Jordan looked out the window of his room. The past week seemed to go by way too fast. It was getting dark out, the moon was visible as were some stars. Jordan stared at the moon, fear slowly rising with every pulse the moon seemed to put off. The moon looked like a bright blue ball with the white glowing stars dancing in the infinitely dark sky. But he knew that this pretty sight was going to be the reason he had to run away. Jordan was brought out of his gaze by a knock on the door. He sluggishly walked over to open the door, revealing James standing there.
"Hey, it's time. Let's go." He said.
Jordan got the bag James packed for him on Monday and headed out the door, as James headed down the hallway. Jordan ran to catch up with James; when he caught up Jordan jumped and grabbed James' shoulders.
"Wha-?" James looked behind him, as his eyes landed on Jordan a smile lit up his face. "Ready?" Jordan nodded, his eyes were full of unsureness.
James hoped he will be the same after this. He knew that Jordan wouldn't make it if he loses himself to his instincts. Jordan looked up as he started to feel the moon's pulse. He wished he could describe it to someone, it was like the blue ball was calling to something within him. Something he felt that was trying to control him- something that was not human.
"Jor and I are going out. We'll be back around 4!" James called over his shoulder as he and Jordan walked to the elevator.
"Okay!" Lucas called back, not looking to focused on the movie playing on the flat screen. Lucas Evans was a man that Jordan had no clue when he showed up. He was just always there, his sister Olivia always said he was a guard. Someone his father trusted, but it was hard to believe when he doesn't even trust his own son.
Jordan looked at his best friend, "I'll race ya to the door!"
James chuckled, "See ya!" James pushed Jordan to the side before he ran down the hall. Even with the moon making life difficult, James pushed so he could be out the door first. Jordan ran to catch up, "Slow poke!" Jordan yelled as he ran past him. They both ran into the garage laughing. The closer they got the outside, the more and more pain Jordan felt.
Once they got out of the house and out to the woods, Jordan started to feel like his head was going to explode. As the pain got worse, Jordan began to whimper. James noticing his friend's pain, pulled him outside. He grabbed Jordan's face looking into his eyes, noticing the fear and confusion on his face. James pulled him faster towards the forest, wanting to get as far from the house as possible.
"Almost there, don't lose control yet." He kept repeating over and over, with Jordan's confusion growing with every repetition. It felt like forever before they finally got into the forest. Headed to the cottonwood tree where he got bit. Jordan's heart rate started to spike when the memory of that night resurfaced.
Once they got to the base of the tree, James dropped his bag and took off his shirt. He gestured for Jordan to do the same. When they both were shirtless, and had their stuff tucked away from wild animals. James started to explain. "You were bitten by a werewolf classified as an Alpha. On full moons, until you can fully take control of it, you are going to transform." Jordan looked at his best friend, trying to find any trace of humour on his face, but couldn't find any. He knew this was going to happen, the minute his wounds healed. But he really didn't want it to.
James took a deep breathe, his eyes flashing briefly. Jordan knew he was in as much pain as he was in, but James knew how to control it better. "Now, don't be scared, I will guide you through it. Yes it will hurt but only the first transformations hurt, but if you get forced into one," he paused like remembering something he didn't want to, and shuddered, "Ready?" James asked feeling the fear radiate off of the young adult.
Jordan had a feeling James shortened the explanation, so this would go by quicker. He nodded, "Yes I understand, but how do you know any of this?" Jordan asked.
Jordan opened his mouth to say something else, but was cut off by James answering. "Because I've went through it."
He went through it?! What he described was torture. It was literal hell! How could anyone...? He was brought out of thought by what he thought at the time was the worst pain he could go through. Jordan dropped to the ground screaming. James rushed forward, knowing touching him will make everything worse, and knelt in front of him. The pain was like nothing he has ever felt before and seemed to last for hours. It was like acid going through his bones, and his skin felt like it was being torn off. His mouth felt as if it was being pulled apart by the jaw, and his limbs felt like they were being pulled from the joints. He felt himself hold his breath, but couldn't think too much on it as another pulse of pain ran through his entire body.
"Jor breathe. Jordan! Breathe! I know this hurts but you have got to breathe." James panicked. James started to take deep breaths, holding Jordan's hand up to his chest. James winced as a new feature appeared on his face. As Jordan calmed his breathing, James' eyes began glowing.
"Good, good. Now focus on my voice," James paused waiting for him to calm his breathing some more. "Don't fight it. It only hurts worse and takes longer if you fight it. It's worth to get through this, trust me. Just let it in." James guided him through the transformation, his voice was trembling. Jordan knew he was in pain. He wished he could help, but in this moment he was nothing but a crying mess.
Jordan got through the pain of letting the moon in, he hoped this was going to be over quickly. James put a hand on Jordan's shoulder, titling his head in a silent question of 'are you okay', before bending over with a deep breath. Jordan nodded rubbing up and down James back. His eyes glowing a silvery blue color. The tears forming in them made them shimmer in the moonlight. When James saw the color of his best friends eyes he gasped, struggling to keep eye contact. He soon regained control over his expression, and stepped back. Jordan started to growl, losing color in his vision was scaring him. He moved his head as fur started to grow on his cheeks. His nails grew into brown claws, and his front canines grew longer and sharper. When Jordan looked up it was revealed James did the same, but just more in control and calmer. Before they had both transformed they agreed to meet up at the tree in the morning. After James knew Jordan was okay, they both ran off in opposite directions of the forest.
Running was the best feeling in the world to Jordan at the moment. Jordan felt free. It felt like time just stopped around him while he lived. He could see every detail of the forest. There was an owl in a tree above him. There was lightning bugs throughout the whole forest. If Jordan thought the forest looked magical before it looked like a fairytale now. All the cotton and lightning bugs in the air looked like magic flowing in the night sky, the stars made it look even more mythical.
Jordan stopped at a lake. He seemed to have the ability to see in darkened areas, though everything appeared red. Jordan could see the moon in the lake perfectly. He could feel the summer breeze against his skin. He could hear the nearby owl in a tree. It was all so clear and peaceful, it almost made him sad when he felt the need to run again. Almost.
After a few hours someone howled through the forest. It took Jordan a few minutes to realize it was James calling him back to the tree where their backpacks were left. He ran back but this time almost with a feeling of sadness in the way he ran. Jordan felt like he didn't want to stop running, and just keep going, to keep running. It seemed like he was being drawn to a certain area and had just never made it yet. He looked up and saw that the moon was gone and the sun was now in the sky.
As he started to change back, James got in his bag. If he thought the first transformation hurt, turning back hurt even worse. The pain of his bones going back into place. His nails pushing themselves back into his hands, and his teeth pushing up into his gums. James put something in his hand after he had fully turned back. He opened his hand to find some much needed pain pills. Jordan looked around, scared if someone saw them, and till a little panicky at the loss of senses.
"Jor, its okay. You're fine, nothing bad happened. I will explain everything once the effects of turning wears off." James hands him a bottle of water, "Okay?" Jordan nodded holding the water and pills in his hands. He took the pain pills with the water James gave him. Soon after, James also gave him a snack bar. As he ate the bar, they walked back to the house. The walk back to the house was peaceful; if you take away all the pain and confusion he was in from what happened the night before. There were things that he was noticing now that he never saw or noticed before. The different colors were popping out, but only blues and yellows were really registering in his head.
When Jordan heard of people being in panic from the sudden loss or gain of senses, he thought it was because of them always having their senses and suddenly one day their gone. But now he knows its from their brain trying to register the change.
When they got into the house, everyone in their dysfunctional family were all sitting around the living room's tv. Oliver was pacing in the front of the room, his phone in his hand. Jordan knew he was more than likely in contact with Lucas, as he wasn't in the room. Ethan was trying to get him to sit down and calm down, but was failing at doing so. Luna was glaring at the two, no one knew or knows why this was happening. And the rest were watching the scene unfold. Jordan cleared his throat and everyone looked at him. He knew at this moment they were going to be in some deep deep shit.
Jordan took the few seconds his father took to turn towards him to check for exits. He found two before his father spoke.
"Where have you been?" Oliver asked.
"What have you been reading." He jokingly muttered, earning a chuckle from Olivia and James who were the closest to him. "Um...James how do we explain last night? With my father, if he knew..." He asked in a hushed voice looking down.
James mentally facepalmed, of course Jordan would be scared of his father finding out. "The truth, they'd find out eventually anyway." He whispered.
Jordan shook his head panickingly, "We can't my father will hate me, us. We'll be lucky to get out of here alive." James looked over at Jordan, putting his hand on Jordan's shoulder.
"If he starts to get violent, run." James said before stepping forwards. Overhearing the conversation between the two, Luna's eyes went wide when she realized what has happened. Luna's power, as far as anyone knows, is super senses and knowledge, because of this she is the person who taught Olivia and Jordan before they were old enough to get into the academy.
Olivia knew if her father found out her brother would be dead. She needed to find a place she can hide her brother from their father, but there isn't a place he can hide him that he doesn't know about.
"He's not. Please tell me he is not!" She panicked.
James really wanted to scream, how was he supposed to let Oliver know, and try to keep him calm if no one was going to be calm. James nodded his head his eyes full of regret and frustration. Everyone looked at the two confused, everyone except Oliver who was following all interactions very closely.
"Who?!" She quietly said in a deadly voice.
Every one backed up not wanting to get on Luna's bad side. Jordan looked down, trying to blik the tears out of his eyes. In Jordan's mindset wolves are bad deceitful creatures, and if he was to become one his life would be over. James put his hand on his best friend's shoulder, he wished he could offer more comfort. Sadly, he can only offer so much, with Oliver watching them with cold eagly eyes.
"One of the strays from the neighboring packs?" His voice cracked.
Had it not been for Luna, Teo would've laughed at his squeaky voice crack. Teo Schmidt is a fun story to tell, Teo is Luna's best friend, he just kind of showed up one day and never left. When Jordan and Olivia were younger he would bring over animals and they would all talk. Teo would explain how he could speak to them, tell when one is hurt or even where one has been. Oliver would try and get him to leave but he would come back the next day or week to see Luna, so he gave up.
"Jordan, quick question. Do you have the urge to go to a random person?" Luna asked. Jordan shook his head. "Do you have the urge to go to some one? Like how a son would go to their parents?" Luna asked more specifically this time. He hesitated then nodded his head unsure if that's what the urge was.
"Who?" James asked side looking at Luna, noticing his unsureness.
"I wish I could tell you. Last night I was being drawn out pass the lake, but now nothing." James took a deep breathe then shook his head.
"They couldn't of.. Right?" He finished his thought aloud.
"It doesn't add up." Luna whispered, trying to think of the packs close to them. "The one who bit you, describe him." Luna instructed side-looking at James. She had one person in mind, but she hoped she was wrong.
"Okay? Um...well he had really long black hair from what I could tell, but it was kind of dark out, um.. His hair was a little wavy, a lot like James's, maybe a little longer or shorter. His eyes were glowing a metallic gold like the gold coins you see in old cartoons. That's all I remember from that night really." Jordan said confused.
James looked to be beyond confused, and his eyes seemed to have taken an unnatural shading. Ethan looked at them weirdly not understanding a word.
"James what's going on?" He asked his eyes going between the three.
"You've heard of werewolves right?" James looked at Jordan with guilt in his eyes.
"No!" He cried, not wanting his father to find out. How could James do this, he is going to have run. Jordan started frantically looking around for an escape. His father always talked about how they are monsters who roam the forest at night. Is that what he is now, a monster. Olivia made a slight distressed sound at Jordan's thoughts. She really didn't want her brother to be terrified of their father, but at this point there is no changing that fact. Jordan White was terrified of his father, and no one was changing that.
James looked sympathetically towards him, as he mouthed "I'm sorry." Jordan shook his head not wanting to believe it. Yeah there was the moon last night but all he could remember is the feeling of wind and freedom. Not being rabid and out of control like his dad says wolves always are.
"Yeah? In like history books and the old tales of the origins. You can't seriously be wanting to talk about history right now Jami. Seriously." Ethan laughed breathlessly.
"Ethan we're not history or myths. We're real." James looked down not liking being compared to the murderous werewolves told about in the old tales of the origins of the supernatural.
Ethan shook his head, "This is some kind of prank right?" He shook his head some more and faster and faster, starting to get scared.
"No, E it isn't." James answered disheartenedly with tears in his eyes, fear of his oldest friend rejecting him for what he was was clearly being shown in his eyes and words.
"But how?" Ethan looked at James calculating. The look of betrayal on Ethan's face broke even more of James' heart.
"I was bitten on one of the trips to the forest before the team found me." James looked at Ethan and then at Oliver before continuing. "Jordan here was bitten this past week. Last night was a full moon so, I took him out into the forest to turn for the first time. Until he learns how to control his shifts, he will continue to be a slave to the moon and his emotions." James explained with guilt and fear in his voice.
"Jami why do you sound so guilty?" Ethan softly asked.
"Because, this dummy thinks everything is his fault. He is in no way at fault for any of this." Jordan said, stepping beside James.
"Jami?" Ethan asked. He nodded. "Okay." Ethan nodded still processing while stepping away. He knew his best friend had a horrible hero complex, but this puts it to a whole 'nother degree.
"Okay? Okay?! This is not okay!" Oliver yelled.
James and Jordan winced, their ears still sensitive from the turn. Jordan began backing up, trying to get out of there before he got hurt.
"Oliver." Ethan warned sensing James and Jordan's pain and fear.
"You are telling me that you bit my son! And now he's a werewolf! You made my son into a monster! An abomination!" Oliver yelled again. Jordan whimpered, tears forming in his eyes.
"Dad! He never said that!" Olivia yelled.
Everyone looked at him sadly, knowing how much his father hated werewolves. No one but a few knew of the reason behind his hatred to the wolf like creatures.
"Dad! It's not his fault. Okay? Last night while still in the house I started to loose control. If it wasn't for him you'd all be dead." He defended James.
"Is this really what he thinks about himself, that he will just kill?" James muttered before stepping in, getting in front of Jordan.
"Jordan. You need to calm down, anger is one of the main things that can cause transformations. Okay you need to breathe." As James said this he was grabbing Jordan's shoulders.
"I can't." He said with his canines and glowing blue eyes showing. Luna saw that they had a metallic silvery color to them and her breathe shook.
"J his eyes." She said in a breathe.
"I know Lu." He whispered back still focused on the newly turned wolf. "Jordan. Just like last night. Focus on my voice, but this time push back the urge, don't accept it in." James instructed soothingly. Jordan nodded as he started to change back. "Good. Now gain back your control." James guided the new wolf.
Ethan and the others looked at each other gobsmacked. Jordan slumped forwards, in on James panting. Olivia and Luna looked away, feeling like they were interrupting a private moment.
"Jami?" He asked in a cry like whimper from the pain of the sudden shift.
"Yeah buddy I'm right here." James reassured while hugging him to show him he wouldn't fall.
"I may not be his father, but I am his , uh, elder," he seemed to struggle to get the word out, like it's a foreign language he wasn't supposed to speak, "so, I have full right to decide things when it comes to him. When it comes to wolf stuff I say. When it comes to everything else you say. School we can both have a say? Right now unless you want him to have way more guilt than he already has, for no reason, don't push him. He has to learn control of his emotions, and pushing him and putting him out there will not help. Agreed?" James said.
Oliver nodded, he can agree to this if it meant he never had to deal with his son being a wolf. Jordan could see the emotion leave his father's eyes, he officially doesn't have a father anymore.
"Good." James looked back at the young wolf frowning. He knew how much it hurt to lose control, how scary it can be, and how painful turning back can be.
Luna came up behind James, "We'll find him help."
They looked down at him, fear in their eyes. "I know, but his eyes. There the eyes of an Alpha. Is it him?" Luna looked at James with fear that their friend may be Alpha of the story passed down through generations.
"I don't know, but if he is the Alpha of the prophecy we have to help him. We can't let him lose his humanity like most omega wolves do." She said.
"I'll never abandon him, no matter what." James said, picking Jordan up bridal style, as Jordan fully blacked out.