Matt's Pov.
I stared blankly at the wall, my mind replaying the horrific events of that fateful night. My friends, brutally slaughtered by my own brother. The pain and anger still simmered beneath the surface, threatening to erupt at any moment. I couldn't shake the images of their lifeless bodies, their screams still echoing in my mind.
As a werewolf, I felt a new level of rage coursing through my veins. It was as if the beast within me was fueling my emotions, amplifying my anger and hatred. I struggled to control it, it seemed to be growing stronger by the day.
I thought about my brother, Caleb and the pack's rules. I thought about the expectations placed upon me as a lycan. none of it mattered if I couldn't come to terms with what had happened. The rage inside me was a ticking time bomb, waiting to unleash its fury.
If I was going to make it out alive, I needed to find a way to manage this newfound ferocity. I couldn't let it consume me, at the same time, I couldn't just forgive and forget. My friends' memories deserved justice, and I wasn't sure if Caleb's explanations would ever be enough.
I felt trapped between my loyalty to my brother and my need for vengeance. The werewolf within me growled, urging me to take action. But the human part of me knew that would only lead to more destruction.
For now, I was stuck in this limbo, torn between my two selves. I knew I had to find a way to reconcile my emotions, to learn to control the beast within me. But the question was, how?
The next morning, Caleb and I set out into the woods, he used the alpha's howl to forcefully shift me into my wolf form as we traversed the dense forest. I could sense Caleb's excitement, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this outing than met the eye.
As we ran through the woods , the trees grew taller, and the underbrush thicker. Suddenly, we emerged into a clearing, and I saw them – the members of the Mooncrest pack. There were four of them, two males and two females, all in their human forms. We both shifted back to our human forms as they greeted Caleb warmly, and he introduced me as his brother.
The pack members were Axel and his mate, Luna. Alex his mate, Zephyr and then there were Caleb and I, making us six in total four males and two females, with Caleb and I being mates to none yet.
As I interacted with the pack, I couldn't help but notice the dynamics between them. They seemed like a close knit family, and I felt a sense of belonging that I hadn't experienced in a long time.
as the day wore on, I began to realize that Caleb had an ulterior motive for bringing me here. He wanted to test my hunting instincts, to see how I'd react in a real world scenario. I wasn't sure if I was ready, but I was determined to prove myself.
Caleb's plan was clear. he wanted to push me to my limits, to see if I had what it took to be a part of this pack. I just hoped I could rise to the challenge.
Caleb's eyes gleamed with a mix of excitement and seriousness as he explained the challenge. "Matt, as a lycan, you need to learn how to hunt and provide for yourself and the pack. Today's challenge is a hunt, We'll be tracking a large buck, and you'll need to use your senses and instincts "
I nodded, feeling a surge of adrenaline at the prospect of the hunt. But then Caleb added, "There's one condition we'll be doing this in our wolf forms. You'll need to tap into your primal instincts and work with the pack to succeed."
I felt a shiver run down my spine as I realized the true nature of the challenge. It wasn't just about hunting; it was about embracing my lycan side and trusting my instincts. I was ready to face the challenge head on, but I had a feeling that Caleb's true intentions went beyond just testing my hunting skills.
I turned to Caleb, my voice laced with concern. "What exactly are we hunting, Caleb? Is it an animal or...?"
Caleb's expression was unreadable, but his eyes seemed to hold a hint of seriousness. "The hunt is for a human, Matt. One who has been deemed a threat to our pack's safety."
My eyes widened in shock, and I felt a surge of unease. "A human? You can't be serious, Caleb. I'm not going to hunt down an innocent person." I said.
Caleb's face remained stern,I could sense a hint of expectation. "This is a test, Matt. You need to prove yourself to the pack and to yourself. Can you follow your instincts and do what's necessary to protect our pack?"
I hesitated, feeling torn between my loyalty to my brother and my moral code. before I could respond, Caleb gave a signal, and the pack sprang into action. The test had begun, I was faced with a choice that would change everything.
Caleb let out a powerful howl, I felt an involuntary response within me. My body began to shift, my senses heightening as I transformed into my wolf form. I felt a surge of primal energy coursing through my veins, and my instincts took over.
As I looked around, I saw the pack members, all in their wolf forms, their eyes fixed intently on me. Caleb, in his dominant alpha form, stood tall, his presence commanding attention. I realized that his howl had not only shifted me but also asserted his dominance, reminding me of his alpha status.
The hunt had begun, and I was swept up in the primal thrill of the chase. My senses were on high alert, i followed the pack as we tracked our prey through the forest. The rush of adrenaline and the thrill of the hunt consumed me, I let go of my doubts and fears, embracing my lycan nature.
As we ran, I felt Caleb's presence guiding me, his alpha howl echoing through the forest, urging us forward. The pack moved as one, a cohesive unit driven by instinct and loyalty. I was part of this pack now, and I would do whatever it took to prove myself.
I watched in horror as the young man drove by in his Mustang, completely unaware of the danger lurking in the woods. Suddenly, one of the pack members, Axel, sprang into action, using his incredible speed and strength to ram into the car. The Mustang tumbled and rolled, sending glass shattering and metal crumpling.
The young man was dragged out of the wreckage, screaming and struggling as luna pinned him to the ground. I felt a chill run down my spine as luna's fangs bared, she dragged the young man to where Caleb was standing.
Caleb's eyes gleamed with a fierce intensity as he gazed at the struggling captive. I realized that this was it – the moment of truth. Would I follow my instincts and join the pack in eliminating the threat, or would I defy them and try to save the young man?
The pack members closed in, forming a semi-circle around the captive. Caleb's gaze turned to me, I knew I had to make a decision. The air was thick with tension, and I could feel the weight of the pack's expectations bearing down on me.
I stood my ground, my eyes locked on Caleb's, as I snarled defiantly. I couldn't bring myself to kill the young man, who was whimpering and begging for mercy. But Caleb's gaze seemed to intensify, his eyes burning with an unspoken command.
Suddenly, Caleb let out a powerful howl, and I felt its effects wash over me. The sound was like a physical force, pressing down on me, making my legs buckle. I tried to resist, but the alpha's howl was too strong. I felt my body responding, my instincts overriding my conscious mind.
With a growl, I launched myself at the young man, my fangs bared. I felt a surge of primal energy, my jaws closed around his throat. it was a false, instinctual kill. I didn't want to harm him, I was only acting under Caleb's dominance. The young man's terrified screams were silenced, and I stood frozen, my jaws still clamped around his throat, as the pack looked on.