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Just a thought for this chapter:
Because sometimes, one must
be willing to change.
MJ
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Completely caught up with the sight around and the feeling of freedom shuddering thought the wolf's form, I am transported into a new reality. Gosh, it feels good. The wind caresses my face and my heart races, but it is not fear or anxiety, it is pure joy. Leah took away the heavy burden of my sorrows and fears burdening me as a human, my mind was in peace for the first time since forever.

Nature brushing her fur as we run, sometimes she knocked a tree, but soon she got the hang of her body gaining in speed. All I can do is watch through her eyes and her through her ears. She is in control, but for once I don't care. The sounds are clearer and her sight has a lower colour quality, but she can see further away and textures are vivid. Our destination is unknown and again, I don't care, too endowed into the bliss of the run.

Finally, fatigue wears her out. She takes a break near a lake, drinking the cool water.

This place is beautiful. Trees surround the lake, their roots lingering in the water for a sip. Animals nest in between the roots sheltered from mother nature. It's mesmerizing. The water mirrors the trees forms with what is left of their leaves and the blue sky.

Leah looks directly into the water, finally letting me grasp the reflection of this new body sheltering my soul. Blue is no longer the predominant colour. Gray takes over as we switch sides. It seems just like our bodies, our eyes switched. Her coat is pure white, it looks puffy and comfy making me wish I had hands to get them through her fur.

She moves her head, making me lose the sight. Will I get used to this? Having no control over the movements of her wolf form. Doubt fills my mind, reminding me of Phil and Tom's worries. Leah is a wolf and should she set her mind on evil deeds, I won't be able to make her submit.

At that moment, my vision turns into shades of gray like in vintage movies. The color washed away the moment my apprehensions began.

Brought back to reality by the coldness that overcomes me, I look again. She is running into the glacial lake, reminding me that autumn is almost over. The sight of the vegetation under the water hypnotizes me.

The water is crystal clear in the middle of the lake. Fish swim under the vegetation. Hypnotized, I forget my apprehensions revealing the fish's colours. The fish glowing in the daylight swim around us.

Amused, I laughed at the feel of their fins around my face.

As I relaxed again, the colours of my surroundings become brighter and with better definition than my human sight. Puzzled, I wonder if this is because I am enjoying the moment. My emotions seem to influence my vision just like they do with magic, but this time, I have to let them flow instead of controlling or shutting them out. I need to live them.

We then rested at the edge of the lake under a sunny beam of light drying her white fur.

"Is this what it's like to be a wolf?" I ask Leah.

"I guess so. Should I remind you that this is my first time, also? I was stuck inside you, caged, with no way out." Leah's affirmation twitches something inside me.

Was I to blame for it when I was oblivious to her existence? Was she blaming me? But then again who was responsable for all this mess?Disregarding it, I switch the subject instead.
"By the way, who picked your name? Since no one knew she was there, who did?"

"I chose for myself."

"The name you gave yourself? So you were conscious even before anyone knew you were there?" Realizing there's more of a backstory, my curiosity peaked.

"Yes, almost. I could hear what was going on in your reality, even before Dad met me. I could come to you in your dreams, then I could manifest as a thought, just like I did for the past few months. Anyway, out of all the names I heard, Leah was the one I chose. I don't know if you remember, but someone said it meant 'delicate and soothing nature.' Don't you think that's an appropriate name for me?"

"You mean you could hear everything?" Now silent, I can only imagine how painful it must be to be but not exist. To have a full mind just to be caged into a body that won't respond, the worst must be not to be able to communicate with people around. I sight.

"Yes, first it was because of my inexperience, but Al, Dad's wolf, showed me how to communicate, breaking the barrier between our souls. We became one." She sighs, showing apprehension about the subject. "Then there was the fight, followed by our dad's capture. Followed by the ritual with the hooded woman and after that, darkness surrounded my life. Every time you would get emotional, I would emerge from my slumber. I tried to reach out to you, but there was an airtight barrier that kept me from reaching out to you. For weeks, I would flight against that barrier using every energy you would send my way until I was strong enough to communicate. Or so I hoped, but it never happened. You'd take that damn inhaler! Weakening me again and breaking my will until I gave up. It was useless, I chose to watch instead and invade your dreams whenever I could." Leah sighs, rolls onto her other side, stretching her limbs and gets comfortable again.

"You mean you've always been there? Or at least since the inhalers, I've been using them since I was 12. Wait! That means. My asthma attacks were always related to you?"

"I think so. You were always complaining about not being able to breathe, about drowning in your emotions. That was how I felt whenever pushing through the surface and out of that magic cage!" She complains. "It was horrid for me too."

She was there all these years. Otherwise, how could she have known that feeling? That feeling would make me anxious, imagining death scenarios, feeding and turning my magic against me. Without the inhaler, I could have killed myself. Oblivious to my aptitudes, the inhaler became my lifesaver, saving me from myself.

Until I didn't have them anymore. The difference was that this time, Lina, Tom, and Phil were there, teaching me how to proceed. Now, the inhalers were obsolete.

"Yes, this time you didn't cower, you fed me with your power, and I broke the spell that kept us apart. Yesterday was the last straw, after you got so mad at those girls. I can't believe it took so long."

I look up at the massive roots through her eyes as she scans our surroundings.

"Let's just say I sealed the deal in the end," a male voice comes from beneath the trees. Leah jump on her fourths, surprised.

Leah follows the voice and discovers Philip approaching us, naked, without flinching or showing any discomfort. I close my eyes, since Leah doesn't seem to care and keeps her lids open.

"Tom explained you were having problems with your mutation and he needed me to assert your wolf's intentions, at the very least. Kept in the dark for so long, having a broken wolf was a possibility  and we couldn't have that with humans around. Not to mention it would break every rule meant to protect the human realm. To avoid that, we needed Leah to fall under my dominion. So I asked my wolf to command you and force you to transform. That's one benefit of being an experienced Alpha wolf. We can help the younger ones. Your wolf heard my call. She accepted my help, and I guided her with an alpha command."

That's bullshit! She can have conversations without me! That's not true! That's creepy. I look at him since she hasn't moved from her spot, and neither has he. What is the alpha? How many people had access to my thoughts? What about Lina and John and the girls? I wish I could show my disgust, but I am stuck in wolf form.

"No, none of them are magical creatures except Lina. They are humans," Leah's statements only bring more questions.

The human realm, just how many magical creatures were out there?

"Indeed, I met many creatures' forms after I walked through a portal with dad. From the vegetation to the mountains, everything seemed different, including time itself."

Then, there are other realms and humans accepted us as immigrants, as refugees!

"Well, we know the council keeps everyone in a tight leash, but nobody told us so far if human's officials known about us. It feels like we are under the radar."

"Girls, I am still here and I am having trouble following the conversation since Annie isn't in our circle yet. For that to happen, you must fully recognize your wolf and be one with it. Which you are not right now."

Leah rolls her eyes.
"She's so stuck with her human identity that it's bound to never happening."

Uh, that's not true. I'm just struggling with it all, and I miss my family. Maybe once we're all together, we'll be in sync.

Leah looks up and lets me see the majestic trees around us. This forest is old and beautiful.

"Anyway, Annie, you should know that Leah can talk to people like Tom, those with the ability to read minds, but only if she gives them access."

Ah, so you talk to Lina too.

"No! Something about her gives me the creeps." Doubt fills me inside. Is she jealous of her?

"Now it's lesson time." Something in his voice irritates me, while Leah gets excited.

He walks away, shifting.

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Leah 's POV
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His wolf growls at me. As Tom said, the beast is wild, as you would expect from a brainless animal. He is playing territorial, showing me my place. An annoyed sigh comes out of my throat. If I had more experience, I would show him who's boss. That fool needs Phil's commands to make a move. He jumps and runs between the branches like in an obstacle course, and commands me to do the same. He may be an alpha, but I am not like his wolf.

Is he so full of himself that he thinks he can order me around like that? Alpha or not, I won't let him boss me around like a puppy. That was it! How hard can it be? I shake my head.

Annie is annoyed as well complaining in my head. "Why does he act like that? Can't he be civil? He treats us like animals!"

Within seconds, I launch at him, but he avoids me easily. I charge him again, but he runs in a zigzag pattern, making him hard to follow. Tired of this game, I snarl.

He uses the trees to hide and change direction. He is much faster than me, his movements are harmonious while I keep faltering on every turn.

"That's not so bad for a youngster who's just transformed. Do you think you can even touch my tail?"

That statement doesn't sit like a compliment. I growl at that. Who does he think he is? Is he looking for a fight? Let's show him what we can do.

Suddenly caught up in the action, picking up speed, Annie tells me how to place our paws mimicking him and loosing less time with each turn.

Or course she had the luxury to notice Phil's technique since I'm the one doing the chase.

Slowly, I am closing the gap between us under Annies guidelines.

Excitement gains me. He's there within our grasp, and I'm already throwing myself at him in my head. I let out a cry of joy, covering Annis's warning. Suddenly, the ground beneath my paws sinks. I fall face first on the ground, and at the last second, I roll on the ground avoiding a straight hit to the nose. What a disaster!

When everything stops whirling around me, Phil comes within view. More by instinct than by conviction, I throw my paw in the hitting the bull's eye. Surprised, my eyes grow round.

"Yes! Serves him right for being so cocky!" Annie comments my luck while I retract my claws.

The ground hides the drops of blood. Phil shakes his head to rid himself of the remaining drops from his black fur, followed by a symphony of cracks. Within a blink he is already dressed in human attire. Three long lines cover his right side of the face. His eye is almost shut due to the cut.

"Don't worry, I won't have any scars. They'll heal in a few hours. Try to avoid that next time you can stop the movements just before making contact and it will be enough to claim the win. You need to be and show control of your every move." He smiles and for once my skin doesn't crawl. "Congratulations, you've surprised me today. You are more ingenious than I thought and already have a hold over your beast. However, the last part, the fall... let's just say it's not the best way to end a winning streak."

My face breaks down. "What did he expect?"

"Indeed, was I supposed to do something? This was your win not mine."  Annie is just as puzzled as I am.

Turning my head away, I gasp as he speaks.

"You were probably thinking about something else and suddenly lost sync with your partner. You're young, you need to stay in the moment. A mistake like this could cost you your life in other situations."

Striding towards me, I am taken aback when he nonchalantly paws my fur, beginning with his forearm and ending with his hand. Now that we are close, I notice that my wolf form is quite big compared to his human form My head almost reaches his shoulder.

"As you learn to merge with it, you won't have to concentrate as much and you'll be able to think at the same time. It's like when you learn to drive a car." He continues to walk behind me, already cornering a tree on my right.

"Well, we had a common goal this time." I gasp again. "With her trust issues, I wonder if I will ever be effective."

"What trust issues? I don't!"

"Denial doesn't make it disappear. You are a control freak just to compensate for your lack of trust and you know it!"

Phil's voice rises breaking my ranting follow by cracking bones.
"Now, try to catch me or find your way back on your own."

"Asshole," I look away.

"Leah! Language!" Annie is mothering me.

He's gone and I don't care to look where he is going. Good riddance.

"Leah, he's leaving. How will we get home without him?" Annie pauses. "Leah, follow him, please! Ahhhh, can we at least follow his trail? Leah com-on move! I don't want to stay in the woods forever!"

"Hum... trust issues remember... your confidence in me is appalling."

Slowly, I walk. Her stress is getting making me wonder if she was right and I was overconfident.

Following the path he left behind is easy with his paws in the mud, but soon they come to an end.

The fool avoided the dirt after a while. With no tracks to follow, I could only look for more clues.

Annie started ranting in my head again.
"Omg, we're lost in the middle of nowhere with no food! We're going to die!"

I raise a paw to rub my ear as if that would somehow soothe her.
"Stop thinking and let me handle it. Will you? "

To my surprise, she does.

While I'm thinking, I catch a whiff of a scent that I hadn't smelled moments before. As I focus on that smell, a mist appears and shows me the way.

As soon as I smell it and see it, it is gone. This means that if I don't keep a fast pace, I won't find it again. I guess that's what he meant with his last comment.

Don't think, just follow, it's already disappearing. "Run!"  Annie rushes again.

She keeps her eyes on the trail while I do the running, it's easier since I need to avoid collapsing to the trees. Bloody Phil had to make things hard running in circles and zigzags. He is calling for a fight and one day I will show him his place, but for now, I have to admit that I need what he is offering.

Finally the cabin comes into view.

I noticed a movement behind the bushes and sniffed the air. Philip came out, confirming my hypothesis. He's wearing boxers this time, Annie notes with relief.

He walks over with a towel in his hands.

I sit on my buttocks and ignore him. He's so full of himself. If he thinks I'm going to follow him again, he's wrong.

"Your training ends here for today. Annie, breathe, close your eyes, and calm your inner storm. Focus on your heartbeat. Try to slow down the pace of your breathing to match your heartbeat. Become one with your inner self. Listen to nothing but the rhythm of your heartbeat."

I shake my head.
"Again with the Buddha stuff! I hate it! It was annoying enough to hear Lina teach!"

Annie seems to agree with me again. Meditation is not something she likes either.

"Annie, do it, or you'll be stuck in wolf form! The wolf can take over your body. Show him who's boss!"

Wha-what, no! What about school?

I laugh. "It's called a pep talk. You're getting the shaft, sweetie!"

Anyway, I bend to Annie's will. As much as I love being in my wolf form, the city surrounds us. There's no room for me here.

Slowly, I begin to follow the instructions, which he kept repeating in a loop, like a broken record. I feel the beginning of something, followed by a small breeze.

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Annie POV
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I look down and I see that I am in my naked human form. I scream out of anger.
"Pervert!!! Pig!! Stop looking!"

I roll myself as fast as I can into the piece of fabric he is holding and storm into the cabin.

"Hey, what did you want me to do? Maybe you wanted to remain in your wolf's form for the rest of your life? A small thanks would have been enough! I was nice enough to prepare you a towel! Chill up a little. It's not as if you are the first girl I see naked," He laughs hysterically.

He thinks he is funny! He isn't. I open the cabin's door.

"So I hope you had a good look because it's the first and last time you will see this one!" I smirk at him before closing the door with a slap. Surprised, I choke on my breath. When did I turn into such a bold person, but it's my body!

I quickly get dressed. It's about time I get out of here.

When I get out, he is not very talkative. He keeps walking. I followed him, my legs wobbling with every step.

We end up finding Tom at the edge of the clearing.

He looks at Phil and nods.
"Close your eyes."

Phil turns away.

"What for?" I am puzzled.

Looking at Phil undressing his boxers. My blood jumps to my brain, making me turn my eyes away. Hotness fills my face.

"I'll help you get to the car. You are too weak to get there on your own."

I don't know how he intends to do this, but I am too tired to butt out with him.

His morphing seems to last like forever, but I keep my eyes shut, preventing any new undesired images to be carved into my brain.

"Ok, open them. You will be fine now."

Dazed, I hold on to Tom. We are back in the car and not at the edge of the forest anymore.

Tom helps me get inside since my legs are worse than jelly.

Phil comes out of the forest in shorts for once and walks to him.

Bored and out of exhaustion, I close my eyes.

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