Edward Cullen lay in bed all night, staring at the ceiling. There was something about a birthday that got your stomach tied in knots. Staring out the window, he noticed it was a full moon. The moon reflected off of his green eyes, and outside toward something down below. The something watched him, before calling to the others. "Almost midnight," one of the somethings urged. Their leader nodded. "Yes, it won't be long now before young Edward joins us," the more elderly being hummed wisely. Edward found himself holding his alarm clock, staring at the digital red numbers as the clock changed from '11:59' to '12:00' that was exactly when things changed.
He couldn't explain what was happening to himself, his body tingled with warm. At first it wasn't unpleasant, it built in his belly before spreading across his skin. Soon the warm, gentle pressure became harder. The pain grew sharp, to the point he called out. Something was burning him... and he could do nothing but lie there as it did. In the face of the moon, the boy jerked upright into a sitting position. His lightly tanned skin began to morph. It felt like a nightmare, but Edward wasn't waking up from this. His nose lengthened, and his eyes grew bigger. He felt every bone within him shift. Disgusting creaks, and snaps filled the crisp night air. But the transformation wasn't over yet.
Shakily, Edward managed to pull himself out of bed. Maybe if he could get to his father.. As much as he hated the man, he was a doctor. But no, it seemed his body had other plans. As he reached out for the doorway, he collapsed. His feet and hands were now changing as well. The whole thing finally ended moments later, and the beast that was now Edward Cullen was left to breathe heavily on the floor. Closing his eyes, he reopened them to find everything more distinct. He could see colors in the night, not shades of grey. He could see it all as if it was daytime. Bringing himself to his feet, he walked slowly to the bathroom. His new legs were shaking, and he dared not glance down at the oversized paws that his feet had become. When he finally reached the bathroom, he raised his paws up to the sink, and dragged the rest of his upper half up with him so that he was standing on his hind legs.
In the mirror, there was no longer any bronze hair. The green eyes had even changed to amber. Edward was no longer anything human looking at all. Shaking his face and hoping to dislodge the image before him, he was perplexed to see nothing changed. Instead of becoming his six foot self, he was left to stare at a wolf. A wolf of normal size. There was nothing special about him. His fur was grey, like most regular wolves, his nose coal black and wet to the touch. At the image before him, the man yelped and fell back against the shower door. 'Snap out of it Edward, it's just a dream.. right? Just some odd birthday dream. Wake up now, wake up,' he told himself.
But Edward wasn't waking up. The longer he sat there in the bathroom floor, the more he understood. "Hello young one," a voice filled his ear. Turning around, Edward froze as a tall man stood in the doorway. He wasn't all that terrifying to look at. His face was kind, and at the most he was in his twenties. He, like Edward had green eyes. But his hair was black, and complexion pale. The man was staring at him, with what seemed like sympathy in his eyes. "Who... who are you?" Edward tried to ask, but instead of forming words, his voice filled the air in.. barks and growls. It surprised him even more than the changes. But he supposed it would make sense, if he was no longer human.. then his voice would no longer be human either.
"It's alright," the man comforted. As he stooped down until he was Edward's height, he realized the man wasn't very tall at all. At the most he was 5'6. He just appeared tall in comparison to the wolf.. The man placed his hand on Edward's head, and stroked his fur. He felt the urge to knock it off, to raise hell over something! After all.. he should be angry shouldn't he? He'd become a wolf.. and he had no idea why, nor how to feel about this change. "My name is Damien boy, I'm not here to hurt you," the man assured. Edward tried to reply again, but the man held a finger in front of his muzzle. "Shh, don't try to talk. Just let me explain to you," the man offered. Edward whined softly, but slowly relaxed as the man continued to stroke his head.
"You've obviously just gone through your first shift.. And for that, I offer my congratulations. This is a very special day for you Edward," the man murmured softly. His tone was soothing, and his kind eyes got it across all the better. "Your seventeenth birthday, the day of your first shift.. You appear to be a wolf. But our kind can be many things. We're shifters. A race wiped away by history, the aztec and the mayans revered us as gods. But now that the last of the indian tribes are dwindling, we're simply making it by. There used to be thousands of us Edward.. if you could have seen it..." the man trailed off. "Anyway, you've just come into your inheritance. I'm surprised honestly. The last Cullen to be a shifter appeared over three hundred years ago.. You're obviously a special one," Damien complemented. The wolf still remained silent as he'd been told. "Now to get to why you've shifted. All shifters shift at different points in their life. I myself shifted when I turned twenty-two," he offered.
"A shifter shifts the first time, soon after they've discovered their mate. My girl Sydney and I had known one another since we were toddlers. But, it wasn't until she saw me as a romantic interest that I shifted. We all have different animals for different reasons. Myself? Well I'm a panther. Rather odd truly, but I wouldn't wish for a better one. Our animals reflect our souls. When I was younger, I'd rather be out in the woods than exploring. I also had a temper problem. I'd lash out at anyone that dared offend me... Fitting for a panther. You though Edward as a wolf.. That shows you have strong emotions, but you hide yourself. Wolves are pack animals, but not until they find their mates. I suppose you'll find out who your own is very soon," Damien finished. As the last words fell from the man's mouth, a call of some sort came from the window. He stood at that, and began to make his way toward it. His leg looped over the side, and it was clear Damien was leaving.
Edward barked loudly, causing the man to look at him. The wolf motioned down at himself, as if asking how to shift back. "Oh, you don't," Damien merely answered with a chuckle. "Until you figure out who your mate is young Edward, you will be in that form. I'll see you very soon. But I'm afraid I must go now. My Sydney calls for me, and I must answer."
Edward was left to stand there as the man disappeared out the window. He was furious. Furious to be left alone in such a state. He didn't know what to do! How the hell was he supposed to go to school as a wolf? Much less find some girl and shack up with her! The whole situation made him sick.. He didn't want to face the day. But he knew he had to leave before his parents awoke. The man had said the last Culled had appeared over three hundred years ago.. No doubt his father had no idea about what he was.. And though he was his father, he still was a doctor. Doctors were amazed by anything they couldn't understand.. and with his luck, he'd become some scientific experiment! He already was a freak show.
The door was closed, and given he no longer had opposable thumbs, Edward figured he'd have to find a different way out. Looking toward the open window, he ducked his head out. It really wasn't that far of a jump, his room was only on the second floor of their three story home. He could probably make it safely... Or so he told himself. A tree sat across from the window.. Maybe if he jumped atop it he could make it safely down. Backing up, the wolf ran toward the window and soon soared out onto the limb. It seemed he'd gained a few skills with this odd wolfish body.
Bounding down the tree, he sighed as he came to a stop. 'Now to locate this girl so I can get to class!' he said to himself. Being a wolf was an odd thing. Few people gave him a second glance, it was almost as if they didn't notice him. Maybe this had something to do with being a shifter, he wasn't sure. He'd have to ask Damien if he ever saw the man again. Walking across the sidewalk, and looking around town he was disappointed that he'd yet to see this girl that was supposedly meant for him. After all, she'd have to be a beauty if she was fit for Edward Cullen! And he'd already spotted all of the girls that would be beautiful enough to suit his tastes.
He still held out hope though. Maybe this mate was a visitor that he'd just met yesterday, that would explain why the change had happened the night before. Yes.. a beautiful visitor.. Perhaps even a Brazilian. With a beautiful face, toned legs, and huge breasts. Yes, that would be a woman fit for Edward Cullen! He'd had many a conquest during his high school career, fueled mostly by his anger at his father. If Carlisle could sleep around with a slut, then why couldn't he with every? Every moral his upbringing had taught him, had gone out the window the moment he'd found out about his father's affair. He still kept his grades up though, he had no wish to grow up and be a homeless bum. He'd be successful, if only to spite his father by becoming more successful than he.
After circling town a few times, the wolf finally came to the conclusion that perhaps it would be a good idea to go to school. After all, maybe his mate was a student at Forks High School he'd yet to meet. He wouldn't be able to stand it if it were Lauren Mallory or Jessica Stanley. Sure they were good in the sack.. But he wouldn't want his children sharing any of the same genes that made those two airheads! Children.. why was he already thinking of children? The thought struck him odd. For as long as he could remember, the man hadn't wanted kids. Kids he could ruin like Carlisle had ruined him.. He wouldn't do that.. Wouldn't bring the awful Cullen name onto anyone else.. So why was he so hopeful to have them now?
Making his way down toward the school, the wolf sat out back next to the old picnic table most seniors fought over at lunch. He'd never noticed it before, but the whole area back behind the school smelled strongly of cigarettes, pot, and sex.. He shivered at the thought. He knew some of the sluts would do it anywhere.. But in the back of the school? That was ridiculous.
At the sound of the first bell, many that had been lingering around the back walked past the wolf and inside, never giving him a second glance. He stared intently at all the girls that walked past, willing them to be his mate. Well, any of the ones that met his standards. He was beginning to give up hope when a car pulled up at the back of the school. Jessica and Lauren climbed out. Immediately he turned his head away. If those either were his mates, he'd castrate himself just so he wouldn't have to spend the rest of his life sleeping with such women. It'd be better than catching an STD, or getting either of them pregnant!
There seemed to be some sort of commotion going on. Jessica yelled something at Lauren, who yelled something at whoever was still in the car. Probably some poor freshmen they'd lured into bed with the both of them the night before. "Look Swan, if you don't get my paper done by third period, we're through. We're absolutely through! And the whole school will find out about daddy and mommy! Won't that be great? The Chief's wife the whore of the town, plastered on posters all over downtown. Poor Chief Swan would be crushed wouldn't he? Get that damn paper done! I don't care if you have to sit out here all day. Jessica and I will be going now! Have fun!" He almost felt bad for the girl. But another part of him just felt angry. How come she didn't stick up for herself? Who cared if the town found out about her mother? The Chief already had to be expecting something, that or the man was just plainly blind.
Edward watched as the girl made her way out of the car. She looked all around, probably making sure the slut twins were gone, before she scurried over toward the picnic table and sat down with a pile of books, and some paper. He watched as she worked away, before finally the girl glanced down at him. In that moment, Edward felt something burst within his chest. Bella Swan was his mate.