"Again."

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Val huffed and stood up, panting, wiping the sweat off her forehead.

"No point complaining now, you still have a long way to go." Zack grinned and stepped to his right; he deflected a jab with a fist, throwing her off balance. "You're getting sloppier."

"That tends to happen after four hours of nonstop beating," she snorted, a hand around her stomach. She had a feeling she might heave if they kept at it any longer, and she'd be sure to aim at those shiny pretty shoes of his.

"Oh, the beating hasn't started yet." He grinned a little too darkly for her liking. Maybe she'd go for the face instead.

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?"

He shrugged and smiled slyly. "It's making me feel better."

"I bet."

Val lunged at him again but he was ready. He leaned out of the way and Val grinned, pushing her hand back sharply and elbowing him hard on his jaw.

He stumbled back and wiped the blood off his mouth, an angry growl tearing from the back of his throat. Oh, he was angry alright.

Val smirked. He didn't falter as he marched toward her, jaw and fists clenched.

She moved out of the way from his first punch, but he easily caught her wrists and pinned her to the ground.

Val rumbled and pushed herself back up. She went for his neck, almost had it — almost. A left hook to the gut had her falling back down. Hands straining at her sides, she tried to get back up. With a groan, she dropped. That was everything, she was out of juice.

"Fine." She held up a hand. "You win this one."

Zack pulled her up and patted her shoulder with a rumbling laugh. "Come on, it's about time we focused on your shift." She uselessly slapped away the dust on her and padded after him as he grabbed a mirror from the ground at the door.

"Before we start, you need to know that using your powers outside of practice hours is strictly forbidden."

Val frowned. "Why?"

"According to the Alpha, since we're trying to make peace with the hunters, we should play nice for a while. They've been coming in and out of town a lot lately so we're not allowed to change before things are settled." Something flickered in his eyes.

She frowned. "But isn't it in your — our — nature? The change?"

He pursed his lips. "It is. We still have wolves and vampires patrolling our borders, they just make sure to stay hidden if needed. And as for us... we have the pack run." Val tilted her head in question. "Every month on the full moon, every wolf and vampire in town joins in on a run around our borders. It strengthens the bond between us and we let loose. It helps calm down our wolves." There was a bite in his words that made her think they didn't let loose as much as they should. They should be out, in nature, not cooped up in their homes. This was the one place where they could be themselves, so why couldn't they?

Val thought for a moment. "Can I see your wolf?"

Zack smiled proudly and nodded his head. "Just don't freak out." Val mimicked his words, mocking him.

He stepped back, shaking his head, and took off his shirt. Val looked away at that and he chuckled. "You'll get used to that." She looked back as he took off his pants, mercifully keeping his underwear on. He shot her one last wicked grin as his eyes glowed yellow. Like Alex had said hers had.

One moment he was smiling, and the next he was shredding through his skin, fur sprouting everywhere around his body. Her jaw dropped as a huge, dark brown wolf landed gracefully on its feet.

Val gasped in pure delight as the wolf blew hot air on her face. "Beautiful," she breathed, raising a hand to his snout. He nipped at her arm and she chuckled as she brushed her fingers against his ear, then slid down to his neck. He tipped back his head and purred when she scratched the fur there, making her laugh, eyes shining with an emotion she hadn't felt in a while.

Zack shook his fur out. Val beamed as she moved to his body, scratching at his arms, feeling the hard muscles underneath. "You're basically an overgrown puppy," she chuckled as he gave a low growl, nipping at her leg. His tail brushed her waist before he turned and sniffed at her, then took a step back and changed back to his human form, muscles no longer hidden under thick fur. "That was so awesome!" she exclaimed as he breathed a laugh, putting his clothes back on. Bummer. "Can I do that too?"

"You will." He smiled. "Just not quite yet. You first experience the change at sixteen, that's your body's way of preparing you for the full one at eighteen."

She frowned. "But I'll be turning eighteen in a little while... how come I only changed now?"

Zack ruffled her hair. "That's a story for another time. For now, let's see if you can change."

"What's up with you people and keeping stuff for later?" she grumbled. He shot her a sideways glance, picking up the mirror again from the ground.

"Inexperienced wolves usually use their emotions to change so we'll start from there," he said carefully, "Fear and anger are the usual triggers but it differs for each person. Try to think of your wolf as a part of yourself hidden inside your mind, then try to release it."

"So all I have to do is think of a wolf running around in my mind?"

He huffed. "If that helps, yeah. Think of something that angers you, some kid swiping your doll when you were five won't suffice. You need some strong emotions. You need rage."

Val rolled her eyes and nodded, closing her eyes. She focused on the dreams she'd been having and the day she found out the truth about what she really was. She replayed them in her head and opened her eyes. "Nothing," she bristled.

"Try again," he pressed, "If Erik can do it, then so can you." Val gave a small smile, stupidly comforted.

She focused more on the emotions that accompanied her thoughts. Her fear when she first woke up in that clearing, the icy terror that crippled her every time she saw the wolf's jaws closing in on her; the anger that pushed through every time she practiced...

Her blood was boiling. A burning, numbing sensation covered her body, but it didn't hurt, not like the last time. It was different — she liked it.

"Open your eyes," Zack whispered. She did.

Glowing strings rimmed her pupils, and the bright yellow — liquid gold — bled like thousands of tiny veins into her irises. Her eyes were a swirling storm of gold and brown, the colors blending and warring with each other whilst remaining in perfect balance.

"What was the trigger?" Zack asked from her side, brows furrowing. She noticed the look on her eyes then, the slight narrowing, that blaring fury he'd asked for.

"There was this girl," she started grimly. "She always picked on me with her friends when I was younger, and Daphne had forbidden me from breaking any more noses," —he lifted a brow, she let out a wistful sigh— "then one day she made sure no one was watching and lured me out into the woods." She gulped. "It was early in the morning but there were so many trees, and we walked for so long..." Zack leaned in; Val struggled with her words. "She found this pointy rock on the ground... and she ripped off the head of my favorite doll."

Zack made a sound between a snort and a cough. Then a bellowing laugh rumbled in his belly, "Pfft! That smart mouth of yours will get you in trouble one day you know." Val grinned, bumping his shoulder.

"Whatcha gonna do," she drawled, "beat me?" He rolled his eyes.

Val's eyes dropped to her elongated, flesh-ripping claws. Then she looked back into the mirror; first to the fangs, then to her eyes in thought.

Her eyes narrowed.

"Are there any wolves with red eyes?"

Zack frowned but opened his mouth to reply, "Fine then, werewolf one-oh-one. There are two kinds of wolves but in time a third one was created." He sighed, like he was tired of repeating that same story again and again. "The most common ones have bright yellow ones, like yourself, but there are some that have bright blue ones. Those are dangerous — you best stay clear of them."

His eyes hardened. He grumbled at the questioning look, "It's not natural. The color of one's eyes, along with one's wolf form, is a reflection of our soul — most wolves have light-colored fur because of that. The powers the moon gave us come from light magic, but just like every other being on this planet, we are prone to black magic, to impurities, and while you can't tell the difference in our skin, our wolf characteristics give it away."

He leaned back on the wall. "Those blue-eyed wolves are called omegas but are most commonly known as rogues. Some turn because the power in their veins is too great for them to contain — which eventually drives them mad — but they usually turn because of a loss." He fidgeted with his feet. "Werewolf emotions, just like their bonds, are much more heightened than humans; and wolves are of nature pack animals, so the death of one of their own affects them a lot differently than most. Especially one close to them — a mate, a pup." He swallowed. She had a feeling it wasn't an easy topic for him, but it wasn't the time to ask.

Val had heard of that before. Mate.

Erik said it was the wolf the moon paired you with; the one perfect for you — made for you. But it was also a way to keep the species alive; something in their genetic genes that simply clicked when they met them. One's death killed part of the other inside — which was probably why they turned into rogues. But it wasn't unheard of for second chance mates to appear if it was the will of the Moon Goddess; and if their mind survived the death.

Finding a mate was difficult; but common enough that the majority waited for them.

Zack's tone turned very serious suddenly. "Listen to me, Val. If you see one of them — you run. You run hard and you hide well. You don't fight. You're not ready for a fight and they will rip you apart. They have long lost their humanity, they won't pity you. All that's left is a shell of a body and their wild instincts; if they see you, they will kill you."

A chill ran up her spine as she nodded, she didn't want to cross roads with one of those wolves. But something deep inside her... It wanted to rip at anything that made his eyes glaze like that, wanted to shred it apart — slowly. She shook her head. "How about those with red ones?"

"Those are the Alphas. Wolves run in packs and every pack has its Alpha, the one who runs it if you want. They are top in the hierarchy of the pack and their word is law."

"And who's the Alpha?"

"Marcus is but he's out of town most of the time, you'll meet him eventually."

"So you're left with all the work?" A curt nod. "That hardly seems fair," she mumbled.

"Don't take it so seriously, it's quite fun, ordering pups like you around all the time." He grinned. Val only stuck her tongue out.

"We'll see if you can do that from the ground in a little while." She was all empty threats, despite the cockiness. She was out for the day.

"I do love a challenge," he mused.

Val eyed him from the corner of her eyes, "If I should have changed already, why didn't I?"

A pause.

"Daphne wanted to delay your transformation as much as possible, and the only way to do that was to ask for help from a witch. She knew that there might have been some difficulty with the change, but she didn't expect it to be so painful." He blew out a long breath. "Please don't blame her for that, she was trying to do everything she could to keep you safe."

"And I understand that but — I can't just stay in the dark, Zack. The only reason I agreed to wait was because I trust her, but the way she looked at me... I know there's something going on. Things can't stay the same anymore."

He nodded, playing with the hem of his shirt. "The change won't be as painful now, at least not until your full transformation. We'll practice more, but I think you'll get the hang of it quite easily."

Val hummed. "Sam said it happens two years after the first change, does that mean mine will happen next year?"

Zack shook his head. "Every wolf has to go through two changes. The first one is the mid-shift you've already experienced, which happens at the age of sixteen, while the second one is the full transformation, two years later, at eighteen."

"Where does that leave me?" Val stretched her fingers in front of her, admiring her sharp claws.

"I'm not sure. Chances are you'll change this year along with the others, but given the circumstances..." he trailed off. "Nonetheless, you'll be trained and readied along with everyone else."

"That just fills me to the brim with confidence!" Zack gave her a long look, to which she sighed. "And when is that?" she asked instead.

"The first change always happens in one of the two big full moons that occur yearly. Given the one coming up, we're preparing for late October. So that would be next month." He looked hesitant — no — guilty.

"A few days ago I woke up with bruises all over my body. Daphne avoided the subject and the next morning she convinced me it was just a dream, but it wasn't, was it? It just felt...too real."

"You're turning me into a snitch," he whined pitifully, no trace of the man of sharp edges she'd seen before. Did he have a switch for that? And where could she find it? A hand rubbed at his face. "She called me that day you know. Told me you'd woken up, panicking. Your body — the wolf part — was fighting back the spell. It was trying to prepare you for your full transformation; another reason for you to get ready — and do it fast." He looked up sadly. "It wasn't the first time happening, Val, it was just the first time you woke up. Daphne said it started when you stopped sleepwalking. She'd heard you scream in pain, and then you'd be okay in the morning like nothing happened." He furrowed his brows. "What do you see in your sleep?"

It felt a little uncomfortable, sharing with him something that felt so intimate, private, but she explained everything to him with as much detail as she possibly could while constantly changing to human and back at his command.

"Do you know who they are? The figures?" Zack finally asked, a hint of dread coloring his voice. "Turn."

She watched as the claws retreated, painfully slow. "No. Not yet. Their faces are too blurry to make something out of, but I'm working on it." She blinked. "Do you?"

He didn't seem surprised that she asked; didn't let his face reveal anything either. "Enough chit-chat, time to get a proper beating." He motioned her back with a devious smile, silencing her when she tried to object and ask more questions. Val groaned, preparing herself for what was to come. It might take a bit more prodding, but she was going to make them spit out everything.

*****

"Val!" Erik waved her to their bench.

"You look like shit," Damian commented helpfully, earning an elbow to the gut from Sam who winked at her in greeting. Alex shook her head in exaggeration as Ian simply sat down, a small smile on his face. Better than nothing at least.

"I'm beat," she whined, throwing her hands up for a more dramatic effect. "But damn that felt good!" Stretching her soon-sore muscles, she looked around their amused faces. Something about the rush of the fight, the pump of adrenaline that was slowly dying down — it was intoxicating.

"Called it!" Damian yelled triumphantly, hands pointing. "She's crazy! Who actually enjoys that?" Val chuckled. She had to admit, he was trying very hard to push her buttons. Erik raised a sarcastic finger to her head, as if that were enough answer.

"Kinky little wolf, enjoying a good beating," Damian lilted, wiggling suggestive brows, and earned another elbow, this time from Val. He loosed a breath. "Careful, little wolf, you don't want to mess with me; you're not on my level yet." The proud, superhero hands on his waist made Alex gag from the back.

"Who would want to stoop so low?" she retorted with a snort.

"Hey! Whose side are you on?" He jabbed Sam's side with mock hurt and her chuckling abruptly stopped when he tackled her to the ground and started tickling her.

"Get a room you two," Val mocked, and they both snapped their heads up, staring at her like she'd grown two heads, then burst into loud laughter.

Ian mumbled something about having to go.

"I barely think of him as a friend, anything more than that makes me want to gag," Sam chuckled. Val saw Ian stopping from the corner of her eye, then continued walking. A small smile tagged on her lips.

"Which clears the way for you," Damian opened his arms wide. "I know you're dying for a taste."

"Isn't it you who is dying for a taste, our darling little vampire?"

"Only if you're offering." He grinned as she pushed him away, calling over her shoulder that she needed a bath as she walked away.

*****

The next few days passed with Val mostly getting her ass beat. Zack was working her hard, but she was learning; learning and getting better.

He would teach them how to fight and how to tap into all those werewolf privileges — or vampires'. Using it, being in sync with it, and then he'd teach her some more.

Most days they spent training into the woods, just like today, and he would push and push and push, 'till both wolves and vampires were sprawled on the ground. Get off your asses, he'd growl, when you shift this will all look like child's play compared to what you'll be going through.

Definitely something to look forward to.

"Dismissed," he bellowed, and Val watched as the young vampires and wolves trotted away — some limping — leaving herself and her friends behind. Panting, she dragged herself past them to stand in front of Zack.

She took a runner's stance at his nod, her knee almost touching the ground as her hands kept her balanced.

"You know what to do," he prodded encouragingly.

Val closed her eyes and tried to focus. She'd learned how to use her heightened senses individually but she had had trouble with using them altogether. She managed to hold on with two, even all of them for a while, but her head felt like it was going to explode, forcing her to let go. Oh, the wonders of being a late bloomer.

She let out a hot breath and tilted her head in her friend's direction. Sam and Damian were laughing at something Alex had said, Erik was hungry. She shook her head, stiffening a chuckle and turning her attention ahead.

An animal was close by; she could hear the rustling of leaves under its hooves as it trotted away. She clenched her jaw and this time she could smell it, a deer, but couldn't hear it. Zack said the problem was mental, she was just blocking her senses instinctively to prevent a complete overload — which she thought was the point — until he shook his head, saying otherwise. Ever the expert.

"This is pointless," she huffed and sat on her butt.

"Again." Zack motioned. "This time you run, fast. And since Damian seems to be enjoying this so much, he will be joining you." He growled the last part, watching as Damian slowly made his way to them.

They took the same stances and Val shut her eyes again, pushing Damian's comments away from her side. A few seconds of absolute silence followed; Val felt a tingle run up her spine. "Go!"

Their bodies snapped forward. Val smiled, enjoying the pump of adrenaline flooding her veins. She was way faster now than she was before, and she enjoyed every time Zack made them run. It just — unlocked something in her. She turned to the right and saw Damian grinning at her lazily. "Tell me if my ass looks good."

She watched as he picked up speed, leaving her behind, and she pushed her feet harder, faster. She might be new at this, but she was refusing to lose to him; far from it! A rumble vibrated over her chest and she pushed harder. The yellow glint in her eyes came back to life as her fangs and claws came out. She'd practiced, she could do this.

Her feet carried her faster, Damian's figure growing bigger and bigger as she got closer. She heard the deer, closer this time but running away, and tried sniffing the air. There, the headache surfaced again, splitting and unbearable, but she'd done it. She pushed on.

"Average at best." She winked when she reached him and sped up. Damian muttered a string of curses behind her, tripping over a fallen branch. How she loved when people underestimated her and got exactly what they deserved for it.

He was still faster, she could tell he was holding back, but for some reason he chose to stay behind. Still, she wouldn't give him this victory, he'd never let her live it down otherwise.

It was only then that she realized she was doing it — minus the head-explosion thing.

Her senses were on overdrive and she smiled at the feeling of power flowing through her veins, effortlessly, completely ignoring Damian shouting her name from the back. It had only been brief the previous times they'd tried. This... this felt different.

She was keenly aware of Zack following after them, close enough for his smell to wash over her. Something tagged at the back of her mind.

She jumped over rocks and fallen logs along the way while weaving in and out of trees, taking sharp turns and slowly leaving Damian behind. She thought she heard his name being called from the back — Zack.

Val narrowed her eyes and locked them on a rock a few meters ahead that almost acted as a springboard, leading to a small cliff about eight feet above the ground.

Something felt off.

A growl ripped through her throat. She shook her head, desperately trying to shake off the hunger that originated from her belly, the hunger that demanded more power. More freedom.

Her skin had become a cage. And she wanted to rip out of it.

Her feet pushed her off the edge of the rock and launched her into the air.

That's when she smelled it.

Something collided with her in mid-air, sending her tumbling down to the ground, sharp rocks and branches splitting her skin on the way.

A tree cut her off, making her let out a pained shriek. She lifted her head just enough to see a blade-shaped stick protruding from the tree stabbed into her lower thigh, blood trickling down and creating a small puddle underneath it.

A rumble caught her attention and she turned her head to the source, where a muddy brown wolf got up and shook out its fur. Its eyes widened for a second before they fell on her, eyeing her closely. A male — she realized.

The wolf tilted his head as golden met brown.