Chapter 14: The Full moon
Today is the full moon, the only night we werewolves get to shift into our wolf form. It is my favorite day of all days and also painful because of the bone cracking and shifting. But it is still worth it. I get to be a wolf, even if it is just for the night.
The whole school was busy preparing for it. They usually throw parties in the woods until the full moon shows. Everyone acts like it is a festival. Music. Alcohol. Drugs. Laughter. Like we are celebrating something holy, it is holy from the moon goddess.
I usually shift with my brother, but he said he was going to be busy and would be shifting at work. I do not know what kind of bartender job makes him that tired in the morning. He comes home late in the morning and sleeps the entire day. I do not get why he chose the night shift. He says it pays more. Says tips are better. Says I should not worry about it. But I do.
And since my nephew has not made his first shift, he is going to be with Dina. He is excited about it even though he cannot shift yet. Keeps asking questions. Keeps pretending to howl at random times. He does not know yet what it feels like. The crack. The burn. The way your bones feel like they are breaking and rebuilding at the same time.
It is midway through the evening. Everyone is present in the woods. The party goes on until the moon comes out. The fire is already burning. People are already tipsy. Some are laughing too loud. Some are whispering in corners.
"So this is your first moon in Oakland," Malo said, giving me a can of beer.
I did not take it from him because of our last encounter. He shook it slightly in front of my face.
"Don’t worry, freshwolf, it’s just beer."
"Whatever." I collected it from him.
The can felt cold in my hand. My palm was warm.
"So, are you taking one of these?"
Another drug again. The color was different. This one was light blue. Small. Harmless looking.
"Dude, you need to stop that. I am not a fucking druggie."
"Come on, this is legit. Everyone here takes it. It’s for cracks and pain. You don’t get to feel the pain when it hits. That pain is fucking awful."
He said it like he was offering me a favor.
"I love the pain. That pain is what makes us special. You get to feel everything that is happening to your body," I defended myself.
I meant it. The pain reminds you that you are alive. That you are changing. That you are not human.
"It’s a fucking curse. Some wolves get to shift with no pain. Some can shift at their own will, while we get to shift once and it’s painful. It feels like hell coursing through your bones. We are cursed."
His jaw tightened when he said that.
"I don’t feel like that. Trust me, bro, I am good. You should be careful. You don’t want the Moon Goddess giving you an actual curse. Maybe make you wolfless."
The word wolfless sits heavy. Worse than death for some of us.
"Bullshit. The Moon Goddess will have to make everyone in this town wolfless," he said, taking the drug in one go and then drinking his beer after it.
He swallowed fast. Like he did not want to think about it.
I just stared at him, wondering why in the world I am hanging out with this dude. Well, it is because he is the only one who approaches me. The only one who talks to me. But I cannot believe everyone here does not feel the pain, that it is numb and dull for them. That they would rather not feel it at all.
Time passes and it is almost nighttime. The sky is darker now. The air feels cooler but my skin still feels hot. Some are drunk and waiting. Some are making out behind trees. Some are gathered in a circle playing games. All with the same goal, waiting for the full moon.
Waiting for the change.
I just sat looking at the campfire. The flames moved in slow waves. Sparks rising. My chest rising with it.
Then someone sat beside me.
"Cool fire."
I turned to see Princess by my side. Out of everyone here, why her?
"This is not a detention class for you to monitor me," I said, adjusting away from her.
"I am not going to bite," she said.
Her voice was slightly different. Softer. Slower.
"You drunk or something?"
"I wish. Werewolves don’t get drunk that easily..... You smell nice. What perfume brand are you using?"
"I am not wearing any perfume."
She moved closer to me. Close enough that our arms almost touched.
I know what is happening here.
"Princess, I think you should go find your girlfriend or some other bitch because me and you, it’s never going to happen," I said as I adjusted again.
"She is not here. She is shifting with her family tonight."
"Great. Go find Beam instead."
"What? Beam is my best friend. She is like a sister to me. I never see her that way."
"Well, where is your best friend now?"
"She is with her brother. She is at home."
I rolled my eyes. What a coincidence. The trio are messed up.
Before I could say another word, she moved closer and rested her head on my shoulder.
My body went stiff.
I do not know why, but I really wanted to move. I should move. I should push her away. This time her scent hit me and it was strong. Warm. Sweet. Something wild underneath it.
"Sometimes I envy my friends with their family...." she said.
But I do not know why I could not listen to what else she was saying. The words faded. My head felt light. My chest felt tight.
I found myself lost, sniffing her hair. I swear I could not control it or stop myself. It was like my wolf was pushing forward. Like it recognized something before I did. I was lost in her scent.
"What is happening here?" a voice broke in as Princess quickly stood up.
The sudden movement made the world snap back into place.
"MG, I was just trying to inform her..."
"I don’t care. I have seen worse. I distributed it all," MG said.
Distributed. That word sat heavy.
"Good. The full moon is here, so it’s almost time," Princess said as she gave me one look and then left.
One look. I stood up.
"Is she the one distributing the..."
"Of course. It’s her family business. I told you the other day Leo owns all the drugs," Malo said.
Of course.. Of course it is her. I did not know what to say.
Finally, the time was here. The moon was out. Big. Bright. Watching. Everyone around me started shifting into their own wolf.
Clothes tearing. Bodies bending. Bones cracking.
But something was off.
There were no screams. No pain grunts. No one falling to their knees. Their bones just cracked and morphed into wolves smoothly. Like it was nothing. Like it did not hurt.
I watched as everyone turned. One by one. Fur replacing skin. Hands turning into paws. Eyes glowing. The sound of cracking filled the air but it was controlled. Calm.
But wait.
Why am I watching? Why am I not feeling anything? No burns. No sweat. No heat rising under my skin. My bones are perfectly intact. I can feel my wolf inside.
But it is not coming out. It feels tied down. Or maybe asleep.
I should be in pain right now. I should be on the ground. I should be screaming. But I am standing.
What the fuck is happening to me.
