Swapped by Fate

I wake up out of a dead sleep, sweat pouring down the back of my neck. This isn’t my bedroom. Actually, it’s not even my pack house. I can’t feel my pack at all. But the air from the window blows in, and I can’t smell anyone’s familiar scent.

But I do smell something rather delicious.

Without a second thought, I am out the window, running toward the smell. I dart between garbage cans on a street, and I’m absolutely confused because this is just a regular street in the town close to the pack.

I don’t think too much about it because, finally, I’m in someone’s backyard, staring at the rabbit across from me. I keep reaching for my wolf, but he’s not there. I feel this urge to shift, but I can’t. I can’t stand here forever. My hunger has a mind of its own.

I know I am strong and faster, and that I can catch it with my bare hands. I am a wolf shifter, and even in my human form, I am far more physically enhanced compared to actual humans. So I lunge for the rabbit. My body collapses on top of it. I feel it struggle and kick a few times, but I get my hands around it and snap the poor rabbit’s neck.

But just as I’m about to dig into this rabbit feast to sate my hunger, I realize my hands are not my own. My hands are slightly paler, as if I don’t go outside. And what really throws me off is that my hands are small and feminine, almost… soft-looking.

I reach for my wolf again in a panic, and I can’t feel or hear him. A pounding drums from my heart up into my throat and ears. I can’t hold myself back, and the mystery of why my hands and arms are not my own will have to wait. I feast upon my kill behind some shrubs in this stranger’s backyard. When I’m done, I carry it with me down the street.

The empty night street doesn’t bother me because I know this must be a dream. I make my way back to the house I left earlier. It’s like my body just knows the way. I drop the rabbit into a trash bin in the back of the house. And just as I walk inside, it’s like the air has been taken from me.

I feel weak and fatigued suddenly, then I pass out.

***

When I open my eyes, gasping for air, the sun shimmers through my curtains. I look down to see I’m not dressed at all. I sniff the air as I feel my body to make sure it’s my own. I can smell my pack, and visually, it’s my room.

My body feels exhausted, like I didn’t sleep at all. As I crawl out of bed, sore and tired, I look in the standing mirror leaning against the wall. I’m naked, covered in dry mud, and absolutely myself. No strange feminine hands, either.

“How…” I sigh, muttering to myself, wondering about the dried mud.

I don’t idle as I wonder. I make my way to the shower as I mentally recount what I was last doing and what I ate, even. But all I can think about is eating that rabbit. And really feeling like I was not myself. But at the same time, feeling oh so alive.

The shower runs hot, and I step in. One thing’s for sure: I’m thankful for the Gamma family floor in the massive pack house and that I get my own en suite bathroom. After cleaning myself up and changing into athletic shorts and a loose cotton shirt, I decided to investigate my bed. I see the dried mud tracks from my window and look down the emergency escape that most use as a personal balcony.

Luckily, I didn’t disturb anyone’s plants or chairs on the metal monstrosity that’s meant for our safety. I groan, fully aware I should hose it off later. But right now, the beeping from my clock is going off.

I smack the old alarm clock. I’ll have to clean my room later. So I get my running shoes on and head out of my room. The Gamma family hall is quiet. I look toward my parents’ door. It’s closed and quiet, meaning they are already down at the training grounds.

The Gamma family floor is the third floor of our pack house and consists of four bedrooms, a lounge room for the family, a family kitchen, and a family bathroom. Along with an office at the end of the hall for strategy meetings.

But all the doors are closed. Which is a good sign that everyone who would have reason to be on this floor is gone. I glance at a clock in the hall. Usually, I’m one of the first up and technically I was up before my alarm.

The feeling that I have forgotten something important weighs on me. But I also can’t stop thinking about my dream of hunger. And how I only got to observe my hands and arms that were not mine. My mind is foggy as I dwell all the way to the pack kitchen on the bottom floor of the house.

All the wolves that run the kitchen are bustling around. A few of the workers scurry around me, and I manage to steal myself some bacon off a plate on the counter. Then I hear the head of the kitchen’s voice ring out. “Kane! Why are you not out there already?!”

I turn with my mouth full of cold bacon and smile at Mrs. Rose, the head omega of the kitchen staff. She groans at me and starts pushing me toward the door. “It’s like you have air in your head. I’ve never seen you so out of sorts in my life. Get going!”

Just like that, I am out the back door and inhaling the fresh air. I swallow down my bacon and suck in a deep breath again. Unlike last night in my dream, I know this place and the scent of my pack. But then an unfamiliar scent hits my nose.

So, as I walk toward the training field, I suck in deep again. And I groan because, It’s the faint traces of another pack. Just as everyone comes into view, I see young pack members from a different pack in small gaggles. My parents are with other wolves of rank.

I debate whether I should join them or find myself a group among the rest to hide in. But before I can move, the scent of cotton candy hits me. Not the good, delicious kind from a fair. More like fake perfume as a she-wolf I know all too well invades my space.

“Kane.” She practically purrs my name at me as she gets close and places a hand on my chest.

I just cross my arms and clear my throat. “Good morning, Cassie. I need to speak to my parents. Good seeing you.”

I step around her, but she’s persistent. Cassie grabs my arm and squeezes, showing a bit of her alpha strength with the squeeze. I smile curtly at her as she forces a fake smile and says, “Group with us today.”

I glance up to where she points, and it’s just a group of all the most annoying people I’ve ever met in my life. A group filled with her cronies that fawn over every little thing Cassie does.

Because Cassie is the pack alpha’s daughter. In fact, she’s their only child. Which means whoever is her mate later has a really good chance at being the pack’s next alpha.

I’ve always known that the alpha has wanted me or my best friend Ryan to be his daughter’s chosen mate. Because then it wouldn’t be someone from another pack. Plus, Ryan is the beta’s son, and I’m the gamma’s son. I’m sure they see us as just desirable genetics.

But I suck in a breath, trying not to choke on her disgusting perfume, and huff out, “I don’t like being in weaker groups. I like pushing myself. Maybe next time.”

I turn and hurry off before she can say anymore. Both her and I know there will not be a next time. Because I just used the same excuse I use every time she tries to make me train with her and her followers. Now that I’ve dodged the bullet of Cassie for the time being, I make straight for my parents.

I am fully ready to apologize for not being up sooner. Also for forgetting that today is the first day of our new pack alliance training. Our pack, the Blackstone Pack, and a pack called Ravenwood Pack are separated by a small town. The same small town that I dreamt I was in last night.

Blackstone is on the west side, while Ravenwood is on the east. This alliance is not only so we can strengthen as individuals, but so we can work together in sharing the unclaimed land north and south of the town. This will open up good trade, hunting opportunities, and, of course, a higher chance of fated mates and better options for chosen mates.

I stop just outside of the circle my parents and other ranked members have formed. Even the ranked members from Ravenwood are here. When my father notices me, he waves me over.

I go around the circle, and when I reach my father, he pulls me in. “Alpha Royce, meet my son, Kane.”

Just like that, I’m being pushed toward the Ravenwood Pack’s alpha to shake hands. His grip is firm, and he gives me a stern look over. But then his stern look lifts into a light smile as he says, “Pleasure to meet you. We’ve heard a lot about you. Really looking forward to seeing you out there today!”

Then the alpha of my own pack chimes in. “I’m telling you, these last few pack runs, Kane even beats me out!”

I feel his warm, reassuring clap on my shoulder, and I blush, laughing. “Sir, I just give my all, like my parents tell me to.”

I want to stay as humble as possible. I don’t need any alphas or even betas thinking I’m coming for their position.

“Well, my daughter will definitely love a little competition today,” Alpha Royce says cheerfully.

Then a sickly sweet voice rings out from behind them. “Will I?”

I look up to see who must be Alpha Royce’s daughter. She smoothly walks over, and before I know it, we are shaking hands.

“Okay, it’s true. I love competition,” she says.

My nostrils flare, and I know something’s different about her. My hand gets warmer and warmer. It’s like I’m possessed and can’t let go. I can’t even form words. My mind has basically short-circuited.