Moonstone mysteries; The Werewolf Within

Life and Death

Bryce's breath came in ragged gasps as he stared up at the monstrous figure of his friend. Adam, now fully transformed into a rogue werewolf, loomed over him, claws ready to strike. Just as Adam's fearsome hand swiped down, a blur of motion intercepted.

Luna appeared out of nowhere, leaping through the air with grace and power. Mid-leap, her body elongated and shifted into her werewolf form, the transformation seamless and swift. She collided with Adam with a force that sent him stumbling back, allowing Bryce to scramble away from the deadly claws of his friend.

"Get out of here, Bryce!" Luna's voice growled out, a mix of human urgency and beastly ferocity. Bryce didn't need to be told twice. He stumbled to his feet, clutching a bleeding arm where Adam had grazed him earlier. He sprinted towards the nearest exit, glancing back only to see Luna and Adam locked in a fierce struggle.

Luna was a blur of fur and muscle, her movements fluid and powerful, honed by experience. She deftly dodged Adam's wild swipes, using his own momentum against him. With a swift motion, she grabbed his arm and flipped him over her shoulder, slamming him into the ground with a force that made the floorboards creak and splinter.

But as she pinned Adam down, her nostrils flared, catching the scent of Bryce's blood lingering in the air. The full moon's influence surged within her, and for a split second, her predatory instincts threatened to override her control. Her eyes glazed over with hunger, a primal snarl escaping her lips as her gaze shifted towards Bryce's retreating form.

Adam, sensing her distraction, used the moment to break free. With a powerful heave, he threw Luna off him and roared, his eyes now fixated on the cluster of people gathered at the festival in the football field. He crashed through a nearby dorm room window, the glass shattering and spraying around him as he landed two floors below with feline grace.

"No!" Luna roared, shaking off her predatory urges and giving chase. She leaped through the same window, landing with a predatory crouch before sprinting after Adam.

The night air was thick with tension, the distant sounds of laughter and music from the festival a stark contrast to the chaos unfolding. Luna's heart pounded in her chest as she pursued Adam, her thoughts a whirlwind of fear and determination. She had to stop him before he reached the innocent crowd, before his uncontrollable rage and newfound power wreaked havoc.

Adam's figure, dark and imposing, raced ahead, his movements a blend of animalistic grace and raw power. Luna pushed herself harder, her muscles burning with effort, her mind focused on the singular goal of stopping him.

***

Bryce stumbled into a nearby dorm room, his heart pounding and adrenaline still coursing through his veins. He shut the door behind him, leaning against it for a moment to catch his breath. His arm throbbed where Adam had grazed him, and he quickly moved to the sink, turning on the cold water. The cool liquid stinged as it hit his bruises and cuts, but he gritted his teeth, knowing he had to clean the wounds before they get worse.

He grabbed a clean towel, dampening it under the faucet before pressing it to his bleeding arm. The fabric soaked up the blood, and he hissed in pain. His mind replaying the encounter, the sheer force of Adam's transformed body, the razor-sharp claws that had come inches from tearing him apart. He felt a shiver run down his spine, a reminder of just how close he came to being a victim of his friend's uncontrollable rage.

With the bleeding under control, Bryce found a first aid kit in the bathroom cabinet. He applied antiseptic to the wounds, the sting bringing tears to his eyes. He quickly wrapped a bandage around his arm, securing it tightly. The cuts were shallow, but they'll needed time to heal.

As he finished tending to his wounds, he grabbed the walkie-talkie from his belt. Static crackled through the speaker as he tuned into the frequency, they had all agreed on. "Stephanie, come in. It's Bryce. The plan's changed," he said, his voice steady but urgent.