Chapter 4

It is a half an hour before midnight and the moon is shining bright high in the sky. The transformation is going to start soon, and my parents started directing the party to the center of the forest where Aiden and I will transform. The two of us go back to the house to change out of our party cloths and we put on more simple ritual like cloths. I put on a simple but elegant white silk dress that reached to my knees and had an asymmetric sleeve. While Aiden put on a white button down and black shorts. I keep my braid crown in and put a few stems of freesia and babies’ breath for the ritual.

Father and mother will perform it and the ritual consists of drinking a mixture of liquor, sage, and lavender. To cleanse ourselves from our inherited misdemeanors and any impurities , in our most sacred site, the Evergreen river to complete our cleanse, so Artemis will place her blessing over us and protect us during our transformation. Then as an offering as thanks, we have to offer a few drops of blood onto the moon alter and a lock of our hair. However, it’s not only thanks, it’s also a promise that we will honor and protect this forest and pack with our wolves, just as she does. Also, a promise that we would never use our powers for personal gain, selfishness, or greed but to use them to protect our families, traditions, and peace.

We make our way to the forest and find the party was moved the clearing where the alter is located. We arrive and the group parted to let us through. I spot Celeste with Autumn in the crowd, and she makes eye contact with me. She gives me an encouraging smile and mouthed “you got this”. I smile back in acknowledgement, she’s right. I do got this.

We find mom and dad by the alter and we kneel before them.

Then father starts the ritual with a loud and celebratory tone.

Come brothers and sisters of the moon

Today we celebrate and gather to speak in the goddess’s wisdom and light.

Under the dancing full moon light

These two souls will follow their ribbons of destiny

And discover, the goddesses secret wish.

Know that the answer cannot be found

In greed or selfishness

But in the need to gain sacred knowledge and wisdom from her soft whispers.

Go forth with courage and the goddesses blessing.

After those lines, mother walks toward us and offers us a drink from the goblet she holds. The strong liquor mixed with sage and lavender hits my tongue and it takeseverything I had to swallow it. It burned its way done my core and I can feel my senses clearing. Then she offers it to Aiden. Once he swallows, father continued.

Those who lose their way

From their destined path

Shall face her divine wrath

She brings the strongest men down to their knees

And turns the tallest mountains into ruble.

Never lose sight of your purpose

For it is her plan.

Her whispers will then guide you back

If you wish it to be so

She is the moon

Always waiting

Always watching

To aid

Or to punish.

He then nods to us, and we stand and make our way to the river where we will cleanse ourselves. We walk in about knee deep and take the water onto my arms and face and we turn back to the alter where father continues the ritual.

She is the kind and merciful

Yet bold and daring

Which is the quality of every wolf

We are her children

Her eyes which see this world

We stay humble and grateful

For she has granted us salvation

Offer thanks and your promise

For her whispers say it to be so.

So, mote it be!

Mother then hands us each a dagger which we will cut our palm and hair to offer to the alter and land.

We walk to the alter and cut a small lock of our hair and place it on the alter and then out palms. I flinch as I slid the sharp blade over the skin of my palm, and we then dripped our blood over the alter and onto land in front of it.

Go forth children of Artemis

Listen to her silent whispers

And discover your purpose

your other half

Your wolf that which has been gifted

And if you are worthy and inspired

She may deem it necessary

To offer a second gift.

Go forth with newfound wisdom

And rejoice!

With that final word heat starts to boil within my core. Then spreads through my entire body. Aiden must be feeling it to because he is breathing heavily. Our bones start to crack and shift. The night is filled with our screams and wails. It’s painful but I’m not frightened by it, because I know it will pass and I’ll finally meet my wolf. Bones continue to break for over an hour and fur begins to grow. From the tips of fur, I can see it’s Silver but it’s too early to tell.

Finally, in the last moment of the transformation the last bone breaks and grows.

I feel relief now that the pain is gone, and I feel huge.

“Hello, Athena. I’m so glad to finally meet you.” An excited voice says. “I’m Blanche, your wolf.”

“Hi Blanche, I’m glad to meet you too. I’ve waited so long for this day.” I tell her happily.

“Me too.”

I look of over Aiden and see his wolf is a huge black wolf. Which is expected. Most wolves within our family inherit a black coat. The crazy part is I’m just as large as him. Then I look to my parents and saw them gawking at me with their eyes bulging and mouths wide open. Then I look around and found everyone staring at me. I look down and my chest and paws and saw they are pure white. White as snow. No. It can’t be. I run to the river and look down at my reflection. My fur is indeed pure white, and my eyes are an intense ocean blue. Even more intense than my human eyes. But what is most striking, is the giant white angelic wings attached to both sides of my body.

“Blanche tell me, are we the mystical white wolf? Who is said to be the most powerful all others? The one that’s always read in stories?” I ask her. This is crazy. I never imagined that I would be the rare white wolf that appears only every 500-1000 years.

“Yes Athena, we are the white wolf. Your powers will be like no other. You will discover them tonight or in the future. But right now, let’s just get to know each other.” She says and I walk up to Aiden and nudge him with my nose. He turns toward me and like everyone else his eyes go wide.

Then as tradition we start the pack run. We raise our muzzles to the full moon and howl. The howl that signifies celebration and beginning of the run. Everyone around us begins to shift into their wolf forms and follow us through the forest. The night breeze rushes through my fur, and it felt amazing. Blanche was howling in delight and happiness to finally roam the earth.

After an hour of running freely in our newly acquired forms we go toward the pack house and transform back. The downside of transforming, your cloths are shredded to pieces if not removed. However, the pack house and other packs omegas had cloths ready for everyone who shift to join the run.

My regular servant has my dress ready. It was the same as the ritual dress and she also had a hair band to tie my wild wavy. hair back. I shift back by imagining my human form. It doesn’t hurt nearly as bad and goes by within seconds. I take the dress and put it on and took the hair band from her. I begin to smooth out my hair and a few locks came in sight. It was no longer dark and crest but brown. I is a light white blond.

“Blanche, is this normal?” I ask confused.

“Yes, it’s a symbol of the white wolf and your connection to me. Do you not like it?” She asks sadly.

“No, no I love it!” I tell her.

I turn towards the party and find Aiden buttoning up his shirt. I walk up to him, and he looks up at me and his eyes go wide.

“Sis, what happened to you?” He says and takes a lock of my hair. “Your hair is so light it’s almost white. Are you really the rare white wolf?”

“Yes, my wolf Blanche confirmed it. Your hair is way darker than before. She said these changes are symbols are our connection to our wolves.” I speak.

“Who knew my twin sis would be the white wolf. This is crazy. What are your powers. They must be amazing.” He asks in awe.

“I don’t know yet, but I’ll figure them out soon.” Blanche said I will discover them in time how fast is up to us. Then I remember the poem from the ritual. Look to the goddess’s secret wish and whispers. Through that you’ll discover your purpose. And maybe it applies to our powers.

“What did your wolf say about your powers?” I ask.

“Apollo told me the same as your wolf. We will discover them.” We must look within ourselves to find our purpose. What is my purpose? Well, the purpose of our pack is to protect, inspire, and learn. My purpose of being a potential alpha is to protect our people, inspire them to be strong and follow the goddess, and to help the pack learn the goddesses’ ways. However, the purpose of the white wolf is to be the eyes and mouth of the goddess herself. To protect fiercely and punish within her name. My purpose is to be the goddess’s sword and shield.

Then I feel something rise within me like something was unlocked. I raise my hand and like an extension of my body a blue shape appeared out of my hand. It was a large snowflake. One of my powers are ice. I can control winter itself. Everyone looked with surprise and awe. Amazing. Then I feel an amazing warmth spread throughout my body. Like a warm hug on a cold day. A healing warmth. It’s a power of healing. Only the white wolf is granted the power of healing no other wolf has acquired it. This power and responsibility scares me, but I’m extremely honored to be given these gifts.

Then from the corner of my eye something is extending from Aiden’s fingers. Small but intense flames. He has the power to influence fire. Ha, what irony. Fire and ice, by nature we aren’t supposed to get along, but we are closer than anyone.

We both look for mom and dad and find them whispering to each other with satisfied smiles on their faces. When they see us approach mom engulfs me in a huge hug and dad puts a hand on Aiden’s shoulder.

“Honey, we can’t believe you’re the rare White Wolf. Oh, we are so proud of you. We knew you both would turn out to be something extraordinary.” She squeezes me then goes to Aiden and does the same. “I love you two so much.”

“Indeed, you two are going to make fantastic leaders one day. I look forward to seeing it.” Dad says with a proud smile. Full off pride and adoration for his children.

“I feel the same way. From the memories I see. You will make an astounding leader.” My wolf says with mirroring pride as my father. “Thank you, Blanche.” I smile. All that pain and bone breaking was completely worth it.

Then we find Darius approaching us with a sad smile. “I was right Ms. Athena; you are indeed special. You would have made one hell of a mate.”

“You too Darius. You were also what I was looking for in a mate. It’s really too bad.” I mirror his sad smile. “Well, I know for sure that your pack has a close ally now. If you guys ever need anything, please give me a call.” He takes my hand and kisses that back of it like the beginning at the party and turns to Aiden. He offers his hand and Aiden takes it with a smile.

“Thanks for coming. We are really happy we met you and the same goes to you if you ever need anything.” Aiden says. “It would have been nice having a pretty cool brother though.” He mumbles with disappointment, and I elbow him in the gut. Darius chuckles with approval and lightly hits his shoulder.

“Well, if I never find my mate I’ll definitely come back here.” He winks and me and I slightly blush. Never finding your mate would probably have to suck though. “You take care Darius. I hope you see you again.” I smile.

“You’ll definitely be seeing me again.” He smiles and turns and heads to his SUV where two other men were waiting for him. He waves and hops into the passenger’s seat. It feels like it took an hour to watch him drive away, even though it was two minutes. This is by far the best night of my life.