of options. The corner of his mouth lifted in something of a smile.
"We all shift and see what happens. Worst case scenario, a fight breaks out; then, we can put them in their place."
I didn't feel fantastic about the plan, but what choice did we have? Shifting together and remaining the enclosed, private space would allow everyone to vent. The cubs would feel some freedom, and thus reward from us for good behaviour, not that I felt they deserved it. The act of the shift is intimate, so it would show trust and allow the foundations of bonds to form. I ran it all through my mind, trying to poke holes in it. I failed. Shifting it was, then.
I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt the exhilaration and freedom of the shift. Having led the life I had, I hadn't dared risk it in many years. I found myself grinning with my jaw elongating. I pulled myself back under control and mentally put the wolf back on its lead. Alex appeared to be going through a similar experience as I watched his facial structure begin to change before it returned to the usual human state. He went to offer me his hand to help me stand, but quickly thought better of it and walked out of the room. I frowned and pushed back the memories and flood of emotions before allowing the wolf more control again. I reminded myself that there would be a time to confront those memories, and that wasn't it. I fought the wolf on the short walk to the door, restraining the shift and reminding myself that there would be no hunting. By the time I'd reached the kitchen, I had settled my breathing and pulled my energies down tight around me; there was never a good moment to lose control.
Alex smiled at me and tilted his head just a little. I returned the smile and looked at the three cubs who stood looking between us with a mix of confusion and expectation. "Tonight, boys, we enjoy our wolf forms. In the garden only!"
They had not learned quite such control. They burst into yips and howls of joy. I shook my head and reminded myself that there were no neighbours and, well, it was a fantastic moment. They ran out into the garden and wasted no time in shifting, Alex and I followed closely behind them watching their antics before we finally shifted ourselves. I was glad that the garden, as I referred to it, was a few acres in size, which gave us plenty of room to run and play.
I felt odd and self-conscious, which was a new sensation. I remembered the pride I used to have when I shifted. It felt almost dirty in that moment, something I had to hide, and that was not a feeling I took any pleasure in. I shook myself off. It was a normal action to brush away the feeling of transition and, in my case, to throw off the self-conscious ridiculousness. The cubs paused and looked at us, tongues lolling. Nik's large timber wolf form was a dark slate grey with black points and a heavy set build; he went down into a play bow to Alex. A slight shiver went down my spine when I saw Alex's pale grey timber wolf form, with his long legs and more athletic form. That harboured a lot of memories. Ryan's wolf form was closer to a tan and grey, smaller than Nik's but leggier, whereas Dan was on the shorter, stockier side with his pure black form. I felt completely out of place in my small, leggy, rangy red wolf form. It was an entirely different species to theirs; a less common one.
I put my head high and shrugged off the apprehensions and foolish thoughts. They were my pack, I was their alpha. I was also finally in my wolf form after such a long time. A slight breeze brushed through my fur. The wide range of scents surrounded me and told me multiple stories at once. Ryan and Dan quickly went down into play bows themselves, their chins almost on the ground and their tails high in the air. I couldn't resist and saw no reason to try. I bounced forwards and landed on Ryan's front paws before spinning and running away. It wasn't time for doubt, pride, or other such destructive thoughts, it
"We all shift and see what happens. Worst case scenario, a fight breaks out; then, we can put them in their place."
I didn't feel fantastic about the plan, but what choice did we have? Shifting together and remaining the enclosed, private space would allow everyone to vent. The cubs would feel some freedom, and thus reward from us for good behaviour, not that I felt they deserved it. The act of the shift is intimate, so it would show trust and allow the foundations of bonds to form. I ran it all through my mind, trying to poke holes in it. I failed. Shifting it was, then.
I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt the exhilaration and freedom of the shift. Having led the life I had, I hadn't dared risk it in many years. I found myself grinning with my jaw elongating. I pulled myself back under control and mentally put the wolf back on its lead. Alex appeared to be going through a similar experience as I watched his facial structure begin to change before it returned to the usual human state. He went to offer me his hand to help me stand, but quickly thought better of it and walked out of the room. I frowned and pushed back the memories and flood of emotions before allowing the wolf more control again. I reminded myself that there would be a time to confront those memories, and that wasn't it. I fought the wolf on the short walk to the door, restraining the shift and reminding myself that there would be no hunting. By the time I'd reached the kitchen, I had settled my breathing and pulled my energies down tight around me; there was never a good moment to lose control.
Alex smiled at me and tilted his head just a little. I returned the smile and looked at the three cubs who stood looking between us with a mix of confusion and expectation. "Tonight, boys, we enjoy our wolf forms. In the garden only!"
They had not learned quite such control. They burst into yips and howls of joy. I shook my head and reminded myself that there were no neighbours and, well, it was a fantastic moment. They ran out into the garden and wasted no time in shifting, Alex and I followed closely behind them watching their antics before we finally shifted ourselves. I was glad that the garden, as I referred to it, was a few acres in size, which gave us plenty of room to run and play.
I felt odd and self-conscious, which was a new sensation. I remembered the pride I used to have when I shifted. It felt almost dirty in that moment, something I had to hide, and that was not a feeling I took any pleasure in. I shook myself off. It was a normal action to brush away the feeling of transition and, in my case, to throw off the self-conscious ridiculousness. The cubs paused and looked at us, tongues lolling. Nik's large timber wolf form was a dark slate grey with black points and a heavy set build; he went down into a play bow to Alex. A slight shiver went down my spine when I saw Alex's pale grey timber wolf form, with his long legs and more athletic form. That harboured a lot of memories. Ryan's wolf form was closer to a tan and grey, smaller than Nik's but leggier, whereas Dan was on the shorter, stockier side with his pure black form. I felt completely out of place in my small, leggy, rangy red wolf form. It was an entirely different species to theirs; a less common one.
I put my head high and shrugged off the apprehensions and foolish thoughts. They were my pack, I was their alpha. I was also finally in my wolf form after such a long time. A slight breeze brushed through my fur. The wide range of scents surrounded me and told me multiple stories at once. Ryan and Dan quickly went down into play bows themselves, their chins almost on the ground and their tails high in the air. I couldn't resist and saw no reason to try. I bounced forwards and landed on Ryan's front paws before spinning and running away. It wasn't time for doubt, pride, or other such destructive thoughts, it
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