AN: Okay, so maybe I should stop promising regular updates, because I have underestimated how little free time I actually have. I apologise for keeping you all waiting.

Slight TRIGGER WARNING as I will be mentioning blood tests and using needles.

Chapter 8

"Ah, April, come on in and take a seat." Carlisle greets me as I enter his office, "I just want you to know that there is no need to be nervous. For today all I'm going to do is ask you a couple of questions and take a blood sample."

"Oh, okay, well what will the blood sample show?" I ask, finding this whole experience to be quite fascinating.

"Hopefully, it will show me that you aren't human. If you are a shifter, which is the most likely result, then this blood sample will help me get a more accurate estimate of which species you can shift into," He explains as he prepares the needle.

"A shifter?" I echo, unsure of what that really means beside the obvious.

"A shapeshifter," He elaborates, "They are species that have a certain animal that they can shift into. Their shift usually occurs during there teenage years, so it is still a very possible occurence for you," He presses the needle to my arm, "You'll feel a pinch."

I wince slightly as the needle pierces my skin and Carlisle gives an apologetic smile. Thankfully, the extraction only lasts a few seconds.

I look at Carlisle curiously for a moment, astonished by his control, "How do you cope with having a job that requires you to work with blood? Were you a doctor before you turned?"

"No, I chose this profession after turning. Once I realised that I could survive by only drinking animal blood, it became much easier for me to maintain control of my thirst around humans. During my first century, I found that I had a lot of free time, especially with having no need for sleep, so I began studying medicine. I suppose you could say I was slightly overenthusiastic compared to most when it came to my studies, but I was able to pass the time and now I get to help people without worrying about losing control."

It was amazing to hear about this aspect of his life. I know that he has so many more interesting stories, but as much as I want to hear them, now isn't the time.

Carlisle finishes storing my blood sample and turns to me, "I'll examine that later, for now I want to ask you some questions, if you don't mind."

"Of course." I instantly reply.

He smiles appreciatively and takes a seat across from me, "Okay, from what I know of shifters, their animal feeds off their anger. By that I mean, if you are a shifter, then you will most likely shift for the first couple times when something triggers anger within you. With that in mind, can you tell me what you feel when you get angry?"

I ponder his question for a moment, stunned at this revelation, as my recent run-ins with anger have felt a lot more intense than any I've had prior.

"Recently, when something has made me angry, the feeling has taken over my whole body to the point where I need to lean onto something and I start to feel extremely hot. I would catagorise it more as rage than anger, and this has only been a recent development. Does that mean my first shift is going to happen soon?" I ask nervously, feeling extremely unprepared for the shift.

"Quite possibly, although I will admit the only shifters I have ever encountered have been wolves, and based on your scent I would guess you aren't a wolf. That means, a lot of what we find during these sessions will lead to a lot of guessing. I can't say for sure when your first shift will come, and I therefore don't know what the signs are for certain, but your recent experiences of anger would suggest that your first shift is nearing." He says softly as he jots down some notes, "This question may not help with finding any certain answers, but it is something that I am curious about when it comes to shifters, so this is just a theory I have. Is there any particular animal that you feel a connection with?"

"Yes, actually," I begin, slightly shocked that this connection might indicate what I will shift into, "when I was 12 my parents took my sister and I to the zoo. I was desperate to see the cats. I spent most of my childhood begging my parents to get a cat, I think they are the most elegant species on the planet. While we were seeing the lions I felt a huge vibration run through my body and I asked my parents if they felt it but they said they didn't feel anything. I turned around to find a gorgeous panther staring right at me. Once I saw it, I realised that the vibration I had felt was its purring. I walked over to its enclosure and it walked towards me and sat down directly in front of me, literally no more than 3 meters away from me. We had maintained eye contact the whole time. It felt like I was stood there with it for ages, but it must have only been a minute or two before my family came over and the panther backed off." I lift the sleeve of my shirt to show Carlisle a tattoo that I had of the panther's face, "Its eyes were mesmorising, I couldn't bring myself to look away."

Carlisle leans over for a closer look at the tattoo, "Well, that would certainly be a possible indicator for what you may shift into."

"All I know is that you turning into a panther would be so badass," A deep voice says from the doorway, making me jump. I turn and see Emmett and Rosalie stood by the now open office door.

"Yes, it certainly would. As I said though, this is only a theory that I have. Your connection may just be a connection but if my theory is right then that would be one impressive shift to witness." Carlisle states, his excitement clear in his voice, "Well, I think that's enough for today. I want to get on with examining the blood sample, so I think you two should make yourself scarce and entertain our guest while I work." He says to Emmett and Rosalie, who nod and gesture for me to follow them out. I smile at Carlisle as I leave, and reach to take the hand that Rosalie has stretched out for me.