Werewolf

Jelena:

I can’t believe Mom and Dad are making me go on this lame summer trip. Last week, my mom complained that we spent too much time on social media and decided we needed to take a family vacation in Middle of Nowhere, Montana. Of course, I wasn’t very happy with the decision, considering I’m eighteen and the thought of spending my summer break with my parents is not at the top of my list, but she insisted. One of her former college roommates owns a cottage in the woods, which goes with my mom’s idea of getting us off the grid.

Blech! Kill me now!

As I’m angrily packing my bag, my mom walks in with my little brother Jesse in her arms. Jesse is four years old and as cute as a button, but he’s also as annoying as he is cute. Don’t even get me started on the kid’s shenanigans. He’s the worst.

Giving me a reproachful grimace, my mom places her hands on her waist and snaps out, “Jelena, why aren’t you done packing your bags? You better hurry up because we need to leave before traffic gets bad.” Jeering in reply, I roll up one of my t-shirts into a ball and toss it haphazardly into my bag. “Seriously, mom, do I have to go? I mean, I’m eighteen years old, and I’m going to Cal State in September. Frankly, I’d rather spend my summer hanging out with Kaya and Sophie.”

My mom’s lips twist into a wry smile. “Yes, Jelena, you have to go. And that is one of the reasons why. In a couple of months, you’ll be going off to college, and it would be nice for all of us to have a nice family vacation before you abandon us. Come on, the Morgans are coming too. It’ll be fun.”

I roll my eyes and continue to fold my clothes. The Morgan’s are my parent’s best friends. They have a little boy about Jesse’s age named Ricky, and like Jesse, he’s a real brat.

It looks like I’m going to be the fifth wheel on this ride. Which, I guess, makes it a good thing. At least I don’t have to entertain anyone. Since I have no choice but to do, I can use my solitary time to catch up on my reading.

Grabbing my tiniest bikini, I pack it inside my bag too.

Hey, if I’m going to get stuck in the middle of nowhere, I’m going to tan.

“Fine, but don’t complain when I want to take a vacation with my friends next year.”

My mom rolls her eyes and is about to say something when my little brother Jesse begins squirming in her arms. Sighing in frustration, my mom lowers him to the ground and mutter. “Oh, Jelena, honey. I know you want to be with your friends. But you need to understand that moments like these are going to be few. Just let me and your dad have this last memory. Now, you have two minutes to get your butt downstairs.”

Lips tight, I don’t argue further as I zip my bag.

It’s not that I don’t like hanging out with my family. But this was supposed to be my summer. Kaya, Sophie, and I were planning on going to parties, meet boys, and hang out at the beach.

Wrapping the bag’s strap around my shoulder, I take one last look in the mirror and pull my long wavy dark hair up in a ponytail.

As I make my way down the hall, I take one last glimpse at my reflection in a nearby mirror. My green eyes sparkle, and my skin glows. Preening, I smile at my reflection. I have to say that my tan is holding up well. But then again, I have naturally olive skin. I’m not very tall at five foot three, but I think I’m pretty with high cheekbones, long lashes, big doe eyes, and a button nose. I’m also very athletic, so my body is fit. I used to be on the school’s swim team, debate, choir, and dance. I also have nice boobs and a shapely butt.

People say I look like my mom. That she and I can be sisters. Except for the fact that I have green eyes like my dad.

My little brother Jesse looks a lot more like my dad. He has light hair and green eyes.

My dad is a very famous artist, and my mom is a yoga instructor. My dream is to become a writer. I love writing love stories. Right now, I’m working on a story about a girl who falls in love with an angel.

Too bad that real life is not like that.

Taking one last look around my room, I pick up my table and sneak my cell phone into my backpack. Before I leave, I send one final message to Kaya and Sophie. Heading out, ladies. I’ll miss you.

Once I’ve sent my heartfelt wishes, I head down the stairs. My dad’s already outside trying to jam all the cases into our SUV. Stopping beside him, I pass him my duffel bag and lean on the SUV’s frame. “That’s all, Dad.”

My dad pushes the bags in and gives me a wide smile. “Ready to go, sweetheart?”

I shrug my shoulders. “Yeah, I guess.”

He laughs lightly at my unaffected tone and tweaks my nose playfully. “Don’t worry, baby, you’ll be back before you know it. Remember, this old man only has a little bit of time before his little girl leaves the nest. After all, you don’t know how long I’ll be around.”

I roll my eyes at his comment. Old man, my foot. My dad is tall, fit, and lean. Some of my friends say he’s cute. Seriously gross!

Most people say that my parents make an attractive couple. My dad is strong, and my mom is petite. They’re both in their early forties but still look like they're in their early thirties.

A snicker escapes my lips when my dad gives me an innocent pout. “Yeah, right, dad. I can see one of your feet is halfway in the grave—cause, you know, you’re so old. Is that gray hair I see?” I mutter sarcastically.

My dad runs his fingers through his light brown hair with a fake reproachful glare. “Get in the car, Mrs. Smarty pants.”

Quirking a brow, I flip my hair and settle in the back seat with my headphones on. As we drive through the streets, I give my neighborhood a wistful look and sigh. Hopefully, this vacation will not totally suck.

Traeger:

I love running in the woods as I search for prey. Lifting my nose up in the air, I inhale the scent of the pine trees and the fresh air. Two of my pack members, Arsenal and Grey, do the same as they run behind me. The moon is out, and we’re one with nature. We’re all trying to catch a deer before the Institute calls us in.

Arsenal nudges his chin to the trees up ahead and narrows his eyes. “I smell something ahead, Traeger.”

I nod my head in agreement as we traverse through the wild terrain. My pack and I have lived in the Lycan Research Institute all our lives. We’re part of an elite group of Lycans chosen from birth to be soldiers and have spent all of our lives training for war.

According to the Institute's top scientist, I am the alpha of my team. Even though I’m only twenty-two years old, I have a great deal of training in firearms and various forms of killing. For nearly two decades, my pack and I have been trained in mixed martial arts, judo, jujitsu, taekwondo, krav maga, and a few other necessary skills. There has never been a moment that we haven’t been trained or educated in some way by the Institutes people.

For as long as I can remember, we do the same thing every day. We eat when we’re told, sleep when we’re told, and bathe when we’re told. We also train together every day.

The scientists in the Institute are the only people we are ever allowed to see. Unfortunately, in their eyes, we’re less than human. To them, we’re things to be used and manipulated. Regrettably, we have no other choice but to follow their orders or suffer the repercussions.

The Institute is a large structure located deep in the woods of Montana. My pack and I merely exist here.

Sometimes we wonder what’s beyond the trees, but there’s no use in wondering because they will never let us go. That doesn’t mean that we haven’t learned a few things about the outside world, though. Years ago, one of the scientists brought in a book with pictures in it. He called it a magazine. The pictures were of females wearing alluring clothing. My pack and I were amazed by what we saw. We’ve never seen a real female before.

All of the scientists in the Institute are males. Sometimes at night, I dream of being with a real female. I can’t help but wonder what it would be like to have someone to touch and hold. They looked so soft and sweet in the picture.

To our surprise, the scientist was a fount of information. He was also surprisingly informative. He told us that females are different than we are.

Unfortunately, the scientist disappeared soon after showing us the magazine and never returned. We still have the magazine.

Running through the forest, I jump over logs and climb a few trees in hopes of spotting prey. I’m running for a few minutes until I reach my destination. Extending my claws, I let my body semi transform and release my razor-sharp canines. Our prey is a large doe─perfect.

Grim and the others stop mid-step and look back at me, waiting for my permission to attack.

Observing the doe for a moment, I watch as the creature flits and prances around the grass, ignorant of the danger in its midst. Seconds pass before I nod my head. They pounce instantly. Their claws tearing into flesh and their jaws brutally chomping down on the creature’s stomach. While they feast, I stand back, letting my men enjoy their kill.

We are all shirtless, which makes it easier to run. Taking a deep, satisfying breath, I straighten my posture and stretch out my six-foot-five frame.

Lately, my skin has been feeling tight and constricting. Flexing my fists, I look down at my muscled torso and raise my hand to sift my fingers through my ebony locks. My mid-length locks bounce through my fingers as I focus my gray wolf eyes across the forest’s vast expanse.

Inhaling deeply, I watch as Link tears the doe’s throat out as the others finish it off and step closer. Aware of my presence, my packmates step away from the doe and bow their heads in submission.

Flexing my muscles, I lean forward, look into the doe’s innocent eyes, and rip into its chest. The others watch in awe as I pull away, gripping the doe’s still-beating heart in my hand.

A normal human would feel bad about killing the doe, but to us, it’s what we are. We’re predators—animals.

Reaching forward, I release a powerful howl and bite into the heart. The other Lycans throw their heads back and follow my lead. As our howls weave through the air, we relish the power of our kill. Unfortunately, the thrill of the hunt is short-lived, and reality intrudes. The Institute's alarm reverberates around us, warning us to come back home.

Without a word, we seize our howls and run back to our prison. It pains me to go back because I love the freedom of the forest. We have no choice, though. If any of us rebel, the pack pays the price. From birth, the scientists and researchers knew we would become strong and took precautions to control us. Inside our bodies, there are receptors implanted that force us to respond to certain commands. It’s almost as if we become brainless animals. Years ago, a team member tried to resist the call but ended up destroying himself instead.

There is also a GPS tracker implanted in our bodies. I’ve managed to extend its reach without the Institute’s knowledge. However, it only extends to the forest’s perimeter. If we go further, it will send a message to our receptors and incapacitate us.

I’ve tried to hack into it, but the Institute monitors its technology zealously. I haven’t had the opportunity to hack into the system again. Right now, we are all-powerful prisoners in a cage without bars.