The Beasts [Book 1]

CHAPTER NINE - The Howling Wolf

Connor let out a pained howl as he tried to stand. The little voice in his head hadn't even given him a chance to accept or decline his offer! He'd already accepted it, before Freyja had touched his hand. Selene held him down, struggling a bit as she tried to cover up his mouth, too. Pop, pop, pop went his bones, and it felt horrible to touch, but even more horrible to experience. "You're going to attract coyotes, Con! You gotta be quiet." Annabelle begged, biting her lip nervously.

"Tell-That-To-IT!" His voice reached a new pitch, and he flopped backwards, chest heaving. But he wasn't giving up, not yet. He was going to fight until this ordeal was over, even if it meant annoying the hell out of everybody around him.

"You've got to relax, Connor. You're just making it worse for yourself!" Jordan snapped, eyes scanning the horizon, looking for any predators who might make themselves known.

"I'm going to keep fighting, Until this son of a bitch-Stops hurting me." The blonde male thrashed, throwing Selene off of him.

"I'll stop hurting you when you stop struggling! You're making it harder for me, and it's hurting me, too you dolt!" The nameless voice in his head screeched as Connor rolled over onto his stomach, his spine stretching and ripping, into a long fluffy tail.

His fur grew over his bones, a golden yellow. He fell over, panting. Thank God it was finally over! He scrambled to his paws, taking in his new form with pride. A wolf. A human who could shift into a wolf at will! He was a beast.

"We survived, no thanks to you!" His voice, who he decided he'd call Lupus, snapped. "If you'd just stayed still we would've been done HOURS ago!"

Shut the hell up, Lupus. You know full well we wouldn't have. Connor snarled back, before lifting his head up to the sky in a defiant howl. He'd cheated the vampires and death, and he'd cheat them again and again, until it was all over.

"OH, Connor you did it!" Annabelle hugged his soft golden coat, grinning from ear to ear. "I'm gonna be next, I swear it! I wanna be just like you." She whispered, admiration coating her tone.

Connor puffed out his chest, a strong growl escaping his throat. He was an Alpha, he was great. Not a single Vampire could take him down, nor could anything else. Not with Lupus and his friends by his side. He head-butted Annabelle playfully, tail wagging.

"Are you ready for that, Anna? Are you sure?" Jacob asked, eyes wide. He'd seen how painful it was and he wasn't sure that he wanted to do it anymore. But there was no turning back now, was it?

"Yes! Just you wait, I'll be as strong as Connor is." Anna stood up, taking a deep breath. "Connor, it was pretty bad, wasn't it? But you've survived so much already, it must've been like nothing!"

She had no idea. Oblivious girl, he thought, but couldn't help but admire her, she seemed so ready to take on anything, just for him.

"If you're so ready," Diesel barked, "Then why don't you just start already?" Annabelle's eyes snapped up to his, and a cold fire burned within them.

"Fine. I accept." She snarled, obviously not expecting what would come next.