CHAPTER 4
1703 Words
**FOUR YEARS LATER**
I’m ten years old now. Jax is twelve, and Jesse is still... Jesse.
Life here feels both strange and normal. I’ve been with this family so long that sometimes I forget I’m not really one of them. Other times I remember too clearly — like when Jesse calls me “the charity pup,” or when kids whisper about me at school.
The pack built a small schoolhouse near the woods for wolf pups. There are about twenty kids. I sit in the back.
Jax always sits beside me. He doesn’t care that his friends tease him; he says he’d rather sit with someone who doesn’t talk nonsense.
Jesse sits at the front with his loud friends — boys who think they’re better because their parents outrank everyone else. They make fun of me every day — tripping me, whispering that I don’t belong.
Jax always tells them to stop. Sometimes he fights because of it.
“Why do you even care about her?” Jesse sneers one lunch.
“Because you’re being a dick.” Jax says simply.
No one argues with the future Alpha’s son for long.
After school, Jax always walks home with me. The path winds through tall trees, and the sun filters down in gold lines. It’s peaceful, and no one bothers us when we’re together.
“Did you do okay today?” He asks as we walk, kicking a rock along the path.
I shrug. “It’s fine.”
He looks at me. “You say that every day.”
“Because it is fine.” I say again.
He doesn’t believe me, but he doesn’t push. That’s what I like about Jax. He doesn’t make me talk when I don’t want to.
When we reach the packhouse, the smell of roasted meat fills the air. Luna Elsie is in the kitchen, her hands moving quickly as she finishes dinner. I help set the table while Jax steals bites when she’s not looking.
“Jax!” She says, pretending to scold him. He grins and runs off to wash his hands.
Dinner is quiet. Alpha Joseph sits at the head of the table, serious as always. Jesse talks about his day — mostly about how great he is at sports. Jax rolls his eyes but stays silent.
After eating, I collect the plates and wash them. Elsie smiles at me while I help dry them. “You’re a good girl, Sage.” She says softly. “You’ve grown so much.”
I smile a little. “Thank you, Luna.”
“Go outside with Jax for a bit. It’s a nice night.”
Jax is already at the door, jacket on, grinning. “Come on. Let’s walk.”
The air is cool, scented with pine and rain. The full moon glows silver. We follow the path to the open field behind the packhouse. Tall grass brushes my knees. Crickets sing softly.
“It’s so bright tonight.” I say.
“Yeah.” Jax replies, staring at the moon. “Feels… weird.”
“Weird how?”
He frowns, hand on his chest. “I don’t know. Like… something’s burning inside.”
Before I can ask more, he drops to his knees.
“Jax!” I shout.
He shakes, hands clawing the ground, breath quick. His eyes flash gold, then silver. I’ve seen older wolves shift, but Jax is only twelve—too young.
“Jax, it’s okay.” I whisper, kneeling beside him. “You’re fine.”
“It hurts.” He gasps, his voice breaking. “Sage, it hurts so bad.”
I grab his hand. “I know. Don’t fight it. Just breathe. If you fight it it will only hurt more.”
His bones start to crack and change shape. I flinch at the sound but don’t let go.
He cries out again, body shaking violently. His back arches, and his skin ripples as fur pushes through.
I held Jax’s hand, trying to avoid his claws. It’s both terrifying and beautiful — the way his body breaks apart and reforms into something powerful.
“Don’t leave me.” He whimpers.
“I’m not going anywhere.” I say firmly, even though my heart is pounding so fast it hurts.
The moonlight gets brighter, wrapping around him like silver fire. His body keeps changing — arms, legs, hands, face — until a wolf stands in front of me.
He’s big for his age, his fur a deep brown with gold streaks. His eyes glow the same green as Jax’s.
“Jax?” I whisper.
The wolf takes a shaky step forward and lowers his head. He lets out a small sound — half a whine, half a sigh.
I smile, even though tears burn my eyes. “You did it.” I whisper. “You actually did it.”
He leans against me, trembling. I stroke his fur gently. “You’re okay. I’m right here. The pain will go away soon. I promise.”
For a few minutes, we stay like that. Then he shifts back. Without any warning, which was just as painful, but it was quicker.
The sound is softer this time — fewer cracks, less pain. When he’s human again, he’s shaking, covered in sweat and dirt. I grab my jacket and wrap it around him.
“You did it, Jax.” I say softly. “You shifted.”
He’s breathing hard, eyes wide and glassy. “You… you didn’t leave.”
“Of course not.”
He gives a weak laugh. “You’re crazy.”
“Maybe.” I say, smiling. “But you’re my friend.”
That’s when we hear shouting from the packhouse.
“Jax! Sage!” Elsie’s voice echoes through the night. “Where are you?”
I yell back, “We’re here!”
A few seconds later, Elsie and Joseph appear at the edge of the field. Both of them look panicked.
Elsie runs straight to Jax and kneels beside him. “Oh, Jax, sweetheart, are you okay?”
He nods weakly. “I shifted, Mom.”
She stares at him in shock, then pulls him into a tight hug.
Joseph crouches beside them, eyes wide. “At twelve? That’s early.”
“I know.” Elsie says. “But he’s fine. He’s okay.”
I stand a few feet away, not sure if I should stay or go. My hands are still shaking.
Then I remember the photos. While Jax was shifting, I took a few pictures on my phone — proof of what was happening, in case I needed help. I pull my phone out and walk toward them.
“I… I took these.” I say quietly, showing the screen.
Elsie looks up, eyes soft. “You stayed with him?”
I nod. “He asked me not to leave.”
She stands and hugs me tightly before I can react. “Thank you, Sage. You did the right thing.”
Joseph stands too, looking at me differently than he ever has before. For once, his cold eyes soften just a little.
“You were brave.” He says simply.
My chest feels warm. “I just… didn’t want him to be alone.”
He nods. “Still. You did well.”
It’s not much — just a few words. But coming from him, it feels like everything.
Jesse comes running out a moment later, his face full of confusion. “What happened?!”
“Your brother shifted.” Joseph says.
Jesse’s eyes widened. “Already?” Then his gaze flicks to me. “And she was with him?”
Elsie gives him a warning look. “Watch your tone.”
Jesse frowns, jealousy flashing across his face. “Whatever.” He mutters before storming back toward the house.
Elsie sighs but doesn’t chase him. She helps Jax stand, keeping an arm around his shoulders.
“Come on.” She says softly. “Let’s get you inside. You need rest.”
Jax glances back at me. His face is pale, but he smiles. “Thank you.” He whispers.
I smile back. “Anytime.”
As they walk away, I stay where I am for a moment, looking up at the full moon.
The night is quiet again. The air feels heavy with magic — the kind that only happens when a wolf meets their first moon.
I think about what just happened. About how Jax trusted me, and how I didn’t run. About how, for the first time, Alpha Joseph actually looked at me like I mattered.
Maybe I do. Maybe a little.
I glance toward the packhouse. From here, I can see the lights glowing through the windows. I hear Elsie’s voice, soft and loving. I hear Jax laughing weakly.
And for the first time in a long time, I don’t feel like an outsider.
I whisper softly to myself, “Maybe I belong here after all.”
Then I walk back toward the house, the full moon shining behind me like a promise.
I was getting ready for bed when someone knocked on my door.
“Jax. You’re meant to be resting.”
“I know. But I need to talk to you.” He slipped inside and closed the door.
“What’s wrong?”
“How did you know it would be over soon? You weren’t panicking. Anyone else would have.”
“I don’t know.” I said, looking away.
“Why can my wolf already smell yours? No one has a wolf until they shift.”
“That’s something she told me to keep secret.” I said.
“She?”
“My wolf. I’ve been able to speak to her for as long as I can remember.”
“When did you first shift?”
“I don’t know. I’ve just been doing it for as long as I can remember. I just know I can’t do it in front of people. I’m too young. They won’t understand.”
“No. They won’t. But I won’t tell.”
I gave him a small smile. “Thank you.”
“I always knew there was something special about you, Sage.” He said before leaving.
- Writer
