Chapter 6: The Awakening

1st POV

After practice, Hope and I headed to the car, both of us still buzzing from the game. As we drove home to change for the party later, Hope turned to me with a grin.

"Lucian, you were on fire out there! I mean, I knew you were good, but today... wow."

I laughed. "Thanks. I had to keep up with all the cheering from the bleachers."

"Yeah, I guess I got a little carried away," she admitted, her smile sheepish. "But I can't help it—you killed it."

"Yeah, thanks. When you were cheering, it reminded me of when I had basketball tournaments. You would always be there, along with Mom and Dad, before... you know," I said, a touch of melancholy in my voice. My parents weren't the greatest, always busy, but they always found time for me. No matter what. If I had a birthday but they had an important business meeting, they would always choose my birthday.

"Yeah, I remember," Hope said softly, her voice taking on a more somber tone. "Your parents were always there for you. They really cared."

I nodded, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. "Yeah, they did. No matter how busy they were, they always showed up. Sometimes it feels weird, you know? That they're not here anymore."

Hope reached over and squeezed my arm. "I get it. They'd be proud of you, though. You know that, right?"

I forced a small smile, not trusting myself to speak. It still stung, but Hope always had a way of making things feel a little better, even when it hurt.

We drove in silence for a bit after that, the mood shifting as we got closer to home.

When we got home, I headed to my room to grab some fresh clothes for the party—something casual but better than sweaty lacrosse gear. I could hear Hope rifling through her closet in the room next door, probably overthinking her outfit like usual.

"You don't need to go all out, you know," I called out. "It's just a party."

"I know, but I wanna look good," she replied, her voice muffled. "Besides, who knows what'll happen at these things. Maybe I'll meet someone."

I smirked as I changed into a clean shirt. "Who? Anyone from the team catch your eye? I saw how many of them were looking at you."

She snorted. "None of them are my type."

"Okay, just making sure," I said, still teasing her as we finished getting ready for the night ahead.

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3rd POV

As Lucian headed downstairs, Hope stood by her bed, barely whispering, "I wish you looked at me the way those guys do."

But he didn't hear it. She quickly pulled on a gray shirt, black jeans, and her leather jacket, her fingers moving with practiced ease despite the knot tightening in her stomach. She glanced at herself in the mirror, as if hoping the jacket could somehow shield her from the emotions she couldn't voice.

By the time she joined Lucian at the car, her expression was carefully neutral.

"Ready to go?" she asked, her voice steady and casual, masking the turmoil underneath.

Lucian nodded, tossing his bag in the back. "Yeah, let's get going."

As they sped off, the car filled with their usual banter, but for Hope, each laugh felt a little more forced, each smile harder to hold. Lucian was oblivious, chatting about the game and what they could expect from the party. Meanwhile, Hope's thoughts wandered, her heart quietly aching in the passenger seat.

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1st POV

As we pulled into the parking area, Lydia and Jackson came into view. Lydia had saved us a spot and had been calling us non-stop since we left, clearly excited to have us there. We quickly parked and got out. Lydia ran over and hugged Hope, their close friendship obvious. It was clear Lydia had found a genuine connection with Hope—likely because Lydia didn't have many real friends. Most people hung around her for her popularity, not because they truly cared.

"Finally!" Lydia grinned, hugging Hope tightly. "I thought you'd never get here."

"Blame Hope. She was taking her sweet time getting ready."

Lydia looked at me and rolled her eyes. "I told you I wanted to look good for this party. Sorry if I took too long," she said. I sighed as she and Lydia resumed their conversation. I noticed how similar they were.

Both Lydia and Hope were alike yet different. Hope never hid who she was—always cheerful and occasionally nerdy. Like today, when she cheered for me during practice, even though Allison and Lydia tried to calm her down. That's just how she is, never afraid to express herself.

Lydia, on the other hand, wore a mask, rarely showing her true self. From what Hope told me, Lydia was smart but often played the "dumb blonde" popular girl, like it was a defense mechanism.

I'm no psychologist like my mom—she was the best psychiatrist around. I greeted Jackson with a fist bump.

"Nice work at practice today," Jackson said, though his tone was flat. "But seriously, what's up with Scott? He's, like, a totally different player all of a sudden."

"Yeah, no clue. Maybe he's just been training hard," I replied, though I wasn't entirely convinced.

Jackson raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "Training hard or... something else?"

Soon, Allison arrived with someone I didn't expect: Scott. They looked good together, but I hadn't anticipated seeing them as a couple. Scott seemed different—he carried himself with a newfound confidence.

"Hey, guys!" Allison greeted us with a bright smile. "Sorry we're late."

"No worries," Lydia replied. "You two make quite the entrance."

Scott gave a half-smile, but something about him seemed off.

We quickly went inside after greeting Allison and Scott. The party was in full swing: drinks, dancing, and a lively atmosphere. I chatted with some of the girls, flirting and enjoying myself. It had been a long time since I'd been to a party.

I looked up at the full, beautiful moon. It reminded me of my dream, but I shook off the thought and continued to enjoy the party. As I glanced around, I saw Allison and Scott dancing. Scott seemed to be acting oddly—his movements were stiff, almost agitated.

"Is it just me, or is Scott acting weird?" I muttered to Hope as we watched them.

Hope frowned. "Yeah, he's been like that all night. Maybe the party's too much for him."

Soon, Scott excused himself, muttering something about needing air, and disappeared outside.

That's when I heard it—a distorted howl. For some reason, it made me angry, as if the howl was a challenge rather than a call. And then I felt something inside me... break.

Heat surged through my body, burning from the inside out. My heart pounded wildly, and I felt like I was losing control.

I stumbled over to Hope, my vision blurring. "I don't feel so great. If you need me, I'll be inside one of the rooms," I mumbled, my voice shaky.

"Lucian, are you okay?" Hope asked, concern evident.

"Yeah, I just... I need a minute," I replied, though I wasn't sure myself.

I stumbled my way inside the house, the heat morphing into unbearable pain. It felt like I was burning alive—my skin too tight, my bones too close to the surface. Disoriented, I found myself outside—in the woods.

Confused, I looked around. How did I get here?

CRACK

"AAAAARGH!" I screamed as my bones snapped and reformed. The pain was blinding, like being ripped apart from the inside out. I fell to the ground, my vision swimming.

My hand twisted, nails elongating into sharp claws. I tried to focus, but my fingers were stretching, morphing. The sensation was brutal, a relentless burn that made me want to scream again.

CRACK

"FUCKING SHIT!" I yelled as my legs shifted, bones stretching and breaking. They grew longer, muscles tearing and reforming. I could feel every individual fiber and bone moving, like they were being rearranged with a sledgehammer.

Fur began to sprout from my skin, coarse and dark. It itched and burned as it spread, covering me. My teeth ached, shifting, becoming sharper, more menacing. I couldn't control it—my mouth elongated, my gums stretching to accommodate the new, dangerous fangs.

Every nerve in my body was on fire. My vision blurred, then sharpened, seeing in ways I never had before. My senses heightened, but the pain was overwhelming. It felt like I was being torn apart, remade, and I couldn't stop it.

CRACK

My skull felt like it was cracking open. My face elongated, features shifting to match the new form. The howl I'd heard earlier seemed to resonate inside me, driving the transformation forward. I wanted to close my eyes, to block out the pain, but I couldn't. I was trapped in my own body, forced to endure every second.

Fur covered my whole body now. My limbs, my torso, everything was changing. The transformation felt like it was never going to end. I was in agony, each shift and change a fresh wave of pain.

In the midst of it all, I lost all sense of control. I could only watch as my body completed the shift, struggling to breathe through the pain that seemed to go on forever.

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3rd POV

After minutes of excruciating pain, the transformation was complete.

complete. Where Lucian had stood, a massive wolf now towered, its shoulder height reaching six feet, its black fur absorbing the light around it like a shadow come to life. The wolf's muscular frame was built for power and speed, and its golden eyes, ringed with red, gleamed with a predatory hunger.

The wolf threw its head back and unleashed a piercing howl that echoed through the forest, a primal declaration of its freedom. The sound was chilling, cutting through the night with an eerie resonance.

It sniffed the air, scents of animals and humans swirling around, but one stood out: a deer nearby. The wolf's instincts surged. It wanted to hunt.

Without hesitation, it bolted through the trees, its massive paws barely touching the ground. The thrill of the chase fueled it, every stride bringing it closer to its prey. As the scent sharpened, the wolf slowed, moving silently through the underbrush.

The deer came into view, grazing unaware. The wolf crouched, muscles tensed, waiting for the perfect moment. Then, in a flash, it lunged. Its jaws locked around the deer's neck, ending the struggle in a swift, brutal motion.

The wolf howled again, this time in triumph. It fed with purpose, leaving nothing to waste. Yet, the thrill of the hunt still burned in its veins. The scent of more prey lingered in the air, and the wolf, driven by hunger, began to track its next kill.

Unbeknownst to the wolf, a group of armed men—equipped with guns and crossbows—were closing in. They had heard the howls and decided to investigate. As they approached, they spotted the giant wolf devouring its kill. Too engrossed in its feast, the wolf hadn't noticed them. One of the men, trembling, radioed in.

"Boss, we found something," he whispered urgently. His voice was strained, and his eyes darted nervously. "It's a wolf. Huge. Bigger than any I've seen. It's tearing into a deer."

There was a pause on the other end. "Be cautious. Some werewolves can transform into wolves. Don't let it notice you. I'll be there in ten."

The men exchanged anxious glances and tried to retreat quietly, their every step heavy with dread.

Snap

One of the men accidentally stepped on a twig, the sharp crack slicing through the tension. The wolf's head snapped up, its golden eyes blazing with fury. It growled, a menacing rumble that seemed to shake the very trees.

Frightened, the men raised their weapons. The wolf's gaze was terrifying, its growl a low, threatening rumble. The bald man's face went white. "Fuck it, shoot it!" he yelled, his voice cracking with fear.

Bang Bang

The wolf was hit, bullets tearing through its body. The rounds were laced with poison, designed to be effective against such creatures, but the wolf remained unfazed. Its eyes glinted with a malevolent light as it continued to absorb the assault.

The men, seeing their efforts were futile, unloaded everything they had. The forest erupted with the sounds of gunfire and arrows. The wolf, now riddled with holes, finally dropped to the ground. The hunters, breathing heavily, prepared to inform their boss.

"Hey, Mr. Argent, we think we killed it," the bald man reported, his voice trembling.

"Good work. I'll be there in two. Stay alert," the boss instructed, his tone clipped.

Unbeknownst to them, the wolf's fury—and the man within—caused something more terrifying to emerge. The wolf's paws lengthened, and its snout extended grotesquely. It began to rise on its hind legs, now twice as long. Muscles bulged beneath its fur, and it let out a deep, guttural growl that echoed with primal rage.

The hunters turned and saw not just a wolf, but a monstrous beast with burning golden eyes. The transformation was horrific and awe-inspiring.

The beast lunged at one of the hunters, its powerful jaws tearing out his throat with a sickening crunch. The remaining men, now in full-blown panic, scrambled to escape. The bald man, his face etched with terror, frantically radioed in.

"Boss, hurry up! The wolf—it's changed! It's become something else!"

The forest was now a scene of chaos, the beast's guttural growls and the hunters' screams blending into a nightmarish symphony. The once quiet woods were alive with the sounds of terror and violence, setting the stage for a confrontation that would test the limits of both the hunters and the creature they faced.

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Sorry for the late release—took me a bit longer to get this chapter just right. Just to clarify, the howl Lucian heard was actually Peter's alpha roar, not Scott's. I hope that clears things up!