The clinic was quiet when I walked in.
Not silent—never silent—but controlled. The low hum of lights, the soft shifting of animals in their enclosures, the occasional metallic clink from the back room.
Normal.
For a few seconds, it stayed that way.
Then the first dog lifted its head.
Ears pulling back.
Another followed.
Then another.
A low whine spread through the room.
I slowed.
"…okay."
It wasn't loud. Not chaotic.
Just… wrong.
Like something in the room didn't belong.
Like they were scared of something—something powerful.
One of the larger dogs stood abruptly, pulling against its leash, teeth just barely visible.
Not aggressive.
Not yet.
Aware. Scared.Of me.
I didn't move closer.
Didn't rush.
Didn't panic.
Instead—
I adjusted.
Breathing slower.
Steadier.
I lowered my gaze slightly—not submissive, not challenging.
Just… less intimidating.
The reaction shifted.
Not gone.
But reduced.
[Emotional Regulation +0.05]
[Control +0.04]
That worked.
I took a careful step forward.
The dog stiffened—
Then paused.
Its breathing slowed.
I noticed it immediately.
I can affect them.
I crouched slightly, extending my hand—not touching, just close enough.
The tension dropped again.
Not calm, still scared.
But no longer resisting.
I exhaled slowly.
This wasn't in the show.
And that meant one thing.
This is mine.I can control this.
I didn't push further.
Not yet.
Because the door burst open.
"I'm so sorry—can you help him?"
I turned.
Allison.
She stood there, breath uneven, soaking wet from the storm that started suddenly.
"I didn't see it," she rushed. "I looked away for like two seconds to change the song and it just—ran out in front of me— a dog..."
"It's okay," I said, stepping forward. "Where is it?"
"…in my car."
A moment later, we went to her car.
I took the dog from her car.
And everything shifted.
The dog reacted instantly.
A sharp twitch. A strained whine.
Fear.
I froze for half a second.
Then adjusted.
Breath.
Focus.
Not forcing anything.
Just—
holding it.
[Emotional Regulation +0.06]
"It's okay…" I said quietly.
The tension cracked.
Not gone.
But weakening.
"…how did you do that?" Allison asked. "It didn't let me touch it."
I didn't answer.
Because I didn't know how to explain something I barely understood.
I checked the leg.
Not broken.
But hurt.
"I think I can stabilize it," I said. "I've seen the vet do it."
"Please, if you can help."
Seeing her shivering, I said, "I've got a shirt in my bag."
I handed it to her.
"All I need is that."
She hesitated.
Then took it.
"Thanks… I feel really stupid."
I glanced up.
"Why?"
She exhaled.
"Because I freaked out like a total girl."
I almost smiled.
"You are a girl."
She shook her head.
"No, I freaked out like a girly girl. And I'm not a girly girl."
I tilted my head slightly.
"What kind of girl are you?"
"Tougher than that," she said. "At least… I thought I was."
I nodded.
"Hey, I'd be freaked out too," I said. "I'd probably cry."
She looked at me.
"Not like a man," I added to calm her down. "Like the biggest girly girl ever. It'd be pathetic."
She smiled.
"Yeah, right."
I finished wrapping the leg carefully.
Then I paused.
Because I wanted to try something.
Not instinct this time but intentionally.
I let my hand rest against the dog again.
Focused.
Not pushing.
Just… reaching.
For a moment—
Nothing.
Then—
Something shifted.
The dog's breathing eased.
Muscles relaxing.
I felt it.
It was pain.
Not physically.
Not exactly.
But something was transferring.
And then—
A sharp pull.
Under my skin—
Dark lines flickered from my fingertips.
Crawling upward.
Fast.
Gone just as quickly.
I pulled my hand back immediately.
…okay.
"That should help," I said, keeping my voice steady. "You can try petting her now."
She hesitated.
Then reached out.
The dog didn't react.
"…okay," she whispered.
I nodded slightly.
Then I noticed it.
"You've got something—"
I stepped closer.
Gently brushed near her cheek.
"All good."
She blinked.
"…thanks."
A pause.
Longer than it should've been.
Then I said it.
"There's a party after the scrimmage."
She looked at me.
"You should come."
She hesitated.
"Friday's usually family night…"
I held her gaze.
"Come for a little while."
A beat.
She smiled slightly.
"…family night was a lie."
I blinked.
"…so that's a yes?"
She nodded.
"Definitely yes."
I smiled.
And just like that— something shifted between us.
After she left, the clinic felt quieter.
But not empty.
I stood there for a moment.
Then tried again.
Breath.
Focus.
Control.
The air shifted slightly.
Subtle.
But real.
It's working.
That night...
Stiles didn't waste time.
"Okay, I've been researching," he said the second the call connected.
I leaned back slightly.
"I figured."
"No, listen," he said. "This goes way back. Greek mythology level."
I didn't interrupt.
"There's this king—Lycaon. Zeus curses him, turns him into a wolf because he fed Zeus his own son—to test whether the gods were truly powerful, or just stories."
I stayed quiet.
Listening.
"And after that, there are stories—that he took help from some people regarding the curse."
I leaned forward slightly.
"How?"
He pointed at the screen.
"Druids."
A pause.
"They weren't just human," he continued. "They were known to have the power to shapeshift, they told him the method to change back to human but it didn't cure it, so that's how werewolves originated."
That word again.
"Some stories say druids helped werewolves afterwards too… as guides or something," Stiles added.
I didn't respond.
Because I already knew.
"I'm going to the party," I said trying to change the topic.
He froze.
"…you're what?"
"It's on the full moon." he said.
He stared at me.
"Are you out of your mind?"
"I'm not losing control."
"You don't know that."
I held his gaze.
"I'm already controlling it."
Silence.
He leaned back slowly.
"…this is a terrible idea."
He wasn't wrong.
But I wasn't changing my mind.
Later
I stood in front of the mirror.
Still.
Focused.
I let it rise—
Then held it there.
My eyes shifted.
Yellow.
For a fraction of a second—
Something deeper flickered beneath it.
Then—
Gone.
I exhaled slowly.
No loss of control.
No shift.
Just—
control.
This time—
it would be different.
To be continued…