Dawn found me awake, my senses still alert to the sounds and smells of the surrounding forest. I hadn't slept well; nightmares of sharp teeth and golden eyes had plagued my dreams. I sat up on the sofa, rubbing my tired eyes.
"Good morning, pup," Gideon's voice startled me. I hadn't heard him approach. "I hope you've rested enough. Today will be a long day."
I stood up, noticing that the pain in my shoulder had diminished considerably. Upon examining the wound, I was surprised to see it had almost completely healed.
"It's part of your new nature," Gideon explained, noticing my amazement. "Werewolves heal quickly. It's one of the many things you'll learn to appreciate over time."
After a quick breakfast, Gideon took me outside the cabin. The forest stretched in all directions, green and lush under the morning light.
"Your first lesson," Gideon began, "is learning to control your senses. They're now amplified, which can be overwhelming if you don't know how to handle them."
He had me close my eyes and focus on the sounds of the forest. At first, everything was a chaos of noises: birdsong, the whisper of leaves, the running of a distant stream. But gradually, under Gideon's guidance, I learned to filter the sounds, to focus on one at a time.
"Good," Gideon nodded when I managed to identify the sound of a deer grazing several hundred meters away. "Now, let's do the same with smell."
Hours passed as we practiced with each of my enhanced senses. It was exhausting, but also fascinating to discover what I was now capable of.
"How do you feel?" Gideon asked as we took a break at midday.
"Overwhelmed," I admitted. "It's like everything is new. As if I'm discovering the world for the first time."
Gideon nodded understandingly. "It's normal. But remember, these gifts can be both a blessing and a curse. You must learn to control them, not let them control you."
After lunch, Gideon took me to a clearing in the forest. "Now," he said, his voice turning serious, "we're going to talk about the transformation."
My heart raced at the mention of the word. It was what I feared most and, at the same time, what I was most curious about.
"The full moon will force your transformation," Gideon explained. "But with practice and willpower, you'll be able to transform at will at other times. You'll also be able to resist the call of the moon, although that requires much more experience."
"Does it hurt?" I asked, remembering the pain of the attack.
"The first time, yes," Gideon admitted. "But it gets easier with time. The important thing is not to resist. Accept the wolf as part of you, not as an intruder."
We spent the rest of the afternoon practicing mental and emotional control exercises. Gideon taught me meditation techniques and made me face strong memories and emotions, learning to stay calm and in control.
"Your anger, your fear, your passion... all these emotions can trigger the transformation if you don't control them," he warned me.
As the sun began to set, I felt that inner restlessness again, the pull of the wolf wanting to come out.
"You feel it, don't you?" Gideon asked. I nodded, unable to speak. "It's your wolf responding to the night. Breathe deeply, focus on maintaining your human form."
I fought against the urge to change, sweating from the effort. It was the longest hour of my life, but finally, the sensation diminished.
"Well done," Gideon smiled. "You've taken your first step in controlling your wolfish nature."
Physically and mentally exhausted, we returned to the cabin. As we ate dinner, I couldn't help but think about my previous life, the hospital, my coworkers.
"Gideon," I began, hesitantly. "Do you think I'll ever be able to return to my normal life?"
The old man looked at me seriously. "Define normal, Alex. Your life has changed irrevocably. But that doesn't mean you can't have a full and meaningful life. Many like you have managed it."
His words gave me some comfort, but also provoked more questions. "Are there others like me? A community of werewolves or something?"
Gideon nodded slowly. "There are. Packs, we call them. But not all of them are... friendly. Some see humans as prey or as inferior. That's why it's crucial that you learn to control yourself and defend yourself."
The idea that hostile packs existed chilled my blood. What kind of world had I gotten into?
"Don't worry too much about that now," Gideon said, noticing my unease. "For now, focus on your training. The time to worry about the outside world will come."
That night, lying on the couch, I reflected on everything I had learned. My body felt different, stronger, more agile. My senses picked up things I would have missed before. It was scary, yes, but also... exciting.
As sleep claimed me, part of me wondered what else I would discover about my new nature. And another part, a part that grew with each passing hour, longed to run free through the forest, letting the wolf take control.
The distant howl of a wolf was the last thing I heard before falling into a deep sleep, filled with dreams of moon and forest.