My Alpha Mate's Christmas Gift novel Chapter 83

　　I AM A WEREWOLF!

　　"Let us begin," Melissa said.

　　The chilly night was filled with a dark hue coupled with deafening silence, which made it feel as though only Roxanne and Melissa existed in the vast woods. The branches occasionally made creaking noises as the wind blew then, but the night was predominantly filled with a hush.

　　As the moon kept watch over them, Melissa moved to Roxanne's front, though she stayed outside the circle.

　　"Roxanne… Close your eyes," She said.

　　Roxanne did as she was told.

　　Melissa started to walk around the circle, with her eyes transfixed on Roxanne's upright gait.

　　“You are a wolf, you are a human. You are both… From when you were born, will when you die. You will possess the qualities of both kinds, and they shall be your guide. Who are you, between these two? Are you one, or the other…?" Melissa said in a chant.

　　“You are both! Roxanne is both a man and a beast, civil and savage, primal and reserved. You are the best of both worlds, the worst of both parts. The good, the bad, the ugly, the wild… Do you accept them all?”

　　After Melissa's question, Roxanne reflected deeply on her mother's words. She had to give her answer from within her heart. If she didn't, then the ritual wouldn't work. Roxanne had resolved to do this, but she had to take the step now. Because from this moment onward, there was a point of no return.

　　“I do!” She said,

　　Her eyes were still shut, so she could only rely on her other senses. She could feel the cool embrace of the wind, though the cold was shut out by the ointment covering her skin. She could feel something surging from within her as her heartbeat even faster.

　　"The moon bears witness to your answer. However, it has yet to see your action. For if you truly yearn to be one with yourself, to fully comprehend and accept your nature, then cry to the moon to release the shackles that bind the other part of you so that you be made whole."

　　“Who are you, Roxanne?!” Melissa asked with a solid voice.

　　Roxanne took a deep breath, her eyes still closed, and she mustered the strength she could, gathering her voice together to make a loud statement.

　　“I AM A WEREWOLF!” She declared.

　　Suddenly, like a massive twist of wind, Roxanne felt like she was surrounded by a force around her. Her heart beat faster as her body burned. The temperature rose slowly, causing her to feel a slight discomfort. The changes were strange, Roxanne felt a mix of fright and excitement as she remained within the circle.

　　Her skin began to itch and her body throbbed. She felt the need to bend to her knees, to feel the ground with all of her body, yet she restrained herself to remain upright. Her body felt like it would burst, like something was trying to free itself from within her. However, she didn't allow it to leave, no. It was a part of her. She had to embrace it, let the feeling permeate her body. She had to accept it, and let it accept her.

　　It wouldn’t go out of control and dominate her, but she would also not try to dominate it. There had to be a resolution to the conflict. Perfectly balanced, as all things should be… That was the only way to fully Awaken.

　　She felt it… She could feel it. Roxanne couldn't hear anything anymore, just the pounding of her heart. She couldn't sense anything anymore, just the functions of her body. The sweat which formed on her skin, the tense and previously indistinguishable movement of her body, every subtle reaction she made was clear to her. With the flow of her hair, her breathing, her throbbing, the vivid taste of saliva, her odour, she was finally one with her entire body.

　　Suddenly, the senses that focused on only herself spread out. She could feel everything, she could sense them, even though her eyes were closed she somehow knew the things surrounding her. The little vibrations they made, she began to pick them up, her mother's position, the placement of all the ingredients she could tell by their smell. As she sniffed, she could feel a different flavour, recognizing various things by their smell alone.

　　“Roxanne… Open your eyes…” Melissa whispered softly.

　　The volume was so low, yet Roxanne could hear her vividly. This was the change that had happened to her. Roxanne's excitement was increasing with every second. Her eyes twitched and fluttered as she slowly opened them, exposing herself to the new world she would exist in from that moment on.