My parents have just arrived.

I'm sure they'll be happy for my "achievement".

Especially my father.

I wait for them in front of the school as they arrive. The gloomy weather matching my mood.

Now I'm be clustered with hugs coming from my mother and sisters. My brothers on the other hand tease me.

"Guess you're finally part of the big boys huh?" Spikes say, wrapping his arms around my neck and rubbing his bent finger against my scalp.

"Maybe now you could help out when it comes to hunting." Ronnie says.

"Hehe, yeah." I say after breaking free from Spike's grip.

My brothers think I've mastered my transformation, I do not tell them the truth.

Instead I play along.

My father sees through me with his hollow eyes.

We're back at the forest.

Just me and my father.

Isolated from the modern world. Only nature surrounds us.

"Now then, show me." He says, with a surprisingly calm tone.

"What?" I know exactly what his talking about.

"Wolf out, I want to see it."

"I can't."

"You did it before."

"I needed to protect someone."

"I see. In that case..................." I watch how he strips his clothes and transforms. "Protect yourself."

He intends to force the transformation out if me, fear and adrenaline are excellent ways of triggering the transformation.

He charges towards me, swiping his claws towards me and I run away.

I'm not fast enough.

I can't hide the terror in my eyes.

He approaches me slowly, building up the fear I feel so deeply.

As he draws closer and take steps back before tripping over a rock.

On the ground I grab whatever I can, hurling it towards him. Unsurprisingly, this does nothing.

Now he stands before me, bending down as he holds my arms in place.

His jaws ready to rip my head clean off.

He stares into my eyes and roars viciously.

"Wolf Out!"

"I can't!"

"Do it!!"

"I can't!!!" My voice breaking down as I scream.

With disappointment he lets me go, transforming back to normal.

He turns he's back to me, preoccupied dressing himself.

"They gave me pills to restrain my transformation."

He turns, interested in what I said.

"So they're scared." He states.

"I almost killed someone."

"For the sake of someone else."

I remain quiet. Holding my thoughts to myself.

"Tell me how did it feel, transforming for the first time?"

"Overwhelming. To say the least."

"At the end of the year you will come home and you're training will begin."

Back on campus I say my goodbyes and watch their travel back home.

Time draws closer before I'll need to head back home too.

My phone buzzes.

It's Willow, she wants to meet up at the subway.

I do as she asks I meet her there.

As usual I watch how she paints but instead of doing it in silence, we engages in conversation.

"So, you got any hobbies?" She's never asked me anything personal before, very strange.

"Gaming, but that's about it."

"Don't you do anything else."

"Nope."

"Well maybe I could lend you a book of mine to read if you're interested. You don't need to read it if you don't want to."

"No no, I'll read."

I reply fast, too fast.

The thought of the two of sharing the same interest drawing me in like a fish to a hook.

She stops her painting midway and grabs a book from her satchel. "This is one of my mom's. I've never let anyone read it but I guess you can."

"The Lonely Soul. Thank you."

"Don't worry about it." She slowly hands the book and I slowly grab it. She's never given anything to me.

I've never liked reading but for some reason I feel excitement with the thought of reading this book.

She then continues painting, my eyes glued to her like flies onto a trap.

I felt a tingle of excitement as I took in the painting, the colours swirling together like a kaleidoscope of emotion."

I feel enthralled, smiling the way through, anticipating which way her hand will go next.

She turns back, seeing the joy spread over my face. She giggles.

I've never seen her laugh before.

Time passed and she finally finishes the painting.

"What do you think?" She asks.

"I think you're amazing."

She turns to look at me, face filled with confusion

"Urr, the painting. I think the painting's amazing."

"Thanks."

Then my phone buzzes.

It's Catherine.

"I gotta go."

"I'll walk with you, I need to head to the diner for my shift anyway."

The two of us walk together, our hands inches from each other swinging with different motions.

In silence we walk, but take time to look at one another, giving small smiles and giggles.

I see Catherine up ahead.

She does not seem pleased.