Possessed

I sit at the lake like a lazy lizard and let the sun heat up my skin. Through half closed eyes I watch the sunlight dance on the little waves. My little sister sits next to me, a book in her hands. Behind us our parents sit on a picnic blanket. Soon there would be sandwiches and cake - like every year on my birthday.

Routines.

My whole life is built around routines.

Every day I got up at the exact same time and followed a strict schedule. There were no surprises in my day. I smile. I like it that way. It is comfortable, predictable - it is safe.

“What are you reading?” I ask sleepily.

“Huh?” my sister answers and I open my eyes to look at her. To my surprise she isn’t reading at all, instead she is watching the people on the other side of the lake. I look at them as well. Normally at this time of the year there is no one.

I don’t have to watch them for long to understand why suddenly there are people here. The way they move, act with each other, those aren’t humans at all. Those are wolf shifters.

“It’s the new pack that moved in two hours away,” I whisper.

My sister nods and I move closer to her. We watch them until our parents call us to eat.

We eat, we laugh and we play games. Same as every year. The games change though. My family always does their best to include me and give me the chance to experience something new in a safe way. I am having a blast and soon enough it is time for one last swim before we have to go home. Happily squealing, my sister and I run into the water. The perfect end to another perfect birthday, I think when we finally get out.

I am happy until I run into a tree. A warm tree.

I take a step back and look up at a huge, handsome man. He is two heads bigger than I am, towering over me.

For a moment everything is quiet, then he growls the words I never knew I was dreading to hear.

“Mate.”