Chapter XVII

"Pain changes people, it makes them trust less, overthink more, and shut people out,"

—UNK

There was nothing spoken as we drove to Michal and Leyna's pack house. No one said anything.

Megan sat next to me, her hand weaves around mine. Darrin was on her other side, his gaze never wavering from the window. Caleb was driving, his face blank as he kept us moving. Garroth has the passenger seat. He was staring down at his phone, smiling and blushing every so often. Perhaps he was talking to someone?

I sighed, looking back out the window. The forest passed by. It had snowed last night. The white muck blanketed the leaves and ground. I had never actually been in the snow, as sad as that may seem.

I was a coast kid. After all, that's where the Society is located.

My memories of being a part of the Monster Hunter Society were not filled with happiness and butterflies. Before I met Garroth, my life was hell.

It started good. There was a father figure in my life. I can't remember his face now, but I know he cared for me.

And then they took me from him.

That was the darkest time of my life, even darker than when I had attempted to end my life. The events of this time certainly aided in that.

Being a halfling in the Society is not a good thing. Very similar to those who are new hunters, born straight from an angel. Most of those who work in the society are from families who have spent centuries in the society. It didn't help that I was a vessel.

Vessels are a sign of cataclysmic events. We aren't seen as good signs.

They sealed me away from everyone else, trying to learn exactly how I'd react to things. I was forced to memorize the prophecy. I spent years trying to figure out what it means. I learned about the rules of the society.

I began to hate myself because of what I was. I hated my wolf. I hated the god within me. I hated it, I hated him, and I hated myself even more.

One day, they allowed me to get out. I met Garroth soon after, and we became inseparable.

We've been through hell and back with one another (literally) and I couldn't ask for a better brother. He's someone I can't live without. His family took me in, and then broke.

Part of me has always felt that it was my fault his family was destroyed. After all, they were content and happy until I came into the picture.

I blinked. When the hell did I get so depressing? Wow. That was actually like genuinely sad and I am so sorry for boring you guys with that. Holy heckles.

A sigh escaped me as I focused on Garroth. He was grinning like an idiot. I smirked. 'Hey, Garroth?'

'What is it?' He answered, frowning.

'Who you talking to that has your panties in a twist? Is it...a girl?' I questioned, drawing out the girl.

Garroth blushed a deep red. I watched his ears and neck turn red. Wow, he was embarrassed. 'That blush confirms it! Is it Charlotte?'

His blush only deepened in color. I sent a laugh to him. My best friend was so awkward.

Suddenly, a grin spread on his face. 'What about you and Megan?'

Now it was my turn to blush. My grip on her hand tightened, and I could feel the air getting hotter. Megan frowned as she looked at me. "You okay, Tim?"

I nodded. Garroth laughed out loud. I gave him an evil glare before gently rubbing my thumb over Megan's hand. I watched her cheeks turn rosy before she leaned her hand against me. I did the same, my head resting atop hers.

We stayed like that until we reached the house.

****

As soon as I stepped out, the smell of werewolf hit me like a monster truck going one-twenty. My wolf began to flip its shit, trying to claw its way out. Maybe coming here was an absolutely terrible idea.

Fenrir began singing that same lullaby from yesterday, and for some reason, my wolf began to relax. Fenrir sighed. "Sorry, I am losing a bit of control over here. The song comforts me."

I forgot. Fenrir and my wolf were basically one. He was my wolf, actually. This whole time I've been referring to them as separate entities when they are indeed one. Sorry Fenrir, if you ever see this.

The pack members immediately strolled over to us. The one that led them was blond, and clearly only a few years older than us. His eyes were an unsettling icy blue. They never wavered as he stared at me. "Are you the wolf?" His voice was clipped and over all filled with malice.

Fenrir growled threateningly in my mind. "Y-yes." I stuttered, beginning to lose the battle of keeping him down.

The man nodded, and then gestured for us to follow him. Megan gently led me forward. I barely registered what was going on as I focused on keeping Fenrir down within my mind.

I couldn't say anything to him. If I did that, then the cat— or wolf— would be out of the bag. I couldn't risk him coming out and attacking that idiotic dude, but I also couldn't risk getting found out. If that happened, who knew why the society would do to me?

I opted to remain silent. Perhaps they'd take it as a form of me attempting to keep my wolf at bay for as long as possible, which was true.

We stopped in the living room, where Michal stood there. His arms were crossed over his chest, and Leyna stood behind him. Troy was behind her, his chin resting on top of her head and his arms wrapped around her. I blinked, tightening my grip on Megan's hand. She just squeezed it in response, gently rubbing her thumb over it.

"You ready, Timothy?" Michal asked, his brown eyes burning holes into me.

I nodded meekly. I hated this. This was arguably the absolute worst thing in the entire world.

I would never go through anything worse than this. Ever.

Michal gently put a hand on my back. "It'd be best if just you and I went down, Incase your transformation is triggered. Come, I won't let you hurt anyone."

I could only nod again, following the alpha. I took one last glance at my friends, and saw Megan give me a reassuring smile. I returned it and then looked down the steps that led to the dungeons.

They plunged into pitch darkness. I held back a whine as Michal pulled me down the stone steps. Soon, all o could see was the darkness. We walked a bit farther and then Michal reached forward. We stepped through a doorway, and then lights flickered on. The iron door shut behind Michal. I looked around, and was thoroughly terrified and impressed.

There were multiple cages, each with iron bars. They had a bed in each one and a toilet bowl. I saw a table as well, probably to eat your food at. There were at least four, but there was another door at the end of the hallway. There might be more through that door. Michal noticed me staring at it. "That's the interrogation slash torture room. You won't be going in there."

Most people would be concerned, but I simply nodded. Where I lived, there were multiple torture rooms, all for different species. Michal gently pushed me ahead through that room, and then into a separate room. This one only had a small sliver window, which allowed the tiniest bit of light to shine through. It was sunset. Almost time. The room was padded, and I noticed a single bed and toilet bowl. No table. Michal sighed, patting my back. "Solitary confinement. You'll be here for the night."

"Thank you." I said, nodding at him. He gave me a soft smile before stepping back.

"Do you want to strip, so you can keep your clothes?"

I nodded. Taking a deep breath in, I slowly pulled my clothes off, trying not to agitate my wounds. Soon, I was standing in just my boxers. Michal looked at them and then at me. "You need to take those off too, or do you want to go home in jeans with nothing to protect Little Timothy?"

Embarrassment settlers over me. It was bad enough he had to see the scars that littered my body, but for him to see me completely exposed? But, he was right. Jeans against nude genitals never felt well.

I pulled my underwear down and handed it to him. He nodded, not even once glancing down. "I'll see you in the morning, Timothy."

I said nothing as he walked out. The door shut behind him, and I heard the whirring of machines as the door locked tight. Now, I just had to sit and wait.

Fenrir was silent. Perhaps he himself was bracing for this attack as well.

My eyes were drawn to the little window. I watched the red light of sunset begin to dip away, until the soft silver light from the moon began to fill the space. My heart rate accelerated, and as soon as the light touched me, the agony started.

My whole body felt like it was on fire. A howl of agony ripped through me. I wouldn't doubt if the whole pack heard it. My flesh felt like it was being torn from my bones.

I felt my bones beginning to snap as they changed to match a wolf's. It was horrifying. The sound caused my stomach to flip on itself, and I found myself emptying the food I had eaten today in the corner of the room.

I watched as black fur began to cover my skin. I opened my mouth, screaming again. As I closed my mouth, sharp canines cut my lips and gums, and I screamed again, tears flowing out of my eyes like a goddamn waterfall.

The pain became so intense that I began to forget things. Like who I was, what was happening, my entire life. Everything faded and I soon found myself succumbing to the darkness.

****

Leyna had been passing out dinner to the guests when the moon rose.

Besides the hunters, a few of the Thetas of the pack were there. Yvan, the Theta who led them inside, was warily eyeing them, carefully nibbling on his Chinese food. Peter, Leyna's cousin, was none the wiser to their presence and simply scarfing his food down. Meanwhile, Fawn, Michal's little sister, was blushing as she looked at Caleb. Leyna rolled her eyes. She knew Caleb would never get with her. Besides, she knew he had his eyes on someone else. He watched them all the time, after all.

"Thank you, Michal. It means a lot that you're letting Timothy reside here." Garroth suddenly said. Leyna noticed tears brimming his eyes.

Michal nodded, taking a bite of his food. "Like I said before, it's no problem. Besides, we owe you after helping us in Hell and then us treating you worse than we did the demons."

Darrin's mouth turned into a smirk. Megan laughed slightly. Caleb ducked his head, blushing. Garroth nodded, taking a bite of his food. "But still, I thank you."

Yvan sighed, twirling his chopsticks. "What's the deal with him, anyways? He smells partly wild. Is he a halfling?"

Megan nodded. "His father was a hunter and his mom a werewolf."

Peter stopped eating and looked up. "What was her pack?"

Garroth chewed his lip. "I can't remember. All I remember was that another pack completely slaughtered them after they were falsely led to believe they had murdered a lot of their elders, including their Alpha and Luna."

Yvan's eyes suddenly glazed over. 'That sounds a lot like...'

'I know.' Fawn answered, sadness filling her features.

Peter sighed into the mind link. 'Perhaps its just a coincidence,'

'Tell then the name then,' Michal muttered.

Leyna noticed Garroth eyeing them. Did he hear them?

Fawn looked to them. "Was his mother a part of the Cedar Pack?"

Garroth nodded numbly. Tension filled the room. Yvan sighed. "Great. That's perfect."

Michal folded his hands. "I'm afraid our pack was the one that led the attack."

Megan's features softened. "It's okay. You were misinformed, and vying for revenge. Besides, you were a newborn, Michal. Most everyone here was that young. It was the older ones who should feel bad."

The tension released slightly. Leyna nodded. She watched Peter open his mouth, when suddenly a bloodcurdling scream echoed through the mansion.

Panic filled Leyna. She looked around wildly, but noticed Garroth bury his face in his hands. Another scream rang out a few moments later. "Is that—"

"Yes, Michal, it is." Darrin answered, gently patting his friend's back. "Timothy is now shifting. Soon, you'll hear loud growling. That will be his wild attempting to attack anything and everything. If there's anything he can dig his claws into in there, it will be in shreds."

Michal cursed. "I put him in the padded cell."

"The society will pay for the damage." Caleb interjected, scrolling on his phone. "Timothy is their responsibility, no matter how much they neglect him."

Leyna blinked, trying to register his words. Before she fully could, another scream rang through the house.

It was going to be a long night.

****

Some insight into Michal and Leyna, some of their family and a friend, anyhow.

I'm trying to build up other characters because I realize a lot of them seem flat. They don't really have a backstory.

That's why this book will be longer.

One day I'll go through and edit the first book a ton, but for now this book will hold some good backstory in it.

So what'd you think of the chapter?

Hope you guys liked it, and are continuing to read this book! I've been pretty good about updating daily, and I am getting close to finishing the story. I think.

By the way, there is officially a Monster Hunter book in the works! I'm not sure exactly when I'll release it, but I want to have a good chunk of chapters written before I actually start publishing it so that way I don't have to worry about writing fifteen books at once.

I'm going to finish the Myth series, and then I'll work on other books. I have a lot of them in the woodworks, but not enough written to start publishing them.

Anyways, here's the cover (that I made, it's pretty bad) and description for Monster Hunter Society.

With supernatural beings running rampant through the world, a need to control their contact with unknowing humans is a must. And so, the Monster Hunter Society was born.

It's been over two thousand years since it was founded, and the society has become the bane of every supernatural's existence.

Enter Mallory Thompson. She's twenty and only recently has been accepted into the society. Being an outcast is something she's not used to. Mallory is working under one of the senior officers, Thaddeus Romano, aka Joker. He's only two years older than her, but has been working for the society for over seven years.

Mallory is an anomaly, one of the few hunters who is the first of their family line. With such a dislike towards newbies, will Mallory make it in such a strange environment?

I hope you guys like the idea! I'm super excited about this book, and can't wait to start sharing it with you!

I'll see you all soon!

—Paige