Ryan returned to the village, his breath steady despite the weight of uncertainty pressing on him. Kemi was awake now—conscious, alert, and very much transformed. His werewolf form loomed in the dim light, his eyes burning with something primal and furious.
Without warning, Kemi lunged. Claws tore through the air, fangs sinking into Ryan's arm. Pain flared, sharp and searing, as Kemi dragged him through the underbrush, his powerful limbs propelling them forward. The village faded behind them as Kemi ran, a beast driven by instinct or something more.
Then, with a guttural snarl, Kemi hurled Ryan into the open space ahead. He crashed hard, the impact knocking the breath from his lungs. Dazed, Ryan struggled to push himself up—only to realize something was changing.
The further they moved from the village, the stronger the pull became. His mind, his very thoughts, were slipping. A presence stirred within him, ancient and insistent. Rowin.
The voice coiled through his consciousness, drowning out everything else.
Once they were far enough from the village, Ryan reached out and touched Kemi.
The effect was immediate. Kemi's body went rigid, his limbs locking in place as if frozen mid-motion. His balance gave way, and he collapsed, sliding into the tall grass.
Ryan pushed himself up from the ground, his gaze fixed on Kemi's unmoving form. The moonlight cast long shadows over them, the air thick with silence.
Kemi's stiffened jaws barely moved as he forced out a name.
"Rowin?" His voice wavered, and in that instant, his monstrous form melted away, leaving only his human self—confused, vulnerable.
Ryan blinked. "Rowin? Have I been gone that long?" His voice softened as he knelt beside Kemi, then reached out, helping him sit up.
A flicker of recognition passed through Kemi's weary eyes.
Ryan let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "I see you're still running around naked."
With a smirk, he shrugged off his jacket and draped it over Kemi's shoulders.
Where were you rushing off to?" Rowin asked.
Kemi didn't answer. His breathing was shallow, his muscles still recovering from the paralysis.
Rowin tilted his head, studying him. "Hmm. The effects of my rigor should be wearing off by now."
"They have," Kemi admitted, rolling his shoulders stiffly. "I'm just not used to seeing you in this form."
A pause. Then he sighed. "He and a few others were heading to vampire territory. They plan to rescue Gina and perform a cleansing ritual to undo the leech activation."
Rowin listened as Kemi explained further, detailing the mission, the risks, and the stakes involved. When Kemi finished speaking, Rowin nodded—then, without hesitation, he drove his hand into Kemi's chest.
A sharp gasp tore from Kemi's lips as Rowin gripped his heart and yanked it free. The wet, visceral sound of tearing flesh filled the silence.
"They can't perform the ritual with a werewolf present," Rowin said casually, watching as Kemi crumpled to his knees, his life spilling onto the earth. "You understand, right?"
Kemi's body convulsed, his eyes wide with shock.
Rowin got to his feet, barely sparing him a glance. He turned toward the vampire territory, the fresh heart still pulsing in his grip. Slowly, methodically, he brought it to his mouth and took a bite, chewing as he walked.