It's always painful to shift for a while until you become used to the feeling of your bones breaking and realigning into another shape. A handful more shifts and it wouldn't phase me at all.

After a few moments of agonizing pain, I was lying on the grass, white fur in my view. My wolf surged forward, throwing me to the back. But I stayed grounded, being in the forefront of our mind. I couldn't let her be too free or she could do something bad.

Shaking her head from side to side, white fur with gray markings came into view and she purred to herself. She liked the way she looked, she thought she was beautiful and I would have to agree.

Everything was so clear; The sun so bright, the grass so green. Every smell overcame our senses. The scent of flowers enveloped the air. The rushing water from the creek rippled along stones before falling down the cliff into the lake below, making a continuous splash. The low hum of bees and the chirping of birds; Everything was so much more now.

Standing on shaky legs, she balanced herself. Our energy came back quickly and she padded forward as she prowled around the creek, sniffing and rubbing her fur along the trees, scenting our hideaway. I was enjoying this time as one with my wolf. She deserved this. We deserved this.

Sniffing along the ground, she smelled our mate's scent on the spot he had rested just by the creek bed. It was a scent that had her eyes rolling back in her head and her mouth opening in a wide grin. She was unbelievable.

A low purr erupted from her chest, followed by a whine and a whimper. Her pain over what we are having to deal with concerning our mate is too much for us. Especially for her.

She felt the pain like I did but her instincts are more animalistic. She wanted to take out the competition and claim her mate. The thoughts of Grace crossing my mind caused a low growl to protrude from my wolf. I needed to stay present in our mind in case she decided to do just that. That action wouldn't be easily forgiven. Understood, but not forgiven.

Most newly shifted wolves don't have complete control over their wolves because they haven't learned to become one with them in their minds yet. My first shift, I spent hours in wolf form, concentrating on staying in charge, getting to know my other half. Now I could easily stay in command of her animal instincts, guiding her. She did what she wanted but only if I allowed it. The moment she wanted to do something that I didn't approve of, I could take control, forcing myself to reign her in. She didn't like it, but that was how it went.

Being a shifting wolf is like having another person in your mind. Your mind is split in two - the wolf side and the human side. Being in human form, your wolf is at the back of your mind. They see what's going on through your eyes and they express their wants, their instincts. You feel them but your human side stays in control. When you're in wolf form, you are allowing the wolf to take over. They do what they want. They are in charge in their form, but the human side can control their actions if they want to do something that wouldn't be deemed as appropriate. It's like a mind surge, the human side overpowering the wolf, commanding it to do as the human side wants. Unless the wolf side feels a strong emotion.

A familiar scent was picked up by the wind, sending it our way. She felt the urge to locate the scent trail. Nose to the ground, ears perked, she carefully stalked through the clearing and into the forest; the calming sounds of rushing water diminished with every step.

As the scent became more abrupt, she stopped, sitting on her haunches, waiting for him to make an appearance. She let out a playful bark, her front paws digging into the earth as she hunched low to the ground ready to pounce, keeping her eyes open for any sign of Deacon.

A chuff came from behind a mass of shrubbery but before she could do a thing, a large grey and white wolf leaped through the brush, pouncing on her, causing her to fall on her back. The wolf began playfully nipping at her.

She rolled playfully, my wolf's hind legs kicking him off her, sending him backwards before it was our turn to pounce.

Mine and Deacons wolves got along well. She sees him as her family, as that is what he is to me.

Family.

After an hour of chasing each other around, wrestling and hunting rabbits with no luck, his wolf bumped its head into my belly, signaling playtime was over. He was tired. We both were panting, ready for a drink.

We padded over to the stream, lying on our bellies as we lapped up the cool spring water that flowed from the riveted earth, enjoying our time with our wolves. I stayed in control of my wolf's mind just in case-

In case she caught a whiff of Grace and decided it was time to show her what it means to encroach on our territory. She wouldn't think twice about ripping out the pup growing in her womb. A feeling that strong will have a wolf ascending completely, blocking out their host's intrusion. My wolf lived off instinct, wanting what was rightfully ours. Thoughts of eliminating the threat weren't out of the ordinary for any wolf.

Deacon's wolf and mine lay side by side, licking each others faces in a friendly, loving gesture before going belly up in the sunshine. We were enjoying the warmth that caressed our bodies.