The Lycan

Chapter 7

It took Matthew a while to step and hop over the abundance of bushes and logs before finally reaching Nero, who was on his knees, seemingly waiting for something. He turned his head quickly as he heard his footsteps.

"You know you shouldn't be here, Matthew," Nero said to him. Matthew stepped forward regardless.

"Have you really lived here all these years?" He asked. Nero nodded. It shows, Matthew thought.

"Please, Matthew," Nero said again. "You don't need to see this. I'm gonna be fine."

"You've been doing this for ten years?"

"Is that how long it's been?"

"Yep," Matthew sat down next to him, to Nero's dismay. "You kinda know that we have catching up to do."

"Yes, but-"

"No buts!" Katie said standing behind them, making the two men jump.

"Why are you here?!" Nero protested.

Katie shrugged. "I simply wanna get to know you guys better. Besides, I wanna see if what Matthew said was true. You didn't attack me last night either."

"You were lucky! I didn't know you, and- that's just stupid! You were never supposed to follow me!" Nero growled.

"Nero's right, Katie," Matthew said, concerned. "His wolf reacts to me okay, but he's probably gonna be unpredictable around you-"

"I don't even know if I'll recognize you!" Nero exclaimed, now standing up. "It's been a decade, Matthew. I had to take a second to recognize you as the way I am now, my wolf has been running wild hunting whatever he could find! I don't know what would happen if-" Nero was cut off by a horrible pain that jolted through his abdomen, doubling over and falling to his knees. Matthew and Katie both flinched at the sudden change in posture, and Nero gasped, eyes wide with fear. He whipped his head around to see the moon that was becoming present behind the clouds in the sky.

"It's starting, you need to-" he cried out in pain and hugged himself as his body convulsed. Claws were emerging from his fingertips, poking into his sides.

Matthew took immediate action and grabbed Nero's shoulders. "Look at me Nero. I know you're not gonna hurt me. It's okay." Katie kneeled down next to Matthew.

"He's right. Listen, I know I've only known you for like a day, but you recognized me when you turned. He's your friend, and I wanna be a friend too!" Matthew looked at Katie in awe of her words, being taken aback further as she embraced the werewolf in a hug.

Nero's breath hitched. He froze at Katie's sudden, reckless action. He panted, his chest feeling tight, and he dug his claws into the earth. Tears began to well in his now yellow eyes. "P-please..." he struggled out.

"I'm not going anywhere," Katie said, putting her arms back at her sides. "Neither is Matthew, so-"

"Don't l-leave," Nero wheezed, those words being the last he would speak all night. He arched his back, screaming out in agony as his spine pushed out against his back, accompanied by a disturbing crackling sound.

"Jesus..." Matthew whispered, getting in front of Katie, moving a small distance away from Nero to give him space. Katie watched in silent fear, her eyes wide as Nero fell to his side, writhing and screaming as his chest cracked and barreled itself out, his ribs and muscles becoming visible. He convulsed and tried to stand up, but he fell to his knees once more, his pained moaning developing an animalistic warp as his body stretched out into a canine form, his tail tucking between his mutating legs as it grew above the waist of his makeshift shorts.

Nero dropped to his side once more, reaching out a shaking, paw-like hand to the humans before him, tears of pain and anguish flowing from his wild, yet terrified eyes as his body began to grow a thin layer of dark blue fur. He let out a gargled scream, his vocal chords beginning to tear as his face began to break and stretch into a muzzle. He tried to stumble away on all fours, but he was in too much agony to get far. In silent horror, both Matthew and Katie watched as the werewolf's back was turned to them, a horrible stretching sound filling the air as he steadily doubled in size.

Nero's screams have become a disturbing hybrid of man and animal, before melting into the wild roar of a beast as he reared up on his hind legs, howling to the moon, to the entire forest, the wolf making his presence known. He dropped back down on all fours, panting and growling. After a few minutes of silence, Matthew was the first to speak.

"Nero?"

The wolf turned to look at the people behind him, his yellow orbs for eyes stained with tears. He slowly stalked toward them, emitting a low growl that increased in volume with each step. Matthew tensed up, while Katie trembled, being careful not to move or provoke the lycanthrope.

The beast sniffed at them, and went silent, before letting out a long whine, backing away with his tail in between his legs. Matthew sighed in relief, inching close to Nero to pet his mane, careful not to make any sudden movements. Katie soon joined in, petting Nero's head softly, smiling at him.

His whining not showing any current signs of stopping, Nero buried his head into both of his human companions, trembling as tears streamed down his muzzle.