The door suddenly opened, and two rough looking twenty-somethings walked in. They were clearly in shape, sporting the paramilitary-esque “high and tight” buzz cut and black BDU's.
“Well what the fuck did Eli catch us tonight?” said one with a laugh. He immediately brandished a combat knife.
“Goddamn, kid, you sure have a knack for finding 'em,” said the other. He pulled a baton out of his back pocket, the collapsible sort that police use. They both shone just a little too brightly. Silver, I realized. They wore the same simple cross necklace that Eli wore, and I worried I'd gotten drawn into a trap.
“Guys, guys wait!” Eli said, standing in between us. “He's not one of the bad ones!”
“Are you fuckin' high, Eli?” the man with the baton asked. “Get the fuck out of the way!” He reached out and with a powerful shove, knocked Eli to the ground.
My heart hammered. I still wasn't sure if this wasn't some elaborate ruse. My senses were on full alert, and the wolf aspect was fully waiting for a larger ambush to spring. “You don't want to do this..” I told them.
The men laughed. “That's where you're fuckin' wrong,” said the man with the knife. “The best part of catchin' you fuckers is the killin'.” His voice had a brutal southern twang of an uneducated Baptist. I could feel my rage building, and the bloodlust starting to set fire to my blood.
“You don't..want to..do this..” I said, gritting my teeth. I could feel my tendons tightening. I could hear my blood pumping in my ears, and I could feel the wolf ready to burst out. The air was almost palpably thick with the tension in the room.
While the knife wielder danced and kept my attention, the baton wielder lashed out and cracked me in the ribs. I crumpled in pain, gasping for air. He'd definitely broken at least one rib. They laughed, and began to put the boots to me. “I bet you wish you had the moon right about now, wolf boy!” Another kick, this one to my face, and my rage boiled over.
“And you're gonna wish that you had Jesus...but you'll meet him soon enough..” I said with a laugh, spitting blood onto the floor. And then I simply relaxed, and let the change start. The first time I changed, it felt good because sex was on the menu; this time it felt amazing because I knew I was going to kill.
I could barely control my body as it swelled and warped. My clothing shredded quickly from my frame as my mass increased exponentially.
“What the fuck?” said one of the idiots. |I could smell the fear pouring off of both of them. The baton came crashing down on me again and again, but I was beyond pain; it didn't halt the change or even impede it slightly. I stood up with a roar, lashing out with a giant taloned hand. The smell of blood filled the air as the claws met flesh. The baton fell to the ground with a clattering sound. A few flecks hit my muzzle, and I licked them off, tasting the coppery tang and relishing it. Only the nectar of a she-wolf's estrus could possibly beat the satisfying flavor that reached my tongue.
“Fuckfuckfuckfuck!” said the wounded man, grasping his wrist, trying to staunch the bleeding. I lunged, pinning him beneath me in a single pounce. He let out a single scream, cut short as I tore his throat out so completely that his head nearly was severed. Arterial spray coated my muzzle, and I let out a deep bass howl of triumph.
The knife wielder, whether from foolishness or madness, rushed me as I stood to face him. I grabbed him by his shirt, lifting him effortlessly off the ground. He kicked ineffectually at me and swatted more weakly than a child. The salty aroma of fresh piss filled the air as his wide eyes showed nothing but pure fear and his bladder gave way.
“BEG!” I roared, my eyes burning with fury.
“Aww fuck man fuck pleasepleasepleaseI'msorryI'msorry!!” he said, growing frantic as I bared my fangs.
“MORE!” I roared, slamming him against the wall, jarring the knife from his grasp and knocking the breath out of him.
“OhfuckfuckmanfuckwhatdoyouwantmanfuckfuckfuckPLEEEASSEEE!” He was sobbing, his spirit broken.
I leaned my muzzle up to his carotid artery and inhaled, drinking the nectar of his terror. It was calling me to end it. I'd tasted blood, and I wanted more. He tried to kill me. There was only one way this ended; this was the law of the world.
“PRAY..” I growled softly.
“Our f-father who art in heaven hallowed be thy-” With a snap of my jaws, his words ended. I greedily bathed in his blood, then let him drop as he shit himself.
I turned my attention to the other..and saw his fear. Had he betrayed me? No. I knew him. Gradually, the wolf ceded control, and I felt myself shrinking back down to my more normal proportions.
“Shit..” Eli said, staring at me in undisguised fear. “You..you killed them.”
“I didn't have a choice, Eli,” I said, thankful that I had a spare set of clothes. I quickly started to get dressed, not even thinking about how matter-of-fact I was about all of this. Should I have been upset? I didn't think so. It seemed pretty obvious to me. But judging by Eli's reaction, perhaps I was wrong.
“There's always a choice, James,” he said quietly. “Those men..”
“Were assholes?” I said, somewhat annoyed.
“Had families,” he responded. “They..”
“Made a really stupid decision and paid for it.” I was definitely getting annoyed at Eli now. I thought we were friends, yet here he was seemingly ready to mourn the two psychopaths.
“THEY WERE PROTECTING HUMANITY,” Eli said firmly. “They weren't perfect, but..they did good work.”
“Well, Eli,” I said angrily, “On that, we're gonna disagree.” I headed to the front door; I just wanted to go home now.
“The Order is going to come for you now,” Eli said. “I can't protect you. You've tasted human flesh.”
“You didn't do much of a job in protecting me earlier, either,” I said bitterly.
I left him sitting there in the house with two freshly-mutilated corpses; I figured he'd know what to do about that. Honestly, I didn't care. I wasn't even sure that he didn't set me up. The wolf told me there was every chance that he would have let them kill me.
“Fucking humans,” I said in annoyance. “I wish I was home.”
And suddenly, I was home. I heard the sound of tea being made, and knew that it had to be Nan. Good. I had questions.