Chapter 3 Everything Is Changing

• Adrian
• My life was starting to change. And I wasn't used to any of it. Sure, since childhood, I understood and knew that this would eventually happen at some point. I just didn't expect it to happen so quickly. Being born into this family, with my father's DNA, was becoming difficult lately. Even though, all along, this was something that displeased me.
• I was different from everyone else, not just because of the wealth my father had. Not just because of the power he wielded in this city, especially in this school. But because our lineage came from an ancient time. Where we were forced to grow up and be who we didn't want to be. At least I was.
• Because everyone else, all my friends outside of school, my uncles, aunts, cousins, for centuries, were cursed to transform into a being totally unknown to humanity. And in their worst moments, they completely lost their senses. They became connected to their primal DNA, attacking everything and everyone in their path. I've always had issues with anger. But once I turned 17, it got even worse. I didn't want to wake up with a headache after dreaming about my future.
• Well, my father said that was just a useless fear that I would have to accept because there was no turning back. Long ago, my ancestors took actions that were at least despicable, leading them to a curse. A very powerful witch created our lineage, our karma, which to this day, transforms each one of us into this beast that I abhor. The night before, I went through something I had never experienced before, even though my father always said it was coming soon. I lost sight of myself.
• It was as if I wasn't this man anymore, but something else. And the instinct of this other thing led me to a place totally different from the ones I frequented. When I woke up in that forest, I was so disoriented and confused that I had a peak of anxiety. Luckily, there was always someone behind me, especially now, with my transformations happening much more frequently.
• My body ached. Even though it healed very quickly, I felt my bones breaking, shaping into that beast I had no control over. I took a headache medicine, believing that would finally allow me to go to school and continue with my daily routine, as a human.
• But ever since I turned 17, I haven't been normal. I wasn't normal compared to my peers. I heard things I shouldn't hear. I felt sensations I didn't want to feel. I could sniff out a subtle scent from miles away. And my sixth sense became much more acute. And just today, after that transformation where I ended up miles away from my home, I see that something was different at school. When I laid eyes on that girl, it felt like I already knew her, like we were connected. Her eyes didn't leave me, and it was like I couldn't get into my own mind. But I didn't allow it. I couldn't allow anyone to get inside my head and find out how bad I was on the inside.
• "Adrian, are you listening to me?" I finally snap back to reality, where my best friend looks at me, with a furrowed brow, wondering if I was really paying attention to what he was saying. "Lately, you've been in la-la land," he grumbled.
• La Luna. You have no idea how much that affects me. The full moon triggers in me an emotional upheaval that only gets worse. As my 18th birthday approaches, things have gotten even worse. Puberty for wolves is entirely different. First comes the phase of semi-transformation. Touch becomes heightened, as does smell. Strength becomes uncontrollable, as does rage. You feel the vibrations, the strange scents, hear the heartbeat, and what people say, meters away from you, and little by little, you transform. The bones in my body become flexible, they break and rearrange every time fury leads me to the state of a young wolf. The changes become apparent, the eyes shift shape, and the moon, well, it's one of the main culprits for taking me farther and farther from home each time. Whenever this happens, I forget everything I did. I have no control over my actions, I don't know how I ended up in that place, or what I did.
• My father says this is common with any other member of the pack. And while they eagerly await it, I detest it and pray that it never happens.
• "What do you want, Jacob?" I ask, unmotivated.
• We were in the cafeteria, a place that I used to love, but now it makes me uneasy. The smells all blend together, I can't control them, not to mention the murmurs and shouts of my schoolmates, which in my ears, seem to scream.
• "The game this Friday is very important," he said, leaning against the cafeteria table. When I lifted my gaze, I came face to face with the newcomer. She's strange. It's like I know her from somewhere. It's strange. A connection that I can't explain. The problem is, I feel vulnerable every time she stares at me. It seems like she wants to get into my mind, but I won't let her. "The coach wants us to train more. You know we have to go to the finals, and as the team captain, you have a big responsibility."
• "The team is very focused," I said, diverting my attention from the girl. "We know our opponent. It'll be easy to beat them."
• "I like the positivity, but I still think we should push ourselves more."
• She's still staring at me. Even though I'm not looking back, I know she is, and it makes me furious.
• "How about we gather the group?" I said, getting up. I lost my appetite and wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. "You're right."
• "I am?" She seemed surprised.
• "Let's train more," I said, irritated, meeting her gaze, which doesn't intimidate her. "I'll meet you in 10 minutes, on the field."
• I left without looking back. Who does this girl think she is, to stare at me so blatantly?