Chapter Three, Part Five.

Awed, I sat in silence. Even though I knew none of them well, this ceremony forged an unspeakable bond between us all. And with others who were not in attendance... I could sense their vague presences in the distance, probably sitting awake in the dorms of the school.
Then, it was time to go. In the same way we arrived, we left. Upon reaching the Den, the Council slipped back into the building, in step as humans. Noticing that the Alpha stayed back with me, Rafael paused at the doorway. Aubrey waved his hand, dismissing him. With a polite nod, he silently reentered the building, his eyes lingering on me with a look of unease on his face.
"We have a few things to discuss," Aubrey said.
"You're tellin' me. I've got a few questions for you!" I barked. "Like... How in the hell do I change back?"
He grinned. "This is your first change, so we'll have to get you out of the moonlight first. Come."
He walked back inside with me trotting beside him. "I'm gonna be naked when I change back, aren't I?"
"That you are," he laughed.
"Fan-flipping-tastic."
"Don't worry, I won't stare at your glorious nudity."
"Shut up."

We reached my mother's, well, perhaps mine at this point, room, and went in. I sat in front of the armoire as Aubrey flopped on the bed rather ungracefully.
"Are you going to tell me how to do this or not?" I demanded.
"All in due time." he answered.
I scowled, replying in my most impetuous tone, "If you don't tell me, I'll find someone else."
"Yeah, yeah; first, shut your eyes, and clear your mind."
I shut my eyes for a few seconds before opening them again. "It's kind of hard to clear my mind with you staring at me."
"Okay," he replied cheerfully, grinning.
"Face the wall!"
"I am facing the wall."
"The other wall."
"Oh. Well, you didn't say that. You should be more specific." He rolled over.
"You should be less dense," I muttered under my breath.
"Shut your eyes again. Clear your mind."
I obeyed.
"Imagine yourself changing from wolf to human. Really focus. There is nothing there but you."
True enough, my body changed again, and there I was, sitting naked on the cold tile. I squealed and scrambled to my feet.
"Change scare you?"
"No, the tile is cold!"
He laughed.
"Well, I'm glad to see you find it funny," I said, crossing my arms indignantly. Turning my back to the armoire, I dressed quickly. "Okay, first question. Why did Celestria call me a mutt, and why was she so pissed?"
"Well, dearest, it seems that you are not a pure-blood Shadow Child."
I stared at him silently, absorbing the magnitude of what he had just said. "I...What?"
He rolled onto his stomach and locked his green eyes on mine. "Your mother didn't tell you about your lycan heritage, and I think I know why now. Your father must have been a Hunter."
"You mean, my father was a bloodthirsty monster who murdered people, ripped them apart while... while they were still alive?!"
He didn't answer, averting his eyes instead. "I don't know; I never met your father, so-"
"No!" I screamed, cutting him off. "My father may have been a coward, but he was no homicidal maniac!"