Normally, Dex was pretty chill. A bit jumpy and easy to scare, but ultimately calm and collected. Tonight was different, though. As the nighttime drew nearer, Dex felt something grow deep inside of him. A rage, a fire, something driving him on, anticipating the night.

Tonight was a full moon.

As the day grew old, he began to lose control. His muscles twitched and his mind raced. His heart pounded and raced even when he was at rest. He couldn't focus on anything and ended up walking around the house. As the night drew nearer, his senses grew and he found himself overpowered and disgusted by normal things.

"James!" Dex screeched, "Why the fuck are you wearing so much cologne?!" He rubbed at his nose trying to escape the overpowering sweetness.

"Huh? I always wear this stuff. Actually, I think I'm wearing a bit less than usual today," James said with a shrug as he sniffed himself.

"Either way it's driving me insane," Dex said, continuing to paw at his nose.

"Alright. You don't have to be near me, you know. There's a whole house away from me and my goddamn cologne," James said, actually a bit mad at his friend's childish actions. Deep down, though, he was a bit sad that Dex didn't want to stick around. Dex has always been James' best friend here, mainly due to the fact that he is the only one who finds Dex tolerable after transformation, and, because of that, Dex tended to cling to James quite often.

"Fine. I will go somewhere else," Dex said turning around over-dramatically.

"Fine!" James chorused after him in a very child-like way.

Dex walked away at a brisk pace as he continued to wander through the house. He was looking for someone to be around, someone to comfort him as the changes began to take place. Though he'd never admit it, Dex was quite afraid of his near monthly transformations. They were weird, uncomfortable, and they made him feel quite outcast. He always felt better if he had someone else to go through it with him, and that person had been James nearly every time since Dex had come to this house. James was the only one who wasn't afraid of him and would always forgive him if he happened to hurt him. This time would be different though, because Dex couldn't hold his tongue or manage to deal with a slightly strong scent.

"Damn I'm an idiot," Dex said, shaking his head. "I'll bet I'm alone for tonight now. Great. One of the shittiest things in my life and now I have to spend it alone." He crossed his arms and began to pout, continuing to curse himself mentally.

He decided to search for someone else as a clock chimed eleven times. Only one more hour and he'd be fully transformed, and changes would be starting pretty soon.

He looked around him and found that he was very near to Seamus' room. He went over to the door and knocked gently while calling Seamus' name. The door swung open, but Dex saw no one inside.

"Hello?" Dex asked wearily.

"What do you want?" an annoyed voice asked.

Dex jumped, then realised it must just be Aleks. "I, uh, just wanted to talk, hang out, something. Just whatever," Dex said, still a bit startled.

"What? You just listed like seven different things," Aleks spat back.

"I just wanted to hang out. Talk a bit. Get to know each other," Dex stuttered, still a bit afraid of Aleks because he was unable to see him.

"Okay? I mean, I'm not really in the mood for that right now. I kinda just want to rest and relax for a bit," Aleks said.

"Aleks, please. I need someone tonight," Dex pleaded, the words falling out of his mouth before he could stop them. He blushed a bit and covered his mouth before he could say anything else that he'd rather not.

When Aleks saw the sad, pleading eyes, he knew he couldn't say no. "Fine. Come in. We can hang out," Aleks said, sighing as he stepped out of the doorway. Dex made no motion to move into the room. "You coming in or not?" Aleks asked, confused by the other's actions.

"I just don't want to run into you, and I thought you were still in the doorway," Dex explained as he rubbed the back of his neck nervously, earning a huge sigh from Aleks.

"I'm not in- You know what. Here. I'll just do this," Aleks said, grabbing Dex's wrist and pulling him inside. He pulled him over to the bed and pushed him onto it, then plopped down himself. "There. You happy? Is this okay?" Aleks said, not actually wanting an answer.

"Yeah. This is fine, Aleks." He directed his shining, green eyes towards where Aleks was, in hopes that their eyes met. "Thanks."

Aleks shivered as the piercing green eyes met his own. He knew right at that moment that Dex wasn't one to be messed with. Just by reading his eyes, Aleks knew that Dex was short tempered and fiery.

"Yeah, no problem," Aleks said. "So, what's up? Why'd you want to talk so bad?"

Dex scratched the back of his head nervously. "A-actually I didn't want to talk about anything in specific, I just don't want to be alone. Tonight's a hard night for me."

Aleks was about to ask why, but his question was answered when Dex's eyes changed from green to a golden brown in a single blink. "You're the werewolf, aren't you?" Aleks whispered in a voice so quiet that Dex usually wouldn't have heard. He had inadvertently heard about the whole group through Seamus when he had explained it to Eddie, and he remembered quite a bit of the information.

"Yup. And tonight's a full moon," Dex confirmed. Then, wondering why the other knew, he asked, "My eyes changed, didn't they?"

"Yeah," Aleks said, then caught up with the oddity of the question, "Wait, how did you know?"

"Everything is black and white," Dex answered and Aleks nodded in response. "It's weird. One blink everything is wonderfully colored, the next it's all dull and gray," he elaborated.

Aleks hummed in response. "Don't you stay human until midnight though?"

"Not exactly. The changes, as you've seen, start about an hour or so before and continue until midnight. By then, I'm entirely in my more anthropomorphic wolf form, and I stay that way until sunrise. Then I transform farther and get to spend the next 24 hours as a wolf," Dex explained.

"That's odd. Werewolves don't usually go werewolf then full wolf, do they?"

"Maybe not in the fairytales, but that's how it happens in real life."

"How is being a wolf?"

"Well, the half form anthro-wolf thing is not fun. My conscience just has to take a back seat and sit and watch what my body does. I won't listen to anyone and can barely control myself," he blushed a little and rubbed the back of his neck. "Being fully transformed into a wolf is alright though. I regain control of myself and get to see the world from a new perspective."

Aleks nodded. "How about the transformations? Do they hurt at all? Or do they just kind of happen?"

"Well some, like my eyes, just happen. My senses have been sharpening and dulling in due respects to more wolfish attributes, and I've been a bit antsy today. The hair started growing earlier today as well. I think from here on out it's just a lot of pain though. At least until midnight anyway." Dex shuddered. "The worst part is definitely the tail. It just hurts everything, and it takes so damn long."

"Oh," Aleks began, not quite knowing what to say, "I'm sorry."

"It's alright. Just stick around and I'll make it just fine," he said, starting to squirm as he finished the sentence. Aleks looked at him questioningly, not remembering that he couldn't be seen. Even still, Dex answered to the inquiring gaze. "Well, here come the ears," he grumbled, moving around sporadically as he tried not to acknowledge the pain.

Dex growled as the ears pressed against his head, seemingly pushing through his entire skull trying to escape. Aleks watched in shock as two fuzzy, brown ears began to poke through Dex's heavily styled hair. He didn't know what to do or how to help, so he just scooted over closer and pressed his side up against the other's. Dex seemed to calm down a bit at the touch, and his breathing fell back into a steady rhythm, even as the pointy ears grew taller.

Once the discomfort had passed, Dex visibly relaxed, his shoulders slumping and head falling as he let out a huge sigh. "Thanks, Aleks. I owe you one."

"No," Aleks said, moving away from Dex once again, "It's fine. Really."

Dex scratched at his newly formed ears. "Still, a big thanks is in order. Anything you need to get comfy around here?"

Aleks was shocked at the fang decorated, overly sweet smile that was sent his way. "N-not at the moment. I'll tell you if something comes up," he managed to stutter out.

"Alright. I'll do whatever I can to help. You deserve a bit of a helping hand," Dex said, still smiling. Aleks couldn't help averting his gaze from the sugary sweet grin.

"S-so what's next?" Aleks asked, trying to change the subject. "In your transformation, I mean."

"Well, if it stays true to the usual, next up is the claws," Dex said. He pawed at his ears once again. Even after years of the transformations, he never really got used to the little, canine ears. "Those don't hurt too bad. I'll bet you that I'm still going to be a pussy about them though," he said, answering Aleks' next question before it even left his lips. Right as the words left Dex's mouth, he felt a fiery pain in his fingers. It was nowhere near as bad as the ears had been, but he still squirmed uncomfortably. He tapped his fingertips on his thigh and tried to send his mind somewhere else. Aleks noticed the discomfort and did the same thing as he had for the ears and squished his side up against Dex's. Dex reacted the same way as well, relaxing at the feeling of another being. He continued to tap his fingers and try to ignore the burning pressure that was building up. Suddenly, large, black claws launched from his fingertips. He bit his tongue and held back the howl that threatened to come out.

Aleks jumped in surprise at the claws' sudden appearance. He had expected them to come in slowly, as did the ears.

After the claws had made their appearance, Dex was completely fine once again. "Next up is the muzzle, and finally that goddamn tail," he explained, knowing Aleks would ask.

"There really is no sense to the order is there?" Aleks asked, noting the sporadic nature of the changes.

"Not really. It's how it has always been though," Dex said with a shrug. He tiredly rubbed at his face, carefully keeping in mind the claws, and felt the layer of brown fuzz that covered it. Everything was coming in just as usual. Painfully, but normally.

After the claws, Aleks decided to stay close to Dex. After all, he'd just have to move back in a few minutes or so. After waiting in silence for a bit, Aleks unknowingly let his head fall onto Dex's shoulder.

"You okay, mate?" Dex asked when he felt Aleks' cheek pressing onto him.

Aleks sighed. "I'm fine. Why do-" he began to ask about the other's inquiry, but quickly figured it out. He jumped up in a flustered rush and ended up falling to the floor.

"My god, Aleks," Dex said, putting his hand out to where he had heard the thunk of Aleks hitting the wooden floor. He felt the cold hand grab his own and he pulled the other up and off of the floor. "The fuck has gotten into you?"

"N-nothing. Sorry about that," he said, rubbing the back of his head. Though ghosts have no nerves and thus can't feel pain, Aleks found it to be habit. Plus, he often still felt pain mentally, due to it being such a common force in life.

Before Dex could tell Aleks that no wrong had been done, he felt the pressure of his snout coming in. He pressed a hand to his face, covering his nose and mouth, and squeezed his eyes shut. Aleks lifted himself back onto the bed and leaned up against Dex. This time, Dex leaned over and put his head on the other's shoulder. Aleks' eyes widened in shock and surprise, but he let it happen.

Dex whimpered as the pressure behind his nose increased. Soon, his muzzle started to make an appearance; his face stretching and nose darkening. He arched his back and growled in pain as the muzzle came in fully, effectively removing his ability of human speech and giving him a far more canine appearance.

After the pain had passed, Dex pulled his head off of Aleks' shoulder. He was greatly surprised when he saw the other, face twisted in concern, and jumped back.

"Whoa. You okay, Dex?" Aleks asked, cocking his head to the side in confusion. Dex only nodded in response. "Why did you jump?" Dex couldn't explain in anything more than a string of whines and quiet barks. Obviously, Aleks was incapable of understanding this and searched for another way of communication. He couldn't think of anything that failsafe, so he started asking questions in hopes of figuring it out. "Is it you?" Dex shook his head, but shrugged. "Me?" Dex nodded.

"Hmmm..." Aleks hummed deep in thought. "Did I bump something I shouldn't have?" Dex shook his head once again.

When Aleks sat deep in thought for a while, Dex decided to try to explain himself. He captured the other's attention with a small growl and began making various gestures. He pointed to himself, then his eyes, then Aleks, then repeated this cycle until Aleks got the idea.

"You can see me?" Dex nodded excitedly. "How odd. You normally can't, but, now that you're mostly through your transformation, you can," Aleks said, sorting out the information he had been provided. Dex shrugged.

"So werewolves can see ghosts, huh?" Aleks confirmed. Dex nodded, for Aleks had a reasonable hypothesis.

Before long, a burning sensation jolted through Dex's spine forcing him to swallow another howl of pain. His back arched as his spine began to lengthen, pushing a fluffy tail out from his tailbone. As it grew longer and longer, Dex found it harder to withhold his howls and whimpers. He stood up and tried to pace the length of the room, only to misstep and hurt himself even further. When his foot slipped and sent a bolt of pain through his already terrorized back, Dex couldn't help but let out a tortured howl.

In his pained frenzy, he couldn't even hear the footsteps pounding down the hallway, running to his rescue. He only heard the other when he crashed through the door and dashed to his side.

"Come on, Wolf-Boy. Calm down," James said, trying to sound unconcerned. He put an arm around Dex's shoulders and pulled him in tightly. Dex made no motion to resist and fell into the other's tight grasp.

"Damn, you scared me!" Aleks screeched at James.

James jumped. He thought that Dex had been alone. "The fuck?" he whispered.

"Sorry. It's me, Aleks. The new ghost bitch," Aleks said, bitterly recognizing his probable new position in relation to the others.

James nodded, but continued to try and console Dex. "Deep breaths. You're almost through it. Soon you'll have a nice, bushy tail." James smiled brightly at Dex. Dex just cowered once again, pressing his face into James' chest. In other circumstances, James would've pushed him away, but the transformations are different. He knew better than even Dex himself that there was no way he could through them alone.

Dex couldn't do much more than whimper and snuggle in tightly to James as the burning flame of pain engulfed him. He was more thankful than he had ever been for anything, or anyone, else. He made sure that he'd tell James, but definitely not in some mushy way.

After much too long, the pain subsided and Dex was able to stand on by his own accord. He looked at James and gave him a friendly bark. James smiled. "I'm sorry about earlier. I was being a child," he apologized. Dex nodded, which, normally, would seem quite rude, but now, in his state of inability to converse, it was completely acceptable. It was far more than just the average gesture of agreeance. It meant, 'Yeah. So was I, and I'm sorry too.' Not that anyone other than James would understand as much.

James reached out and patted the little, fluffy ears situated on Dex's head. Dex growled playfully, but let the other continue. Aleks laughed as he watched the two argue and quarrel jokingly.

Then, the clock struck twelve. Dex's eyes widened in fear.

"Come on, now. You're alright. We won't hold anything from now until sunrise against you. We know how it is," James said, trying to comfort the nervous werewolf. His words helped for a moment as Dex relaxed. This relief was immediately torn away as the monster inside of him took control. His conscience was violently pushed into the position of copilot as his sense drifted away.

James didn't know this, though, and reached a hand out and went to put it onto Dex's shoulder. As soon as he had made contact, the not quite Dex anymore werewolf had James' hand locked in his jaws.

"Aw, fuck!!!" James screeched in agony. "A-Aleksandr. Can you... Grab that... That newspaper on the... On the dresser?" he spoke in broken sentences as he fought the pain.

Silently, Aleks got up and went over to the dresser. He picked up the newspaper and dashed to James' side. He was able to read the headline, however. Another Woman Killed; Bite Mark On Her Neck Leaves Detectives Dumbfounded.

Aleks wasn't the only one who had enough time to note the fearful headlines. James sighed. "Dammit. I'm on the front page again. Jordan's gonna shoot me. Roll that up, would you?" James said, gesturing to the newspaper once again. Aleks did what he was told, then handed the tube of paper to James. At this point, James seemed more bored and annoyed than in pain.

"Bad dog. No biting," James scolded, batting Dex on the nose with the rolled up newspaper. "Naughty Dexter." He continued smacking the other with the tube, treating as if he were your average domestic dog. Dex was no more than a pit bull, doberman, or even poodle to James. Eventually, Dex opened his jaws, letting James' hand go free.

James pulled back happily, allowing himself to give Dex the praise he deserved by telling him, "Good doggy." He flexed his hand, noting the various holes and dents that had been put there by the canine teeth.

Much to Aleks' surprise, there was no blood. James' hand was merely specked with toothmarks and nothing more. "What the fuck?" he questioned, his voice raising an octave in his surprise.

"What?" James asked, annoyedly as he rubbed the feeling back into his hand.

"N-no blood?"

"Why are you so shocked? You don't have any anymore either. I'm a vampire, you dumbass; my blood was completely sucked out quite a long time ago."

Aleks pressed his hand against his face. He felt stupid. Then he noticed a small error in James' logic. "Why didn't that lady on the paper become a vampire too?"

"To make a vampire, you have to suck out all of the victim's blood. I didn't. There's a bit more to it than that, but that's the jist of it. No blood left equals vampire," James explained. He reached out and petted Dex again, swatting him with the rolled up newspaper when he growled.

"Why wouldn't you want to do that then? You make more vampires, and you don't have to kill anyone," Aleks asked.

James shook his head. "It's not that simple, Aleks. I'm not out for blood... Okay, that's exactly what I'm out for, but it's also a figurative sayi-. You know what I'm trying to get at. I don't want to kill anyone, but I have to. I need blood if I'm going to survive, and too many vampires means not enough blood to go around. If I don't drink enough to kill, we run a higher risk of getting caught, and... Why don't we talk about this later?" James said, sighing. "Besides, I've got myself a wolfie to take care of right now," he smirked at Dex. "If you're still curious later, I'll explain everything, okay?"

Aleks nodded. "Okay."

James gave him a single nod in return. "Come on, Dex. Let's go for a walk," he said, gesturing for him to follow. Dex began to growl again, only to be cut short by another smack on the nose. He whimpered in response. "Well if you'd stop being naughty, I'd stop hurting you. Now come on," James said, walking towards the door. He opened it and let Dex out first.

Before stepping out, James turned back to where he believed Aleks to be standing. He was a bit off in his estimation, but his message was still received. "And, Aleks. Watch your back around here. Lots of crazy shit, and a lot of it can still hurt you, even though most stuff can't," he lowered his voice, "Whatever you do, don't piss Jordan off." He smiled again and waved. "See you around!"

"See you," Aleks said, slightly dumfounded as he watched James run off after Dex. After they were gone, Aleks plopped down on the bed once again and pressed his hands to his face.

"This is one hell of a place, isn't it? I'm in way over my head," he said quietly, beginning to rub his face. "Whatever happens, I know I won't make it out alive," he joked, trying to bring light to such a dark situation.

He heard a loud howl; the chillingly ominous sound shook the room and reverberated through him.

"I'm fucked, aren't I?" He sighed, all hope once again gone, riding away on the werewolf's howl.

~~~

Wow. Almost 4000 words. Woo! I was trying to get there, then I ran out of stuff so I decided I'd just let it go.

Either way, I hope you enjoyed!

XOXOXO ( ˘ ³˘)♥