I woke up cold.
Not just cold—wrong.
The ground beneath me wasn't my bed. It was damp, uneven, covered in leaves that pressed into my skin as I shifted slightly.
I didn't move right away.
I already knew.
"…so it started."
I pushed myself up slowly, scanning my surroundings.
Trees. Fog.
The preserve.
I'd walked here.
In my sleep.
But this didn't feel accidental.
It felt like I'd been pulled.
Then I felt it.
A presence.
Not close—but not far either.
Watching.
Waiting.
For me.
I stayed still.
Didn't run.
Didn't panic.
My breathing slowed on its own as I focused on holding control.
"Then show yourself," I said quietly into the trees.
Silence answered me.
Then—
A low growl.
Not loud. Not aggressive.
Just heavy.
It didn't echo. It pressed.
I didn't move.
"If you wanted me," I said, a little firmer this time, "you wouldn't need to hide."
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then the pressure shifted.
Closer.
My instincts screamed at me to move. To run.
I held it.
Just for a second longer.
Then something in that presence changed—
And my body reacted before I could stop it.
I stepped back.
Then again.
Not fear.
Instinct.
And just like that, the control slipped.
I turned—
And ran.
By the time I made it home, the sky was starting to lighten.
I showered, changed, and sat on the edge of my bed, letting everything settle.
"…okay."
This time, I didn't ignore it.
I let the system surface.
[Proficiency System — Status]
Strength: 16.9–– Muscle Efficiency: 5.7–– Grip Strength: 5.5–– Explosive Force: 5.7
Speed: 17.7–– Movement Efficiency: 4.3–– Balance: 4.0–– Reaction Speed: 5.3–– Hand-Eye Coordination: 4.1
Endurance: 16.4–– Pain Resistance: 5.0–– Recovery Efficiency: 5.7–– Stamina Control: 5.7
Control: 15.9–– Sensory Filtering: 3.9–– Body Awareness: 4.2–– Emotional Regulation: 3.8–– Perception: 4.0
I read through it once.
Everything looked steady.
Balanced.
But that wasn't the problem.
The problem was what just happened.
I stepped back from the thought and dismissed the panel.
"…not enough."
I had just shut my locker when it slammed open again.
Jackson.
Right on time.
"All right, little man," he said. "How about you tell me where you're getting your juice."
I didn't react immediately.
"…what?"
He leaned in slightly, voice dropping.
"Where. Are. You. Getting. Your. Juice?"
Oh.
Steroids.
I almost laughed.
"You really think I need steroids?" I asked.
His expression tightened.
"There's no way you're pulling that off on the field without something," he said. "So you're gonna tell me what it is."
I stepped closer.
"Or what?" I said, just enough edge in my voice to shift the tone.
That landed.
He shoved me into the lockers.
"What the hell is going on with you, McCall?"
I held his gaze.
Didn't react.
"Nothing you can keep up with."
For a second, I thought he might swing.
Instead, he leaned closer.
"I'll figure it out," he muttered. "I always do."
Then he walked off.
I stayed where I was.
Didn't need to move.
"Let's go! Bring it in!"
Coach's voice cut across the field as we gathered.
I barely heard it.
Not because I wasn't listening—
Because everything else was louder.
Heartbeats.
Footsteps.
Voices overlapping.
I forced it down, filtering it into something manageable.
The full moon was already affecting me.
"McCall!" Coach snapped. "You got a question?"
I blinked, pulling myself back.
"No."
"Then stop staring into space and get out there!"
The whistle blew.
The game started.
The ball came toward me.
I caught it easily.
Too easily.
Everything felt lighter. Faster. Sharper.
I moved.
Not because I had to—
Because I already knew where everything was going.
I dodged one player.
Then another.
Jackson came at me.
I saw it before he moved.
Adjusted.
Slipped past him clean.
The goal opened.
I took the shot.
Scored.
Clean.
For a second, everything felt perfect.
Then something surged.
Not loss of control—
But close enough.
I exhaled sharply and forced it down.
Not here.
From the edge of the trees, Derek watched.
Still.
Scott moved differently.
Not like a new beta.
Too controlled.
Too aware.
No panic. No rage.
That wasn't normal.
Derek narrowed his eyes slightly.
Interesting.
"Scott! Scott, wait up!"
Stiles.
I didn't stop.
"Stiles, I've got first elimination—can it wait?"
"No," he said, grabbing my shoulder and turning me. "Listen to me. They found animal hairs on the body."
I already knew where this was going.
"…it was a wolf."
I didn't respond.
Not because I didn't care.
Because I couldn't focus on that right now.
His room was a mess.
Papers everywhere. Books. Printouts.
He looked worse.
"You've gotta see this," he said. "I've been up all night."
"How much Adderall?" I asked.
"A lot."
I sat down.
"This isn't a joke anymore," he said. "The bite, the wolf—this is real."
"I already told you."
He paused.
"…yeah, right."
I didn't respond.
"Full moon's tonight," he said.
I nodded.
"You are not going to the party."
"I'm going to the party."
"We already talked about this."
That broke him.
"Are you out of your mind?"
"I'm not losing control."
"You don't know that!"
"I do."
He stared at me.
Then said it—
"You're cursed, Scott."
That didn't hit the way he expected.
"I'm controlling it," I said.
"Not completely," he shot back, pointing at my hand.
I didn't respond.
Because he was right.
My claws were out.
The full moon was already taking effect.
"I'm calling Allison," he said suddenly.
"No, you're not."
He grabbed my phone anyway.
I moved before he could dial.
Shoved him back.
My hand clenched—
Too tight.
Too fast.
I forced it down.
The chair behind him cracked when I threw it aside instead.
Silence.
Stiles just stared at me.
I exhaled slowly.
"…sorry."
That one was real.
"I've got to go."
I grabbed my bag.
And left.
Later, at home—
I stood in front of the mirror again.
Breathing steady.
Pulse controlled.
Everything held.
For now.
But underneath—
Something was building.
Not out of control.
But not stable either.
I looked at my reflection.
Eyes steady.
Human.
For now.
I exhaled slowly.
Control wasn't as easy as I thought it would be.