Deacon''s eyes go wide before he just vanishes. Shit, shit, shit. This can''t be happening right now. I feel as though something is trying to break through my skin. I try to fight the feeling, rubbing desperately at my arms.


    I fight


    "Get her out!" Noel shouts, his tone is urgent. Which doesn''t help my rising panic. My skin is on fire, and 11 off the hands that are trying to touch my seared skin. I scream and thrash in the water.


    "Stop fighting it!" someone roars, but how can I? I can''t just stand here whilst I boil from the inside out. Despite my protest, I''m dragged onto the river bank and without the ice-cold water surrounding me, the heat intensifies. I attempt to run back to the water but I''m tacked to the ground.


    "It burns," I scream and thrash under the weight of the body on top of me. A hand grips my chin hard, holding my head still and Mason''s furious eyes look down at


    me.


    "Shift," he demands. "Stop fighting her and fucking shift,


    "I can''t," I shout through gritted teeth.


    "Josic, please just let her out and all the pain will go away, I promise," he says softly this time and for a split second I see the worry on his face. “Rx, take a breath and let go,"


    I suck in a shaky breath and try to rx, my body trembles from the pain. Instead of trying to fight what I can feel is happening, I close my eyes and embrace it. The heat cools until it''s afortable warmth. Almost likeying on the beach with the sun on my skin.


    "Good girl," Mason says quietly and his weight lifts from me and I roll onto my front. "Open your eyes,"


    I blink my eyes a few times, everything looks more intense. The details of everything more clearer, and the colours brighter.


    "Nice going, Mace," I hear Theo say.


    "She''s stunning isn''t she?" Luke says.


    "Prettiest wolf I''ve ever seen," Axelments.


    I lift my head, which feels far too heavy and look down at my hands, but they''re no longer hands, they''re big ck paws. I''m a freaking wolf! I try to push to my feet but my legs copse under my weight.


    "How do we help her?" Theo asks and I feel a hand stroke over my back.


    "She''s too weak, she needs to rest. Once her wolf has recovered enough strength she will shift back. I''ve never seen anyone shift immediately after finding their wolf. We should have prepared her better," I hear Noel telling the others.


    "I think we can all agree that nothing about her or us is normal right now, we need to stop expecting things to go as normal," Luke says.


    "Thest thing she needs today is toe into heat, I''d avoid contact as much contact as possible. Keep out of her line of sight if you can, at least until she has recovered enough energy to shift back," Noel advises and I close my eyes, following his advice. There''s no way I want toe into heat. I still haven''t spoken to Dot and I''m exhausted. I listen as the guyse up with a n. Noel will teleport me back to Ruby, the guys will go straight to our apartment and unlock the door, then leave whilst Noel puts me in my room. The n runs smoothly and the moment my door clicks shut behind Noel I drift to sleep. I''m not sure how long passes but when I wake up I''m human, and starving! I''m also still wearing a bikini. I notice that the clothes I''d taken off at the river are in a pile


    on the chair of my dressing table. I route out my phone from my jacket pocket and it''s full of messages.


    Dot: ''Congrats bitch, text me when you wake up'' the first one reads and I quickly respond that I''m awake and I need her toe over as soon as she can.


    Greys Academy: ''Dear student, Congrattions onpleting your first shift. Please refrain from shifting within the education buildings. The outdoors and surrounding forest are free to explore in your wolf form. If you need any help or advice regarding your wolf please let any of your tutors know and they will schedule you an appointment with one of our wolf behaviour experts!


    Mr Collins: ''Congrattions on your first shift. I will be away from campus for a few days. Please stay out of trouble until I retum''


    The next notifications arebelled as ''group chat.'' I open and click on the group members. Axel, Luke, Mason, Theo and me. Then I scroll to the top of the chat to read through the messages.


    Mason: I''m not being in a stupid group chat.


    Theo: Toote.


    Luke: Josie, you did amazing today. Let us know when you''re awake. We have a surprise for you.


    Mason: it''s not from me.


    Theo: Jose, you are the most beautiful wolf, I wish you could have seen yourself.


    I can''t wait to go out for a run with you.


    Axel: I hope you''re okay. Your wolf is beautiful.


    Mason: You''re all disgusting.


    Theo: Ignore him.


    I read their messages with a smile, even Mason''s cheer me up. He helped me massively today. I think I finally see through him. He acts like aplete ass to hide something, and I''m determined to find out what that is. I put a message in the group to let them know I''m awake and thank them for their messages and their help today. I also


    it? tell them I''m starving. Then I change into some pyjamas. How am I going to eat if I can''t leave my room and they can''te near me to bring anything? Maybe they could leave it outside my door and move away whilst I open A sudden knock at my door has me holding my breath. I can''t open it. I can''t see any of them. N.O Darling Author


    Which of Josie''s bonds is your favourite so far? As I write I keep changing my mind about who I like the best.