"Holy shit, I am werewolf," he would say to no one in particular. While yes, he had said that before, having actual proof of it was very nice.
Though watching yourself get your ass kicked wasn't fun.
He went to the bathroom, the cold tile pressing against his bare feet, and looked at his abs in the mirror.
There he could see it.
A fist print.
Her punch had not healed yet.
"Dam, she hit hard." He hadn't thought a punch would take that long to heal. She had rocked his shit like no other.
But he didn't really mind. She stopped him from doing something he would have deeply regretted.
His mind drifted back to the feeling of being transformed. He remembered it well — the heat, the tearing, the overwhelming instinct.
He wondered if he could.
Standing there, staring at his reflection, he tried to feel that feeling again.
His skin was burning like crazy, adrenaline flooding his system, his heart pounding hard enough that he could hear it in his ears.
He looked at the mirror and tried to see if he could get anything out of it, even growling under his breath.
"Fuck, I look so corny!"
He couldn't take himself seriously. Trying to turn into a werewolf in front of a mirror felt stupid as hell. If Michael saw this, he would never let it go.
He groaned a bit. He really looked ridiculous trying to turn into a werewolf.
"But like I really wanna."
He didn't know what to do. On one hand, he had awesome powers. On the other, he couldn't access them for shit.
Looking at the mirror again, he noticed something.
Wolf ears.
"Heh?"
The smile on his face was so wide it almost touched his ears.
Yet before he could even focus on his new super hearing, his necklace lightly glowed, and the ears vanished like they were never there.
"Heh, aw come on."
He sounded genuinely disappointed. He had almost done it, and then bam — shit vanished.
He squeezed the sink, annoyance creeping up his spine. Yet he wasn't breaking it. It seemed like his control over his strength had increased way more than he realized.
Then—
The sound of his door ringing echoed through the apartment.
"Someone here."
He pondered a bit. He rarely got visitors. This was an apartment complex, and he wasn't exactly living on the first floor. He was, in fact, on the second floor, meaning whoever it was had done some walking.
It probably wasn't the mailman — that shit was downstairs.
He sniffed the air on instinct.
A familiar smell.
"Michael."
The name came out of his mouth before he even realized it. That expensive perfume smell could only come from someone who spent money without even thinking about it.
He didn't even put a shirt on. His buddy was here.
Walking out of the bathroom, he made his way to the door, unlocking it and swiping the little chain off before pulling it open.
"Yo," he said calmly.
"Coming out shirtless just for me? You going to make me blush."
James instantly regretted not putting on his shirt. He had forgotten something very important.
In terms of zestiness, Michael could not be topped.
"You gay for this shit," James said, annoyed.
"Hey, don't call me gay 'cause I know what I like. Some chocolate does sound very good right about now."
James was about to slam the door in his face.
"Fine, joking, jeez. You always take things way too seriously."
Michael sighed, like James was the unreasonable one for not accepting such a small joke.
"Why are you here?" James asked.
"Can a bro not visit his bro for fun!"
Michael smiled as he said that, but for some odd reason, James felt like that wasn't his real intent. Something was off.
He felt worry.
He sniffed the air again.
How the fuck did he know what worry smelled like?
Probably the way Michael kept glancing around, like he was checking to see if anyone else was inside. Or the light sweat on his back.
Sweat.
That was odd.
In the four years James had known him, he barely saw Michael sweat. The guy almost never did.
"You look like you ran a marathon."
For fuck's sake, his clothes were a tad bit dirty too.
"Well, I kinda did. My house is like kinda like an hour away."
James stared at him.
"I mean walking, yes, but with a car it like five to ten minutes. Your house is not that far."
He wasn't wrong. The school was in the middle of town, and Michael's house, while at the edge, was still within city limits. Upper middle class area, since the town didn't really have a rich half.
The only rich family was Michael's.
The Verporment or some shit like that. James never paid attention to people's last names.
"That would have been too slow."
James blinked.
The fuck you mean a car would have been too slow?
"So you saying that you are faster than a car?"
He said it with a completely deadpan look.
"I am not saying that per se. There is some stuff I can do a car can't."
James didn't ponder on it too long. This city had a shit ton of shortcuts. Probably that. What else could it possibly be?
"Plus, like, I know you seen my last message, and you not the kind of person to leave me on seen."
James checked his phone.
The last few messages he missed while he was busy getting bitched around by Luna stared back at him.
Sent at 9:00 AM
Sent at 9:12 AM
He checked the time.
9:15 AM.
Which meant this fucker got to his house in three fucking minutes. Two minutes if we were being honest.
"I mean yeah, I am not that kind of guy."
James scratched the back of his head.
"And I knew that, sooo like why did you not reply to my messages? It hurt my feelings~"
James closed his eyes. He could feel the ragebait trying to sink its claws into him, but he decided against it. Showing a reaction was exactly what this fucker wanted.
And he wasn't giving it to him.
"Stop with the bullshit!"
"So close."
Michael sighed, genuinely disappointed. He was so damn close to getting James to crack.
But from his reaction and scent, this was definitely James.
Though something still felt weird.
Michael smelled the air.
Something he hated.
The distinct stink of those furries.
His eyes flashed red for a split second.
"So you came here because I didn't reply?"
"Yup. Can't have you getting kidnapped under my watch."
He smiled as he said it.
"Jeez, you acting like only you could protect me. I am not that much weaker than you."
Michael simply laughed a bit.
"Whatever makes you sleep better at night."
That sounded very much like he was being made fun of.
Opening the door wider, James would walk inside, stepping aside as Michael followed, already reaching to take off his jacket like he owned the place.
"Something unexpected happened, that's why I didn't answer."
James put his shirt back on. He was not trying to be abs-out in front of the freak himself.
"That's interesting and all," Michael said casually, "but like… you inviting me in or nah?"
James stopped.
"The fuck you need my permission to enter my house for?"
"Excuse me that I have manners!" Michael replied, offended, like he'd just been accused of a crime.
"Oh yeah, I suppose your parents drilled discipline into you?"
"Unfortunately yes," Michael said, sounding genuinely annoyed.
"Jeez, don't be so stiff. Come on in."
As those words left James' mouth, Michael would finally step fully inside James' house, as if that was all he needed to cross some invisible threshold.
He sniffed the air subtly.
"So like… did you have someone over?" he asked casually, eyes flicking around the apartment.
James stayed quiet for a bit.
"Well… Luna was here."
"Oh?" Michael grinned instantly. "Making moves, I see. Never knew you were a playboy~"
While yes, he hated furries, if he had to choose between his hate and the ragebait, he would choose the ragebait every time.
"Fuck no, I can't handle that," James admitted outright. In his current state, he could not handle Luna. She bitched the ever-living fuck out of him, had him out here looking like a beta male.
"Damn," Michael said, impressed. "Didn't think you'd be this pussy."
"Aw shut up!"
Michael smiled. Oh, the ragebait was fun.
"Apparently I am a werewolf," James said with a sigh.
Michael froze.
"I beg your pardon?"
"So it seems like Luna's a werewolf, and she bit me like two days ago, and turned me."
James ran his hands through his hair, clearly stressed.
"Damn… that's crazy…" Michael said slowly, his voice sounding like he didn't believe a single word of it.
"I know it sounds crazy. I thought so too," James continued. "But it felt like she was telling the truth. Plus, I couldn't say no to her for some odd reason. Like I was her little puppy or something."
James sounded annoyed just saying it.
"You really let her lead you around by a leash. Never knew you were into that kind of thing."
Michael was smiling.
"I am serious, dumbass!"
Michael noticed James wasn't joking this time and sighed.
"And you're telling me all of this because?"
"You're my best friend, and I honestly can't bring myself to lie to you."
James could've sworn he saw what looked like a tear fall from Michael's cheek—but by the time he blinked, it was gone.
"If only you knew how good those words made me feel."
…The fuck was he on?
"But let's say I believe you," Michael said. "Do you have any proof?"
James pondered a bit. What could he even use as proof?
James stared at Michael for a solid five seconds.
"…Proof?" he echoed.
"Yes," Michael said, crossing his arms. "Preferably something better than trust me bro, a goth
Viking bit me."
James clicked his tongue, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I mean— I can hear your heartbeat. It's fast. Like… really fast."
Michael paused.
"…That's just anxiety."
"Okay, but I can also smell—"
"James," Michael cut in. "If you say you can smell my balls, I'm leaving."
James grimaced. "I was gonna say the coffee you spilled this morning."
Michael blinked.
"…I cleaned that."
"You missed a spot," James said flatly, pointing at the corner of the couch.
Michael looked.
There was, in fact, a faint stain.
"…Huh."
He squinted at James. "Lucky guess."
James sighed. Of course it wouldn't be convincing.
"Alright," he muttered. "Stand back."
Michael immediately perked up.
"Oh? Ohhh? We transforming now?" He backed up dramatically, pulling out his phone. "Say
less."
"Why do you have your phone out?"
"In case I need evidence," Michael said innocently. "Or blackmail."
James rolled his eyes. "I hate you."
"No you don't."
James planted his feet in the middle of the living room, shoulders squaring like he was about to fight God Himself.
"Okay," he muttered. "I remember feeling very emotional."
Michael smirked. "Wanna think about student loans?"
"…Too strong."
James closed his eyes.
He clenched his fists.
He focused.
Nothing happened.
He frowned.
"Okay— okay— maybe I need to like… growl or something."
Michael's smile widened. He looked like he was collecting blackmail.
"Oh please do."
James inhaled deeply.
"…Grrrr."
Silence.
The fridge hummed.
A car passed outside.
Michael stared.
"…That was it?"
James opened one eye. "…Hold on."
He tried again, louder this time.
"GRRRRR—"
His stomach growled.
Both of them froze.
"…Was that you?" Michael asked slowly.
James' face went red.
"…Shut up."
Michael burst out laughing.
"Oh my God," he wheezed. "The beast hungers— FOR A HOT POCKET."
"IT'S NOT FUNNY."
"Oh, it's hilarious."
James growled again— or tried to.
Instead, he sneezed.
"…ACHOO—!"
Nothing transformed.
Except his dignity.
Michael absolutely lost it.
He doubled over, clutching his stomach.
"This— this is your alpha form?" he gasped. "This is so funny."
James' eye twitched.
"I swear to God—"
"Hold on, hold on," Michael said, tapping his phone. "This moment needs a soundtrack."
Before James could stop him—
🎵 I'm only human, after all— 🎵
The song blasted through the speakers.
Michael added, "Wait— wrong vibe."
🎵 The secret side of me🎵
I never let you see
I keep it caged but I can't control it
So stay away from me
The beast is ugly
I feel the rage and I just can't hold it
It's scratching on the walls
In the closet, in the halls
It comes awake and I can't control it
Hiding under the bed
In my body, in my head
Why won't somebody come and save me from this?
Make it end!
James was staring dagger at Michael who himself was cheesing like he got the best gift ever.
I feel it deep within
It's just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I hate what I've become
The nightmare's just begun
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
"Turn that shit off?"
"Nah, it fit, come on litsen to it"
My secret side I keep
Hid under lock and key
I keep it caged but I can't control it
'Cause if I let him out
He'll tear me up, break me down
Why won't somebody come and save me from this?
Make it end!
I feel it deep within
It's just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I hate what I've become
The nightmare's just begun
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
It's hiding in the dark
Its teeth are razor sharp
There's no escape for me
It wants my soul, it wants my heart
No one can hear me scream
Maybe it's just a dream
Or maybe it's inside of me
Stop this monster!
I feel it deep within
It's just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I hate what I've become
The nightmare's just begun
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I'm gonna lose control
It's something radical
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
…..James was regretting inviting his homeboy in.