We are werewolves

Why the hell did Zhane allow Mark to get the best of him? How could he let that kid convince him to tell his name? No matter what, Zhane couldn’t help but curse himself for being played by a little pup, when Zhane had taken down multiple, big bad alphas. 

Zhane didn’t hear or get bothered by little Mark for the next week, but that didn't stop his mind from wandering here and there about what happened with Mark. On one hand he couldn't help but try to convince himself "Good Riddance". On the other hand, he was worried. 

He was certain Mark would somehow show up again, bothering him especially when he dropped the supplies in the school. For some reason not only didn't Mark approach him, Mark was nowhere near to be found. Not even a flicker of scent. As if Mark hadn't been here for days. Should he be worried? Zhane wondered.

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(A week ago) 

Upon reaching home, Mark contemplated Zhane's words. Was he right? Should Mark just go ahead and ask his parents? Was it okay to do so? That's all he could think about. That and how tired he was. He tried to come up with an ideal scenario, how he would let his parents know that he was sort of eavesdropping on them. 

Usually, Mark was well behaved, but coming into such information was unnerving for him. He had already been a fan of comic books and stuff. Particularly that involved mutants, and werewolves were kind of, sort of a mutant between humans and wolves, with access to both the forms. But there was also some catch. 

Many cultures had many folklores, or at least that's what a quick internet search told him. He wasn’t sure what to believe and what to not. There was no way everything was a reality. After a whole day of wondering and trying his best to avoid his parents, he found it very tiresome to wake up the next morning when his mother came to wake him up. Naturally, his mother was worried as to why her son wasn’t coming downstairs at all. Finally, when it was about to be too late, she went ahead and saw Mark collapsed on the bed. Usually, Megan didn’t have to bother her son so much to wake him up, so she went ahead and called him a few times, “Mark! Mark it’s getting late.” she almost scolded Mark.

 When she received no response, she sat in the bed, right next to the tuckered Mark and asked, “Mark, wake up!” she shook him gently. At first she shook Mark through his covers, then soon her hands made contact with Mark’s face and she recoiled her hand lightly. 

Somehow, Mark’s face was completely hot, and yet… he wasn’t sweating even a bit. It was as if this temperature was normal for Mark. A change that happened to the werewolves going through transition. No matter what, Megan couldn’t deny anymore that these changes were arbitrary or not pointing towards Mark’s premature transition, and thus without bothering Mark any further, she got out of the room anxiously. 

Megan decided she needed to talk to Don, but Don was away for the night shift and wouldn’t be back until a few hours later. Unfortunately, they won’t get much time to chat as soon after Megan would need to leave for her own work. Worried, she decided to call Don instead.

“Hey, babe. I am leaving soon.” As soon as Don picked up the phone, Don spoke.

“Mark…” Megan fumbled. “Mark is really sick. I mean, his body is running hot but he isn’t sweating or anything.”

“You still don’t think it’s time?” Don asked his wife.

“...” There was a silence from Megan’s side. “We need to tell him.”

“I’ll try to reach home soon,” Don declared. “We can tell him together.”

“Okay.” and with that Megan hung up. Even if they managed to salvage some time to tell Mark about all this between their schedules, there was no way to be sure that they would get enough time. Not to mention Mark was extremely exhausted. So, to make things easier, Megan called in sick for the day, while letting Mark’s homeroom teacher know that Mark won’t be able to make it for the day.

After a certain while, Don arrived, huffing as if he had just finished a marathon. “Is he awake?” was the first thing Don asked.

“Not yet.” Megan shook her head. She had prepared some warm milk for Mark, which she reheated while Don checked up on Mark. 

“Hey buddy.” Don tried to wake up Mark, who opened his eyes sluggishly. 

“I am tired.” Mark mumbled with half opened eyes.

“You are gonna be fine.” Don tried to comfort his son. At that moment his mother walked in with the warm milk and helped her son drink it. For some reason, it made Mark feel much better. As if he had been given caffeine or something (he wasn’t). Finally, waking up properly, he asked. “Mom, Dad… what is going on with me.”

Both Don and Megan exchanged knowing glances, before they looked at Mark. “Honey, we would like to tell you something really important.”

“And… don’t freak out okay?”

“Okay..” Mark nodded. He was half sure, half-hoped that his parents would come clean about his heritage.

“So… you know how we share everything that happens with us?” Megan recalled. Hearing his mom say that made Mark feel more betrayed, but he remained quiet nonetheless. “Well, there is one thing we didn’t tell you because… the timing wasn’t right.”

“But you need to know now, cause it’s really important.” Don pressed. Mark nodded, but still remained quiet.

“Honey you are… we are… werewolves.” Megan declared.

Mark wasn’t shocked since he already knew that, but he did try to act shocked. “Why did you hide it from me?” Mark asked.

“You believe us?” Megan was taken aback.

“I shouldn’t?” Mark asked back. “I have always trusted you, why won’t I believe you?” 

Megan let out a faint smile. “We hid it from you because you were a kid. We are trying to move on from our lives as a werewolf, and we always wanted you to have a normal childhood.”

“And werewolves feel tired all the time”? Mark asked.

“Just before their first transition.” Don explained. “Once that happens, you will gain much more energy, and over time control of your forms.”

“And when will I turn first”? Mark asked, anxious about the date.

“Well, if we are right…” Don looked at Megan who nodded at her husband. “Within a few days.”