The Fall Ball
Chapter 63

(Rose)

Alex and Craig follow Levi and I into the woods. We walk along the pathway. I can hear all the nature sounds around me. I can feel Lilly pressing at the surface, she wants to explore the things around us. I stop walking.

“Question…” I sat to the guys. The three of them turn and look at me.

“Yes, Rose? Is everything okay?” Levi asks me, while looking over to be sure I am okay.

“I think my wolf wants out. She is winning and pacing in my head.” I say while looking at Craig and Alex who laugh.

“Day one and she is already trying to run the show,” Craig says.

“Leave her alone, don’t you remember your first few days after shifting? I know I spent way more time as my wolf than human,” Alex says with a smile. “Let me link Ash and be sure he is okay with you shifting away from him, but I don’t see why it would be an issue.” He tells me as his eyes glaze over.

“Maybe this was a bad idea, maybe we should wait.” I say to Lilly. She growls at me. “What are you afraid of?” She asks me. “The pain. Last night the goddess helped me, but she can’t be here now.” I say. “Well, good thing you wont have any pain during your shift, perks of having part of the goddess as your wolf, our shifts are pain free after the first time.” She tells me.

“Hey Craig, do your shifts into your wolf hurt?” I ask him. He looks at me, “no not really. They are uncomfortable and feels like I worked out at the gym, but they don’t hurt.” He says.

“So I wont even be uncomfortable like him and his shifts?” I ask Lilly. “No you wont. It will not cause any discomfort and will feel natural to you,” she says.

“Ash said you may shift. Craig and I can shift with you too, and let your wolf get to know ours.” Alex says to me. I nod at him in excitement.

I walk over behind a tree. I take a few deep breaths, I am feeling anxious this is all new to me.

“Just relax, focus on your breathing. Close your eyes and imagine what I look like.” Lilly says to me. I do as she instructs. I feel a slight breeze and I open my eyes. Only I am now shifted into Lilly’s beautiful wolf.

“Very good,” Lilly says to me. I smile, this is incredible. I walk out to meet the guys.

“Very good,” Lilly says to me. I smile, this is incredible. I walk out to meet the guys.

Alex and Craig’s wolves both bow down to me. “Hello, our Queen.” They say in unison to me. I look to Levi. He seems to know what I am asking.

“Since you are as powerful as you are. You can link with any wolf in the kingdom even if you don’t have a direct bond to them. Just like you can link their human sides.” He tells me while petting my head. “Lets keep walking. We are almost to the training area.” He tells us.

Levi leads the way with Lilly behind him. She is taking her time looking around, taking in all the smells and sights. She seems very happy. Alex and Craig are behind us, they are looking around as they walk. It is a quiet walk. Levi soon stops.

I look around and see that we are in a clearing along the river. I see that Landon and Leonardo have joined Raymond. I walk up to Raymond and he pats my head.

“Hello Lilly, I was expecting Rose though. I need her human form so that I can start the training.” He says to her. She huffs.

“Well it looks like its time to shift back, Rose.” She tells me with some sass in her tone. “Dont worry, on the way back we can shift again and you can explore some more.” I tell her. “So again just focus on your human part, and you will shift back.” She tells me, i nod at her.

I close my eyes and start to focus and then I stop. My eyes opening wide. I look at Raymond, who is watching me with a smile.

“Rose, Did you and Lilly forget your clothes when you shifted?” He asks us looking amused.

“I’m sorry Rose, I was too excited about exploring. I didn’t think of your clothes.” Lilly tells me.

“Good thing your mate thought that this would happen and a palace guard dropped off some clothes for you a little while ago,” Raymond says while pointing to a pile of clothes by the bushes.

Lilly walks over and grabs the clothes in her mouth and goes behind the bushes. “Lets try this again,” She tells me. I focus and within seconds I can feel the cool breeze on my skin. I quickly dress in the clothes that Ash provided me with, making a mental note to thank him later.

“Very good,” Lilly says to me. I smile, this is incredible. I walk out to meet the guys.

Once dressed, I walk out. I see that Craig and Alex have also shifted back and gotten dressed. They are both stretching like they are stiff. I smile at them.

“That was incredible. It is so cool to see the difference in what Lilly feels while walking through the woods.” I tell them all. They chuckle at my excitement.

“How do you feel Rose?” Craig asks me. “I feel fine,” I say to him. He looks me over and tilts his head. “Your not sore at all?” He asks me. I smile, “Nope not at all. I feel great. Since Lilly is part goddess, I don’t have any discomfort at all after shifting.” I say to him. He growls lowly, “Thats not fair,” he says under his breath as he walks away to go sit down next to Alex.

I walk up to Raymond. “So what is the plan? How do we do this?” I ask him.

“Well, for starters, we need to see how far away a vampire has to be from you for your gift to work.” He says to me.

I blush at him, “Well, I know that the shower was too far away from you while you were in the main suite this morning.” I say to him. “Oh? Is that so?” He asks with a smile. “Ya, I was able to hear Ash’s thoughts this morning as well as Aspens.” I say.

“You can also read the minds of the wolves?” He asks me and I nod at him. ” Interesting…” he murmurs under his breath.

“Well to start, Levi,Landon and Leonardo are going to go back to our camp. And I think I can stand on the other side of the river and you will be able to hear Craig and Alex’s thoughts. And from over there I can help guide you on how to block them out.”Raymond tells me.

“Craig and Alex, try to be careful about what you are thinking. We need her to hear your thoughts so that she can learn to block them out when needed. But we don’t want to upset her.” Raymond says to them and they nod at him.

“Okay Rose, are you ready?” He asks me.