1. Why Are We Different?

“Mommy why do I feel like this?” I whine while curling in to my 9year-old twin sister Liliana who runs her fingers through my jet-black hair.

“Gideon! It’s going to be ok Raven; you know what’s happening,” Rebecca reassures while rubbing my back as our dad comes into the room with ice and towels.

I cry out in pain when all my joints feel like they are grinding against each other, and my muscles tighten.

“I thought werewolves didn’t change till they are older?” Liliana questions as I sit up and pull my shirt off feeling so hot.

“Most don’t until they come of age to find their mate, but you and your sister are special,” Rebecca answers while brushing my hair back and I pull away feeling pain and anxiety.

“Daddy,” I cry looking up into his light blue eyes for help as he put his hand on my shoulder.

“Come here,” my dad softly speaks while scooping me up then carries me into mine and Liliana’s bathroom.

“What are you doing?” I whine gripping onto him as tight as I could digging my fingers into his shoulders.

“Just hold onto me; it’s ok, your body is just changing remember what Mom and I told you,” Dad softly speaks starting the shower and carries me into the cold water making me whine and squirm.

“It’s too cold,” I cry out holding onto my dad tighter for his body heat as he slowly sits down in the bottom of the shower.

“No, it’s not, it’s just abrupt. Give it a minute I’ve got you and Mom is right there with Liliana,” Dad reassures while brushing my hair back as I curl up in his lap.

“Lily,” I whimper watching her sit in Rebecca’s lap on a pile of towels as she looks like she doesn’t feel well either.

“Raven,” Liliana replies watching me with her blue nearly white eyes showing nothing but concern.

I whimper wanting to be close to my twin, but she can’t take the cold like I could. Liliana looks nervous as the water against my hot skin began to create steam fogging up the bathroom.

“Why are Raven and I different?” Liliana questions while coming closer to the shower wall putting her hand on the glass.

“We’re not exactly sure, all I know is we love you girls more than anything,” Rebecca answers as I place my hand against the glass opposite of Liliana’s.

“I love you too,” Liliana and I both reply while looking at our mom and dad knowing we are different and they were doing the best they could.

“Raven is going to be ok, just do what you always do be there for each other,” Rebecca reassures while running her fingers through Liliana’s straight silvery white hair.

“You two will get through this and it’ll get easier each full moon,” our dad reassures while kissing the top of my head and watches Liliana like he is proud of her.

“Are you ok?” I question while staring into my sister’s eyes as she looks like she doesn’t feel good.

“Yeah,” Liliana reassures with a gentle smile meaning she can feel my pain and stress.

“Lily,” I whimper while curling up into a tight ball in my dad’s lap feeling everything in my body hurt.

“It’s ok Raven,” Liliana whines fighting against Rebecca holding her as Dad rocks me in his arms.

“It’s ok Baby Girl, you’re going to be ok,” Dad reassures while pulling my chin up and kisses my forehead.

“Daddy,” I whimper louder as I felt everything go hazy and dark when my body began to change.

I feel my muscles stretching as my bones change some breaking others stretching or shrinking.

I scream in pain before everything went completely dark so I move as fast as I can to the corner of the shower and close my eyes.

“Raven,” Liliana softly speaks when our dad turns the shower off and I look up to see her standing above me at the shower door.

“It’s ok Liliana she’s ok,” Dad reassures while kneeling down next to me as I look up at him in confusion then whimper in pain.

I go to stand up then realize I am on all fours. When I look down, I begin to freak out seeing the body of a young red wolf.

“Raven I’m here,” Liliana almost cries out rushing to my side and wraps her arms firmly around me and my pain begins to leave.

I cry a little feeling alone and scared as I can’t communicate at all.

“Shhh it’s ok,” Liliana reassures while petting me and sits down with me in her arms and I notice her hands lighting up against my fur.

“Liliana,” Dad gasps while grabbing her hand and looks back at Rebecca like he is stunned.

“She’s…” Rebecca said while covering her mouth having to hold the wall to remain standing.

“What?” Liliana panics as I press against her growling protectively wanting her to calm down as neither of us understand my parents’ reaction.

“Your hands, you didn’t shift tonight because you’re a healer you got your magic. You’re taking Raven’s pain,” our dad explains while running his fingers through her hair confusing us more as my mother shifts behind him.

Our dad continues to talk to Liliana who looks quite afraid as I look to my mother.

“Raven it’s ok,” I hear my mother’s voice in my mind as she comes towering over Liliana and I in the form of a large grey wolf.

“Mom,” I whimper in my thoughts as she rubs her head against mine.

“You’re ok and Lily is ok, it’s your first full moon you know what we are. I want you to stay inside the house,” Rebecca explains as my ears perk up because I can hear her like we are linked together similar to a radio.

I just nod my head and get up to follow her out of the bathroom as I hear Liliana laugh a little.

I look back to see my dad is a darker grey wolf licking Liliana’s cheek reassuring her she is ok.

“Daddy, I love you,” Liliana giggles while pulling herself up and walks out with us as Rebecca leads our way down stairs where our grandmother Adaline also known as Mummo has the fire started.

“Raven?” Mummo questions watching Liliana and I standing next to each other.

“Mummo Raven shifted and I got magic,” Liliana smiles proudly while petting me and my tail naturally wags feeling her warm magic over my fur.

Looking down I can see Liliana’s hands aren’t glowing, but I can still feel her magic there just below the surface.

“My Little Cub you’re beautiful and you my little healer will be something else, why don’t we make some hot chocolate before watching a movie?” Mummo suggests watching Liliana proudly and I smiled a little happy to have my family.

“That sounds good, can we have smores?” Liliana questions which make me giggle a little inside as I follow them to the kitchen as Rebecca goes outside and Dad goes to the living room.

“Yes, we can, why don’t you go pick out a movie?” Mummo suggests while pulling out a tray and cups.

“Yum, ok I’ll be right back,” Liliana agrees while running out of the room.

“How are you?” Mummo questions while kneeling down in front of me and puts her hand on the side of my face.

“Good,” I thought then move closer and rub my face against her hand and chest really happy to have a family that isn’t afraid of me.

“You’re such a beautiful wolf pup, I’m glad you’re here visiting during your first shift,” Mummo smiles proudly and I can’t help but smile as I look to see my grandpa Jyrki who we call Vaari comes in from the snow.

“Already?” Vaari semi laughs watching Mummo and I with a big smile.

“Yep, why don’t you let our pup know you’re back so he can go hunt before we all settle down to relax?” Mummo suggests watching Vaari and he nods his head then goes into the living room as we are staying in their house visiting Finland for the holiday.

I can’t help but run to the stairway hearing Liliana running down making her smile seeing me.

“Raven!” Liliana laughs while holding me as I jump up and hug her with my front legs before she leads our way towards the fire.

“You’re too big you’ll knock me over,” Liliana laughs while looking over at Vaari Jyrki, who is sitting in his spot.

I can’t help but run and jump on Liliana excited and she giggles at me rolling around in her lap once she was sitting.

“She is just a pup, a very cute one too,” Vaari mentions while I look over at him making him smile as I get up.

“When am I going to change?” Liliana questions while looking to Vaari hopeful for answers.

“Probably when you’re 13 like most Lycans and werewolves… your magic coming makes your shift come late and Raven changing this young, is rare even for Lycans. I know of only one other like Raven he’s quite similar, he’s the strongest Alpha I know,” Vaari admits while reaching down as I walk over to him and rub my face against his palm.

“What does it mean?” I hear Liliana question, like she read my mind so I look back at her feeling my grandfather petting me.

“She’ll probably be stronger, more lethal than most wolves and maybe an Alpha one day, I bet she already knows how to use the mind link with your parents,” Vaari admits as I looked up at him and shake my head not wanting that responsibility, I am only a nine-year-old girl.

“As long as no one sees Liliana’s abilities or Raven as a wolf till she’s older there won’t be a problem,” Mummo Adaline reassures while coming in with hot chocolate and a dish of warm milk.

“What do you mean?” Liliana asks while placing the dish next to her on the floor then sits at the coffee table for her coco.

“Her shifting this young, she will get attention from other werewolves when they see how small she is and it will make her a target just like your magic will. Don’t worry with your father’s pack no one will know or get near you kids,” Mummo explains, sitting in her rocking chair next to the couch.

“Mummo does this mean we’ll visit more?” Liliana questions while climbing up in her lap and smiled a little.

“Probably it’ll be a safe place for you to learn as well as Raven and safe place to run around outside,” Mummo answers with a big smile happy to have us around more as Dad stood at the back door.