When I opened my eyes again, I saw a large wolf on the bed in front of me. It was the same one that I had seen on the mountain. I would recognize him anywhere. This was definitely Zeke.
His tongue came out and licked my nose. It was warm and rough, and it was odd that I could feel it as if it were my own body. Well, I guess it was. Zeke had said that my wolf and I were one.
“How do you feel?” I heard in my head. My eyes met his.
“There’s a twinge of pain in my chest. Not really pain, but more of a dull ache,” I replied.
“Good, that means that you are healing nicely. You will have to remain in your wolf form until you are completely healed, Chelsea,” he said next, and I was not about to argue with him.
I was done going my own way. That lesson had been learned. My stupid plan had been what led that man with the gun to the house. It was my fault that I had been shot, all because I was tired of feeling trapped. All because I didn’t trust Zeke to find who was responsible.
It was a long and boring day, even though Jessica and Emily visited me frequently. Unfortunately, I could not talk to them. I could only nod my head to whatever it was that they wanted to tell me. In my wolf form, I couldn’t even entertain myself with a game of solitaire or a game on my phone.
No one told me what had happened to the man who had shot me, but I had a pretty good idea. Before Zeke had caught me when I fell, I had heard more gunshots around me. I didn’t remember anything after that until I woke up on the bed as a wolf.
It was well into the evening that Zeke told me it was time to change back to my human form. This had been the longest and most boring day of my life, and I was tired of just lying on the bed. I guess that was an appropriate punishment. Hours and hours of boredom. If I had felt trapped before, it was nothing compared to just lying there all day.
I looked up at Zeke’s wolf, and he watched me closely. I really had no idea how to change back to my human form, but I was ready to stand up and walk around again. This was such an odd feeling to be covered in fur, and a shiver ran through me.
“Chelsea, speak to you wolf. You control your wolf. Your wolf does not control you,” he told me gently.
I closed my eyes and did just that. My wolf and I held a conversation in my head. I didn’t know if I would ever get used to that. When I thanked her for saving us, she graciously began the change. When I opened my eyes again, I looked up at Zeke. He was in his human form as well, and he had a huge grin on his face.
“That was wonderful, Chelsea. Your wolf really is beautiful, but I expected nothing less,” he said, and I felt my wolf shiver at the praise. It warmed me inside. I smiled up at him.
He reached down and gently probed my chest. I’m assuming it was where I had been shot. Looking down, I saw no sign of any injury. The clothes that I had been wearing were tattered across the bed, and I could see blood in places. We would probably have to get rid of the comforter as well. I didn’t have a clue how to get that much blood out of it.
Zeke took my hand and helped me from the bed. Once we were both dressed, we walked out of the bedroom. I could hear voices in the kitchen as we approached, and when we entered the room, I saw Richard. There was a vague memory in my head of seeing him after I had been shot, but it was all foggy.
I walked towards him and he wrapped me in a warm embrace. My arms went around his waist. Both of my fathers gave the best hugs, and I sighed against him.
“You did well, Chelsea. I’m proud of you,” he said gently, and I looked up at him in confusion. I wasn’t sure what he meant.
“Shifter children who go through their first change have to practice at it. But you, your change was quick, as if you had done it a hundred times. Your wolf listened to Zeke’s wolf and obeyed, and I’m proud of both you and your wolf for that. It also lets me know that he is worthy of you,” he continued.
I glanced over at Zeke and he had an incredibly handsome smile on his face. He and I still had a lot to talk about, and this world was still new to me. My wolf had saved my life. I promised her that I would let her out again to run some time, just as soon as Zeke would allow it. She seemed content with this answer.
Jessica was leaving tomorrow, and Richard was leaving the day after that, but for now, I was content with having my family and friends around me. I was content knowing that a whole new life was waiting ahead for me, and I could not wait to see what it would bring.
Epilogue
Ezekiel – Two Months Later
Chelsea and I had gone to Kansas City in time to have Christmas with her parents. We had made it a surprise. Chelsea assured me that they were where she got loving surprises from. There were a lot of tears when we knocked on their front door on Christmas morning.
We had
