The transformation had hurt more than anything you had ever experienced.

One second you were walking through the forest outside of Forks, trying to clear your head after moving to a place that still felt unfamiliar.

The next—

Your bones cracked.

Your skin burned.

Your body ripped apart as something deep inside you exploded outward.

Your clothes tore to shreds as your body expanded, limbs stretching, senses sharpening until the entire forest flooded your mind at once.

Smell.

Sound.

Movement.

You had heard the stories growing up.

The Quileute legends.

But those were just stories.

Right?

Except now…

You stood in the middle of the forest on four shaky paws.

A massive wolf.

Your breathing came out in uneven huffs as you stared down at the dark fur covering your legs.

This can’t be real.

You tried to step forward.

Your paw slipped slightly in the dirt.

You had no idea how to move like this.

Your ears flicked suddenly.

Something was coming.

Fast.

Branches snapped somewhere behind you.

Before you could react—

A large gray wolf burst through the trees.

Too fast to stop.

The collision knocked the air out of you.

You yelped as both wolves tumbled across the forest floor in a mess of fur and limbs before finally skidding to a stop in the dirt.

The other wolf scrambled upright immediately.

Large.

Powerful.

Gray fur with darker spots running along his back.

And a distinct dark gray nose.

Embry Call.

His ears shot forward as he stared at you in shock.

Wait—

His voice suddenly echoed inside your head.

Not out loud.

Inside your mind.

Who the hell—?

Embry froze when he realized something.

Your scent.

Your size.

Your confused posture.

His eyes widened.

Oh…

The realization hit him immediately.

A new wolf.

Embry quickly lowered his posture slightly, trying not to scare you.

Easy. Easy.

You were trembling.

He could feel it through the ground.

First shift?

His voice softened.

Don’t panic.

A few seconds passed before he added—

…Also I’m really sorry I ran into you.

His tail twitched awkwardly.

You kind of appeared out of nowhere.

The forest fell quiet around the two of you.

Embry tilted his head slightly, watching you carefully.

Can you hear me?