Changing used to be so awkward, especially when I did it with Dad around.  These days though it's gotten easier. I mean stripping down to your birthday suit and walking around naked while trying to find the best hiding spot hasn't gotten any less awkward but the pain... The pain has become almost euphoric for me. I don't know if that's a bad thing or not but it's made the changes much easier.

Dad left me behind and doing as he's always told me whenever we go for runs I stayed close and followed him wherever be went. Until he went towards the bridge.

Callum and Reagan were there, running their fingers through his fur and laughing. I think that's what was getting to me. The sounds. That's what always got to me.

It was too human to my ears and was just so agitating but the smell of the trees surrounding me masked the smells of soap and perfumes, calming me down a little. Whenever Dad and I go on runs we usually go to the rec center, where there aren't any people, especially humans, around. The smell of dirt and moss is just so calming and I love the way it feels when my skin stretches as I change.

But then there was Eric. He looked so different through my new eyes, but he didn't look frightened. I kept snorting and shaking my head with every step he took, trying to piece together who he was cause he couldn't be Eric. Not my Eric.

Not with those stern brown eyes of his. Remnants of a summer tan fading on his brown skin. An outstretched hand, lax as he reached towards me. It just couldn't be...

"Hi," he said in soft whisper, eyes darting every which way as he tried to study me. A bit hesitant he reached forward and touched me. When he got ready to pull back my hackles raised but then he rushed forward with both hands to scratch my head and at my jawline and I melted at his touch. "You're so beautiful and your eyes are so bright."

I wish I could say thank you. Dammit, I wish I could talk, but I had to only settle with licking his cheek. His laugh was infectious.

"Look at you," he said, holding my head in his hands. Then he wrapped his arms around my neck. "When I start my changes swear to me you won't do the baby voice. Cause I am trying so hard not to right now. I deserve that much back."

Snorting I shook him off me to nip at his coat. Pulling him down I pinned him onto the ground and laid across his back.

"Get off me!" he laughed rolling underneath me.

Playing along I rolled onto my back and threw my weight around. I didn't move until I was moved. Pete came out of nowhere. One minute I was licking at Eric's face and the next Pete was holding me down by neck.

Dad and I never fought. I've tried goading him into fights many times but it never worked. I've never fought in this form before and I could tell that Pete was enjoying himself until he realized I wasn't gonna fight back.

Dad stepped in then, leaving Reagan and Callum's side to bark at Pete and give him a stern look. Letting out a growl that resembled a groan Pete walked away.

That was embarrassing.

Getting up off the ground Eric looked at me and Gale, hesitant again. Walking towards him I set my head under his hand, prompting him to scratch behind my ears.

"Catch us a big juicy rabbit okay boy," he laughed, kissing my head. I growled at him. "Aw you know I was just playing, but be careful okay?"

Giving him smile, or at least I hoped it looked like one, I nodded.

"Alright then. I'm going to sit in the car till you guys get back," he said, walking away.

Reagan was off whining about how Dad and Callum had to go. Braxton wasn't phased, he was tugging at Pete's ears and burying his face in his fur.

Callum was obviously faster at his changes so it took only a few minutes for everyone to be ready to go. I've never been on a hunt before, which makes this special but at the same time scary. Dad had Callum leading us with Pete behind him and me coming in third. Dad brought up the rear.

A part of me doubted we'd find anything worth hunting but it was mostly my anxiety. I was happy to note that there weren't too many other "packs" out here though. Less trouble for us.

Ah! Of course I end up bumping onto Pete. It snapped me out of my train of thought just in time for me to catch sight of what had Callum's hackles raised.

Pete turned to nip at me when Dad slinked forward. Shooting me a furtive glance he snorted before following after.

She was beautiful. I was glad that I didn't manage to scare her away. It was a fawn, frail little thing, with little stick like legs.

I didn't get to admire it long as a flash of golden fur took her down. He sank his teeth deep in her neck, twisting sharply to the left, a loud crack reaching my ears. I wasn't scared or sympathetic. If whoever this new guy was hadn't have killed her dad probably would have made me do it. No I was pissed that he stole our kill.

He smelled familiar though and not thinking better of it I stepped forward, not to attack but to watch. He grew apprehensive, blue eyes glaring daggers at me as he licked a dot of blood off his nose.

Was it wrong to say that I was awestruck. I've only ever seen dark haired wolves,the typical brown which looks beautiful in its own right but I've never seen such golden fur on a wolf before. I stared at the blood matting the fur around his mouth as he glared at me. He must have recognized me too cause he suddenly backed down, head hanging as he backpedaled away.

Sc- Schuyler? Dad stood off to the side, intrigued but still poised to fight in case things took a turn for the worse. He knows about the fights, at least the ones at school...

Stepping towards me Schuyler kept his head down, peering out the corner of his eye at my dad and brothers as he got closer. Then he stopped and sat down, still poised to run if need be, but he fucking. Sat. Down.

Taking a step forward I looked to the fawn and back at Schuyler. Getting back up he yanked on a leg to drag her towards me. I haven't left the house since the fight so I don't know what happened. We don't have wifi at home but even if we did- its a holiday, social media is the furthest thing on my mind when I'm playing hide and seek with my niece and nephew while their mom cooks up a turkey. I had to have hurt him pretty badly if he was literally offering me his kill.

Looking to my dad, I swear I must have smiled as he cocked his head to the side at me, I took hold of the fawn's mangled leg. Giving it a yank I dragged it towards him. He sat there confused and so did Callum but Pete didn't hesitate. Being the greedy little bastard he is he pulled her leg off and ran, hiding behind a bush as he ate his meal.

Callum seeing that I was sharing stepped forward to take a leg of his own. Schuyler sat off to the side, watching with mild interest as Callum scarfed the leg down. Dad didn't take any. I don't know if it was pride talking but he didn't even sniff it.

I went on ahead and tried to set a leg at his feet but he didn't budge. He just sat there, staring at Schuyler. Seeing that dad wasn't going to eat it I gave the leg to Schuyler was very much surprised but quick to take his meal.

Taking the leg in a right grip between his large teeth he ran a good ways into the forest before looking back at me. I wanted to give chase, maybe wrestle with him because Dad would never play fight with me but thought better of it. Seeing the way he tucked his tail in I could tell he was scared so I watched him glance back at me one last time before a symphony of howls sounded and he leaped over a bush and out of sight.