There are several bangs coming from the front of the house. “Rita?” I cry out before throwing my hand over my mouth.I hear the noise again, a violent Bang! Bang! Bang! on the front door.Then, a crash. It makes me jump, and all I can think is “Oh no… They’re here!”I jump off the bed and rush to my door to lock it, bracing a chair up against it. I know this won’t stop a werewolf, but if I’m lucky, that’s not what’s out there.Rita proves my instinct right when she pushes her way in, almost breaking the door in the process. She puts her finger up to her lips, apparently not realizing she doesn’t have to worry about me being quiet.She locks my door behind her, and I begin backing away toward the bed. As cross the room, I also become aware of our vulnerability due to the window.Thank God I closed it earlier!I peek through the curtains. All I see outside is darkness. When did it get dark out? I pull the curtains shut tight and back away to the center of the room, kneeling down in case
After the rogue is so badly damaged that it’s barely breathing, the werewolves shift back to their human form, including Rita.She helps me up as the others stand around the bloodied body of our attacker, their mouths and hands smeared with blood.A couple of them approach to check on me. I don’t know who they are; I don’t think I’ve ever seen them before—but they knew me. One of them, the one with a long beard and haunted eyes, stares at me.It’s unsettling. It reminds me of the way Alex’s mom stares at me. Like he’s looking for something in my face, or rather sees something hidden within it.“My name is Charles,” the one with the beard says, “and these are Oorna, Abner, and Meor. Abner and Meor were on guard tonight, out in the forest. They could smell the intruder and tracked him here.”Rita spits on the ground. Is it odd to think, in this moment, that this is unladylike?“Damn it!” she says. “He’s in rough shape and can’t turn.”She turns to Charles and asks, “Is there somewhere w
What about Cynthia, I manage to say when Ryan lets go.Cynthia is more than she realizes—more than you realize! And I’m going to make sure she’s not a threat to our future. Enraged, I rush at him again, only Ryan is able to get a paw up and swipe me across the face, drawing blood.You’re fucking crazy!No—I’m motivated.We circle each other again, each one ready for the other to be next to strike. I move forward a little, and Ryan backs up. He moves forward a little, and I back up. We go about this dance for way too long.“What do you know of our previous Alpha?” Charles asks us.I shrug, not knowing what my answer should be because my mind has gone numb.“He was murdered by rogues,” Rita states matter-of-factly.“He was attacked by rogues,” he says, correcting her. “He was away from base, and no one bore witness to the events that took place…except for Ryan, his younger brother.”“And your current Alpha,” Rita adds.Charles nods. Jeraoul and Lenor are still staring at me. I try not
You’ll never beat me! Ryan says, and I know he means it.Normally, I would be cautious taking on someone of his stature, but now I’m angry…and angry me doesn’t always make the best choices.I snarl. I want to know why Cynthia.Because she stands in my way… But not like your brother did…Now the beast inside me is just pissed.I spring forward, ready to strike. Ready to kill. I get in a swipe to the left of his jaw, then right, then a mouthful of fur and flesh above Ryans’ shoulder.Except Ryan proves too strong for me, and now that I’m on the offensive, I’ve left myself vulnerable. I realize that as soon as I feel him move.Ryan slings me off, knocking me to the ground, and is on top of me before I can manage to get up, using his body weight to hold me down. I’m able to avoid most of his bites, which come fast and ferociously.I use my hips to roll him and get him to the ground. Then I use the momentum of the motion to roll away, but Ryan is too fast. He gets a grip on my shoulder and
They must sense something because their pace quickens. When we hit the stream, they take a right through the water, splashing me and adding to my discomfort.I buck up and tough it out, but soon we are back out of the water and below the mountain, ready to climb.Then I smell it. Blood. And pine. It’s Alex!We can’t see him yet and begin making our way up the mountain, but the progress is slow and my sight is back to zilch. The smell is getting stronger, and my body is beginning to tingle.That familiar tingle. We must be getting really close…Suddenly, Rita rears back and I slide off. She shoots forward and my eyes follow her and Charles. I still can’t see anything, so I run to get closer until my developed night vision locks onto the sight that is driving them.Below an overhand of rock, in a small crevice, lies a werewolf. It isn’t moving—and I know it’s Alex! Another werewolf, Ryan, is crouched over him, like he’s about to go in for the kill.I scream, unable to stop myself.When
As Ryan stalks toward me, the itch becomes unbearable. My skin feels like it’s been burned and is healing, peeling. I want to scratch at it. I want to scratch it off.The feeling becomes so intense—like my skin is burning from within.Ryan stops and watches, his grin apparent. He starts pacing from one side to the other. I don’t understand what he’s doing, but it’s so hard to think right now. I can’t track him while my body is changing.The unexpectedness and newness of it is difficult toAnd my rage returns! I don’t know what’s happening, but I want it to stop! I need to stop him! Aaaahhhh!!!!! This must be what it’s like to be consumed with anger.Now my skin is the least of my concerns. My bones begin shifting, painfully at first as my humerus and my femur elongate, stretching in a way not humanly possible.A growl rumbles deep in my chest and I throw my head back as my nose and jaw stretch out. My spine shifts and my shoulders begin popping. It’s painful, but in a glorious way.Al
It’s like time stops. The first time you kill someone, or some werewolf, I should say. It is a life-changing moment.I can taste blood in my mouth…and it’s good.Ryan’s body appears lifeless below me. I wait a few seconds before I let him go, waiting to make sure he’s dead. His body goes limp. He’s not breathing, and his heart has stopped. I can tell because I hear everything.When I finally dismount his corpse, I shake my body like a dog drying off after a bath. I feel all my muscles, the new structure of my bones and how they relate to each other, the sway of my fur. It all feels good. Somehow right.To think, I recently wished for the gifts of the werewolf—enhanced hearing, acute sight—and here I am, a werewolf after all.I walk over to where Alex is lying. The physical pull between us now unquestionable as my body vibrates within when I am this close to him. There is no mistaking it now: Our bodies are in tune.Alex’s eyes search mine. I wish I knew what he was thinking.He nuzzle
We’re greeted by the whole freaking pack!Apparently, Jeaoul and Lenor had already spread the word about what was going on. I’m sure the other pack members didn’t quite believe them, but they must certainly have been curious because a lot of them are standing at the entrance to the base.As we approach, I fall behind the others. I don’t exactly want to be the first to be questioned or interrogated.Plus, I’m sure they can tell I’m different now.Jeaoul approaches us with his wife and a couple of other pack Elders. “Where is Ryan?”“Defeated,” Charles calls out, his voice booming. “Our Alpha was defeated and now lies dead and in dishonor.”There are high-pitched murmurs among the group.I grow a little concerned at first, because I remember Jeaoul saying that no one believed them when they suspected Ryan’s treachery.Charles steps aside, still under Alex’s shoulder, revealing me. “Here is our long-lost Luna, Dyanthiana.”And the one who killed your Alpha. The murmurs grow to a loud cl