–(Mark)–
I was awoken by James pushing Noah into my tent.
"Keep him here. I think I heard something that shouldn't be here at all."
I covered Noah with my stuff. He still had my scent on him, so I hoped that whatever was out there would just think it was me in here. I told him to not move and not to talk.
I heard the tearing of clothes and knew that James had transformed into his werewolf form. He stood at an imposing height of 7'6", his massive frame covered in thick, dark gray fur that seemed almost black in low light. Muscles rippled beneath the fur, highlighting the creature's immense strength. His broad shoulders and powerful limbs exuded a raw, primal power.
But I also heard something else in the woods that sounded bigger than James. I decided that I should take a look outside.
The confrontation between James and the other alpha werewolf was charged with raw, primal tension. James stood tall, his powerful frame tense and ready, muscles coiled like springs beneath his skin. His eyes, usually calm and thoughtful, now glowed with an intense red hue, a sign of his alpha status. The air around him seemed to crackle with barely restrained energy.
The other alpha, equally imposing, stood just a few feet away. His fur was a darker shade, almost jet black, contrasting starkly with the deep, crimson eyes that burned with fierce determination. He was slightly taller than James, his body brimming with raw power, every movement exuding an aura of dominance and challenge.
Both alphas had their hackles raised, their growls low and menacing, reverberating through the tense air. Their postures were almost identical, a testament to their shared heritage and status. Broad shoulders squared off against each other, massive arms at their sides, fingers twitching, ready to unleash the deadly claws if necessary.
James's expression was a mix of caution and confidence. He knew the stakes of an alpha confrontation, the potential for violence that could erupt at any moment. His gaze was locked on the other alpha's, an unspoken challenge.
The other alpha's demeanor was equally intense, his lips curled back in a silent snarl, revealing sharp, deadly teeth. His stance was aggressive, shoulders slightly hunched forward, ready to spring into action. The tension between the two was palpable, a silent battle of wills playing out in the space between them.
Around them, the forest seemed to hold its breath. The usual sounds of wildlife were absent, replaced by an eerie silence that amplified the gravity of the encounter. The trees, tall and ancient, stood like silent witnesses to the potential clash of titans, their leaves rustling softly in the wind, adding to the charged atmosphere.
Neither alpha made a move.
The tension finally snapped like a drawn bowstring. The other alpha lunged first, moving with a speed that belied his massive frame. His claws extended, aimed straight for James's throat. But James was ready, having anticipated the attack. He sidestepped with agility, his own claws slashing out to meet the assault.
The two alphas collided with a force that shook the ground beneath them. Their bodies were a blur of fur and muscle as they grappled, each trying to gain the upper hand. The air was filled with the sounds of their growls and the sharp crack of claws meeting flesh.
James managed to get a solid grip on the other alpha's arm, twisting it with a powerful yank. The other alpha roared in pain but retaliated quickly, raking his claws across James's chest, leaving deep gashes. Blood splattered, staining their fur, but neither seemed to notice, too caught up in the primal battle.
Using his superior leverage, James threw the other alpha to the ground, but his opponent was quick to recover, rolling back onto his feet and launching himself at James again. They grappled, muscles straining, as they pushed against each other, their feet digging into the dirt for traction.
With a burst of strength, the other alpha managed to push James back, slamming him into a tree. The impact was so powerful that the tree shook, leaves and branches falling around them. James growled, using the tree to spring back with equal force, catching the other alpha off guard and tackling him to the ground.
On the ground, the fight became even more brutal. They rolled and clawed at each other, snapping their powerful jaws, each trying to find a vulnerable spot. James landed a heavy punch to the other alpha's jaw but received a vicious bite to his shoulder in return. The pain was intense, but James used it to fuel his rage, slamming his elbow into the other alpha's ribs.
The other alpha, winded by the blow, staggered back, giving James a brief opening. Seizing the moment, James leaped forward, his claws slashing down in a deadly arc. The other alpha blocked with his forearm, but the force of the blow drove him to one knee.
Breathing heavily, both alphas paused for a moment, glaring at each other. Their bodies were marked with numerous wounds, blood dripping onto the ground. Despite the pain and exhaustion, neither was willing to back down.
I tried to hold back the urge to join James for as long as possible and stay with Noah, but I couldn't. Something snapped in me. I had a responsibility to join James because if he lost the fight, I wouldn't stand a chance, and Noah would soon follow me to my grave.
I began to shift into my werewolf form. My muscles tensed and bulged beneath my skin, veins popping out as they surged with supernatural strength. My breathing grew heavy and ragged, each breath a growl that seemed to come from deep within my chest. The transformation began with a series of loud, painful-sounding cracks of bones that started to shift and elongate.
When everything was said and done, I stood at 6'6" with black fur and spots of brown that ran along my collarbone.
Both James and I lunged at the intruder. The next few minutes were a blur with both James and me being injured on multiple occasions. When everything settled, my hand was in the other alpha's chest and James was pinning him from his back.
I got off of them both and let myself collapse on the ground. I felt a new sense of power deep within me, and everything was in a red tint now. I let myself revert back into my human form. When I stood up, I noticed everything was now at a different angle, and when I turned to James, I now stood an inch or two taller and had more muscle than him. My guess is I am now 6'4" ~ 6'5".
I told Noah to stay in the tent and that we were fine. I didn't want him to see the carnage. Also, we were both naked now, and my clothes would be tight on me, but I could make it work.
"What the hell just happened?" I asked James.
"An alpha just tried to take over our pack by trying to kill me. Also, you took that alpha's spark. That explains your growth," he stated in a calm voice as he got dressed.
"I'm sorry, what now?" I quickly got my stuff together.
"It's the reason for your change. You went from a beta to an alpha."
"What does this mean for me? Are you going to kick me out? Do I have to make my own pack now? Oh god, what am I going to do now? I just killed someone! I'm going to prison at the age of 16!" I started hyperventilating. It finally hit me what just happened.
"GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF. Things like this happen. It's part of the para world," James growled at me, his eyes turning red. My eyes turned into a mix of yellow and red. A part of me wanted to submit, another part wanted to challenge him to a fight.
"You're not an alpha yet. You still are rejecting the wolf in you. And besides, I am the one who turned you, so you may want to challenge me for pack leadership. It won't be possible unless either I accept your challenge or the majority of the pack wants a new alpha. It's ingrained in our nature: pack above self." James walked away, leaving me standing.
I stared out at the lake. This was supposed to be a nice weekend, not a fight to the death. James pushed something against my chest. I looked down, and it was Noah with a shirt tied across his eyes.
"Guide him to the cabins," James said. Wordlessly, I grabbed Noah by the shoulders and began to walk him through the forest. Once we got far enough from the campsite, I took off the blindfold.
Noah looked at my new changes. "Great, now there is definitely no way I will ever win in a wrestling match with you," he cracked a joke, but I could see the worry in his eyes.
"Excuses," I said in a weak voice.
"D-do you want to talk about what happened, Noah?" I tentatively asked.
"James said it would be best if we did that with Lyla present. But for what it's worth, Mars, you did what you had to in order to protect yourself and your family. Pack is the same for you, even if you do not see it." It helped a little.
It was midday by the time James got to the cabin. The talk with Lyla focused on Noah to see if he was traumatized. She said that Noah would benefit from doing a couple more sessions with her, but he shouldn't have any long-term trauma from last night. It was a blessing Noah had grabbed my headphones and used them to cancel out the noise of the fight with music. And James had used the blindfold to make
sure he didn't see the blood fest that was the campsite.
I, on the other hand, would need daily sessions for the next couple of days. Lyla explained that although I might not remember what happened fully right now, it would likely trickle in in glimpses.
In the evening, James came into my room at the cabin and sat on my bed with me.
"You know you won't be kicked out, right, Mark?" he paused before continuing. "You being made an alpha in transition does change the dynamics between the pack and you, but it doesn't cut them. And although you are nowhere near ready to be a leader—"
"Thanks."
"Shut it. We both know it's true. You are not even one with your wolf. I do see you being the pack leader when I step down. I saw it when I found you in the forest. You had this look in your eyes; you refused to die."
"Mm."
"However, it's going to get harder for the next week or so. You'll be prone to snapping at people more than ever and easily annoyed, but you'll mellow out. If anything, it will speed your overall recovery."
"And until you fully work through your rejection of your wolf side, you won't become a full alpha. You're stuck in between phases."
"Your parents have been told what happened, and they don't blame you one bit, Mark. They asked me if both of you were okay. I told them that you were fine and a little bigger now too."
"It's all muscle."
The drive back was silent. I sat in the back seat, basically hugging Noah. As we reached our parents' house, I saw them waiting outside, and as soon as we stepped out of the car, Noah and I were pulled into a hug.
As much as I wanted to stay with them, I needed to get back to Beacon Hill for my first day of classes.
It was nearing the middle of the night when we reached my home. James didn't pull in but stepped out of the car. Once inside, he took a pair of keys from his pocket and handed them to me.
"There was supposed to be a grand reveal, but after last night's event, I think I'll just tell you. I got you a Ram truck for you to drive. It's out in the backyard. I didn't want you to see it immediately. It's not brand new, but it has a few miles on it."
I went ahead and hugged him quickly. "Thanks, James. You're like the weird uncle that I didn't know about in the family, but you're still family."
"Jeez, thanks."
I heard knocking at the door. It was Scott and Stiles. Stiles didn't wait for me to greet him and immediately started to speak, "Hey, I overheard my dad on his radio saying they found a body and were about to go look for it. Wanna join?" he said in one breath.
"Yeah, no," James said before closing the door on them.
"You sure you want to make friends with them?" he asked.
"Who else would I make friends with?"
"Normal, sane teens."
"Where's the fun in that?"
"Go to sleep. It's already been a long day. I'm sleeping on the couch before driving back in the morning."
As I rolled around in my bed, trying to get into a relaxed mindset to fall asleep, it didn't happen until 1 in the morning when I finally managed to doze off, ending the summer vacation.