“NO! DON’T” Virgil screamed as he shot out of bed sweat pouring down his face. He looked around the room frantically his head spinning as he took in his surroundings. He calmed down slightly when he saw the familiar surroundings of his room. It was a dream, just a dream. Slowly a look of confusion crossed upon his features. When did he get back? How did he get back here? He decided that sitting on his bed wasn’t going to help him answer any of his questions so he left his room to investigate. All the halls were dark and unoccupied, which was strange, they were usually brightly lit and full of children running amuck. 

Even during the night the matrons usually kept the hall lights on in case a child had a nightmare and needed to get a matron for comforting, but right now it was almost pitch black in the halls. However, Virgil still managed to keep moving forward without stumbling on anything. 

He made his way down the hall not really thinking about where he was going or what he was doing, letting his feet lead the way. He eventually found himself outside of the kitchen and dining room. A place he hadn’t been in months. He really didn’t want to go in there, but he found himself being slowly dragged in, by some strange force. Once he had entered he began fumbling around to turn on the lights. Once he turned on the lights a blood curdling scream was ripped from his lips. 

There before him was Marry her throat being ripped out by a giant black wolf with glowing purple eyes. Virgil looked on with horror as Marry’s dead eyes looked helplessly at Virgil. As Virgil watched his world shifted and a metallic taste permeated his mouth and he felt himself on all fours. He was no longer watching the wolf, he was the wolf. He continued to rip and tear at her corpse. 

He heard a chorus of gasps coming from the hallway, Virgil’s head snapped up his teeth bared as a low growl erupted from his throat, as he saw three men before him.

“What did you do kiddo!?” One of the men gasped burrowing his head into a stoic looking man's chest shielding his view of the horrific scene before him. The third man was sneering at him with a vicious glint in his eyes. 

“You killed her. You are a monster.” He said in a cold monotone voice.

Virgil felt himself panic. He wanted to scream. He wanted to say that he didn’t mean it. However, Virgil wasn’t in control of his body. He crouched lower to the ground. Firing off an aggressive warning bark.

“It’s your fault. You didn’t deserve her. You wiped her off of this earth. You stole her away from the others. You killed her. You-” The man didn’t finish before Virgil lunged at the trio. Their faces morphed by fear, but before they could react Virgil pounced, and all he heard was screaming.

________

Loud screaming surrounded Virgil. Engulfing him he tried to cover his ears, but they wouldn’t stop he could still hear it. 

“Shh, Virgil it was just a dream, its okay your safe. Shh.” Virgil felt warm arms engulf him. He could feel sparks wherever the arms came into contact. They started to calm him. The screams stopped abruptly as he burrowed further into the person embracing him. “That’s it V, your safe.” 

Virgil who had yet to open his eyes took a deep breath in. His nose was filled with the smell of cinnamon and jasmin. It was absolutely amazing. He smirked and nuzzled closer trying to enjoy the smell to the fullest.

A boisterous laugh reverberated throughout the room. The sound vibrating around Virgil. Virgil’s eyes snapped open to see this person was close. Far too close. He panicked and shoved them away with all the force he could manage. The unsuspecting person tumbled with a loud “oof” as he hit the floor below the bed.  

“Why did you do that!” The man shouted. Virgil peared over the edge of the bed he was perched on to see Roman sprawled out on the floor. If he wasn’t so scared he might have laughed.

“Where am I? How did I get here? Why were you so close to me?” Virgil threw out a few of the questions that had began to swirl in his head.

“Woah, woah slow down storm cloud one question at a time.” Roman responded as he resituated himself to sit criss-crossed on the floor. 

“Where am I?” Virgil asked looking around the room he was in. It was brightly lit and adorned in red whites and golds. Virgil was on top of a lush, fancy bed that cradled him like a nest. He could see a large flat screen TV. It was at a good height to be easily viewed from the bed. And is that a WALK IN CLOSET! Virgil spotted it and shook his head in surprise. The room while being grand was pretty messy. There were clothes strewn all across the floor and the dressers had all sorts of things flung on them. It was regal and fancy, but still felt comfortable and lived in. 

“You, my dear are in my room.” Roman responded gesturing his arms grandly to his “humble” abode. 

Virgil’s head shot back at Roman and his eyes narrowed. “Don’t call me ‘dear’” He stated coldly. Making Roman flinch. “And that's not what I meant when I asked where I was.”  Roman looked at Virgil in confusion causing the emo to sigh. Maybe a different question would work better for this moron. “How did I get here?

“I carried you.” Roman stated proudly. Virgil cringed at the idea of his personal space bubble being invaded without his knowledge. Virgil was going to chew him out about it before something dawned on him.

“Why did you carry me, from the school, to your room?” Virgil asked reservedly feeling the need to shift away. This had some serious kidnapping vibes to it. 

“Well when you passed out we had to do something.”

“You could have informed the school, gotten ahold of the people I live with, or I don’t know called a hospital! Did you even think? You couldn’t possibly believe this was a good idea.” Virgil ranted glowering at the boy sat on the floor. “But no you thought it would be a good idea to invade my personal space and carry me to a strange location. Yeah, brilliant plan!”

“Well, given that it was my suggestion I take offense to the sarcasm.” Logan said appearing in the threshold of the doors room, looking incredibly bored. Virgil didn’t know what it was, but he had the sudden urge to punch this nerd right in the nose. Welp since Virgil is too lazy to be bothered to stand up right then he would settle with a nice death glare. “Also given the facts of the situation none of those would have proven to be viable options.” 

“What do you mean ‘given the facts of the situation’?” Virgil asked using air quotes when he repeated Logan’s words back to him. Roman visibly tensed at this and gave Logan a look that told him not to explain further. However it seemed Logan didn’t pick up on the cues that Roman was throwing his way.

“Well, given the fact you were shif--”

“OH, MY GOODNESS KIDDO YOU’RE AWAKE!” Patton said as he burst passed Logan in the doorway and ran to embrace the boy on the bed. Virgil let out an audible shriek at the sudden contact. His breathing started to increase and he could feel himself start to panic.

“Patton get off him now!” A sudden booming voice reverberated around the room that made everyone within hearing distance duck their head submissively. Patton immediately scrambled away from Virgil. Guilt clear in his eyes when he saw Virgil's frightened eyes.

“Sorry kiddo, I didn’t mean to scare you. I know I can be too much sometimes.” Patton said apologetically. Virgil gave him a curt nod saying he forgave him, sort of. He didn’t trust his voice enough to not shake when he spoke to say anything. 

Patton glanced at Roman who was actively glaring at him for scaring his timid mate who was already scared and confused. Patton cleared his throat, “So, what do we do now?” 

“Now, I think it be best we tell him.” Logan stated simply.

“Tell me what?” Virgil queried cautiously.

‘We can’t just tell him out right!’ Patton stated through their mind link.

‘He is gonna find out eventually.’ Logan responded.

‘Well, I know that but,’ Patton started but Roman quickly interrupted.

‘I think Logan’s right let’s just rip it off like a band-aid.’ 

‘I don’t think that’s…’ 

“Um hello, earth to weirdos are we just gonna sit here in silence or-?” Virgil said clearly very impatient. 

“Our apologies, emo nightmare.” Roman stated reagally.

“Yeah, yeah whatever princey.” Virgil said waving him off and ignoring him as he addressed Logan. “Tell me what?”  

Logan glanced at Roman who was clearly hurt by his mates brush off, but nodded giving Logan permission. “The fact that you are a werewolf and passed out because you almost shifted but was pulled out of it.”

Roman cringed, “Maybe you shouldn’t have put it that bluntly.” Patton just watched Virgil closely and sighed seeing the disbaleif on his face. He knew this wasn’t the right way to tell him. 

“Oh, would you look at the time on my imaginary watch, it’s crazy-nut-job-o’clock. Welp if you excuse me I’ll be going now.” Virgil said as he got off the bed and made a b-line out of the room. He rushed out so fast no one had time to react.

“I told you!” Patton stated as he stood up and rushed out after Virgil. It took a minute before the rest followed, but they eventually did. 

It took Virgil a minute, but he eventually found his way outside the very large house. He didn’t know where he was and nothing looked familiar. He was in the middle of what looked like a highly forested area. He eventually just picked a direction and started walking. To be honest, he didn’t care if he died in these woods. If he got to civilization, great. If he didn’t oh well, no one would miss him.

As he walks he begins to notice things he hadn’t before. His vision seems sharper the colors of the trees ever so brighter. It was actually really beautiful. A light breeze picked up sent a wave of delightful smells of pine and sap into his nose. A spark of energy flowed through him, and he couldn’t help the big grin that appeared on his face. This was amazing. His pace began to pick up and before he realized it he was running. It was exhilarating. He could sense where the root of the trees and where all the low lying branches were. Things he would have normally ran into were no issue for him. The wind rushed through his hair. He could feel his pulse began to rise and he could hear his heart pounding in his ears. Only one thought flowed through his head.

Faster!

    Faster!

Faster!

Suddenly he heard footsteps behind him, he doesn’t realize how fast he is going until he is distracted by the footsteps rushing up behind him, and he trips over his own feet, slamming into the ground, leaves and dirt now in his mouth. Without the exhilarating rush of running everything starts to become too much. The world is overwhelming him. 

Birds scream, squirrels gnawing on pinecones, his own heart pounding loudly in his chest. The pretty vibrant colors of the forest become too bright. They’re blinding. He can smell something decaying the smell makes him gag. He is hyper aware of the rough ground and sticks touching his skin. His breathing quickens as he covers his ears and closes his eyes tight. Too much, this too much.                                                                                                      

When the others find Virgil he is curled in tightly on himself. Whimpers come from his mouth that breaks all of their hearts, but Roman panics. He rushes to Virgil’s side, but the slight brush of his hand on the others skin sends electricity between the too. With Virgil in his already panicking state it makes it worse and causes him to let out a hysterical scream.

“What is wrong with him!” Roman asks looking at Logan. The knowledgeable one of the group.

Before Logan has a chance to respond Virgil begins to mumble to himself. “Too loud, too bright, too much, too much, stop stop stop, please stop.” 

“I believe his wolf senses are overwhelming him. I do not believe he was gradually acclimated to them as we were and because of his almost shift they have now all come at once.” Logan stated his eyes looking sympathetically at Virgil. Roman let out a whimper of distress as he looked back to his suffering mate.

Once Patton understood what was wrong he jumped into action. “Guys give him some space, and I am sorry Roman that means you especially. The mate bond is only gonna add more stress to him.” Roman looked at Patton like he was crazy, how could he not be near Virgil when he was so clearly upset, but Patton knew better. “Roman the best way you can help him is giving him some space.” Patton said gently. So, reluctantly Roman slowly got up, and backed away from Virgil. The other two doing the  same. This actually seemed to make Virgil calm down ever so slightly, the mumbling stopped and he just began to whimper softly. 

Patton began to talk quietly to Virgil in almost a soft whisper. “Virgil kiddo, I need you to focus on one thing, listen to my voice. Tune into just that.” Virgil didn’t hear him. 
Virgil couldn’t hear anything over all the other noises passing into his ears it was loud and painful. He felt like there was a stereo on full blast  next to his ears.

Seeing that Virgil was not responding to his voice he tried something else he instructed Roman to say things similar to what he had just said. Roman did.

Suddenly over the uproar of sounds Virgil could hear what he thought might be words. He scrunched his face as he tried to listen to just the words. “Easy there, its okay. Focus on my voice. Can you hear me?" Virgil gave a slight almost unperceptipal nod. He immediately regretted it though. The movement sent a wave of uncomfortable sensation through his body. Virgil let out another whimper. He was starting to have a hard time breathing and that sent him spiralling further into his panicked state.

"Hey no, your okay. It's okay, I promise. You just need to relax." The voice said.

Virgil was desperate for everything to stop at this point. He didn't care anymore. He had dealt with so much shit and now this was happening to him. He was ready to give up. He opened his eyes still unable to see through all the blinding lights. He looked at the where he heard the voice coming from. With desperate eyes and salty tears streaming down his face, he begged. "Please… just... kill me… please… make it stop… please… kill me… please…. " He wanted death. He didn't care it had to be better than all this pain. The world was clearly had it out for him anyway. 

Suddenly a sharp cold pain erupted from a spot on his neck. His body jerked in response but hands wrapped around his body holding him in place. He felt some sort of liquid being pushed into his body. Quickly the tension in his body relaxed and all the senses that were overwhelming him quieted down. He felt almost too relaxed.