Tugging on my jacket, I make sure to leave a spare key under the mat. Lately I've felt pretty overwhelmed, though I guess it's my own fault. I just haven't let my wolf out for a while, and that's probably not helping much.

"I'm going for a walk!" I call out to Peter, hoping the boy hears me as I hastily exit our shared dorm. 

The stairs outside creak under my weight as I trample down them carelessly. I'm too wound up to care about how much noise I'm making. The sky has started getting dark already. It's not quite black just yet. It's a beautiful mixture of blues, purples, reds, dotted with stars. The sky is also perfectly clear of clouds, and the half full moon is high up in the sky. Tonight has all the conditions of a good run.

Sighing, breathing out a small puff of air that's perfectly visible, I internally groan. It's really cold already. I mean, Halloween is in a few days, but I still didn't think that it should be so cold already. I like the cold, don't get me wrong, but the hype during holiday seasons always makes people annoying. I like being cheerful, and I like cheerful people. But overly cheerful people get on my nerves. They don't seem to understand that I have boundaries, and they don't seem to get that I don't like unfamiliar people being so close that I can smell the pumpkin pie they crammed into their mouths that morning.

I'm not much of a people person sometimes, if you couldn't tell. That's why Marie and I are such good friends. We both aren't very good with new people.

The woods smells wonderful tonight, too. It rained late last night, and the woods smells damp and wonderful. Thankfully, the area isn't still soaked, so I'm free to run without getting mud caked into my fur and paws. That happened once, and my Papa wouldn't let me back in the house until I got it all cleaned off with the hose on the side of the house. He likes his cleanliness, which is weird considering how he's with a werewolf of all creatures. We're naturally messy and wild.

Stalking deep into the woods, I walk until I'm out of the line of sight from anyone in the college and drop my bag beside a random tree that has a hollowed out inside. I always bring a bag with extra clothes and my phone, just for emergencies. You'll never know when a demon or hunter will try and track you down and take you out.

Stretching and letting my bones pop, I breathe deeply and prepare for the shift. It's always painful, but it's sort of fulfilling, in a weird way. My bones shift and creak rather painfully as I let the change take place. It feels as if every bone in my body is breaking, and that's not too far off of what is actually going on. I've never really studied the process in detail, but it's definitely something along those lines. I groan as golden fur sprouts along my body, and soon enough, I'm covered in it and a full-fledged wolf. 

I have wide paws, and I have a build that's much stronger than my human form seems to be, seeing as I'm the son of an Alpha wolf. That also allows me to have red eyes. They only glow when I utilize them, though. Usually my eyes are the same they always are, no matter what form.

Starting off with a trot, I lift my head to the sky and breathe in all the smells of the forest. I can smell the insects, rodents, and small animals that scuttle around in and out of their homes and hiding places. I can smell the wet wood of trees that climb high and reach towards the heavens with branches that are shedding their leaves. The leaves are starting to fall to the ground, dry and dead yet beautiful in color -- oranges and reds that give the picture a surreal sort of feeling to it.

The moonlight shines upon my fur, glistening like silk. It took me so long to get it to look like that, and I hate grooming myself. But it was definitely worth it, judging by how my coat shimmers in the moonlight with the slightest movement.

Yipping softly to myself, I start at a slow jog and bound over the small roots and rocks that litter the ground, as well as avoiding the litter college students leave around after their drunken parties. I don't really understand the need to get drunk, and I don't like alcohol all too much either, but everyone is entitled to their own likes and interests.

Basking in the soft glow of the moon and taking in the beauty of the stars, I pant softly, feeling my lungs starting to be taxed as I keep my pace, but it feels enoyable.In fact, I missed this feeling, so I pick up my pace and blast through the woods, making my fur fly in the wind as I race through the trees, dodging them expertly. It's a welcome exercise and use of my wolf-type abilities. I'm so rusty. I think I used to be able to run faster than this, but I'm still extremely speedy.

Panting heavily, I come to a short stop in front of a small pond. It's not very far from where I set my things down. I must've looped back around sometime during my run. I wasn't really paying attention, so I can't really remember. All I was paying attention to was the amazing burn in my muscles and lungs. I haven't felt this beautifully worn out in a long time.

I gaze into my reflection, studying myself. I don't usually dwell too much on myself. Doing that used to make my depression worse, so I made it a habit to think of others first. But now I want to do what makes myself happy, but I don't really know what I want anymore. I used to think that I wanted my mate, but now, I don't really know whether or not I want that to be my fate.

Huffing out a small breath through my snout, I quickly raise my head when a menacing scent reaches my nostrils. I don't know where it's coming from, but I do feel the sharp pain in my side when something hits me in the side. With an undignified yelp and whine, I'm thrown to the side, and I feel a sharp burning sensation pulsate from my side. Was I hit with some kind of weapon?

My heart drops, and my mind clouds with panic when I see the demon sitting in the tree not very far away. It's a shadowy mass, a silhouette of a man crouched in the tree that's made of utter darkness. There's no light whatsoever, and the darkness drips off of it in inky blops that fall like raindrops -- kiling whatever flora they land on and turning them brown and wrinkled. It's terrifying, and my blood runs like ice through my veins. Immediately scrambling up and standing, I growl lowly to the demon, who only grins evilly at me, its face practically spewing its evil intentions in waves.

It hisses at me, reminding me of a cat with the way it stretches open its face and makes a deadly sound that represents pain and suffering. I'm not sure how it seems to pull off that representation, but it does. It launches itself from the tree, but it obviously doesn't know what I am. Somehow, it manages to land another hit on the same side of my body, causing more of the fiery pain to erupt along the wound, but then, I summon my magic. I inherited both being a werewolf and a mage from my fathers, so I can use both kinds of abilities. With a bark that utilizes my strength and leaves me feeling weak, I disintegrate the demon into bits of ash that kills the greenery it lands on before fading away.

As the adrenaline in my body starts to lessen, I can feel the two wounds in my side making me whine in absolute pain. It feels as if I'm being burned alive, but it also feels like I'm cold at the same time. It takes me a few moments to realize that I must be losing blood. I don't dare look at the wound, fearing that I might lose my nerve if I do, and rush over to my bag as fast as I can. I shift back to a human, which helps slightly with my healing, and then press my hand over my side. I really hope that this blood will come out of my clothes when I wash these. I mean, I also hope that I live, but priorities.

I pull out my phone as my head starts to spin, making my vision become blurry and unclear. I definitely am losing blood, but I don't think I'm going to die. Unlocking it and ignoring the crimson liquid that I accidentally smear on the screen, I dial the first number I can think of and press call.

Ring

Ring

Ring

"Come on," I whisper to myself, growing worried as I hear the weakness in my own voice.

Ring 

Ring

Ri-

"H-Hello?"

He sounds tired, and I almost feel guilty for waking him at this time of night. But this is extremely important, and I think that I'm starting to lose consciousness.

"J-James," I whisper weakly. "I need help..."

"Aaron? Where are you? What's happened? Are you okay?" His voice is panicked as I hear him get up and start moving around rapidly, probably scrambling as fast as he can.

"I'm bleeding," I murmur. "In the woods o-outside the c-college dorms," I add, taking in a shaking breath that has me on my toes. I don't want to die in the woods. I don't want to die all alone, by the hands of some stupid demon, of all the things to die by.

"I'm coming! I'll be there soon! I promise! Hang on, Aaron!" Even from here I can hear him moving around on the walkways of the dorm, scrambling down the stairs and bolting towards the woods blindly.

"Please, hurry..."

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Heylo, my lovely little nuggets! I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter! Don't forget to leave any comments and such if you want! Please do, though. They always brighten my day! Anyway, I'll see y'all nuggety readers in the next update! Until then, have an absolutely fantastic and fabulous day! Bai!!! >:3

-IggyScones