Amber Waves of Angst

Chapter 3

Derek faced off against his son, leaning over and growling with eyes aflame and claws and fangs fully extended. The two wore only running shorts so as not to get their clothes covered in blood. He wouldn't push past the Beta phase for this part of their training...but even that seemed to be a bit much since Erik hadn't phased at all...

Derek stood up straight and sighed. "You aren't shifting."

Erik folded his arms across his thin frame, so like Stiles they could have been twins. "I know, Dad. I still can't control it yet."

"I can't teach you how to fight if you can't shift at will. You have to have two things to hold on to at all times. One thing that makes you furious, and another that makes you calm." Derek handed him an electronic device attached to an elastic band. "Here, put on this heart monitor. Werewolves shift when their heart rate reaches 165 beats per minute. We need to try to get your heart rate elevated enough for you to go into a full Beta shift."

"Wow, 165 is high. Can we have coronary thrombosis, occlusions or infarctions?"

Derek's eyes were wide. "What?"

Erik rolled his eyes. "Nevermind."

"So, the goal of today's lesson is to learn how to get your heart rate above or below that mark, at will. Understand?"

"Of course! This is Biofeedback, which is becoming aware of various physiological functions using devices that provide information on the activity of those same systems, with a goal of being able to manipulate them at will. Processes that can often be controlled include brainwaves, muscle tone, skin conductance, pain perception and heart rate! Changes occur in conjunction to thoughts, emotions and behavior. Eventually, I'll be able to do it without the heart monitor. Awesome!"

The only word Derek understood in the entire tirade was 'Awesome'.

Lydia brought them out some bottled waters from the house. Noting the heart monitor, she brightened. "Biofeedback! Awesome! You know Derek, Biofeedback is becoming aware of-"

"LEAVE NOW!" Derek roared, the muscles under his skin rolling like waves on the beach. His water bottle exploded in his crushing grip.

"I guess I'm your trigger, I'm flattered. Good luck, boys!" she wandered back to the house while Derek fought the urge to just let go and rampage through the forest. When he was sufficiently calm, he turned back to his son, and tried not to be irritated at the huge smirk on his face. Erik quickly wiped it off and drank down his water.

"You ready? Go ahead son, shift."

Derek waited about 30 seconds. Nothing happened. "You're not trying hard enough. I've never met a teenager that wasn't enraged about something. What were you thinking about?"

"When they took the Discovery Channel off our cable package."

Derek rolled his eyes. "Think of something even more annoying."

"How about Laurie?"

"How about the night your father got shot?" Derek said quietly.

Erik growled, and the heart monitor beeped frantically. Derek watched with a mixture of pride and sadness as the remark sent his son into the Beta phase. It was a low blow.

"I don't want to use that!" his son said through clenched fangs.

"Erik...there is a rage in our people that's almost as old as we are. We have been hunted and persecuted by ignorant humans for hundreds of years. They think nothing of taking away that which is most precious to us. That is exactly what you have to tap into to control your change."