William
I lower my head and hiss at Josh. I'm not afraid of his wolf. Magic is coursing through my veins, and my body is large enough to take on the mean-looking mutt. I will tear him to shreds.
My muscles are tensing, readying themselves for battle.
Josh growls and launches himself at me. I grab hold of his neck and throw him away. While I'm distracted, his pack members jump for me and dig their teeth into my skin to draw blood.
I cry out in tremendous pain. My limbs are burning as if someone had drowned me in oil and thrown a matchstick over me. I want to give up and scream at the top of my lungs, but I realize I have to act to save my life.
And I'm not a saint—I snap another werewolf's neck, and its body slips down on the asphalt to join my collection.
Heavy panting leaves my lips.
I don't think I can keep this going forever, and relief overwhelms me when someone shouts, "HUMANS ARE COMING!" to make the werewolves snap up their heads. Josh growls something, and suddenly, the werewolves are leaving the scene.
I let my exhaustion settle over my limbs and fall down on the ground with my claws digging into the dirt. My thirst for blood is higher than usual. It's probably because my inner fairy wants flesh and blood to heal. Whatever. I won't give in to that voice.
My eyes close, and I lie down on the ground. I face the darkening skies until I hear Riley's voice.
"William?"
I steer my eyes to Riley, who is staring down at me. I'm yet to revert into a human and hiss at her.
"Don't come any closer!"
Riley stops in her tracks, looking over at me with worry settling over her delicate features. Now that the fairy blood has turned me into a winged, giant monster, she is much smaller than me.
"You're bleeding..."
"I'm fine..." I mutter.
Riley is silent for what feels like an eternity. Eventually, she speaks in a gentle tone. "I was the one who shouted that humans were coming."
"I figured, but you can leave now."
Despite my grumpy voice, Riley crouches next to me. I don't want her to face me, so I turn around to avoid her eyes.
She probably thinks I'm a freak.
I have these weird antlers or horns growing out through my skull. They are elk-like but with flowers hanging down from them, and my ears are pointy. I'm also glowing like a freaking Christmas tree.
"You're gorgeous," Riley says softly. "So pretty."
"I'm a freak."
Riley ignores me, and a maddening blush takes over my face when she stands up. Her hands reach for my antlers, and her smile widens when she touches them. She is tall as me when I'm sitting. It means I'm topping ten feet while I'm in my fairy form.
It's not a good sign.
I will be larger the next time and shudder when I peer up at Riley. She will be afraid of me if there is a next time, even though she seems strangely mesmerized by me right now.
"This is so cool. I've never seen a fairy before, but you're stunning. Pale, flawless skin, blue eyes, and hair as dark as the feathers belonging to a raven—you're beautiful."
I sigh. "I hate my fairy blood, and I can't wait to change back... Why it's not happening already is beyond me..."
"Maybe you need human blood?" Riley asks and holds out her wrist towards me. "You want to try drinking some?"
"No, are you crazy?" I hiss at her. "What if I won't be able to stop once I've had a taste?"
"Oh, come on. I'm your mate—"
I hiss at Riley again, angry because part of me wants to drink her blood. I'm dangerous. The freak alpha. Riley shouldn't get too close to me.
"It doesn't matter!" I glare at her. "Leave and don't turn back! I will hide these werewolf bodies on my own, and you should head home."
"But—"
"I'm not your problem!" I raise my voice and immediately regret it when hurt flashes over Riley's face.
"Okay..."
Riley steps away from me with clouded eyes. I hurt her feelings and frightened her. But in my defense, I'm a monster. This is only the start of me changing into a fairy. Next time, I might be even hungrier and far more hazardous and kill-crazy.
Riley walks away from me but stops after a few feet. "It doesn't bother me that you're a fairy or have magic abilities. Most alphas have powers."
"Not like mine."
"I know—"
I growl the following sentence. "Just leave already."
Riley looks at me—totally zones in. "I wish you could look at yourself from my eyes. You're not dangerous, but kind... Safe," she lets out an exasperated breath. "I really like you, William. I just wish you would let me in. Trust me a little bit."
"Trust you?" I croak. "Are you blind? It's not you that I don't trust—it's me when I'm around you! What if I hurt you, huh? I wouldn't be able to live with myself!"
"Do you really think you would hurt me?" Riley asks in a sad voice.
"I don't know!" I exclaim, frustrated. "Fairies are apex predators, and human meat is at the top of their menu. I don't want to risk your life by being around you."
Riley laughs. Her smile isn't centered on her face; it's all up on her left cheek, adding to her say-whatever-crosses-her- mind personality. Damn it. Riley rarely smiled when I met her, but now she does it all the time, making my stomach flip like a pancake.
"Your parents had you, William. Clearly, fairies must have some sort of self-control, or else you wouldn't have been born."
"But my parents didn't stay together, and my mother ate human flesh from time to time. It's not a future I want for you. I probably need to live in the fairy dimension once my bloodthirst grows stronger. Fairies have to eat human meat at least once in their lifetime."
Riley gives me a pained look. "There must be another solution for you to control yourself besides eating human flesh."
"There isn't!" I shout at her. "Now, could you please leave me alone? My bloodthirst is through the roof. I don't know how long I can hold on and stop myself from jumping over you."
"I wouldn't honestly mind if you had my blood."
"LEAVE ALREADY!"
"Fine," Riley turns on her heel, hurt by my tone. "See you after class tomorrow. I hope you solve your fairy problem."