The sun was barely peeking over the horizon when Alex found himself standing at the edge of the forest, looking towards the city he once called home. The familiar scent of hot asphalt and car exhaust reached his enhanced nose, causing a mix of nostalgia and apprehension.
"Are you sure about this?" asked Gideon, who stood beside him, his face wrinkled with concern.
Alex nodded, though he felt a knot in his stomach. "I have to do it. I can't just disappear without explanation."
Gideon put a hand on his shoulder. "Remember what we practiced. Stay calm, control your emotions. And if you feel like you're losing control..."
"I leave immediately," Alex finished. "I know."
With one last glance at Gideon, Alex began walking towards the city. Each step took him further from the safety of the forest and closer to a life he was no longer sure how to fit into.
St. Mary's Hospital loomed before him, a building that once felt so familiar and now seemed strangely alien. Alex took a deep breath, focusing on keeping his senses under control. The smell of disinfectant and illness was overwhelming.
"Alex!" a female voice pulled him from his thoughts. It was Sarah, one of the nurses he used to work with. "Oh my God, you're back! We were so worried."
Before he could react, Sarah wrapped him in a hug. The warmth of her body and the scent of her perfume flooded his senses, and for a moment, Alex felt the wolf inside him stir.
"I'm fine," he managed to say, gently pulling away. "I just... had an accident. I needed time to recover."
Sarah looked at him with a mixture of relief and curiosity. "It must have been serious. Your uncle called us, but he didn't give many details."
Alex made a mental note to thank Gideon for covering his absence. "Yes, it was... complicated. Is Dr. Reyes in? I need to talk to her."
Sarah nodded and led him to the head nurse's office. As they walked through the hospital corridors, Alex felt as if he were in a dream. The sounds, smells, even the fluorescent lights seemed more intense than he remembered.
Dr. Reyes looked up from her desk when they entered. Her eyes widened in surprise. "Alex, what a surprise. You had us worried."
Alex sat down in front of her, trying to maintain an appearance of normalcy. "I'm sorry about that. I... came to explain my absence and... well, to submit my resignation."
The words came out of his mouth before he could fully think them through. But deep down, he knew it was the right thing. He could no longer be the nurse he once was.
Dr. Reyes stared at him, her eyes scrutinizing his face. "Are you sure about this, Alex? You were one of our best nurses."
For a moment, Alex felt his eyes beginning to change. The stress of the situation was affecting his control. He closed his eyes for a second, breathing deeply.
"I'm sure," he finally said. "My accident... made me re-evaluate many things. I need a change."
The conversation continued for a few more minutes, with Dr. Reyes expressing her disappointment but respecting his decision. When he finally left the office, Alex felt relieved but also sad. It was the end of a chapter in his life.
As he walked towards the exit, a familiar scent stopped him in his tracks. It was blood, fresh and abundant. His senses instantly sharpened, and he could hear the chaos in the emergency room.
"We need help here!" someone shouted. "Multiple car accident on the highway!"
Without thinking, Alex headed towards the sound. The scene in the emergency room was chaos of injured bodies and rushed medical staff. The smell of blood was overwhelming, and Alex felt the wolf inside him struggling to come out.
"Alex!" Sarah shouted. "We need a hand!"
For a moment, Alex stood paralyzed. The wolf wanted to hunt, wanted to taste the blood that smelled so intensely. But the human part of him, the nurse he had been, wanted to help.
With superhuman effort, Alex managed to control the wolf. He approached one of the gurneys and began to work, his movements faster and more precise than ever thanks to his new abilities.
For the next few hours, Alex worked tirelessly, using his enhanced strength and senses to save lives. When he finally finished, he was exhausted but satisfied.
"That was incredible, Alex," Sarah said, looking at him with admiration. "Are you sure you want to quit?"
Alex smiled sadly. "I have to, Sarah. But thank you for this. I needed to remember who I am."
As he left the hospital for the last time, Alex felt conflicted. He had managed to control the wolf in an extreme situation, but he had also realized how dangerous it could be to be around so much blood and chaos.
The sun was setting when he reached the edge of the forest. Gideon was waiting for him there, a silent figure among the trees.
"How did it go?" the old man asked.
Alex looked back towards the city he was leaving behind. "Difficult. But necessary."
As they ventured into the forest, Alex felt that a part of him was being left behind. But another part, the part that now ran with the wolf, looked forward with anticipation.
"Gideon," he said as they walked, "I think I'm ready to meet that pack you told me about."
The old man nodded, a small smile on his lips. "Good, pup. Because they're eager to meet you too."
Night fell over the forest, and with it, the distant howl of a wolf. Alex felt his blood responding to the call. His journey was just beginning.