It was that night of the month. Everyone had gathered in the clearing. Andrew could hear them moving closer, as they were walking on the fresh snow. They were coming to welcome him as the newest member of the pack. He was eventually one of them. They were equals. Actually, he was superior but it didn't really matter. He would hunt for the first time with all his brothers and sisters. A hundred and eight full moons was a long time to wait. Almost nine years after that day, when Lucious came and rescued him from the lie that used to be his life.

Lucious had given him everything that his mother had buried deep inside her so that he'd never find out. Lucious had trained Andrew like he was his own son; and he was, in a matter of speaking. And after all those years, Lucious was more like a parent to him. Even if he had to endure his mother every day, he was spending most of his time with Lucious, now that his succession was coming closer.

Andrew locked his gaze upon his father, leader and Alpha, and saw him approaching him, with his hands wide open.

"You make me really proud, son," Lucious said, his eyes glowing with pride.

"I hope one day I'll become half the leader that you are," Andrew said and hugged him.

"You were always destined for great things. I know you won't disappoint me," Lucious said and patted Andrew on the back.

"I hope I won't," Andrew said and looked at his brothers and sisters.
They were all standing close enough now, so he could see them clearly under the moonlight. Accalia and Larentia were standing in front of everyone else, smiling at their brother and best friend. The rest of the pack was standing a few feet away; everyone knew that after Andrew, Lucious' daughters were standing highest in hierarchy. They were all staring at Andrew, waiting for Lucious to give them the sign. As the moon was standing full and gloomy upon their heads, their eyes were glowing, taking that familiar emerald colour. The time had come.

"We all gathered here today to welcome one of our own; to celebrate his eighteenth birthday and his full accession to the pack," Lucious said. "Andrew is that little cub I brought into the woods nine years ago and today he is standing in front of you, ready to take my place. A true leader. The next Alpha of the pack," he went on.

The wolf pack was ready now. They were howling at the moon and at their leaders. Their clothes started tearing apart. They were standing naked in the cold night. Steams were emerging from their bodies, as their body temperature was getting higher.
In an instant, unnatural cracks covered the clearing. Bones were appearing from extraordinary angles, yet the wolves didn't seem to be in pain. They needed this transformation. They wanted it.  
Accalia and Larentia were standing horrified, yet proud, rattling their teeth. The other members of the clan followed their example, waiting for their pray to appear. Lucious walked forward and Lauren moved out of the trees' shadows, holding a fragile, young girl.

"The humans hunt and try to kill us every single day," Lucious began and the pack knew that now was the time. "This young girl over here found our homeland and she was ready to go and reveal our secret. Luckily, our dearest Lauren found her and brought her to me. She won't bother us anymore after today," he went on.
The pack was thirsty for blood. Even Andrew could smell her sweet scent and he hadn't even transformed yet. However, he knew which part he'd have to play tonight.

"Our future leader will have the honour. Kill the Silver girl and unleash our vengeance against her family that's been trying to destroy ours for nearly a century!" Lucious yelled.

Andrew looked up at the sky and his eyes instantly turned emerald. The transformation had begun and a few seconds later a seven-feet-high werewolf, with black fur and hazel eyes was standing right in front of the Silver girl.
She had her eyes covered but her terror was obvious to everybody. Little drops of sweat had appeared on her forehead. Andrew moved closer and took a breath. She was mouth-watering! His fangs were shining under the moonlight. He could almost touch her neck with his mouth right now.

"Wait!" a woman's voice sounded out of nowhere.
Andrew froze exactly where he was standing. It was so hard for him to resist right now, especially with that girl's pulse accelerating and sounding crystal clear in his ears. He turned around and came face to face with his mother.

"Oh, how kind of you to come Barbie!" Lauren said and revealed her fangs.

"Kindness is my middle name. And so is honour, something you clearly lack in," Barbara said.

"What are you implying Barbara?" Lucious asked.

"I'm not implying anything. I'm just saying that you do not offer the girl the only right she has here," Barbara said and moved closer to Andrew. "Remember who you are, son. Remember what you have to honour," she went on and turned towards the Silver girl.

"Fine!" Lucious yelled. "There is one thing we didn't tell you, Silver girl," Lucious hissed. "You can save yourself, only if you manage to escape from my son's teeth," he went on.
Lauren reached out for the girl's blindfold and uncovered her eyes. The Silver girl didn't even wait for her eyes to adjust to the moonlight. She poked Lauren on her chest and threw herself into the woods again.

Andrew was feeling lost. On the one hand he wanted to taste that human's flesh and blood. On the other, his mother's words were still echoing inside his mind. Somewhere in between though, he could hear Lauren cursing and Lucious shouting at Andrew to run after the girl.
Everything happened at the blink of an eye. Lucious, Lauren and even his own mother turned into werewolves, when Andrew started running after the Silver girl and her mouthwatering smell. He could hear their thoughts perfectly clear now. Well, theirs, Accalia's and Larentia's. Only those sharing the same genes could hear each other's thoughts. But there were some, like the members of the Alpha family, for instance, who could hide their thoughts even from themselves if they chose to. It wasn't that different from a normal family after all; knowing each other's secrets, unless the effort was big enough to keep them burried.

It's all your fault, Barbie!

If saving a human's life is wrong, I'll gladly take the blame!

Shut up! Both of you!

Lia, I'll keep the others in order!

I'll go find Andrew!

Voices, sounds, visions and all that he was able to see, hear and smell, were crossing Andrew's mind. He knew the Silver girl couldn't get far into those woods. She would be so easy to find with all those footprints on the snow. Andrew was running without getting tired. He could almost hear her heartbeat now. And yet, he couldn't see her. He took a few more steps and realised that the girl's footprints had disappeared. That could only mean one thing...
He turned his head towards the sky, trying to espy the Silver girl, when a scream sounded from the tree behind him. Andrew felt her falling on his back, but he was faster. And way much stronger. He caught the Silver girl from her neck and pushed her deep inside the snow. He could feel her pulse under his hand.

"What are you waiting for?" the Silver girl asked and stared him in his eyes. The previous terror had gone away. He couldn't say what she was feeling right now.
Andrew howled and took a deep breath. Flesh, blood and sweat. It was mesmerising! He wanted the whole pack to witness his victory against the human. He wanted them to know that he was the rightful leader. That's why he didn't want to kill the girl. Not just yet.

"If you won't kill me, I will," the Silver girl yelled. An instant later, Andrew was on fire. He started howling and his grab loosened. That was all the girl needed. She stabbed him again on his forearm and started running towards her salvation.

Andrew stared at his bleeding hand and then he realised. Silver. The Silver girl. The transformation was painful. He started turning back into a human again, only to realise that the essence of this cut was excruciating. He curled up near a tree. If only he could make himself disappear and take his shame with him.
Maybe Lucious was wrong. Maybe he wasn't leader material after all.

© Victoria Moschou. All Rights Reserved 2016-2017.