The moon hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the wooded clearing where I stood. I flexed my hands, my fingers curling into claws, feeling the power ripple through me. My senses were heightened—every rustle of the leaves, every distant sound, every change in the air. It was like I could hear the heartbeat of every living thing around me. The world felt sharper, more intense, more... alive.
I had to test it.
I had been experimenting in secret for the past few days, pushing my new abilities to their limits. I'd been careful to keep it hidden from Scott—he was still struggling with his own transformation, and I didn't want to make things worse for him. The last thing I needed was for him to feel like he was falling behind. But for me? This was exhilarating. It felt like I was tapping into something ancient, something primal, and I couldn't ignore the pull.
I took a deep breath, my senses now focused on the smallest details—the rustling of an animal through the underbrush, the sway of the trees above me. The adrenaline was already building, fueling the wolf within. It was a thrill, a rush I couldn't explain.
I began running.
The ground beneath my feet blurred as I sprinted through the clearing, my speed faster than any human should be capable of. It was like the air parted for me, my body moving with fluid grace, my legs stretching longer with each stride. I could hear the wind in my ears, could feel the tension in my muscles as they worked in perfect harmony. Everything slowed down for me—I was seeing the world through a different lens, faster than ever before.
I pushed myself harder, letting the speed take over. I didn't even know how fast I was going—there were no landmarks to measure against, but I didn't care. The exhilaration of it, the feeling of power in my bones, was enough.
The transformation felt... natural. It wasn't like I was fighting it; it was as if I was becoming it. My skin tingled with the familiar sensation of shifting, of becoming the wolf that I now carried within me.
I skidded to a halt, breathing heavily, my heart pounding in my chest. The forest seemed so much smaller now. My senses were firing on all cylinders, processing everything around me in real-time. I could smell the damp earth beneath my feet, the crispness of the evening air, the distant scent of prey moving through the woods. I could even hear the faintest sound of a deer's heartbeat, pulsing in the distance.
This is amazing, I thought, the grin on my face widening as I let out a breath, feeling the power surging through me.
I tested my strength next.
I found a fallen tree trunk nearby, its surface weathered and worn, its weight seemingly immense. I crouched, planting my feet firmly, and reached out. Gripping it tightly, I lifted the heavy log with ease, feeling the surge of muscle and strength flood through me. The weight felt almost negligible now, as if the physical limitations of a human body no longer applied to me.
"Okay," I whispered to myself, setting the log down with a soft thud. "This is just the beginning."
But as exhilarating as it was, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that I was only scratching the surface. There was still so much I didn't understand about these abilities. My instincts, my strength, my speed—all of it felt so alien, even though it felt natural at the same time. But what did this mean for me? How would this change me? Would I ever be the same again?
I glanced at the sky, the moon hanging above like a silent witness to my transformation.
I couldn't help but wonder—how much longer could I keep this from Scott?
I didn't want to feel superior, to show off. I didn't want to distance myself from him. But the truth was, I was already changing in ways I couldn't explain, and it seemed like he was still in the dark, struggling with his own transformations. I couldn't—wouldn't—let him feel left behind. Not again.
The sound of a car pulling into the driveway snapped me out of my thoughts. I froze for a moment, then quickly shifted back to my human form. My breath came in short bursts as I rubbed my hands together, focusing on calming myself down before anyone noticed anything unusual.
Scott. He'd be coming to check on me any minute now.
I made my way back toward the house, the cool night air brushing against my face. As I walked, I tried to calm my racing heart, but my thoughts kept returning to the same question. What was happening to us? What was this power that had taken root in our bodies?
And what was I supposed to do with it?
The next day, at school, things weren't much better. Scott had been quieter than usual, his eyes frequently darting around the hallways, and he seemed to be avoiding me. I had no idea how to approach him without giving away what I had been doing the night before. He was already dealing with his own fears and confusion about the bite, and I didn't want to add to that by acting like I had it all figured out.
During lunch, Stiles sat across from me, nibbling on a slice of pizza, his usual energetic self. But even he seemed to pick up on the tension between Scott and me.
"So, uh..." Stiles began, glancing between us. "What's the deal with you two? You're acting like you're in a competition or something."
Scott shot Stiles a look, though it lacked his usual sharp edge. "We're fine, okay? Just... trying to deal with things."
But his voice faltered, and I could see the strain in his eyes. He was struggling—more than he let on.
I sat back, crossing my arms as I watched him. "Look, Scott, you don't have to do this alone. Whatever's happening... we're in this together."
Scott didn't respond right away. He just stared down at his half-eaten lunch, his thoughts clearly elsewhere. Finally, he looked up, his gaze sharp. "You know, it's like... it's like something inside of me is changing, and I can't stop it. It's like... I can't control it." His voice was low, full of frustration and fear.
I didn't know how to comfort him, not with everything I was dealing with. But I knew one thing. "You will. It just takes time. You'll figure it out."
Scott didn't say anything, but I could see a hint of hope in his eyes. It was fleeting, but it was there.
As we walked out of the cafeteria, Stiles gave me a pointed look. "You're not telling him, are you?"
I hesitated. I hadn't planned on telling Scott about my experiments with my abilities. Not yet. He needed to work through his own stuff first.
"No," I said, trying to keep my voice neutral. "Not yet."
Stiles raised an eyebrow but didn't push. "Alright. Just... be careful. I've been doing some research. We might not know what we're dealing with here, but I'm pretty sure it's bigger than either of you realize."
I nodded, but deep down, I wasn't so sure. Bigger than we realized? It already felt like the ground was shifting beneath our feet. There was so much I didn't know. So much I had to figure out—before it was too late.
But as the days passed, one thing became clear: the power inside me was only growing stronger. And with it, I could feel the pressure building, pulling me deeper into a world I wasn't sure I was ready for.
But I didn't have a choice. Neither of us did.