Becoming Luna novel Chapter 8

The next two days passed in a blur of normalcy for Danica. It was almost as if what had happened the night of her birthday and the day following had never happened—if only she didn't know better, that is. The images had haunted her dreams and waking hours, reminding her just how real it all was.

Mason also hadn't contacted her within the two days either. She wasn't quite sure if she was relieved or disappointed; after all, he had insisted he would help her prepare for her first change.

Her first change, it was the day of the full moon, meaning that soon, when the moon was high in the sky, she would become a wolf for the very first time. She had spent the day attempting to meditate and keep her thoughts off of it. Worrying wouldn't get her anywhere anyway. It most certainly wouldn't stop the change that was inevitable.

Most of the day, she had been dealing with jitters and a rapid heartbeat. She had also been getting cold sweats, despite not feeling sick at all. She chalked it all up to the upcoming change and accepted it as normal. After all, she had no idea what to expect since Mason hadn't kept his promise.

When the sun began to set and Danica's symptoms worsened, Mason finally made an appearance.

With too much haste, she rushed out, almost plowing him over. She didn't want Martha to see him and therefore claimed she was going over to Amy's as she rushed out.

"Hello to you too," Mason said cheerfully as he caught Danica before she hit him nose first.

Holding a finger to her lips, she ssshhhed him as she looked behind her to make sure Martha wasn't peeking.

"Come on," she hissed, grabbing Mason by the arm and pulling him along as she hurried to his jeep.

Too anxious and feeling out of sorts, Danica pulled her door open and hopped in, the door slamming behind her with a bang. Wincing, she gave Mason an apologetic look.

Mason, who had also gotten in on his side, studied Danica's face. "You alright?  You don't look so good."

Letting out a long sigh, Danica shook her head.

"I haven't felt the best today. Cold sweats, chills, racing heart."

"Are you getting sick?" Reaching over, Mason placed a hand on Danica's forehead to check her temperature. "You don't feel warm." To be sure, he checked his forehead as well. "Yeah, no fever."

Confused, Danica furrowed her brow.

"Is this not normal before your first change?"

"No, not usually," Mason admitted. "With my first change, I felt normal the entire day until the change actually started," he continued.  "Maybe everyone is different?"

She knew that he was trying to make her feel better with his last comment because, even though his voice sounded calm, she could sense the unease that was radiating off of him.

"Mason, please don't try to spare my feelings. Could something be wrong with me?"

"I don't know; let's just get to our destination and then see how it goes."

"Ok."

They arrived at the same clearing where Danica's 'birthday' party had been held just as the moon had begun to rise. Danica's symptoms had worsened along the way, and now she was feeling as though her head was going to split along with everything else that had been plaguing her the entire day.

Concerned for her, Mason insisted on carrying her into the woods, where they would proceed with her first change. Too out of sorts to argue Danica had allowed it.

The pulsing warmth she felt from his arms as they wrapped around her helped her headache subside slightly, not enough to become bearable, but it wasn't threatening to make her pass out anymore.

"Is this where we are doing this?" Danica asked as Mason sat her on the ground against a tree trunk. "Is it far enough away so no one can accidentally see?"

"Yeah, this is fine. Please, if you get worse, let me know."