It was an unusually cold night, the rumbling of the sky threatening a downpour. Bridgette will be eighteen on the morrow. She couldn't wait for the day to break. She kept looking out the window as the sky thundered on. What kind of wolf would she get? Like every wolf she was nervous an excited at the same time.

"Bridgette, are you in?," The mother called from the other side of the door, cutting off her train of thought. She scampered from the window with a little murmur to let her mother in

"Mother! it's late, couldn't sleep? Or another lecture?," She asked with a mock scowl. The mother smiled mischievously and let herself in.

Marguerita, a small, slender woman with a face even smaller than her daughter's. Bridgette got her mother's nose and skin but every other thing was entirely Bridgettes. She stared lovingly at her daughter, unfolding her hands which were wrapped around her chest, she took one of Bridgette's hands and smiled satisfactorily. She was lost in thoughts for some seconds.

"Mother," Bridgette's voice trailed her thoughts. "Are you okay?," She asked worriedly as she held her mother's left shoulder with her free hand.

"Yes, I came to know if you need anything." Her mother replied shaking her head with a small smile.

"No, I don't need anything ma."

The mother nodded and took a quick glance around the house and left the room. Bridgette can't remember how long she stood there watching the mother or even how she slept for but she was half awake throughout the night, stirring at intervals to voices in her head.

Finally, daybreak.

Her best friend Freda was the first to knock on her door. A knocking that quickly turned to banging.

"Sleepy head!," Freda yelled excitedly as her loud rapping on the door came rhythmically.

"Don't break the door," Bridgette said in a muffled voice, she slept very little, she doesn't even know for how long, She exhaled weakly and staggered to the door.

"Wolfie!," her friend shrieked happily as she walked in, hugging Bridgette in a half lift.

"Where's my mother?," Bridgette asked sleepily, rubbing her eyes, as she sunk in the bed lazily. She felt like the world was resting on her. Her eyelids battling to stay open.

"She's cooking," Freda said in a singsong tone. "We are waiting for the full moon," she finished joyfully settling in more comfortably into the bed. Looking at her friend's collapsed figure, she said in a low tone "What's wrong?,"

Her eyes narrowing in concern.

"What's wrong?," Freda asked again pulling up Bridgette slumping body, she grunted mumbling a few incoherent words. She shrugged her shoulders lazily.

"Nothing," Bridgette muttered not looking into her friend's face.

"Something's bothering you," Freda persisted holding her chin securely in her hand. Bridgette frown wrinkled face facing her.

"What kind of wolf would I get?," Bridgette muttered almost inaudibly. Her heart's throbbing could be heard if Freda came any closer. Bridgette has always been like this, worrying comes to her as easily as breathing. But she was right to be worried because what will her life be after she gets her wolf?.

"You'll be fine henny," Freda reassured turning her friend in a hug into her shoulder.

She has been friends with Bridgette since they were cubs. It would be fair to say that they grew up together. They were in the same class for highschool and college and did the same things. Freda had been so fiercely protective of Bridgette when they were little and still is. They did everything together they could pass for sisters. Bridgette was also very thankful for her and her friendship because it has helped her live through not having any other family member aside her mother.

Bridgette, with her snow white skin and a round small face with plump lips and average height. She was a beautiful young lady.

Freda on the other side was voluptuous, oval face, small rosy lips. Her skin spotless, not nearly as beautiful as Bridgette but she was attractive.

A rap on the door cutting through their mutually shared warmth.

"Girls, it's time," Bridgette's mother called from the hallway. She was cooking, it was a small meal for an even smaller gathering. Bridgette has no friends aside Freda and the mother has none, so it was just the three of them.

Nervously Bridgette walked to the space in her backyard, her mother and Freda stood at a reasonable distance watching her. She stood still, the only visible movement was her chest heaving up and down. Her mother's face was calm and expectant while Freda's lovely own fixed on her.

Then, it happened.

Her hair suddenly started blowing backwards slowly at first and soon it went up like flames, flying everywhere behind her. Her face transformed first, taking the shape of a fiery wolf and in a split second went back to normal.

"Oh B," the mother cooed shakily, it was a red wolf, her mother was stunned at the rarity of the wolf her daughter received. She moved close to take Bridgette's hand while Freda hugged her from behind resting her head on Bridgette's quivering shoulder.

"It is so beautiful," lifting her head Freda said rubbing her fingers on Bridgette's flushed face.

"Thank you," Bridgette smiled nervously as she turned to face her mother, her voice was soft and emotional "Mama," hugging her mother in a tight embrace.

"Bridgette," a voice called from behind them. They disentangled slowly and the three ladies turned to face the owner of the voice. It was Darius the Alpha's son.

He's back.

Bridgette could feel her heart threatening to explode, she struggled to sound calm and unexcited about his presence but her emotions betrayed her as she spoke "Darius, what are you doing here?,"

Darius was a tall, well moderately tall, young man, with brown hairs and the face of sin itself. His eyes were like that of a cat, when he smiled it could sweep you off your feet. She loved him.

They were so fond of each other as kids, Bridgette's father was amongst the best wolves the Scarlet pack ever had. He was killed before Bridgette was born, the wife was just a few months pregnant when his dead body was found outside the city. Mauled to death by an unknown rival.

Marguerita had carried her pregnancy under the watchful and caring eyes of the pack members, her child was loved even before she was born but after she had her baby she begged to be allowed access to the land down the valley to build her home, just a few yards from the majority wolves houses. The Alpha had asked it be given to her and so it happened that they lived away from others but still with the Scarlet environs.

"Congratulations B," Darius said not knowing if he should hold her, hug her or even extend his hand for a shake. He stood in front her rubbing his palms together instead.

"Thanks Darius, how was school? I heard you are now a doctor,?" She chuckled nervously all in one breath, she felt colour rise to her neck, she was flushing and nearly fidgety. Her mother came to take her shoulders immediately and spoke with a maternal cheer, sensing the daughter's baulking knees, as Freda's smiling face led the way in.

"Bridgette Gill, allow the young man some breathing space before you bombard him with all the many questions you have," turning to look at Darius loving she invited him for dinner.

Dinner was Bridgette's favorite dishes, some barbecue chicken, cauliflower rice and some fries.

Darius was the first to finish eating, the two girls walked him to the door and Freda nudged Bridgette forward. Bridgette cast her a scowl and went ahead to see him off.

"Thank you for the warm reception Ms. Gill," Darius said to Bridgette's mother who was inside clearing the dishes. She yelled a response back and continued clearing the table.

"I'll be going now," Freda announced heartily and blew a kiss to her friend and ran off before Bridgette could object. She had sensed the tension between the two, no one knowing what to say or who is to say it first. Bridgette watched after her friend's disappearing figure unsure what to say to the young man before her. She managed to return her wandering gaze to his face. He looks so handsome, his features warm and those lips, she wanted to run her fingers over them, kiss them slowly and then—

"B," Darius called for what may have been the hundredth time, she shook her head a little and stared at him with blinking eyes. "Are you alright?," His voice calm and concerned. Swallowing hard she nodded her head.

"I'll walk you to the bridge," she said after failing to find a more suitable thing to say.

Nodding and allowing her to go first before he followed easily matching her pace.

"So, it is Dr. Darius Worth," She said lightly, she felt her head spin as he smiled at her. Those lips again.

"Yes B, but please call me Darius," he answered in the same light tone. Shaking his head in happy manner.

"I know the Alpha is beside himself with pride," Bridgette said stopping as they got to the other side of the bridge.

"He is telling anyone and everyone, he is even threatening a party,"

"Threatening?," She said her lips curving in a smile, her eyes browed in askance "don't you want the party?,"

"No, I know it's a cause for joy but I believe it's a family affair," Darius said calmly coming to rest his elbow on the bridge rails and Bridgette turned to stand opposite him.

He was wearing a concerned expression, almost like something was bothering him.

His tormented soul could be seen lurking on his face, although he fought to look blank. Bridgette came closer and held his dropping wrist, her voice seemed to have soothed his soul as she asked "What's wrong?," He looked up at her not sure he wanted to bother her with all the details but as he opened his mouth to dismiss the issue he found himself narrating carefully everything that happened from the day his father told him he was studying medicine.

Eight years ago.