Voices in the Moonlight

The full moon hung low in the sky, its light flowing across the dark forest and casting long shadows on the percent as they gathered for the run. Electricity surged through the air, a primitive pulse felt deep in each wolf's bones. The percent got agitated, moving on the balls of their toes, their wolves barely restrained beneath their skin.

Liam stood near the clearing's threshold, watching as wolves around him shed their human clothes, their bodies fluidly transforming into sleek, powerful beasts. Their howls sliced through the night, creating a haunting rhythm that sent shivers down his spine. There was no need to worry. It evolved into something older, something stirring in his blood and calling to him.

Elijah stood at the forefront, his darker shape commanding attention despite the wild power of the  packs. His steely grey eyes searched the institution, piercing and unforgiving, before landing on Liam. The weight of that look served as a reminder that Liam was being observed, judged, and examined.

"Maintain up," Elijah whispered quietly, before shifting. In the middle of the night, black fur rippled across his body, revealing a gigantic wolf with amber eyes that sparkled with authority.

Around him, the p.c. followed healthy, until the clearing was filled of wolves of all sizes and colors. Liam felt a buzz in their connection, an invisible thread that bound them together. It became both intoxicating and unsettling.

Aria gently nudged him, her young eyes full of encouragement. "You proper?"

Liam responded, "satisfactory," albeit his heart was hammering. His wolf stirred within him, keen and impatient. It had been too long, given that he would let it run.

He took a deep breath and let go. The transformation happened quickly and easily, as if his wolf had been waiting just beneath the floor. When it was completed, he stood on four legs, his silver-white fur shimmering in the moonlight. His violet eyes, which were uniquely his, gleamed faintly in the darkness.

The sight of him caused a ripple in the p.c. The murmurs weren't loud enough to be heard, but Liam would want to experience them—a mix of curiosity and dread.

Elijah's wolf released a fast, biting yelp that silenced the others. Then he became and dashed into the woods, the   packs surging after him like a tsunami.

The woodland came alive with movement. The p.c. flowed through the woods in perfect harmony, their paws slightly creating a sound against the wooded floor. The joys of the run rushed through Liam, causing his wolf to howl. It transformed into wild and unrestricted freedom, a rare moment when the shackles of survival were lifted.

Despite his exhilaration, Liam could feel the p.c.'s eyes on him. They disagreed with him, and he could not blame them. He became an outsider, a question mark in their carefully controlled world. He may want to feel their wariness, their silent questions, pressing against him like a real weight.

After then, he noticed another sensation—a small but pleasant shift in the air. A flash of worry surged through the percent, and their formation tightened automatically. Liam's ears twitched and his senses heightened as he looked for the source of his uneasiness.

"It's not anything," a voice said as clearly as a bell, but no one had spoken aloud.

Liam froze in mid stride, his paws hardly slipping on the damp ground. The voice wasn't his own, but he heard it as clearly as if it had been whispered into his ear. He became his head, examining the wolves around him, but none of them seemed to notice.

His heartbeat quickened. Become the bond? What is the link between the percentages? He'd heard that Alphas could communicate with their wolves while running, but this... this morphed into something else.

The  packs abruptly slowed and came to a halt in a large, open area. Elijah's wolf stood in the center, commanding. The others stretched out around him, ready to watch. Liam hung back, hesitant, the strange voice still echoing in his mind.

Then it happened again.

"live near."

The voice shifted to Elijah's. But it wasn't stated; it was felt, reverberating through Liam like a vibration. His wolf stiffened, instinctively obeying the instruction while confusion raced in his mind. How did he hear this? Was it only him?

He looked at Aria, who had turned to observe Elijah with calm attention. She did not appear surprised, nor did she respond as if she had heard something unusual. That means... it was not the percentage. It transformed into him.

Panic began to set in, but Liam pushed it down. He couldn't let them notice his uncertainty. Whatever this turned into, he had to influence it.

The percentage rose again, spreading into the woodland region like a river of shadows. Liam watched, his mind racing as his wolf delighted in the run. The voices persisted, weak and transient, fragments of emotions and commands that did not appear to belong to him. Each one served as a reminder of his uniqueness, which turned into a hazard.

The p.c. slowed as they approached a ridge overlooking the valley. The wolves spread out, breathing heavily but evenly, their gaze scanning the horizon. Elijah transformed back into his human form, his muscular frame silhouetted against the starry background. The others took turns observing fit.

Liam hesitated, his wolf unwilling to give up control. But as Elijah's piercing gaze fixed him again, he forced the shift, his frame folding back into its human form. The air became cooler near his skin, but he scarcely noticed.

"True run," Elijah murmured, breaking the silence. It was not a compliment, but rather an observation, and the percentage nodded in agreement.

Liam remained quiet, his pulse throbbing from more than just exercise. He wasn't sure if what he'd seen would become usual or if it would make him even more of an outsider.

Then it happened.

A deep growl echoed from the treeline, making every wolf in the p.c. stiffen. Their heads jerked closer to the sound, their instincts kicking into high gear. Liam's wolf charged forward, ready to fight, but Elijah raised his hand, urging silence.

Every other grumble, closer this time. The strong aroma of something unexpected floated in the breeze, harsh and bitter. It wasn't a rogue—at least not from the percentage Liam had diagnosed.

Before anyone could react, a blur of movement emerged from the darkness, headed directly for the organization. Chaos ensued as wolves transformed immediately, their howls and snarls filling the nighttime. Liam's instincts kicked in, and he transformed simply as the attacker—a gaunt, wild-eyed wolf—lunged at him.

Liam moved faster than he thought possible, his body reacting before his mind could freeze up. The rogue slid to a halt, its snarls softening into a whimper as it cowered beneath his violet stare.

The percent froze, their uncertainty evident. The rogue was not surrendering to Elijah, but to him.

Elijah's snarl cuts through the calm, a pointed reminder of his control. The rogue flinched, but did not move, its stare fixed on Liam.

"What did you do?" Aria's scream boomed out, her inexperienced eyes wide with horror.

Liam did not offer a solution. He could not. He had no idea what had just happened, but the weight of the pack’s gaze pressed down on him, crushing and oppressive.

The rogue whined again before retreating deeper into the woods, leaving an unsettling silence in its wake.

Elijah transformed back to human shape, his visage furious. "Give an explanation for," he demanded, his voice like a whip.

Liam shifted just as nicely, his breaths coming quickly and unevenly. "I don't understand," he said digitally, his voice wavering slightly. "It just... happened."

The  packs exchanged uneasy glances, their initial caution now tinged with concern. Whatever Liam was, it was not normal. And it was not safe.

Elijah's eyes seared into him, bloodless and unwavering. "We'll speak later," he said, his tone indicating that this was not a request.

The run ended in silence, and the adrenaline of the night gave way to a strain that Liam felt in every fiber of his existence. As the p.c. began to disperse, he noticed Aria's engaged stare.

"What became of that?" she inquired calmly.

Liam shook his head, his voice just above a whisper. "I don't recognize."

But, deep down, he feared the response. Something changed for him, and it was only the beginning.