Needles. So many piercing his skin. Orders being barked. He was choking, something forced down his throat, but he was too weak to stop it. His stomach filled and he burned. He took a deep breath but was shoved down again, something shoved in his teeth. Sticky and dry. It hurt to swallow. His hand reached to swat them away, or he thought it did. His eyelids were heavy now that the burning had stopped.

Stop.

Stop.

Stop.

It felt like he was hit in the chest and he gasped for air. He was alive but he couldn't move. The red-headed woman was crouched over him, dark eyes bored. "Oh looky looky whose awake. Give that to me, dumbass." She spoke to someone outside of his vision, then she lifted his arm.

Christopher could do nothing as another needle slid into his vein and he fell into terrifying visions.

He could remember sitting in his father's office clicking through the security camera feed. The hairs on his arms lifted as he watched the figure start up the driveway. Yellow spots reflected back, the animal glow of a predator at night. He watched, breathing shallowly, waiting for the person to look up, waiting to see the terrifying face of the monster-woman and the image shifted, shimmering as it melted into a cold, clear memory. No no no no. Christopher didn't want to see but he couldn't control his memory anymore than he could stop himself from looking that night. It wasn't her face but his own staring back at him from the security tape. Glowing eyes. The chair fell as he jumped back.

BANG

Christopher sat upright. A red safety light swung from above him. He was freezing. The cold metal pressed to his back was ridged. A low groan, whine and then cough as a large engine switched gears.

BANG

He glanced around to find the source of the noise. Furniture was crammed in front of him. A table seemed not to be tired down properly. When the truck turned sharply the half-attached leaf smashed against the base. He was thirsty. Even leaning against the wall his legs trembled. Apparently they didn't want him to die of thirst. A box of water bottles, energy bars and a... bucket with paper towels. What did it mean they wanted him captured alive? Nothing good. He started towards the furniture when he heard a cough and jumped.

"No..." his voice cracked.

Gabrielle's arm looked awkward under her limp body like she'd been tossed in. Her head rolled back and forth with the sway of the truck. Fighting nausea Christopher staggered over and pressed his fingers to her throat. Despite her cold skin her pulse was strong and he took a shuddering breath.

There wasn't much for warmth but he was able to yank a fabric tarp out from under a bookshelf and wrap her in it. Her cheek was split open as was her lip but other than the likely start of a nasty bruise she wasn't looking terrible. She coughed harder.

Christopher covered his face with his hand and pressed himself to the wall. Why had they brought her?

She'd seen.

------------

Christopher was planning on running instead of hiding. Something felt off. He'd been crouching near the side door to the garage when he heard arguing and then loud barking. A man cursing. He could hear poor Marshmallow yelping. He hoped she wasn't dead.

And then the scream ended the quiet.

His ears were filled with its last piercing notes and his control snapped. The fire engulfed his consciousness, tearing across his skin. It hurt, searing until it felt of ice, but the red-washed ferocity made him welcome it. He wanted to find whoever made her scream like that and break them.

That was the last coherent thought. His memory came in flashes after that and then he remembered Gabby's teal eyes, confused blinking back at him before he was dragged backwards.

------------

She'd seen him. She knew what he was.

But why did they bring her?

Christopher went to the box of food and open several stale energy bars. They were foul but they calmed the hunger pains and made him feel like he wasn't able to pass out. It hurt to swallow and he could half remember them shoving something down his throat. He touched his chest and stomach, unsure what it could have been. He was halfway through his fifth one when Gabby's frequent coughing changed. She was mumbling. He clambered back but not before she awoke.

Gabrielle sat halfway up, coughing, eyes streaming and confused. He grabbed her a water bottle and ran back to her side.

"Here- here drink this."

She took the water from him and sucked it down only stopping to gasp for air.

"Where are-" she grimaced and touched her throat. Her voice was hoarse.

"I think it's the back of a truck."

"Why?" She croaked.

"I warned you! I wanted to- you should have- " He gritted his teeth while she stared at him in wild confusion. "I'm sorry." He finished lamely. There was nothing to make this better. Chastising now wouldn't help. She hadn't run from him yet. That surprised him.

After cautiously exploring the area Gabrielle returned to him. "You were going to tell me." Her voice was so squeaky and broke so often he wasn't sure what she was saying at first.

"Tell you?"

She nodded.

"You already saw..."

She frowned and looked up as though trying to recall.

"Gabrielle." He clenched his teeth. "You saw already, please don't make me say it."

She gave him a reproachful look but then closed her eyes, chin tilted upwards. She opened her eyes again and shrugged. "Sa-aw what?"

He pushed away from her, standing now. "You saw. You looked right at me. I know you did. Before they covered your face... Please just, stop pretending."

Apparently him standing up startled her enough that she pulled her legs to her chest. Her eyes narrowed. Christopher felt his stomach churn. She was remembering. He watched her expression change, from confusion, to thoughtful, understanding and right after-

There was a scuttle of movement as Gabrielle half crawled trying to climb to her feet to get to the other side of the truck but also seemed unwilling to completely turn her back. Anything to get herself away from him.

Fear.

He let himself sink down. The swinging light illuminated her face one moment, unblinking eyes and knuckles tight from the strain of holding herself close. It was stupid to think she would shrug this off. But he'd hoped. The pain warped into bitterness as minutes went by. Looks like you didn't want the truth after all.

She kept the same fossilized position. And finally he sat with his back to her and pressed his burning face against the cold. Of course she'd be scared. Of course this was what should happen but he couldn't chase away the earnest way she'd held his hand and promised to believe him and help him and he resented her for it. He felt petulant. But you're a dead man, so who cares if you take the higher ground? You warned her after all and she promised over and over-

"Liar."

Were they planning on torturing him? Experimenting? His mind ran wild with increasingly terrifying scenarios. No matter how he tried to suppress them, push them to the back of his mind the images came faster and brighter. The idea of pain and worse. His hands went to his ears. The grinding of the truck became unbearable.

If only he jumped in front of that truck in the pass. But instead you were a coward.

"Coward." He whispered. The word still bounced through the truck, a taunt. Somehow it helped to admit it. "Coward." He kicked the side of the truck. "Coward. Coward. COWARD." Electric pain shot up his leg but he didn't stop. It helped swallow up some of the overwhelming disgust because the thought of jumping still scared him.

You deserve this.

Only when he needed to catch his breath did he pause and that was his mistake. He felt the horrible sensation of his situation fully and he was terrified. I don't want to die. I want to go home. He pressed his hands to his face, teeth clenched so tightly his jaw was shaking. I want my family to sit down to dinner after I get back from school and ask me the same boring questions. I want to feel Tomato's purring when he joins me in the living room.

The burning gave way to tears and spit and snot and body spasms that refused to let him take a breath in. I want Jake to leave my door open after I explicitly told him to shut it. I want Fatima make fun of me missing answers on a test. I want to practice drills with Connor and my team. I want to clean the boat after every trip out. I want mother and father to review those stupid college books with me again.

He gasped, feeling like his throat was too tight and the oozing spit and tears too much.

I want to feed that stupid goat with Gabby. PLEASE

"I don't want to die!" The scream barely was words between sobbing.

It felt like drowning trying to breathe. It hurts. It hurts. It HURTS

The brush of hesitant fingers pressing down on his shoulder.

He jerked away, eyes streaming, teeth bared but at least he could breathe now. The surprise made him gasp. His voice was thick and trembling, the spasms threatening to fill him again. "What do you want."

Gabrielle was on her knees, expression unchanged. She held up a piece of a paper towel. When he didn't take it she leaned forward, lifting her hand as though to wipe his face. He caught her wrist and she fell back.

"Don't hurt me."

I wouldn't! I would never hurt you. "If you're scared of me then leave me alone."

Gabrielle's face twisted. He watched her take a deep breath and hold out the paper towel again. "I'm not scared."

He laughed in surprise and cold amusement. It came out as though he had hiccups. "You're shaking."

Gabrielle frowned. She held up the towel again, forcing it into his hand. "I'm not scared. Scared of what? Obvi-ously ya family kicke-d out 'cause you can't handle blood. How be doctor then? Must go to furniture sales." She hitched her thumb towards the bookshelves and tables.

He wiped his nose with the towel. "Are you trying to make a joke right now."

She squinted one eye, raised her shoulders and patted his knee. "Ha?"

They stared at each other.

"I don't understand why you are over here."

Gabrielle rolled her eyes and grabbed a handful of his shirt, yanking him forward.

She rested her chin on his shoulder. "I don't want you to die, either."

To his shock she was sniffing too. She was crying. She was squeezing so hard. He wrapped his arms tighter, clinging onto her in desperation. Mourning the loss of all the things he wanted to have done and all the time he'd wasted on trying to figure out those taunting clues and the anger from all the miserable nights sleeping outside in terror and all the pain from fighting to control whatever was wrong with him. He was a monster, after all. She was scared but she came over anyway. At least one person didn't loathe me in the end. I'd never find the words to thank her even if I could have lived 15 more years.

The tears stopped or, his body was too tired to keep up anymore. She hadn't loosened her grip. Exhausted he gently untangled his hands and her arms. She'd been crying too. She cried easily, he knew, but so far always denied it was happening. He was still having trouble believing it.

"I'm sorry." She croaked. Her hand went to her throat and he realized how much it must hurt to talk. "Why- me?"

Why'd they bring her. He'd been trying to figure that out himself. "Probably to make sure you aren't like me."

Her eyes went wide.

"They won't do anything to you once they realize the mistake." He promised, aware there was no way to ensure that but still felt a flash of aggression at the idea they might hurt her. He pulled the box of food over, offered her two and proceeded to force the rest of them down.

She nibbled at hers and cocked her head, curious it seemed. She pointed at the bar, then him. "Always hungry because of this?"

Christopher shrugged.

"How long? What happened?"

He smirked. "Nosy."

She snorted, pointing to herself. "Now, entitled. Right?"

"It was just a crazy day... funeral and a fight and-"

"Story."

He sighed and finished a bar. "I don't know the catalyst or if it was something I drank or did or..."

She crossed her arms.

He told her the story of his grandmother's funeral, the fight with his mom, the drinking, the kiss with Daisy, and with some hesitancy, the fight with Evan.

"It was like someone was calling me but... I don't know how to explain it exactly. No one else seemed to hear it. And then I felt like I was burning. A few weeks later I noticed I was being followed. She only spoke with me once. After that I started to have more blackouts and I knew I needed to keep my family safe. So, I... ran. And she followed me. Through buses and eventually here."

He watched her shudder a little. He wouldn't tell her more about the monster. Christopher couldn't stand her running back to the other side of the truck.

She didn't ask though. She pointed to his neck, miming something draped over it. "That day?"

His hand went to his shirt and he pulled out the necklace. "My sister always teased me because apparently women usually wear this. I always liked it though. I was at Grandmother's house the most since Fatima was sick all the time." He smiled, remembering her bright dresses, how her kitchen looked, even the sound of her sigh for when he made a mess. "Mom hated it because her friends didn't like the idea of an 'evil eye' but its actually a protective symbol when its turned like this."

Gabrielle leaned forward to examine, eyes questioning.

"You can touch it- hold on." he unclasped it and held it out, letting the chain slip down into her palm.

Gabrielle ran a finger over the faded blue paint of the eye and fingers. "Ver pretty."

Christopher watched her, thinking of the way her hands changed so much when she drew. No more big, silly movements, her fingers became just as precise and fluid when she touched the pendant. "You keep it."

She looked up. "No."

"Please. Please keep it." He took a shuddering breath. "I don't want to die. But-" he cut her off as her mouth opened. "I'd feel a little better if someone remembered me."

She swallowed and then turned, pulling her messy hair up in the back and let him clasp it.

They sat in silence. He was tired. It was hard to stay up-right even after eating so much. The yawn escaped despite his effort.

She tugged on his arm. "Lay down."

"Huh?"

She shook her head, patting her lap with part of the tarp over it. He raised his eyebrows.

"For sad Mel. Magic."

He didn't feel particularly sad as much as empty and thought this sounded weird. It was awkward laying against her. He was wondering why that made Mel feel better when he felt her fingers run up the back of his neck and through his hair. He tensed for a second and then relaxed into her. His eyes became unfocused. Was this how they put people in trances?

"...feels wonderful."

"See?" Despite her croaking voice he sensed a hint of pride. "Magic."

Christopher felt tears threatening again. "Gabby?"

She paused.

He carefully took one of her hands, pulled it towards his lips and placed a chaste kiss to her wrist. "I love you."

She made a quiet sound, like catching a sob in her throat. When she leaned back and started with the gentle movement of her fingers, he realized she'd left droplets of liquid on his cheeks. He tried to decide if that made him happy or even sadder as he drifted off.

For once his dream was pleasant. His friends- Gabby included- wandering around a pond in a park. It was a full circle so the walk never ended. Running away, being captured, being a monster, were all a dream. A terrible one that lingered only slightly now under the uncommon blue Seattle sky. He couldn't completely understand what was being said, only knew that what Connor said was funny and that Gabby insisted on giving him a bite of ice cream. Mint and chocolate.

The flavor evaporated from his tongue when he woke. Disoriented he stared around the truck. The light feeling from the dream soon cracked under the weight of his true reality. Gabrielle had fallen asleep as well, half tucked under the tarp her body curled forward, pressed tightly against him. She must have been cold.

It occurred to him he had no idea how long they'd been in there but there was something different. The truck had slowed down considerably. No- it was idling.

The engine shut off.

"Gabrielle- wake up." He wasn't so gentle pulling her upright.

She was groggy but seemed to sense the urgency and stood. "We've stopped?"

"We must be there." He wished he had the faintest idea where there was. "Go- go back hide under the tables."

"What? No-"

"I don't think they will hurt you but I want to see first. I can distract them if you need to run." Christopher stretched his fingers. The food and rest had helped. He'd never changed on purpose before but now there wouldn't be much choice. If they had guns- he shook it off. If he was going to die anyway he might as well act like a man for once. "Go."

To his relief she went back. He crouched, using one of the risers that covered the massive wheels to hide. He braced himself, calling up the limited energy he had and tried to focus on making the burning under his skin start. It flickered. The door moved higher.

Out of his peripheral vision a flash of movement.

"Gabby, no!"

Too late. She'd rushed by holding what seemed to be the broken leg of a chair. As the door lifted high she swung.

Three people stood outside. One of them held onto the make-shift bat, having caught it inches from his head. The redheaded woman glared up at them.

"Idiot... get her down."

Christopher clenched his jaw, preparing to tackle him as he yanked Gabrielle by one arm but they seemed to anticipate this. Her neck was tightly held between the man's giant forearms. Christopher halted and climbed out of the truck slowly. He knew how easy it would be for someone that size to twist until she broke.

The man had blood on his pants. This must have been the one Marshmallow attacked. The one who'd thrown Gabrielle into the wall before- the reason she screamed in pain. He gave Christopher a lazy smile and tightened his arms so that Gabrielle's head pulled back and her eyes teared. Christopher's vision sharped as the burning worsened. He felt fingers grip his arm tight and he was thrown backwards into the snow.

"Jeremy I'll fucking tear your ears off if you don't stop taunting him. Last thing I need is him dying outside the hotel and we are out of tube feed!" The redhead barked.

Christopher got to his feet.

The snow and wind boarded on blizzard as they trudged forward making it impossible to gauge where they'd ended up. An intimidating shadow rose up before them. The hotel the woman was talking about looked more like a cross between a cabin and a castle. A massive pair of wooden and steel loomed over a metal staircase. But instead of going up the steps they were re-routed to the side. He squinted into the wind as the woman knocked, or rather hit, a dull painted metal door. A third person pushed it open a minute later as it squawked in protest.

Christopher was shoved through.

Old brown carpet muddied with slush was waiting on the other side. It smelled of dust and mold at the same time. The corridor stretched far back until the lights disappeared in the low ceiling.

"This way."

Jeremy had finally let go of Gabrielle, apparently thinking that now that they were inside Christopher had changed his mind. She quickly reached for his hand and he squeezed tight. He could hear voices and fast-moving steps above them.

"In." The woman demanded, throwing open a wooden door. Christopher paused, looking at the opaque frosted glass reinforced by steel bars. When he didn't move Jeremy started towards them but the new man held out a hand.

"I know you won't believe this, but you aren't in danger. Everything will be explained." He had silver streaked hair and dark sincere eyes.

Christopher wouldn't be tricked. A hopeful victim was probably easier to manipulate but before he could say this Gabrielle went in and he had to follow.

"Perfect." The woman snapped the door closed.

He yanked at the handle, panicked.

"Chris- look." One hand was to her throat but the other pointed to a grand table spread out with sandwiches, cheese, fruit and a vat of steaming soup. Beside it sat a coffee maker and water dispenser with lemons in it.

"What..." his traitorous mouth watered at the sight. He swallowed and glanced at Gabrielle. "Do you think its poison?"

She shook her head.

He picked up a sandwich and sniffed, pulling the bread apart but didn't notice anything odd. He took a bite, then another. Soon he was gulping down the food almost faster than he could chew. Gabrielle waited patiently for him to give her an embarrassed look and step away.

She gave him a small smile as she picked up one sandwich and ate at normal speed.

Now that he was only half starving he explored the room. There was a large table in the center with heavy clawed feet perched in a luxurious looking black fur rug, surrounded by similarly built chairs. On the sides of the buffet were massive cabinets with carved forest scenes. It reminded him of a small conference room. He found a set of crystal jars, one which had cough drops. He thought that strange until he realized the crap they used on Gabby was probably intended for him. His stomach tightened around the sandwiches.

"Gabby, here." She gave him a grateful look.

"What if he was telling the truth?" Gabrielle's voice was still hoarse and she looked uncomfortable but much better than before. Christopher knew who she meant.

"He wasn't. It was a lie to get me to comply."

"Why feed you?"

"I... So I'll trust them before-"

"Easier ways-"

She was interrupted by a loud argument. Christopher recognized the red-heads voice and another woman. The door slammed open. Christopher backed up a step as a group entered. Jeremy grabbed Gabrielle and disappeared before Christopher could comprehend what was happening.

"No!" Furious he jerked on the handle and when that did nothing, slammed his shoulder against it.

"Sugar, knock it off and go sit." She'd thrown a packet and pen down.

Christopher ignored her.

"I. Said. Sit."

She shoved him. He was able to catch himself.

"Are you ok?" The sincere looking man from before was watching him. "Physical violence isn't going to help."

The red head huffed. "Maybe for you Henry."

Christopher felt something scratching at the back of his brain. Henry? He pushed the paper and pen to the side. "Where is Gabrielle?"

She ignored him and pointed to the paperwork. "Complete that."

Christopher stared down. The questions were asinine. His shoe size? He threw it back at them. "Where is she?!"

Neither of them spoke but he could see Henry was physically restraining the woman. He glared up when suddenly it clicked. "You wrote those books."

The man's face split into a grin. "I did indeed, Christopher. Did you enjoy them? I bet if you were given a few weeks you would have made it here yourself."

"What... what does that mean?"

"You must have noticed or you wouldn't have kept reading. What emotion is tied to-"

"Blah blah blah, I'm not sitting through another one of your speeches. There's a faster way." With that the red-head leaned across the table and he jumped back to keep their noses from touching. He felt a gust of air behind his head like a fan and a small prickle of heat across his face. She changed. Her eyes were distinctly yellow, jaw a bit elongated but more worrisome she gave him a sharp-toothed grin.

Christopher's legs got tangled in the chair as he retreated clumsily against the wall.

"See this is why my way is better." Henry crossed his arms.

She snorted. "Why are you freaking out? I'm the same as you. Maybe a little less of a runt..."

"And what is that?"

"To keep it simple, humans often refer to us as 'werewolves'."

"That's insane. This is all insane."

"Oh yeah, Sugar? Because I'm pretty sure I watched you have a full uncontrolled bren in front of a human a few house ago. Why'd you run from your family is all of this is insane?"

"I- I'm not being killed." He looked to Henry for this answer and he shook his head with a smile. His moment of relief vanished just as fast as it sparked. "Where is she?"

"The human? She's answering some questions. Not in any danger. Promise. Now will you please fill out the damn form?"

He looked down again. It asked him about clothing size, color preferences, music and food. "Fine."

"Good." She shoved away from the table and left.

It was a long time but finally he heard movement outside. An older woman with close chopped silver hair entered first flanked by a tall thin man with dark rimmed glasses and a fitted suit. The red-head was there and Henry.

The older woman sat while the others stood.

"Nice to meet you, Christopher. I'm Sheira, this is Scott," she motioned to the tall man with glasses "and I would like you to officially welcome you the northwestern den. I'm sorry your path to us was so rocky but you are safe now. You are home."

"Home?" Christopher looked between all of them. He stared down at the table, barely able to believe it. He pinched himself which made Sheira laugh. "It's fairly late so you'll discuss more with Mariah tomorrow."

"Who?"

"Your mentor-?" Sheira sighed and looked to the red-head. "You never introduced yourself?"

Mariah shrugged. "Did seem relevant to the conversation."

"So... so what now?"

"We let the pack know you've arrived, most of them have been up waiting." Sheira smiled.

"Then I show you to your room since its fucking 2am." Mariah pushed the door open.

"Excellent. It was nice to meet you- but as Mariah says it is late. We will see you again tomorrow evening when we more formally introduce you."

Sheira had barely finished her sentence when Mariah walked out of the room. Christopher looked around and Henry hitched a thumb. "Better follow her."

Despite her size she was fast.

The hallway was quite the maze but finally they burst above ground into a dizzying expanse of a room. The outside barely did it justice. Huge wooden beams arched overhead, each made of single trunk. The walls were polished wood, engraved with scenes of forests and animals. Giant pelts of tan and golden fur were thrown across the gleaming rock floors. He stood frozen as the inhabitants stopped their conversations. A pair of wolves, lounging next to a couch with books on their paws used their noses to close them and stood. A group of adult humans were completely naked when they turned to look. Next to the fireplace a creature stood and Christopher backed up. It was bipedal, over 7 feet and covered with black and silver fur. He could see a longer stripe like a mane down its back and massive clawed hands. A second slightly smaller one stretched her arms above her head and waved.

"Thanks for staying up everyone. Unfortunately, this will be short and we'll have the ceremony tomorrow 'cause I want to humping sleep. Meet Christopher."

A chorus of voices, barking, howls, and some sounds he couldn't quite identify ricocheted through the elaborately decorated hall.

Mariah made a sharp noise a minute later. "Congrats, pup, you've been accepted. Follow me- your roommate already passed out."

And like that he was chasing her out of the room and up winding stairs.

"Wait- wait." He waved her down before she disappeared down a hallway.

"What?"

"What about Gabrielle? Did she finish the questions? Can I see her?"

"Who?"

Christopher glared at her. Even though he knew now she wasn't planning on killing him it seemed like they weren't going to get along. "My friend. The girl who you kidnapped with me."

"Oh, yeah, her. She's dead."

He stared at her and shook his head once. "No. No she was just talking to me-"

She cocked her head.

Christopher was shivering. "But you just said! You said she wasn't in any danger!!"

Mariah roughly shook the key and pushed the door open, motioning for him to go inside. "Oh, yeah. I lied."