The air was still tense after the figure in the shadows disappeared. Alex and Gideon stood motionless, listening to the forest echoes, but everything had returned to a deathly silence. The stranger who appeared minutes ago wasn't just a bystander. That feeling of threat hadn't vanished with him, and Alex knew something darker was looming over them.
"Who was that?" Alex asked, breaking the silence, his pulse still racing. He felt adrenaline vibrating under his skin, and the wolf inside him was restless, as if sensing what was coming.
Gideon put away his knife but didn't relax his stance. "One of them," he replied, his eyes fixed on the spot where the figure had vanished. "Hunters. But not the kind you know. These are different, they hunt the supernatural."
"Are they coming for me?"
"Probably. That guy... there's something about you that draws him. And if he already knows who you are, he won't be the last to come." Gideon glanced at him, studying every move. "But that's not our biggest problem right now. The main challenge is right above your head."
Alex looked up and saw the moon starting to fully appear from behind the clouds. Its light bathed the clearing in a silver glow, making the forest shadows stretch. His heart beat faster, and he felt a pressure building in his chest. The pull inside him was unmistakable.
It was the first full moon since his transformation.
"I'm not ready," Alex said, his voice shaking as he stepped back. "I can't control it."
"I knew this would happen," said Gideon, moving closer to him with a serious look. "It's the final test, Alex. No one's ready the first time. But now you can't fight it. If you resist, you'll lose control. You have to accept it."
Fear began to creep into Alex like a rising tide. He had trained with Gideon, had learned to stay calm and contain the wolf under pressure. But this was different. He could already feel his body starting to change, his bones hurt, and a sharp pressure ran through every muscle. The wolf inside him didn't want to wait any longer.
The moon was calling him.
"Gideon!" Alex shouted, falling to his knees as the first wave of transformation hit him. His hands dug into the ground, as he felt his nails grow and lengthen into claws. His skin tightened, his muscles contracted, and his vision began to change, the colors and smells of the forest intensifying to almost unbearable levels.
Gideon didn't move, watching firmly. "Breathe, Alex. Remember what I taught you. Don't fight it. Let it out."
But Alex could no longer hear. The pain consumed him, a feeling of being torn apart from the inside. He screamed as his body continued to change, his legs transformed, his arms lengthened, and fur began to sprout on his skin.
And then, the pain turned into rage.
Alex lifted his head, his eyes now a bright gold, filled with fury and desperation. The beast inside him had taken control. He jumped up, no longer human, but a mix between man and wolf, a fierce hybrid. He howled at the moon with a savage fury, a sound that echoed throughout the forest.
"Alex..." muttered Gideon, stepping back slightly, his hand sliding back to the knife on his belt.
The beast saw him, but didn't recognize him. Alex's gaze was clouded, lost in rage and predatory instinct. A low growl came from his throat as he took a step towards Gideon.
"Come on, kid... don't make me do this," the hunter muttered. But he knew the fight was pointless. The first full moon always caused the wolf to lose control. Alex was no longer aware of himself.
The creature launched an attack, moving at a speed that surprised even Gideon. He barely dodged the claws coming at his chest, rolling on the ground and drawing his knife in one motion. "Alex, damn it!" he shouted, trying to get his attention, but it was useless.
The beast attacked again, this time faster, with fangs bared and a tearing roar that filled the clearing.
Gideon knew he couldn't hold him back without hurting him. He had to wait for the right moment, stay calm, and hope that Alex would regain a flash of humanity, just enough to stop the fury.
But the full moon shone brightly, feeding the beast inside him. Alex's golden eyes gleamed with rage, and his only goal now was the hunt.
Gideon stepped back, weighing his options, but before he could react, the creature charged at him with all its might, sending him to the ground with a thud.
The hunter rolled, knife ready to defend himself, but just as the beast was about to launch the final attack, something changed. Alex's eyes blinked for a moment, and in them, Gideon saw something he didn't expect: a spark of recognition. A flash of awareness.
"Alex," Gideon whispered, seizing the moment. "Come back. Don't let it consume you."
The beast stopped, its claws inches from Gideon's throat. For a second, Alex's inner wolf seemed to hesitate, and the air in the clearing grew heavy, as if time itself held its breath.
Pain shot through Alex again, and his body slowly began to reverse. The savage growls turned into gasps, his fangs began to retract, and the fur disappeared. He fell to the ground, exhausted, breathing heavily, his body covered in sweat and dirt.
Gideon slowly got up, putting away his knife. "You did it," he said with a mixture of relief and pride in his voice. "You survived the first moon."
Alex didn't answer, his eyes were green again, but they were filled with a mix of horror and confusion. "What... what was that?" he muttered, still shaking from the experience.
"That," Gideon said, helping him to his feet, "was just the beginning."