Chapter 32 #3
The Seung-LaLune siblings stretch and warm up as the clouds begin to clear, letting the full moon come into view unobscured. The air around them buzzes with mana. The magic coursing through their veins pulses, the beasts residing in their souls tremble with anticipation, longing to be let free.
Christopher LaLune joins his children, all in similar running gear.
Sweatpants and short sleeve compression shirts.
“How’s everybody feeling?” He asks whilst doing his own stretches.
His children voice their excitement, their busy lives often leave little time to let their wolves run free. “Eddie, how are you feeling?”
Eddie smiles at his father, his ocean blue eyes slightly aglow, “I feel incredible. I think you were right, Appa. After all these years, this might be my first shift.”
“Just remember to take it easy, the first time is always the hardest. I know the magic inside us makes us feel invincible during the full moon, but remember your limits.”
Eddie chuckles and only rolls his eyes a little, “Yeah, Appa, I know. I’m just excited.”
Eddie’s sibling’s crowd him, patting his back, messing his hair in loving jest. They are all excited for Eddie to share a run with them as a wolf.
One by one, his siblings let the shifter magic take its course, allowing them to change. Clothing turns to fur, human limbs turn to strong paws and claws. A trinity of howls erupt towards the full moon, now shining clearly in the sky.
His siblings are various shades of black and brown, all three sit patiently on their hind legs as they await for Eddie and their father to change.
Christopher changes next, his body enlarging, limbs lengthening.
His hands turn to sharp black claws, his mouth grows into a maw filled with razor sharp teeth.
He towers over his children on two mighty hind legs, his body coated in dark brown fur.
Two piercing eyes of ocean blue glow in their sockets as a mighty howl shakes the air around LaLune manor.
The group inside looks out towards the back of the manor in awe as Christopher’s werewolf form demands attention.
Christopher steps towards Eddie, each press of his hind legs radiating mana throughout the ground. His voice is deep and resonant, echoing around him, as he regards his youngest son. “Now, my son, let the mana of the full moon course through you. Let instinct take over, don’t force it.”
Eddie nods and steps between his father and siblings. He can feel mana like never before coursing through his veins. Every beat of his heart, every breath of his lungs send more magic through every nerve in his body.
A sharp pain pierces through him, forcing him to his knees. He holds himself up with his arms, fingers digging into the earth. His jaw clenches, teeth grinding together as his breathing shallows. Every bone and muscle feels set a flame.
His siblings cower and whimper, slowly moving away. Christopher brows furrow in confusion, then he notices the concern in his children’s eyes…no. Fear. The larger wolves are looking at Eddie with fear as Amelia’s smaller wolf stands in front of her siblings, growling defensively.
“Eddie, breath. Don’t fight it, let the pain pass.” Eddie doesn’t respond, his groans of pain muffled by the clench of his jaw. Ocean blue mana swarms around his hunched over body, sparks flying around him. “Eddie? Son?” Christopher takes tentative steps towards his youngest son.
A pained cry rips through the night air. Jackson and Hakeem abruptly stand, their hearts beating wildly in their chests. The group regard each other with worried looks, whispers exchanged among them.
“What was that?”
“Was that Christopher?”
“Are we safe here, Mama?”
“Yes, Habibti.”
“Who was that?”
“Could it have been Eddie?”
“Was your first shift that painful, Meghan?”
“I don’t think it was that bad.”
Janice makes her way to the glass doors, hand pressing against the frame. Her eyes fill with concern. She has no magic but her heart tells her something is amiss. “Yeo-bo? Eddie?”
Jackson and Hakeem exchange a look, hands locked together. “Hakeem, do you have your wand?”
Hakeem nods, “It’s a comfort to keep close by. Jackson, did you feel it?”
Jackson’s gaze hardens towards the back of the manor, “I did. Something is up with Eddie. Something is wrong.”
The world falls silent for a moment, the group seems to collectively hold their breath.
A wave of mana bursts through the grounds, threatening to shatter glass and knocking many of the onlooking group down.
Jackson holds onto Hakeem, fighting to hold their ground together.
An ear piercing howl cracks through air.
The world seems to tremble under the force of the cry.
The sound is laced with power like none of them had felt before, and a heart wrenching pain.
The lights flicker, the group fights to stand. “What was that?” Someone asks.
Hakeem and Jackson make their way to the glass doors beside Janice. Their hands laced together, they whisper in unison as they look out towards the back of the manor. “Eddie.”