

“Yes!” I exclaim, running over to him and throwing my arms together. “Liam, isn’t it perfect? We can be together, Alpha and Beta, and you won’t have to marry Elena, and it’ll be–”

“I can’t be your mate, Cynthia,” he cuts in, stepping away from me.

I almost don’t hear him. “What?”

“The power of true mates is limited.” Liam shakes his head sadly. I can feel the fragments of my heart starting to crumble, all that elation disintegrating. “I want a Luna with a strong background and ties to another pack to strengthen our home here. I’m marrying Elena. I’m sorry, but I– you’re just a friend to me. I don’t know. A sister. I can’t be your mate.”

My lower lip starts to tremble, “I don’t–I don’t understand.”

“Then let me make it simple.” Liam takes a deep breath.  

“I, Liam Hawthorn, the Alpha of the Blood Moon pack, reject you, Cynthia Rose, as my mate.”