chapter 3

I make my way out of the house trying to find a secluded place as I feel the jolt of electricity rising in me. Once I exit the huge home, I take a look around to find some seclusion a place far away from my eyes because I know what is about to happen is not normal. It is a curse something out of some magical novel. Some folklore.

I see that this neighborhood is not fully developed. There are lots for sale but not all have been cleared for construction. I make my way over to the closest one which looks dense with vegetation. It will be a good cover I think to myself. As I am struggling to stand, I am bumping into the trees and am trying to fight this ripping pain inside me.

I fall to the grown as I hear my legs break. Followed by a cracking sound as my body contorted and I start to sprout my fur. I am ripped apart and put together again. Then it is over. I am a beast. I giant hairy beast. I can see the woods around me and feel the wet mossy ground below on my paws. That is my curse.

Why did this happen I know it is not a full moon. I should not have turned I think to myself. I let out a growl and my instincts shoot through me. I need to defend myself something is coming at me. I turn around and get in a stance ready to attack whatever is out here.

I have no control over this instinct. I am an animal and am on autopilot my brain and emotions slip away and all I think is to be killed or kill. Then I see two wolves scampering out of where I entered the trees. I pounce. My teeth pierce through the skin of this wolf.

The taste of the blood feeds my instincts I start to rage. I am thrashing and ripping into this one. I feel a sharp pain in my back leg. It pulls my attention off the wolf I bit, and I turn to see the other I lunge for the face and connect. Once again blood ignites my rage and I go again.

The other swipes and somehow manages to throw my thrashing body off the wolf I am engaging with. They both tuck tails and run into the forest. I start to chase them as I love a run in this form, and I love a good chase. I run and run but get bored as I have lost sight of them and don’t want to sniff them out. I manage to get control again of my beast and change back. Here I am naked alone wet and in the woods.

I feel the rain on my bare skin and realize I need to get back. As I walk back, I try to understand what just happened. First, why did my beast come out it is not a full moon. Where did those wolves come from? As I ponder these over and over. I return to my things. If I didn’t have enough things to worry about my clothes would be shredded. Lucky for me at least my shoes survived but they are soaked from the now downpour of rain. I put them on and start to wrap my shredded clothes the best I can around my soaking-wet body. Useless. Nothing is covered.

I find my phone it is intact and thanks to my waterproof case unharmed. I call for a ride and don’t know how I am supposed to explain why I'm this disheveled and practically naked and wet and coved in muck. I make my way to the road and notice two piles of clothes. That is convenient I think to myself. I slip them on and at least I'm dressed. Even if the clothes don’t fit, I won't have to explain my naked apparency. I drop my clothes and wait for the car.

It does not take long for me to get home once my ride arrived. I open the door to the dorm and head straight to the bathroom. I need a shower and to clean up the mud I tracked in. I take a shower and take care of the cleaning. After all this, I decided I should check in with my dad and Ian. I call My dad but with no answer.

No surprise there. If he has been drinking, then there is no way he would pick up. I decide to call my uncle. “Hey there college girl.” “Hey, how is everything going with Dad?” There is a long pause and I know my dad has been drinking. “It is okay I know,” I say. “But how was your flight? How is your dorm mate? Tell me everything.” I smile.

My Uncle Dave has been more of a parent figure to me than my father has been these last few years. He really stepped up when my mother passed away. My dad fell into depression and alcohol, and he fell into the role of doting Uncle. Whether it was making sure there was food on the table or showing up to my senior prom to make sure someone took pictures before the dance. He has been my rock and without him, I would never have been able to come here in the first place.

I fill him in on the party. How I love my roommate and leave out the part of me turning into a crazy wolf beast and attacking other wolves. “Well, have fun but remember to learn something while you are there. It is late here so I need to get to bed I love you.” “I love you too Uncle Dave.” the call ends and I am left alone looking up at the ceiling.

I should call Ian. I know I texted him when I landed and when I got to the dorms but that is it. I ring him up and Jamie picks up. I hear a lot of people in the background, and I know he is out. “Hello?” “Oh, sorry is Ian there Jamie?” “How did you know it was me Ember?” “I know your voice I have been working with you for a while remember?” “I know sorry, Ian is in the bathroom he left his phone at the bar, and I saw your name on the caller ID so I thought I would say hey.”

“Well, Hey.” “hey” “Can you just have him call me back?” “I will have fun out there.” “I will thanks.” I hang up the phone. I need to get some shut eye I have classes tomorrow and even though I have a million things running through my mind I need to get to sleep.

I wake up to find Mel sound asleep. I have no idea when she came in last night, but it doesn’t matter. I have things to do. I head out to grab breakfast in the dining hall. I am having a hard time focusing on the events last night. I need to figure out what happened. What if it happens again and I beast out in a class? No, it must have been some fluke. I just need to get to class I do not have time to think about this.