Page 29 of A Secret Baby By the Alpha

When we were all ready for the day, we headed out to the forest, taking the familiar path through the neighborhoodand toward the trees that bordered the town. Being together in nature had become something of a ritual for us, and I felt myself growing more at ease with each step.

“Come on!” Jenny shouted, bounding ahead of us. “You two are so slow!”

Christa and I picked up our pace, and soon the three of us were running through the forest’s undergrowth. Jenny laughed at the chase, thinking we couldn’t catch up to her.

“Slow pokes! Slow pokes!” she teased.

We kicked up into a true run and allowed our long legs to carry us closer to our daughter. She turned around to see where we were and, seeing that the gap between us had closed, tried to run faster. I reached out my hand to tag her shoulder, but instead of meeting the fabric of her shirt, I brushed up against the fur of the whitest wolf I had seen.

“Woah!” I exclaimed, screeching to a halt.

“Jenny! Stop! Stop and look!” Christa shouted in excitement.

The wolf paused and turned around, staring at us with deep brown eyes. Christa and I looked from Jenny to each other and back to Jenny. In unison, we shifted, transforming into our wolves. The eyes of Jenny’s white wolf widened, and I could tell that she was realizing what had just occurred.

Her first shift!Orin exclaimed.

I’m so proud of her,I inwardly beamed.I can’t believe how quickly she did it, too. There wasn’t even time for me to register that it was happening beforehand.

She’s powerful,Orin agreed.

The three of us circled each other, allowing our wolves to get acquainted—or reacquainted, in the case of Orin and Cassia—for a few minutes. Then Christa and I transformed back and began talking Jenny through the process.

“Since your shift happened so fast, you probably didn’t have time to register the feelings that went with it,” Christa explained, sitting in front of the white wolf. “It’s similar to letting go or going outward. To go back to human form, you have to do the opposite.”

The wolf cocked its head to the side in a look of confusion.

“You need to focus inward,” I told her. “Think of all the things that make you, you. Focus on those things, and channel yourself into your human form.”

“It can help if you close your eyes,” Christa added.

The brown eyes closed, and within a minute, our daughter stood in front of us once more.

“Great job, baby!” Christa cried, rushing to hug her.

“I did it, Mom! I finally did it! Colson, did you see? That was so cool!”

Jenny’s enthusiasm was contagious, and both Christa and I joined in her celebration.

Chapter 14 - Christa

To celebrate Jenny’s first transformation, Colson and I thought it would be a nice gesture to give her something special to remember her day, so I left her and Colson at home and snuck into town to do a little shopping. There was a small jewelry store that I hadn’t been inside yet, and I had a feeling I would find exactly what I was looking for there.

I felt a sense of peace as I walked down the street toward the town center. The sun was still shining brightly in the blue sky as puffy clouds floated across the blue expanse above my head. The weather was warm, and there was a slight breeze. Children were playing in their yards and homes as I passed by the residential area of town.

It’s been the perfect day, I thought to myself.

There had never been a doubt in my mind that Jenny would get her wolf eventually, but I knew she was starting to feel upset about how long it was taking. I was so glad that it had happened for her, especially because she got to share the moment with both her parents.

It does seem like things are working out,Cassia agreed.But you seem to have forgotten about something.

What’s that?I asked.

We still need to get home. To Sparkle Hollow,she pointed out.

I haven’t forgotten,I replied.It’s just that things have been… complicated.

Because of Colson.

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