"How do you like... morph and shit? Is it automatic? Do you feel pain? How does it work?" I asked, kicking at a stray pebble as Erin and I wandered through the cracked sidewalks of our neighborhood after school. The sun had dipped low enough to turn the sky gold, but the wind still carried the chill of late March.

Erin snorted. "Like puberty with extra crunch." He glanced over at me. "We're trained from a young age—werewolves, I mean. Not just to morph, but to stay sane while we do it. My dad's the king, so, yeah. Let's just say I had private lessons and a lifetime supply of trauma."

"So... it hurts?"

"Like hell the first few times. Like breaking every bone in your body and then putting them back together wrong." He shrugged like that wasn't the most horrifying thing I'd ever heard. "But you get used to it."

"Right. Sounds... fun." I shook my head. "And you said your kind protect fledglings like me?"

"Yup. Because if no one does, you get taken by vampire demons. The kind that steal fledglings around six or seven years old, turn them, and twist them into monsters. Real ones. The soulless kind."

"And you think I'm one of them?" I asked, even though I already knew the answer.

"You are one of them," he said, not unkindly. "Well—half of one, I guess. You haven't fully transitioned. That's when it really matters. Some full-blooded vamps still hold onto their humanity, but it's rare. Really rare. Most of them lose their soul during the ritual... but not all."

I didn't know what to say to that.

We were halfway down Birch Street when the screech of bike tires behind us made us both freeze. Three older guys rolled up fast—high school dropouts, maybe, or just losers with nothing better to do. Their bikes hissed to a stop, and the one in front sneered at us.

"Where are you bitches going?" he asked, cracking his knuckles.

Erin's eyes flicked gold for half a second. "I wouldn't say that if I were you."

Of course, that only provoked them.

The lead thug shoved Erin hard enough to knock him into me. We both hit the sidewalk with a grunt.

"Don't test me," Erin growled.

"Shut up!" another thug snapped, pinning us down with his boot. I felt the pressure on my ribs and the sharp edge of panic rise.

Then it happened.

Erin's eyes went full honey-gold, and his body began to contort. Bones popped. Joints snapped. Flesh warped and fur sprouted. In seconds, the boy was gone—replaced by a towering, snarling wolf with massive paws and a coat of gold-tinged black fur.

"Oh—shit!"

The thugs screamed in unison. One dropped his bike. Another tripped over the curb and landed face-first before scrambling to his feet. They ran. Hard. One even left behind a shoe.

I stared, slack-jawed, heart pounding.

Erin morphed back a few seconds later, completely naked and laughing at himself. "Ta-da!" he said, twiddling his fingers. "Thoughts?"

"I think I'm gonna need therapy," I muttered. My eyes drifted lower. "And bleach for my brain."

"You're lucky I'm your best friend," he grinned. "Could've gone full monster and made a meal out of them."

"Put some clothes on, wolf-boy."

"You're no fun."

He fished out a pair of shorts and a T-shirt from his backpack. "Always be prepared," he winked.

"You're like if REI had a supernatural mascot."

Once he was dressed, we started walking again. My hunger gnawed at me, a low burning in my chest like battery acid.

"If only you weren't a vampire..." he mused.

"If only you'd told me you were the prince of a werewolf pack," I snapped back.

"Touché."

My stomach growled audibly.

"Starving?" Erin asked.

I nodded reluctantly.

"Into the woods we go, then."

"Sure, Toto. Let's go frolic in the woods when I've got a target on my back."

"Why am I Toto?"

"Would you rather be Dorothy?"

He paused. "I wouldn't mind the dress."

"Then lead the way, Dorthy."

"Fine by me."

Deep in the forest, the sunlight barely reached the mossy floor. My stomach ached like a migraine in my gut.

"You'll be okay," Erin said, patting my back. "Just listen. Smell. Focus."

"Right. With my magical vampire powers I don't understand yet."

Then, rustling. We froze.

Erin stepped in front of me, fists clenched. "Who's there?"

Jeremy burst out of the brush like a pissed-off forest ranger. "Blue boy's here too," he grumbled.

"What are you doing here?" Erin asked.

"Your dad sent me. You didn't come home. Sixth sense, you know."

The bushes rustled again.

Jessica emerged, arms crossed. "You idiots really thought dragging a hungry fledgling into the woods without backup was smart?"

Jeremy snorted. "She's not wrong."

"Why is he here again?" I asked.

Jeremy rolled his eyes. "I'm their protector. Half-incubus, if you're wondering."

I blinked. "Seriously?"

He flashed a grin. "Seriously."

Another rustle.

We circled up.

"You hungry now, blue boy?" Jeremy asked, annoyed.

"Can't help it," I snapped.

The tension built... until a raccoon popped out, clutching a motel pamphlet like it owed someone rent.

"Dinner's served," Jeremy said, motioning to it.

I hesitated, sick with guilt.

Erin shoved me forward. "It's the raccoon or your family."

I lunged. Fangs dropped. The raccoon fought, clawed, and whimpered... then went still in my arms. Blood coated my lips and chin.

"Atta boy," Jeremy said, clapping.

Jessica sighed. "We should bury it."

Erin morphed again, dug the grave with his paws, and gave the little guy a proper burial. When he changed back, clothes tattered, he didn't look proud. Just... solemn.

"I'm going home," I said, voice rough.

"Not without us," Erin replied.

"Yeah, you're a piece of work," Jeremy muttered.

"I'm the piece of work?" I snapped. "You're a horny demon and they're royal werewolves!"

"Incubus," he corrected.

"I don't care!" I shouted.

Jessica snorted. "Do you even know where home is?"

Erin pulled me back on course. "It's this way."

"Thanks," I muttered.

"We're walking you," Erin added. "Things get darker after sundown."

I didn't argue. Not anymore.

"Fine. You lead."

"Gladly," he smirked.

And just like that, we left the grave of a raccoon behind and headed home—four monsters pretending we weren't afraid of the dark.