Moonlight: Stars, Eclipses, & Full Moons

The Day Everything Changed

Jongin's POV

Being a lone wolf wasn't as bad as they all made it out to be. For one, I didn't have anyone else to worry about outside of myself and by the time I turned 18, I was more than capable of doing that. Another plus was that I could actually experience what it was like to have a clear mind. When I was in a pack, all I could hear were their voices constantly, so it was nice to have a break from all that. 

It was also really nice to never have a strict daily routine. I'd stay up as late as want and wander the quiet, night woods without having to worry about how late it was because I knew I could just sleep in late in the morning. My day-to-day schedule was whatever I wanted it to be. 

Most days, though, I'd wake up, find something to eat, and then spend the rest of the day getting lost in whatever town I happen to be closest to. Of course, I didn't really have any money to do anything the slightest bit entertaining, but I always seemed to find a way to pass the time.

I spent a good chunk of my time as a wolf because I didn't want to risk anyone seeing a teenage boy by himself in the woods. Then, police would be called and somehow, I'd find myself back with my old pack and I wasn't ready to go back there. 

I had a strange feeling when I woke up one day. It was like this churning feeling in my stomach accompanied with a racing heart. I was totally alert and aware, all of my senses almost at their highest peaks, and that wasn't usually the way werewolves wake up. Well, that is unless their instincts were trying to tell them something.

So, needless to say, I was on guard all day. I didn't know if my instincts were trying to warn me of incoming danger or prepare for something goodd to happen, but at that point in my life, I wouldn't have invested my hopes into the latter. Nonetheless, I was I made sure to keep myself aware of my surroundings at all times. 

By the time night began to settle in again, I started thinking nothing was going to happen. That feeling wasn't as strong or present as it was earlier and I didn't feel the need to keep my defenses up anymore. I figured it was probably all the years of being a lone wolf getting to me.

But as soon as I started to head into the woods to find a place to sleep for the night, that feeling returned. It hit me like a blow to the gut, forcing me to stop in my place but also pressuring me to keep going at the same time. 

After I stood there for a moment, I took a deep breath and kept walking on. My first guess was that there were hunters in the area who heard about wolf sightings in their town and wanted to do something about it. As I walked further in, I saw that I was right about the hunters, but the moment I saw them, I started to feel something else, too.

It's hard to precisely explain with words, but when a werewolf is in the presence of another werewolf, regardless of whether or not they know them, it can tell. Sure enough, there was a diminutive and young-looking werewolf running. I assumed he was running from something because he would look back every few seconds and each time after he did, his heart rate would spike. 

He came to a stop once I think he thought he lost who or whatever was chasing him, but no more than a minute later, I heard footsteps nearing him. Just that sound alone told me who it was that he was so afraid of and I have to admit, I became scared, too. It didn't take long for him to be surrounded by a group of hunters, all of their guns pointing at him. I took a step forward as to intervene, but quickly took it back and stood in place. 

Just the sight of the hunters and the way their presence felt brought back the memory I had tried so hard to forget. I wanted to run away and forget this, too, but for some reason, my body wouldn't let me move. I felt the need to do something to help him, but I also felt compelled to run as far away from the problem as I could.