Hope you enjoy! Please review! It's not over yet, about one chapter then an epilogue to go.

Chapter 25 - Johnny POV

You would have thought the week would drag on. It should have seemed like it was taking forever for the weekend when the moon was scheduled to be full. We would all be waiting on pins and nettles worried about what would happen. That was the exact opposite of what happened. That week was actually a lot of fun. Mandy was a joy to be around and even Embry started loosening up.

That Saturday night was the night scheduled for the full moon. Mandy told her parents she was going to spend the night at her friend Zoe's house so she could have an excuse to be out. The night was cool but surprisingly warm for this late in the fall. My dad made burgers and we ate outside.

We looked like your average family right then. If someone had burst in on us you wouldn't have suspected that half of us were shape-shifters and one or two of us were werewolves. We were all sitting around the patio table, laughing – even Embry, just waiting out the last couple minutes. The sky was a fiery orange and the sun cast shadows that fell low to the ground.

Mandy and I had our chairs scooted close together, my arm was around her. She had her hair up tonight, the scar had faded enough that it wasn't as noticeable. Feeling my gaze she looked up at me and smiled.

"How you doing?" I asked.

Her smile cocked to the side. "I'm fine, just a little nervous."

"That's explainable." I replied with an anxious laugh.

"Is it going to hurt?" Mandy asked, turning her head to look at my dad who had his arm slung around my mom's shoulders. Embry sat slouched in his chair by himself.

I could see my dad was fighting the urge to make a face. "The first time is always the hardest."

"You didn't answer my question." She teased in a flat voice.

Dad shrugged, "Just a little bit. It's more weird than anything else."

Mandy nodded like she understood. Embry spoke up then. "What are you going to do about your parents?"

It was Mandy's turn to make a face, "I've only got a year till I'm old enough to move out. I guess I'll just try my best to hide it from them till then."

Embry let out a snort. "That's no easy task. My mom still doesn't know about me."

"She doesn't?" Mandy asked.

"No, it's against the rules." Embry said simply.

It was silent for a moment except for some birds off in the distance. I could hear a rabbit hopping near the edge of the woods. The sun had gotten to the point where you could almost watch it set.

"I used to love sunsets." Mandy sighed, leaning her head into my chest.

I rubbed her arm, "Maybe you still can."

My dad took his arm off of my mom so he could phase without accidently hurting her. "Ready Mandy?" He smiled, standing up.

"As I'll ever be," Mandy laughed, standing up with him.

I wanted to follow them across the patio. "Stay," My mom whispered like she was talking to a dog. Embry snorted.

As Mandy and dad made their way down the steps the sun blinked out, causing the shadows to disappear. The orange started to fade in slow motion as the moon rose. All eyes were on Mandy.

My dad didn't move at all as he phased into his wolf form, he simply got larger. Mandy was staring at me and I watched as her eyes turned black. "No," I whispered.

She shut her eyes and clenched her jaw. Her hand reached up to grab at the scar on her neck. She hunched over in pain and let out a blood curling scream. I jumped to my feet but mom and Embry were at me in an instant, holding me in place. I growled involuntarily at them and tried to break free. Mandy shook as her body grew larger. Her ears pointed, her nails grew long like claws and dusky grey fur started to grow all over her body.

Then she collapsed. I tore free from my captors and was at her side with my dad in an instant. She was still shivering. Her clothes hung in tatters on her form. "Mandy?" I pleaded, lightly shaking her shoulder.

Her eyes flung open and time seemed to freeze. Any worries, any fears I had seemed to disappear. I knew it wasn't fine but I felt like there was nothing wrong in the world. My heart was pounding at a different beat. I heard Embry curse violently behind me but I didn't care.

Mandy's beautiful muzzle formed a snarl and in an instant she was on top of me biting at my neck. I knew I should fight back, but I couldn't. I couldn't picture myself fighting against her. I'd give my life fighting for her but I'd never hurt her.

I heard more people curse. My dad pulled Mandy off me but then she started fighting him. I heard my mom's wolf roar but my dad didn't need her help. Mandy was strong but males are always stronger. My dad tackled her to the ground and slapped her face. "Snap out of it, Mandy!" He growled.

An involuntary snarl screamed from my throat and I felt my body start to shake into my wolf form. "Johnny, no!" Embry yelled and everything came back into focus.

Mandy was standing on four legs now, panting heavily with her tongue hanging out. My dad stood over her breathing deeply. My mom phased back to her human form and ran to my dad.

My dad wrapped an arm around my mom and kissed her head while still watching Mandy. "Are you calmed down?" He asked her in his wolf voice.

She nodded, gulping. I wanted to take her up in my arms and tell her everything was ok. My body ached to be closer to her. I started walking forward and her ears flickered. She turned to look at me with her big black wolf eyes and my heart beat faster on its new and exciting rhythm.

"I'm sorry." She said. Her voice was new, it wasn't gruff like my dad's but it had a deep authoritative sound to it.

"He doesn't care." Embry spat. I turned to look at him. He had his hands in fists at his sides and his eyes were angry. "He's love sick like the rest of them."

"Embry…" My mom started.

"Shove it." Was Embry's reply. He stormed off and I soon felt a shimmer as he phased.

"Love sick?" I asked.

Mom eyed me then glanced at Mandy then my dad. "You just imprinted, Johnny."