Gavin's vision was unfocused. His hearing muted. He trembled on the stump as he attempted to control his raging emotions.
He felt his mana flow exploding out of his body. How do I have this much power and energy? Where is it all coming from? The waves of energy ruffled Erza's long wavy hair and sent waves of power across the campground.
Veronica, what is going on? Gavin asked. Something's wrong. All I can feel is this utter rage and a hatred so potent I can't think rationally.
You are experiencing violent emotions from your inner wolf. The first time you shifted these emotions are what consumed you. The fear of your acknowledged mate being harmed is what triggered the shift. Veronica's cool presence paused for a moment. The strength to control the emotions and in return your inner wolf, must come from you Gavin.
Great, so much an all-powerful sentient AI, Gavin mused to himself as he struggled on the stump. He focused back on the breathing techniques Erza just went over with him. Inhale the cool refreshing air, hold it, then exhale.
Again.
Repeat until he can gain control.
I am not some mindless beast! You will bend to my will, not the other way around! Gavin gritted his teeth and repeated that mantra in his mind over and over.
His mana continued to rage out of control. the crimson energy stirred up the flowing river nearby and the wind began to bend and push the trees on the edge of the forest.
"Gavin, you have to calm down. Control your mana flow. Calm your emotions or the wolf will take over. Just like it did at the studio!" she urged him.
Gavin was visibly shaking on the stump. His eyes were closed, and a bead of sweat fell down the side of his face. The very energy was surging through the campsite. Aria and Lyla stood nearby to intervene if necessary and Tessa looked in horror at what she could feel coming off her best friend.
Is this…. Gavin? Is this what he became that night? Tessa covered her mouth in horror. She held onto the back of Lyla's shirt with one hand as she kept her eyes glued to Gavin.
Gavin took a deep breath. He inhaled through the nose. He held it for a few seconds and then exhaled through his mouth. I will beat you down, and your power will be mine to use! He remembered back to the night in the studio; when Gavin killed those men.
He took another breath, held it for a few moments then released it.
He recalled the smell of sweat and blood in the apartment. The sight of Aria, lying face down on the ground in a pool of her own blood. Erza's angry shouts as she took shots at the men. Gavin shook his head as he recalled the surge of anger that overtook him as he witnessed a gunshot almost hit her in the head.
Then he remembered the feeling that took over him.
He felt that electrical energy surging through his body. His mana flow was wild and chaotic during that first shift. But his muscles and nerves vividly knew what to do.
He took another breath. He focused on his surroundings as he kept his eyes closed. Erza kept trying to offer soothing words to walk him through this. He heard the river flowing nearby. The rustle of leaves as the wind whirled up through the trees. His own hair brushed across his forehead. He felt his mana flow freely inside his body moving through his nerves.
Erza sat there stunned into silence. She witnessed Gavin's attempt at gaining control over emotions. His wild and chaotic mana was slowly pulled back internally, and the pressure in the area lessened.
Her own feline cat recognized his power and strength, and he hadn't even shifted yet.
She fought against her own animal instincts as she watched him go through the breathing exercises. If I didn't know any better, I think he's slowly getting control.
Gavin opened his eyes as he looked at Erza. "I think I'm getting this under control. Is it always this much of a struggle?" His voice was raw and filled with exhaustion. His body was covered by a thick layer of sweat, and he panted, swallowing past his dry throat.
Erza shook her head. "Maybe it has to do with the different species, but when I was taught, this didn't happen," she said softly as she watched him curiously.
"The wolf is so angry, so wrathful. It wants nothing but blood, destruction and carnage," Gavin said softly as he focused his attention internally.
Erza nodded, "It kind of makes sense. The wolf is a lot more of a feral beast than my cat," she mused.
"Here, I want you to try something," she said and paused, waiting for his attention before she continued. "I want you to close your eyes and visualize your inner canine. Let it rise to the surface. Imagine the sensation of fur growing over your body. Feel the bones shifting, your muscles reforming to adapt to your new form. It will be like awakening a dormant part of yourself." Her voice dropped to a soothing whisper, and she closed her eyes as she continued to guide him. Her own mana and energy resonated with the primal power of the wild wolf inside him.
Gavin closed his eyes again. He remembered what happened that day all over again. He pictured in his mind's eye what they described to him.
A large terrifying black wolf. He stood tall on two legs, his shoulders broad and imposing. His arms and legs were lean, long and fit. It was a body made for speed and agility.
Erza's eyes fluttered open, her amber irises now glowed with a soft, ethereal light. She gazed at Gavin with an intense, yet gentle expression. She sensed the shift once again in his energy.
"That's it, Gavin. You're getting closer. Feel the change happening within you, the surge of power and vitality. Let that vision of the wolf consume you, become one with it," she encouraged as she reached out to give his hands a comforting squeeze.
This time the energy wasn't as chaotic and malevolent as he focused on the image of his wolf.
Gavin felt his senses sharpen. His hearing became more acute. His sense of smell was stronger. Even outdoors he recognized the sweet vanilla and lavender of Erza's shampoo.
Then a new pain started spreading throughout his body. His very blood was on fire as his body began to shift. He felt his legs elongate, his chest and back grew in size and muscle mass. His arms became long and lean with razor-sharp claws at the end. A thick fluffy tail sprouted from his lower back. His head grew in length with a wolf's canine snout, his teeth razor sharp like a predator's. Black fur manifested over his entire body, soft and warm to the touch.
Gavin trembled from the physical drain of the transformation. He was able to stay conscious and maintained control of his emotions this time. The wolf's anger was still there, palpable, yet reduced to a simmer just under the surface.
Erza had shifted in response to the primal energy she felt from him. Beautiful snow-white fur covered her body as her glowing amber eyes fixed on him with concern, and something else.
Erza gasped in surprise as Gavin opened his eyes. No longer were they the piercing blue she had fallen in love with. Now they were a horrifying crimson red, the color of blood. They glowed with a primal, animalistic intensity in response to the power contained within his body.
Aria and Lyla had also shifted. Unsure if Gavin was the one in control or not, they moved to step in front of Tessa, their red and brown fur-covered bodies providing a small measure of protection for the normal human girl.
"Gavin, is that you in control?" Erza hesitatingly asked and walked the few feet over to her partner.
Gavin swallowed hard. He had never felt such power and freedom in his life. His body felt riddled with untouched strength.
Like he was top dog.
Top alpha.
He shook his head to clear it of those idiotic thoughts.
I have some strength and power now, but I will not allow this beast to take control! He looked at Erza and his jaw dropped.
She stood there in front of him. Her fur was white as snow under her clothes as she looked at him with concern and love in her amber gaze. "Gavin, are you in there?" she asked him again.
Gavin realized he was gawking at his girl, and he grinned wolfishly at her. His canines reflected the sunlight as he did so. "Yeah baby, sorry. I got distracted by your shifting," he replied sheepishly. Her tail swished back and forth in irritation at his response as her eyes narrowed.
Quest completed. User Gavin Johnson gained control over his inner wolf. Reward will be given by the system in the form of one Divine Key.
"Get your mind out of the gutter, we have work to do," she chastised him. She smiled warmly. He always knew what to say to charm her. Maybe that was part of why she fell in love with this goofball.
Her feline senses were on edge as she stood so close to the feral beast in front of her. The animal in her appreciated the magnitude of his aura that was radiating off his body. His mana was no longer a chaotic maelstrom in the campsite.
It was more like a condensed, polished version. She purred in deep satisfaction as she appreciated that this beast was hers.
Gavin leaned back in surprise as he looked at her. Did she just? No… No way she just… "Did you… just purr at me?" he asked with laughter and mirth in his voice. The deep rumble of his laugh sent unwanted tremors through her body.
She stood there, mouth open, small little feline fangs shining in the sunlight. "Oh my god… Shut up. That did not happen," she said, face flushed underneath the snow white fur.
Gavin laughed even harder. He looked down at his fur covered arms and his hands. He opened and closed his hands, careful not to let his razor sharp nails pierce is palms. I think, I've actually got control right now. I notice what she meant about the drain, but it's nothing severe like I imagined for the first time. Like a leak from a damn, slow and subtle.
He rubbed his hands up and down his arms, getting a feel for it. So soft. "Damn, I should just shave off the fur and make a blanket out of this," he jokingly said as he looked up to see Aria and Lyla walking over with Tessa behind. He noticed the apprehension as they slowly came over.
Gavin had the childish urge to jump forward and scream "Boo."
"It's alright guys. I think I have control of the wolf now," Gavin offered them a playful grin. The wind started picking up, and his fur rustled against his body. "But holy crap, everything is sharper. All my senses feel like they are electrified on a whole other level," Gavin said as he walked around camp and got a feel for his new form.
Erza walked over with a grin on her adorable face. She chuckled as Gavin stumbled here and there while getting used to his new body. "Wanna go for a run baby?" she asked him as she reached out to take his hand.
Gavin smiled as he saw Erza's outstretched hand. He was excited to go for a run as a were-wolf.
He looked over to see Aria and Lyla grinning as they stepped up. They both seemed to admire Gavin's fierce were-wolf form. Tessa, on the other hand, looked absolutely terrified of Gavin. Her fingers clutched Aria's red fur as she walked behind them.
Gavin said softly as she approached, "Hey it's still me, butt munch." Gavin teased her gently, keeping his movements slow and steady.
The barest hint of a smile played at the corners of Tessa's lips as Aria, Lyla and Erza all turned to look at the frightened human. Erza reached her hand out to gently grab Tessa's in her fur-covered hand. "It's alright, Tessa. Our boy is in full control now, aren't you baby?" Erza asked quietly as she offered her friend a reassuring squeeze in her hand.
He didn't want to make any fast movements. The last thing he wanted was to frighten his oldest friend. The fear slowly faded from her eyes as she took a step forward, Erza right by her side. The smell of her body wash and shampoo filled Gavin's sensitive nose.
Gavin tried to offer her as soft and comforting a smile as he could. He was still getting used to moving in this new body of his.
Tessa swallowed hard, her mouth and throat incredibly dry as she looked at the towering beast in front of her. Even without the senses of an animal, I can feel the raw power coming from him.
She raised her right arm, her left hand still gripped Erza's soft hand tightly. She reached out to feel Gavin's soft fur against her palm. The fur on his body tickled the skin of her hand. "So soft, you feel like the ultimate cuddly teddy bear," she said quietly as she stroked his cheek with her hand.
Gavin grinned as he looked at Tessa. He had the sudden, childish urge to jerk forward and scream, "BOO" just to mess with her. She would be all kinds of pissed off if I did that. But would it be worth it?
Gavin decided against such a childish action. So, he stayed where he was, opting to give her the time she needed to reassure herself that this was still her best friend. This was Gavin, the boy she had grown up with since sixth grade.
Tessa suddenly blushed as she realized everyone was watching her stroke Gavin's soft fur along his snout. "Sorry," she mumbled out in embarrassment and pulled back her hand.
Erza squeezed her hand as she looked at Tessa. "See? He's just a big scary dog, all bark and no bite," she said to Tessa.
"Hey!" Gavin said in protest as he whipped his head in her direction. The childish protest and action caused Tessa to smile widely, and a laugh bubbled up from inside her.
"Okay, yup. That's definitely the annoying jerk face I know," her laughter was infectious and did wondrous things to lighten up the mood of the campsite.
Gavin walked around camp slowly. It was going to take a little bit for him to get comfortable in his new body. His legs and arms were longer, he realized, he was standing taller than he did as his normal body. Surprisingly, his jeans still fit around his waist, though they were a bit tighter than they should have been. He looked down and noticed his feet were larger as well.
His claws ripped straight through the sneakers he had on. So, he couldn't wear shoes when he wanted to shift. Good to know. He would store that knowledge away for use later.
Lyla looked over to watch Gavin walk around the camp and suddenly burst out laughing. Erza, Tessa and Aria looked at her confused. "His shoes… He ripped through them," she said as she pointed at Gavin's feet that were poking through the material of his shoes. The others just started snickering at the absurdity of a big bad were-wolf that tore his shoes apart with his own feet.
Gavin turned at the sound of their snickers and laughter and noticed they were pointing and looking at his feet and the shoes that were now ruined. "Oh, ha ha, very funny you guys," he complained at them as he walked back. He felt the slow drain of mana as he kept up his were-wolf form.
He got a feeling, an emotional response from his wolf every time he looked at Erza. It was as if even his wolf recognized Erza as his chosen partner, or in the wolf's eyes, his mate. Perhaps that was how they forged such a strong and unique bond over the years.
Things to ponder another day. Right now, he wanted to enjoy this feeling of strength and power in his body as he worked to get stronger and learn to control this form one hundred percent.
Erza was delighted inwardly. Unlike the others, she had seen his first transformation at the studio. The wolf was so frightening and brutal in the way it fought. The armed men stood no chance against him once he had shifted.
She still remembered the look of shock, fear and confusion on the man's face as Gavin shoved his arm through the man's chest and exited through the back, clutching the still-beating heart in his black fist.
She shook her head. She feared she would never forget the events of that day, for a multitude of reasons. She shifted back to her human body. She grabbed a hair tie out of her pocket and pulled her hair back behind her in a loose ponytail.
"Let's get the rest of the camp set up, then we can work on testing you for magic abilities," she instructed as she took off her hoodie and threw it over one of the picnic tables.
Gavin nodded as he stepped forward. She placed her hand out on his chest to stop him. "You, however, have to stay as a wolf for now. Get used to the feeling of your body shifted. The more time you spend in your shifted body, the less the mana drain affects you," she informed Gavin of his specific marching orders.
Gavin cocked his head as he considered that information, "Yeah, okay, like working a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets, right?" he asked.
She nodded in response. "That's right. The more practice you get shifting and being in your shifted body, not only will you gradually grow in control and strength, but the mana drain will also become less on your body," she told him.
She had to force herself not to keep staring at him. Even as a wolf, she still recognized his handsome features. The strong set of his jaw, his lean and nimble physique. His eyes may be terrifying crimson blood-red, but for the moment, they no longer terrified her.
With your current mana flow level, I estimate that you can keep this form up like this for about another hour, Veronica informed Gavin. Her cool presence washed over his mind as she spoke.
Only for an hour? Gavin asked her internally; disappointment crept into this mental voice.
Unfortunately, yes. That will be all your current level of strength will allow you to do. As you grow stronger, like she said, you will be able to keep your body shifted for longer periods of time, she responded to his questioning voice.
Gavin recalled one other bit of information. Veronica, just a few minutes ago I completed a quest and received something called a Divine Key. What is that?
The Divine Key is used for accessing a special training dimension created by Koray. Time flows differently in there. The keys are rare to come by, but inside the training realm you can grow leaps and bounds in a short amount of time.
Gavin raised an eyebrow at that. That was good information to have. He would have to visit this training realm first chance he got.
The group began to walk around the camp. They set the coolers with the food and drink next to the picnic table as they each picked up a spot to set up a tent. Gavin had never honestly set up a tent before, and it was obvious that he struggled.
Erza laughed softly as she walked over and took the tent poles from his hand. "Here, let me help you," she said as she easily guided him through setting up the tent next to hers.
He huffed in embarrassment. Or at least he tried to. In his wolf's body it came out more as a low guttural growl. The sound caught Erza's attention as it made the cat inside her purr in appreciation. "What kind of sound was that supposed to be?" she teased him. "You have struggles setting up a tent, so you sound like you want to burn and eat the fabric for daring to give you problems," she gently ribbed him.
"Oh, shut up," he snapped at her before he cracked a wide toothy grin at her. "Not my fault," he said defensively as Aria and Lyla laughed over by their tents. Erza just shook her head as she walked over to her SUV and pulled out a wooden chest. She carried it over to the table and sat it down before she opened it.
Gavin felt the drain worsen on his mana, so he decided to close his eyes and picture his human body, ending the expenditure of mana flow and shifting back to his normal appearance.
Erza sucked in her breath as Gavin shifted back unexpectedly. "Well done babe, that was longer than I thought you'd have lasted," Erza said happily as she watched Gavin walk over to the picnic table. She could see the exhaustion on his face now that he was human again.
He nodded to her tiredly. "Thanks, I started to actually feel the mana drain. My limbs felt heavy, almost sluggish. So, I figured that was close enough to my limit for now and wanted to play it safe, so I didn't pass out again," he said as he sat down on the bench at the table.
That decision was sound, Master Gavin. You were down to ten mana points left. Veronica's voice filled his head.
Gavin's eyebrow twitched as he replied. Next time, please inform me when it gets that low. It seemed it would take some time for them to become a true partner to each other.
She frowned as she looked at him. She could see the exhaustion written all over his face. His forehead had a small layer of sweat that glistened in the sunlight. She noticed the sweat stains on his chest and back of his shirt. "We should wait and do the magic test tomorrow, let your mana recover tonight," she said thoughtfully.
Gavin frowned but kept his mouth shut. That alone told Erza just how tired he was from the mana drain. "Now, let's get a fire going and get us some food cooking," she said cheerily as her stomach rumbled loudly.