"Thanks for the ride, bud," Jake said, stepping out of the car.
"It's nothing, blud. Go rest up," Jimmy called from behind the wheel.
"Yeah…" Jake replied, turning around. His eyes lifted to the sky—and froze. The full moon hung high, glowing bright and heavy. As he stared, a sudden jolt ran through his body. His muscles tensed.
Jimmy noticed from the car. "Yo!" he called out, concern in his voice.
Jake blinked, snapping out of it. "Yeah, man—what's up?" he said, turning back toward him.
Jimmy frowned, uncertain. "Sorry for dragging you to that dumb reunion."
"No, no. No apologies needed—feeling kinda fuzzy in the head. Catch you later."
With that, he turned and made his way toward the building.
"Alright… see ya," Jimmy said, though worry still lingered in his eyes as he pulled away.
Jake stepped into the apartment and went straight to his room—head pounding, body still tense.
"SHIT! He's home," Sarah whispered, eyes darting around the room. She froze in place, debating whether to hide or reveal herself.
What do I do, what do I do?! she panicked.
Jake paused outside the door, his brow furrowed. The door was slightly ajar, though he was sure he had closed it before leaving.
"What the heck…" he muttered under his breath.
He started walking cautiously toward the door.
"Dad? Is that you?" he called out, his voice tense.
A sharp clink echoed from inside—something had fallen.
He froze.
Inside, Sarah's heart pounded. "Shit, shit, shit! I've got no choice…" she panicked. Her eyes darted to the window.
Her eyes began to glow with a golden light, pulsing like embers in the dark.
Her nails blackened as they turned into long, curled, sharp claws.
A pained shriek escaped her lips as her bones shifted beneath her skin.
Her jaw twisted with a sickening snap, stretching outward into a sharp snout.
Fangs burst from her gums, blood trickling as her human teeth gave way to a predator's bite.
Her muscles swelled—thick white fur sprouted across her limbs and back.
Within seconds, Sarah was gone—replaced by a feral beast—her full-wolf form.
Jake heard a low grunt and quickly opened the door. He caught a glimpse of the shadowy figure vanishing into the night.
What the hell was that? he thought as his heart froze.
He stepped toward the open window and closed it firmly. Must've just been the wind, he told himself, trying to shake off the unease.
"What's this…" he muttered, squinting at a small, white, fluffy piece of material caught between the pages.
It was soft, almost like fur—gleaming faintly under the moon's light.
Jake stared at it for a second longer, then sighed.
"Looks like I'll have to do a thorough cleaning tomorrow," he mumbled, letting out a long yawn.
"For now… I gotta sleep."
He tossed the fur onto his desk and dragged himself toward the bed, unaware of the eyes still watching him from outside.
Sarah remained crouched in the shadows, eyes narrowed as she watched Jake move about his room. His body language was calm—TOO calm.
I'm starting to think he's not aware… she thought, her gaze following his every motion.
Then her instincts flared like a growl in the back of her mind.
NO. Don't be stupid, they snapped. But what's he playing at? What's his endgame? Why let another wolf in his territory?
Her claws twitched as she gradually took human form.
She kept her eyes locked on the window. "I need answers… and I need them soon," she whispered.
Her fingers trembled slightly, not from the cold—but from what she had just done.
"I took the pill… broke the one rule."
The magic still lingered in her bloodstream, dampening the link to her pack—cutting off the telepathic bond they all shared. No one could track her now.
But there was a catch.
"No transformations…" she muttered to herself. "That was the deal."
The moment she shifted, even partially, the pill's magic would dissolve—and she'd be exposed. There would be no second chance.
"I wasn't supposed to shift tonight… I wasn't supposed to shift ever again… but he caught me off guard. That scent—" she gritted her teeth.
"Dammit, Jake… what are you hiding?"
She turned away from the window and disappeared into the night in her now-human form.
"He thinks he's the predator… cute. Next time I'm forced to shift, I'll make damn sure it's worth it."