Page 28 of Shift Happens
A tense silence fell over the clearing. Milo had explained that this was largely ceremonial—challenges to mating intentions were rare—but still my heart hammered as we waited. From the corner of my eye, I noticed Arnold shift uncomfortably, but he remained silent.
“No challenge is offered,” Sadie continued after a moment. “The pack acknowledges Milo’s declaration toward Finn Reed. He stands under our protection during this gathering and may observe our moon rites as a potential mate.”
A murmur of acceptance rippled through the assembled shifters. Milo’s shoulders relaxed visibly, and I realized he’d been genuinely concerned about a challenge.
“The formalities are complete,” Sadie announced. “Now we welcome the full moon’s rise and answer her call.”
As if on cue, the first silver edge of the moon appeared above the treeline. A tangible energy swept through the gathering—a collective intake of breath, a tightening of focus. Around the clearing, those who hadn’t already prepared began removing clothing with increasing urgency.
Milo turned to me, his eyes already beginning to glow brighter. “I need to shift now,” he said, voice tighter than usual. “Will you be okay?”
“I’ll be fine,” I assured him. “Go ahead.”
He hesitated only briefly before stepping away to quickly shed his clothes, folding them with uncharacteristic neatness and placing them in his backpack, which he handed to me. Then he moved to a clearer space, closed his eyes, and surrendered to the change.
I’d seen Milo shift several times now, but never in this context—surrounded by others undergoing the same transformation. All around the clearing, human forms blurredand reshaped, the process so fluid it was difficult to track with human eyes. Where moments before stood people of various ages and appearances, now gathered wolves of different sizes and colorings, all with the same intelligent eyes and purposeful movements.
I spotted Milo easily—his reddish-brown fur and smaller stature distinctive among the pack. He padded over to me, pressing briefly against my legs in reassurance before looking toward Sadie, who had remained in human form.
“The pack runs tonight,” she announced. “We honor the moon and strengthen our bonds. Finn will remain with me as observer.”
A collective howl rose from the gathered wolves—a sound that raised goosebumps along my arms despite the warmth of the fire. Then, as if responding to an unheard signal, most of the pack streamed into the forest, moving with joyous abandon.
Several wolves remained behind, including Milo, who looked up at me with a question in his amber eyes.
“Go,” I encouraged, understanding his torn desires. “Run with your pack. I’ll be here.”
He hesitated, then pressed against me once more before bounding after the others, his form soon swallowed by the darkness beyond the clearing.
“He worries for you,” Sadie observed, now standing beside me. “It’s both endearing and unnecessary. You’re in no danger here.”
“I know,” I said, watching the last wolves disappear into the trees. “I just want him to enjoy this time without feeling pulled in two directions.”
She studied me with those penetrating eyes. “You understand him well for a human.”
“I try to,” I admitted. “Though there’s still much about his world I’m learning.”
Sadie gestured toward a log near the fire. “Sit. While the pack runs, we can talk. I imagine you have questions.”
I settled beside her, grateful for the opportunity. “Many. But mostly I want to understand how I can make this work—being with someone who belongs to two worlds.”
She nodded approvingly. “A good starting point. Better than asking about shifting mechanics or pack hierarchies, which is what most humans fixate on.”
“Those things matter less than understanding Milo’s experience,” I said. “The practical aspects we can figure out as we go.”
“Wise perspective.” She poked at the fire with a stick, sending sparks upward. “Milo has always been different—more curious about humans than most, more willing to question our traditional isolation. I supported his integration project because our world is changing. We cannot remain separate forever.”
“And how has the pack responded to his experiment?” I asked, genuinely curious.
“Mixed reactions,” she admitted. “The younger ones are intrigued. The elders worry about exposure, about losing our ways. Arnold is among those with reservations, though he loves his son.”
“I noticed his hesitation,” I acknowledged. “I can’t blame him for being concerned.”
“His concern isn’t what you might think,” Sadie said. “It’s not that you’re human—it’s that you might take Milo away from the pack completely. That he might choose your world over ours.”
The observation hit uncomfortably close to a worry I’d harbored myself. “That’s not what I want,” I said honestly. “I don’t want him to have to choose. His wolf nature is fundamental to who he is.”
She smiled slightly. “That understanding is why I approved his request to bring you tonight. Many humans would seek tominimize or control the wolf aspect of their partners. You seem to embrace it.”
