It was raining heavily tonight. The stars were hidden behind thick black clouds that sent down thunderstorms towards the raging plains.

I stood calm and collected, my eyes closed, all I could do was feel. Everything felt like it was in ruins, the wind threatening to throw me off my feet, the deluge soaking me cold to my bones, and the stiff grass felt like knives against my bare feet.

Yet when I finally opened my eyes, I saw the cottage steaming underneath the cold water and the tiny door wide open. The walls painted a bright red and a soft yellow light pouring into the dark night from the windows.

At first, my feet felt slow, and every step I took towards the cottage made my destination move further away ten steps. And then I started running, and I had arrived at the door all too quickly.

I watched Imadis sitting upright, her face seemingly oblivious to the raging storm.

I couldn't cry, I couldn't laugh, I couldn't move or speak a word. Seeing her again, her eyes open, alive and well, and very much still a part of me, it was too much to take in.

I had nothing to say to her.

Good thing too, because Imadis didn't give me a second longer to stand and stare. She was immediately on her feet, rushing towards me and jumped halfway with her paws extended towards my chest.

Just before she reached me, I expected the pain of a large wolf attacking you with all their strength, but instead I woke up panting heavily, gasping for air on the cold, wet, and muddy forest floor. Sven was sitting beside me, a frantic expression on his face.

"Rayne! Rayne are you okay? Keep your eyes open, tell me what's wrong?" he said, or at least that's the most of what I could make out of what he was saying.

And that's when the pain hit. Right in the chest, so bad it felt like my ribs were breaking. And then, a crack.

This time, my scream reverberated across the trees around us.

Another crack. Another scream.

My bones really were breaking.

Sven understood what was happening the same time I did, and he quickly backed away as I went through my transformation, as if for the first time, yet again.

But knowing I had Ima back made the pain feel good. Every crack that resounded in my ears was good, and every scream came out louder than the last, accentuated by the frustration I felt.

I was writhing in pain, slowly turning to lie on my stomach, lifting myself up on my hands and knees as best as I could manage. I watched as my nails elongated into claws, the feeling of the dirt underneath, insane.

More people surrounded me, I could smell them now, my senses heightened.

And then came my pelt, an ash-like grey, that looked black in the dark, and shone silver in the light.

After I finally transformed and let Imadis out, I felt powerful, invincible even. I stretched my legs and realized I was towering over the rest of them in their human forms.

"Were you always this tall?" I asked her in my head. We watched as everyone stood and stared at me, I couldn't tell if they found my wolf beautiful, intimidating, or both.

"I've been growing too you know," she said. "You're not mad at me?"

"I was. At first," I told her, now running without warning. "But I realized soon enough that you're not a drama queen. You couldn't cope. And that's okay."

A happiness spread through me, a real, genuine happiness. I could tell it was hers.

I ran in circles in the forest, in any direction, and it felt amazing after so long. I was soon joined by five other wolves who followed my lead, watching as I ran.

Nobody did anything to stop me. Everyone knew something had happened that brought Imadis back and I had no idea what to tell them.

I finally found my mate in this random forest that I've never before been to and I have no idea who he is or what he looks like but he's now marked me and Ima's back! Yay haha.

It sounds unbelievable, even to me. If it wasn't for Ima's paws thumping the dirt underneath me, and the fact that my neck was still sore from the mark, I'd still think this is a dream.

The reality of the situation finally started causing me to slow down. As I stopped a little distance away from the camp, so did everyone else. They surrounded me, daring to come closer now. I could tell them by their scents, and of course Svartur stood the furthest away, just watching.

I felt tired. Exhausted. I walked the rest of the way to the camp and so did everyone else, shifting as they did so.

Sven was amongst the first to shift. He went into his tent, came back outside clothed and with a blanket.

"You're quite formidable, aren't you Imadis?" he said, now touching my pelt softly. He threw the blanket over me giving me space to shift.

As I willed myself to shift back, I realized it was probably too soon, and my body was screaming in pain again from the transformation. I wasn't used to it anymore and it hurt like hell.

After what seemed like much longer than a few minutes, I was finally in my human form, on my knees, and shaking underneath the blanket. I tried to cover myself as best I could, ensuring the mark was out of view.

"Hey. You feel like talking?" Sven asked me. I'm sure he was curious about what happened.

I just shook my head no, looking to a tent to sleep in. There wasn't much time left before daybreak, and the shift exhausted me more than I'd like to admit.

The others had now come towards me.

"What the hell happened?" May asked.

Jasper stood close. "Why is she shaking?" he asked.

"She hasn't shifted in so long, it's taking a toll on her," Sven said from beside me.

Jasper sat down next to me and touched my forehead.

"You're burning up Rayne. Sven's right. You need to rest, I'll give you some pills. Take them and straight to bed," he said now walking towards the car.

"Why did you run off on your own like that? You risked not only your own safety, but ours too," May said, clearly annoyed at the situation. Sven scowled at her.

"You did give us quite the scare Rayne," said Bayo."Are you okay?"

I nodded in reply.

"I want to know what happened in there and how she suddenly just shifted after nobody knows how long!" she said. She's still a teenager and I'm sure her older sister would have handled the situation much differently.

"Don't worry about May she was just supposed to be informed throughout the operation and now she isn't, so she's going to throw a tantrum," said Uriah, smirking.

"Yes I need to be informed of whatever developments take place. And no! I'm not throwing a tantrum!" she almost screamed.

I realized I didn't mind it. She was the youngest here and spoke her mind. I wasn't going to blame her for that. Unfortunately the time bomb beside me thought otherwise.

"Get the fuck inside your tent and go to sleep. She'll tell us when and if she wants to," said Sven.

May seemed taken aback. I was too. Regardless of her role as a strategist, she did not supersede Sven. He could have said the same thing mildly and she'd have to comply.

His outburst seemed unnecessary. But it was a good look on him.

Once May had returned to her tent, rather angrily, stomping half the way, Uriah and Bayo let out a laugh.

"Oh man all this drama is making me hungry. What about you?" Uriah asked Bayo.

Jasper came from behind them and handed them a sandwich each. "Don't go to sleep hungry. Have these and get back to your tents," he said.

He then came to me and gave me the pills, a bottle of water and a sandwich. Sven took one too.

"Sandwich first, then the pills," he told me.

"Okay mom," I said, a smile slowly forming on my face. My shaking had stopped.

Soon enough everyone was back in their tents and only Sven and I remained outside.

It was starting to get light out as we sat and ate. I was still tired, but I felt a little better as I wasn't surrounded by people anymore. Sven's company although, was welcome.

Neither of us spoke a word and I debated whether I should tell him about what happened.

I know he told me that no one can find out that we are mates, but this is Sven, someone I trusted. I could tell him something, right? I didn't even know who my mate is, so I wouldn't actually be giving anything away.

"You don't have to tell me anything Rayne," he said.

"Why not?" I asked him.

"Because I already know," he said.

"Stop bluffing and just eat your bloody sandwich," I said, angrily. He couldn't possibly know.

Could he?

"Doesn't look very bloody to me," he said, his signature smirk returning.

I lowered my voice so even the breeze couldn't carry it.

"I found my mate, Sven," I told him.

I could see not a glimmer of surprise on his face.

"I know," he said. His smirk now wider.

I almost threw my half-eaten sandwich at him. He quietly laughed at my annoyed face.

"Who do you think asked me to protect you?"