Scribbles and Drabbles

Werewolf Drabbles 7

"Why can't you be more like your brothers?"

The words ripped through Dalton's heart. He had heard them from so many people, some more cruel than others. When his gym coach said, it was a man being disappointed that Dalton wasn't an athlete. It stunk, but it didn't rip his heart out and put it on a plate for the world to see. This was different. This was his Mum stabbing him in his chest with a knife and carving him open like a prized pig. His mum hadn't said them before. She defended him against them when his aunts and uncles said them. 

Her eyes somehow looked exhausted and emotionless together. She sat, her shoulders low under the weight of what he'd done. She smoothed the paper on the table and clutched at her mouth as if to stifle a scream.

"I can't believe you'd do this." 

"Ma," Dalton stepped towards her, but her angry glance stopped him.

"You know you can't go. You never should have applied. When your father finds out, when Alpha finds out," She inhaled and closed her eyes to calm herself. Words to defend himself dried in his mouth. "You're not human, Dalton. No matter how clever you are, you're wolf first."

"But," Dalton said, trembling. "I didn't apply; I was headhunted, which you'd know if you ever paid attention to what I said. Or read the letter."

"Don't you dare talk back to me," Ma warned. "I pay enough attention to know that you spend too much time pretending to be human! I'm proud you're smart, but you are nothing to the pack if you aren't useful as a wolf."

"I'm not useful as a wolf, though. Being clever is all I've got."

"And yet you're not clever enough to avoid this kind of attention." She slammed her fist on the table, and her nails sprouted fur. 

Gritting his teeth, Dalton turned and left the room. He went to his bedroom; he had nowhere else to go. He fell to the ground, eyes burning. Dalton curled with his back to the door, hugging his legs. He would never be able to leave his small backwoods town because he wasn't a good enough wolf. His wolf stirred inside, trying to comfort him, but it was hard to feel comforted by the thing causing this all. 

Hours later, Alpha arrived. 

The thrum of power came from underneath the floor from the entrance. He was still sore-eyed and not ready to deal with him. Dalton wouldn't have a choice. He gained attention that should have been positive, but it highlighted his otherness from the pack. 

No one had checked on him. His two brothers had teased him for being a crybaby through his door. His Dad hadn't said a word, but he'd heard the door slam. This should have been a good thing. He was being offered the world. 

He curled tighter as he heard the rumbles of an angry wolf behind him. Knuckles rapped against the doorframe. He didn't move from his ball against the door. 

"Dalton," Alpha said, surprisingly gentle despite the anger. "Are you ok?"

"I got an offer to go to a top-tier university on a fully paid scholarship years before my peers. I should be happy. This should be the best thing that has ever happened to me. A professor noticed me. The problem is I'm technically a wolf and meant to be trapped here forevermore." Dalton clutched onto his arms, drawing blood as they stress-shifted to claws. A low whine caught in the back of his throat, and he choked on it. 

"There is no technicality. You are a wolf", the Alpha said, "That blood I can smell is why you can't go. You don't have the control to leave us."

"I hate this. The only thing I'm good for, and my wolf ruins it."

"Open the door."

Dalton wiped his cheeks with his furry palms. He scrambled to his feet and opened the door, almost breaking the handle. His Alpha didn't comment on it despite a glance but moved into Dalton's bedroom. Dalton stood back as Alpha reached for him. The disappointed look in response ached.

"This stops now. We let you be too human, and that was our mistake. It's time to be a wolf," Alpha said, stepping back into Dalton's space.

"I don't want to be a wolf. I want to be human."

"Tough. You have been indulged too much. You are weak, slow, and can't control your shifts. It's time your wolf was given a chance to be in control," Alpha rumbled, grabbing Dalton's scruff and lifting him off the ground. His eyes glowed red, and the bonds between them yanked. 

Dalton struggled, but it was hard to resist the pull. His control vanished, and his Alpha switched the threads of who was first. His wolf took the reigns. The world burned to black, along with his dreams and any notion that his alpha would not hurt him.