Game of Destiny by Dripping Creativity novel Chapter 13

Chapter 13-1

I was howling—truly howling—standing on a hilltop in my wolf form, my voice rising to meet the moon hanging bright and full in the night sky. The view before me was breathtaking, the most magnificent I had ever witnessed, stretching endlessly under the stars. The sensation of howling stirred a whirlwind of emotions inside me, making my head spin, but in the most exhilarating way. As my howl faded into the stillness, I tried to catch a glimpse of myself. I felt more balanced now, steadier on my paws than before. Twisting and turning, I searched for a reflection or some way to see my wolf body.

A soft huff caught my attention, and I glanced over at Finlay’s wolf form. I could swear he was chuckling. His sand-colored fur was just as striking as his human appearance—handsome in a wild, natural way. I felt a wave of gratitude knowing he had stayed by my side throughout the night. He was a good Alpha, calm and steady. Rising to his feet, he trotted over and swung his head in a gesture that clearly invited me to follow. I nodded, feeling a quiet confidence, and he led me down a narrow path toward the river.

Reaching the water’s edge, Finlay peered down into the stillness. Curious, I joined him, looking into the dark, mirror-like surface. The night sky above reflected perfectly, and there, in the shimmering water, was my wolf self. I was taken aback by the sight. Even my mother, from whom I’d inherited my fiery red hair, had never had a wolf that looked quite like mine. Most of my fur was the same vibrant red as my hair, but my face, paws, and the tip of my tail faded into a creamy white. My green eyes shone brightly, unchanged. I was large—almost as tall as Finlay himself—and the realization filled me with a deep, almost indescribable joy. I could almost swear Finlay was laughing at my amazement again, but it didn’t bother me. I was simply overflowing with wonder and happiness in this new form.

After a while, Finlay lifted his nose and pointed it back along the trail we had come. It was time to return. I nodded, content to walk beside him through the quiet forest. The night had been short, but I still needed to figure out how to shift back into my human body. When we reached the spot where I had first changed, Finlay transformed back into his human self and slipped on a pair of shorts. He smiled down at me warmly and lifted the blanket that lay on the ground. I understood immediately and let him cover me. Looking up at him, I felt unsure of what to do next, but he seemed to sense my hesitation.

“To shift back, you just have to focus on your human self—on the feeling of being human,” he explained gently. His words made it sound simple, so I concentrated on that feeling. The familiar tingling returned, the same sensation I’d felt when shifting into my wolf form, but this time, there was no pain. Moments later, I found myself lying on my stomach beneath the blanket, completely naked.

“There you go,” Finlay said with a smile. “I knew you’d be a natural.”

“Thank you. That was…” I started to say, but the right words escaped me.

“Yeah, that’s how it feels the first time,” Finlay agreed, handing me my clothes. Like a true gentleman, he turned away to give me privacy as I dressed. My legs wobbled at first, but I quickly found my balance. Once I was dressed, I tapped him on the shoulder. He spun around with a grin.

“Thank you,” I said softly. “Thank you for guiding me through this and for not abandoning me.”

“It was my honour,” he replied sincerely, and I could tell he meant every word. We walked back toward the fire together, talking quietly. The world seemed subtly different now—my senses sharper, more attuned than before. Matilda sat in her usual spot, and the pups had quieted down, some sleeping on blankets spread around, others playing quietly. When Cadence spotted us, he ran over eagerly.

“Amie! How was it? Was it as fun as you thought? What did you do? Did you run? Did you hunt? You were huge! I bet you’d be amazing at hunting. My dad always kills rabbits for my mom, and he says he’ll teach me when I shift for the first time.” His questions came in a rapid-fire stream, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Calm down, little one. Let Amie get a word in,” Finlay said, chuckling.

“Sorry, Alpha,” Cadence said, still looking up at me with wide, excited eyes.

Chapter 13-2

“How about we sit down, and I’ll tell you all about it?” I suggested, and the joy on Cadence’s face made me smile just as brightly. “Thanks again. I’m all shifted out for tonight, so go have fun. I’ll read by the fire,” I told Finlay. He hesitated, seeming like he wanted to object.

“Go on, I’ll keep an eye on her,” Matilda said before he could say anything more.

“Okay,” he agreed, then headed back toward the forest. I settled down with Cadence and began recounting my first shift. I was still amazed that I had a wolf inside me—a shadow with emotions that I could feel clearly. Matilda walked over to the table where leftover food sat, returning with a plate piled high and setting it in front of me. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was. After answering most of Cadence’s questions, I eagerly dug into the food.

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