The monster was finally out. Screaming in joy. Howling as it clashed against Lisa. Trading frantic swipes with precise bites. Absorbing gashes across my face with controlled strikes. The monster wrapped itself around my limbs. Supporting my muscles and bones and making them move.

But I gave the orders. I sent the signals. Directed where to hit. When to doge. What blow I could take and how to counter it. I am still in control.

I felt a twinge of pity for her as she frantically squirmed out of my grip and tackled me back to the ground. My back cracked against a bed of rocks. I clamped down on my teeth as the monster pulled me back up to my feet. Letting the moonlight soak my black bloodstained fur. My fangs glowing against the light. The muscles in my arms spasmed to keep control of themselves. My claws had blood dripping off them. The ends of my fingers felt like they were dunked in thunder. Buzzing with a heavy numbness.

Lisa was hunched over. Keeping her chest to the ground. Huffing as she wiped off blood dripping off her fur. The steel-blue eyes glared through the cloud of fresh instincts. Becoming clearer as each heavy second went by. Her arms and legs tensed as they dug into the ground. Shaking underneath her weight.

Well?

I threw my head back and a howl erupted from my throat. The sound cracked the sky, fresh embers burned my lungs as everything ignited. My heart racing frantically. Blood roaring in my ears.

Let's end this.

Lisa launched herself towards me. Her arms stretched out and open. First mistake. I jumped the side and slammed my claws down on her back. A yelp came out of her mouth as she crumpled to the ground. Lisa tried to roll over and fling her claws at my throat. Still showing some clarity in her eyes.

Second mistake. The monster shot my hands around her wrist and smiled. In a swift twist, a soft snap went off and her arm went limp. Lisa roared in pain as she jammed her free hand to my ribs.

The sharp digging of her claws only made the monster grip her arm tighter. I wanted to scream. To release some of that pain. But not now. Not in front of her. Orr her brother. I will absorb this. I will show them, what a "real" werewolf looks like.

"Is...that...all?" I asked, forcing out the words out of my jaw. The words getting tangled on my tongue and fangs. Becoming rough as they fell out. But clear. With hatred. And false strength.

Lisa's eyes widen in fear. Humanity poking out through her fur-covered face. Freezing for a moment as the monster and I shared one voice. The voice of a bloodthirsty creature.

I pulled on the broken arm of Lisa and threw her behind me. Watching a mass of blood and fur crashed into trees, breaking them down as she rolled away. The numbness in my hands spread to my shoulders. The sickening iron taste and smell of blood coated my skin and teeth. Curling my stomach as the rancid smell baked inside my mouth. The fumes leaked into my brain, stirring the ghosts from their coffins. The sounds of them roaring filled the back of my ears.

I gritted my teeth and turned around to face Grant and Adam. The two of them were in a brawl. Grant launching punch after punch on a turtled Adam. Using the back end of his knife to hit him on the temple. Adam was doing his best to fight back. Getting small nicks from the knife on his forearms as he shielded his face. He ducked when Grant went for a big swing with his knife. Adam taking the opening, tackled him and swatted the knife out of Grant's hand. Adam started pummeling his fist into Grant's face letting each blow hit with a loud thud.

Before I could walk over to them something clamped on my leg. A stinging wave of pain went through my back. I let out a stiff yell and turned around to see Lisa biting my left leg. Her legs looked crumpled and twisted from landing into the trees. The dirt showed the path she dragged herself over. A jagged line made by one good arm and a broken arm.

There's something admirable about that. If things were different, I wonder if I am doing the same? Dragging my weathered, bloodied body through the mud. Pulled by thin strands of muscles to save my pack.

It's something I can respect.

Respect? We're monsters. Remember? We're not capable of that.

The monster pulled back my leg and I gave her a swift kick-off. Lisa flew a couple of feet away whimpering as she crashed into the ground. Her body was shaking, the blows finally taking effect. Whatever was holding her up was fading away.

The monster bit down on my legs as I made them move towards Lisa's crumpled body. The numbing thunder cracked in my neck and brain. The ghosts were howling as they shook their coffins. Events screaming in my ears, flashing behind my eyes. Each second droning on as my shadow started to cover Lisa's body.

The sound of a metal click whipped the air. Blowing away the numbness in my body. The ghosts froze, settling in their coffins. Silence washed over my eyes and ears. All that was left was the sound of my heavy breathing and Lisa's whimpering.

I turned around to see Grant's face, a blacked eye, and cuts littered on his face. His gun in his left hand, aimed over in Adam's horrid face. His right arm wrapped around Adam's throat with his knife pressed against it.

Adam's face was covered in bruises. He didn't try to move out of the grasp. He didn't struggle. He just remained still. Ready to accept his fate, trying to swallow down the fear that boiled under his face.

Grant stared back at me. The venom was sprawled over his face. Coating his face as he pushed the barrel of the revolver on Adam's temple.

"Back off!" Grant shouted. Jamming his gun on Adam's skull as he squirmed.

My ears perked up. Hearing soft thudding faintly across the forest. It was coming here. I couldn't pick up the scent from the iron pool of blood dripping off my mouth. But it had to be Gwen. The look on her face showed she wanted to follow me. To help out. But she went with the plan to not make more problems.

She probably picked up the smell of blood and started rushing over here. Which means Will is gonna follow after her to make sure she doesn't get killed.

I can sure manage my pack.

They're gonna di-

No.

He's already dead. Just wal-

Shut up!

I started to walk over to the two. The sounds of Lisa's whimpers were nails scratching into my ears. The monster squeezed my leg and arms, using its arms and mouth to stop me from moving. Its grip around my heart felt like death. Gnawing at my nerves. Doing anything it could to pull me away.

He's already dead! Just walk away you fucking idiot!

Gwen and Will are gonna be coming here soon! And when they do they are gonna die! Grant will shoot them while Lisa rips apart Adam! Just run!

Run goddamnit!

I am in charge! Not you! Me! I will save all the members of my family! I don't care what happens to me. I will not stand by and let them die!

The monster snapped back and let go of my body. Freeing my heart as it lumbered back into its cage. My joints snapped cracking the air as I walked closer to Grant and Adam. The structure of my face slowly shifted back to normal. My muscles tearing themselves apart to make room for my bones to grow back to its original height. My claws and fur shedding off my skin like dried paint. Going back to a human so I could face the dark venom from Grant.

"I said, back off!" He snapped, swinging the gun towards me. His pointer finger primed on the trigger.

"Bailey, just go!" Adam shouted at me. Grant's knife pressing closer on his throat. Letting out a yelp as a small line of blood trickled down. "I'm not worth it!"

Does that mean I'm not worth anything? Or Gwen? Or Will?  That's bullshit.

"You wanna kill him?" I shouted, coming a couple of steps away from them.

"Trust me I will!" Grant fired back, jamming the revolver harder in Adam's face.

"Kill me!" I shouted back.

Grant paused while Adam struggled even harder to get out. All of the emotions he was swallowing down were erupting out.

"No!" Adam screamed getting cut off from the knife pressing closer against his throat.

The soft thudding in my ears was getting louder with each loaded second. They'll be here soon. Just have to hold out. Even if I get a bullet in the head, if they can stop this and save Adam. I'll be happy.

"I said I'll kill you last." Grant spat.

"You sure?" I asked. My voice steady and strong. Something pulling my lips into a smile. Something was pushing me up "I took him in. He would have been dead if I didn't save him. Your sister wouldn't become freaks like us if it wasn't for my stupid big heart."

Grant finally jammed the gun in my face. My eyes staring in the blood-filled black hole in the barrel. My arms and legs jolted for a second from instinct. About to knock the gun out punch his head off. But I stayed still. A cold towel of sweat covered my back as it hit against the night air. My heart stayed in a calm rhythm.

The thudding sound was starting to overlap with another sound.Getting louder as seconds dragged by. Will must have finally caught up with her. They're not too far away now.

"Keep talking." He hissed. The words plopping onto the ground like tar. "And I will kill you."

"If you're gonna kill me you owe me one thing."

"I don't owe you shit!"

"If you gonna kill us then you have to kill your sister," I replied calmly. Feeling something grip the base of my spine. Keeping me straight. Staring back at the horrid viciousness that cracked over Grant's face. "You're a hunter, right? You kill monsters like us. So that means you have to kill your sister. She's a monster according to you guys. It's in your rules. So when do you have to put her down?"

"That's-" Grant stammered looking over my shoulder to Lisa. I could hear her groaning as she was slowly stirring up. The thudding was getting clearer as it could be heard from blood-soaked air. "That's different. She's-"

"So then what's the fucking point!" I shouted. My voice echoing out through the forest like wildfire. Burning my throat as it dripped out. "If she gets a pass cause she's your sister then what about the rest of us! Who was forced into this! Who wanted to be one cause they felt empty in their lives! Who was fucking born with it in this shitty world! We have done nothing but live and try to make lives better. But you only see us nothing but mindless animals! So if you are a hunter then it should be no problem stuffing down that thing you call humanity into your gun and put down your sister like you do with the rest of us!"

Grant paused has his eyes frozen on Lisa. His face breaking down as it showed a green misery. Sicken and conflicted. Adam stared at me, fear eating his face. Small strands of tears running down his face. I looked over at him and smiled.

No stitches. No blood. A smile.

Nothing will happen to you. I swear.

"Bailey!"Gwen's voice shouted, cutting through the tension.

The air bit into my skin and turned my blood to stone. My heart jolted as I looked over to see Gwen and Will rushing over, their blood-soaked clothes and tattered wounds becoming clearer through the moonlight. Will's eyes landed on the gun and knife in Grant's hands and pulled Gwen to a stop.

Gwen fought back, elbowing him in the jaw. Getting out of his grip as she charged forward. Fur starting to spread over her skin as she started to shift. Baring out her fangs as she glared over at Grant.

Grant looked back at me, mustering a small smile. The misery on his face muddled the venom that was trying to come back. Adam struggled frantically out of his grip, shouting at Gwen to leave. His voice cracking as he forced out the words.

Please don't.

"It's just different," Grant mumbled under his breath.

His left arm straightened and moved over to Gwen. Measuring the sight and distance it would take to kill her. His trigger finger primed and twitched to make the full squeeze.

The monster howled as my arm shot out. My dark red-stained hands turning back into claws. Reaching for the gun. For something that would stop it. To end this hellish night we were trapped in.