One Shot

I was wondering what must of been going through Olivia's mind here. She's an interesting character that we don't hear that much about, and i thought i'd try this. It's my first fan-fic, so go easy on the reviews. Of course, constructive criticism is always much appreciated! Also, I didn't have anyone to beta this, so if anything is wrong, please feel free to let me know!

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not hold any claim to Shiver it's plot, or it's characters. They all belong to the amazing Maggie Stiefvater. Thank her for this fabulous book, though! She deserves it!

Olivia's POV

It had been a horrible few weeks. Simply terrible. The cold, the terror, the unknown, the fear in myself had simply overtaken me. I couldn't function, and I had been putting all my troubles on my poor friend Grace, who had enough to deal with. She was lucky enough not to change, but there's not cure. I can't let myself believe there is. To hope is to destroy myself. And Grace has to deal with her boyfriend, who she may never see again. Probably won't. After all, she injected him with a virus that kills, literally. And he's not under her watch, to be cured. He is a wolf, probably dieing in the cold, snowy world out there.

Wolves. They used to be my obsession. The millions of pictures I took of them can confirm that fact. Grace will back me on this. In fact, it is because of Grace I became so involved with the wolves, and in particularly, with the one referred to as "her wolf". But lately, Grace has been distanced from me. We were growing apart, and she was expecting too much from a pack of wolves. They are just wolves, and didn't have anything to do with her, and I began to expect she was beginning to love them more than me- her best friend. How very wrong I was.

Those wolves were poor souls, left out in the cold all winter, just to dread the end of each summer when they would have to change back. Grace understood them so much better than I, who was the one observing and taking multiple photographs of them. Those poor wolves.

But now, I begin to understand a bit more. Yes, they have to change, yes the change is painful, and none of us asked for this. Sam, especially, is miserable. As is his right, after just meeting Grace, and quite possibly never being human again. But some of the wolves, really enjoy it. The freedom, the joy of running and the woods all around. The feeling of family and belonging the pack brings to a wolf. I wonder, would changing be so destructively painful is chosen? What if I would rather be part of a wolf pack than die trying to find a cure? What if, no matter what I would lead Grace to believe, I actually am slightly… eager to change? To try and be like my wolves, my beloved wolves, who I didn't believe in. I could truly be like them, shed the layers upon layers of warm clothing, and embrace what my lot will be for every winter. I can really enjoy it, and make the best out of my life. Maybe, just maybe, it would work?

A quick explanation to Grace is all it takes. She knows me so well- she can see it on my face. I see her small, sad smile, and feel her eyes on me as I start across the lawn. I start to hurry as a shed sweaters behind me; the thick, uncomfortable barriers between myself and my future. She's still watching as I jump, and before I land I feel it- the change. Not painful, like the others, not slow, and agonizing. No, I was leaping into my new skin. Just like that, I was home. For the first time, I belonged, as my fellow pack members converged to teach me the ways of the woods. I received images of a yellow wood, trees with light filtering through leafless branches, onto soft snow. Good places to hunt up food, or to sleep at night. Feelings accompanied the images, feelings of safety, security, family, and belonging.