"How do you like morph and shit? Is it automatic? Do you feel pain? How does it work?" I asked Erin. We both wandered the neighborhood, walking home from school that evening.

"They trained werewolves on how to morph from a young age. We're trained to protect vampire fledglings from vampire demon souls who lurk on the earth transforming new fledglings and turning them evil at about six or seven years old. With my dad being the king once my grandparents passed away, you can imagine how much training I've been through," He replied.

"And you think I'm going to be one of those things?" I asked.

"You are one of those things." He cleared his throat and continued. "I guess only half of one of those things. You just haven't fully transitioned. There are a few full-blooded vampires who are good guys, but it's rare for vampires to have their hearts and souls intact once they complete the vampire ritual, but it's possible. There are a few that work with my dad."

   Three older thugs biked up behind us, their tires screaming to a halt as their eyes preyed on Erin and me. "Where are you bitches going?" One thug asked.

"I wouldn't say that if I were you," Erin warned. Bad idea, Erin. The lead thug stepped forward and shoved Erin and me to the ground.

"Don't test me," Erin growled again.

"Shut up!" Another thug warned. Two thugs pinned Erin and me to the floor with their feet.

   Erin's eyes glowed with golden honey flex, and he was on his feet within seconds. His bones cracked and groaned almost at superhuman speed, and suddenly he was a wolf—a big, hairy wolf with paws, claws, and fangs.

"Oh, shit!" The thugs cursed in unison. Erin growled and barked as I stared in shock. He was a damn werewolf. The group of men darted off without their bikes. One fell to the ground but quickly pulled himself back off it and continued to race away. Erin morphed into a human, naked and exposed, laughing at himself. He patted me on the shoulder as my eyes bulged, avoiding his balls.

"Ta-da!" Erin said, twiddling his jazz fingers. "So, what do you think?"

"I think I'm gonna have nightmares for a week," I replied, sucking down the urge to hurl. Suddenly, my eyes shifted to Erin's thighs. "A month."

"You're lucky I'm your best friend. I could've ripped their hearts out and eaten it, but you would've killed me..."

"Put on some clothes," I growled, my eyes drifting to his face again.

"Relax, fang boy," He said. "You're lucky I keep spare clothing in my backpack."

"Pfft. You're one to talk."

   Erin grabbed his boxers, putting them on one leg at a time. "If only you weren't a vampire—"

"If only you told me you were a fucking werewolf prince." I clapped back irritably.

   Erin threw his hands up to surrender. "Geez, touché. You win. Are you hungry? I know the best spot where all fawns hang out in the woods."

"Starving," I admitted.

   Erin sighed. "Into the woods we go."

   I rolled my eyes. "Sure, Toto. After learning, I have a target on my back. I'm going in there."

"You could have said no. You didn't have to be a dick. And why am I, Toto? Just because I'm a wolf. Wow!"

   I scoffed. "Do you want to be the chick in three-inch heels and a checkered dress?"

   There was silence for a moment before he replied. "I wouldn't mind."

"Then have it your way, Dorthy. I'm going home."

   Erin scoffed. "Are you kidding? You're not going home while you're hungry."

   I tiffed. "Why?"

"Your dad and sister are equivalent to an entrée for a fledgling like you?"

   I gulped. Shit. Maybe being a vampire was worse than I thought. "Geez, Brutal."

"Yeah, and you'll only get hungrier from there. So, are you or I texting your dad?" I sighed, closed my bag, unzipped the front pocket, and dug out my phone. Then, my fingers clicked against the keys, and I stuffed my hands in my pockets.

"To the woods!" Erin said. I sighed and gave in as Erin led the way. To the woods, I guess.

∆∆∆

   We were deep in the woods, hunting deer for food. My stomach rumbled, and chest pain throbbed like a massage stuck in pulse mode. To say this moment scared me shitless was an understatement.

"You'll be fine," Erin said, reading my mind and patting my back. He shoved me forward, nearly knocking me into a nearby tree. "Focus on the sights and sounds around you."

"Sure, I'll just use the vampire powers I don't know how to use—"

Erin patted my back again. "Well, good. Do that." I shut my eyes and zoned into the breeze, drifting leaves in the air. Then, the bushes to my right rustled, and Erin stiffened, his fists in the air, ready to fight. Yeah right.

"Who's there?" Erin said, pulling me behind him. Suddenly, Jeremy emerged from the bushes, his hands raised to the sky, his eyes glowing silver in the afternoon sun.

"Oh, great. Blue boy's here too," He said, rolling his eyes at me.

"What are you doing here, Jeremy?" Erin spat, loosening up his tense shoulders. Did I miss something?

"I was strolling in the woods when I came across you two simps."

"Really?" Erin asked.

"No," Jeremy grumbled. "Your dad sent me to find you after you didn't come home after school. My sixth sense led me to the woods and essentially here. You're welcome, by the way." Something rustled in the bushes again, and we all froze, stilling in place.

"What the bloody fuck was that?" Jeremy's voice broke as his irritable gaze met mine. Suddenly, Jessica jumped out from the bushes, chuckling at the three of us, scared shitless for a moment.

"You know, if you're going to take fang-boy out into the woods at six hours until midnight with a target on his back, you should have just asked Jeremy or me to come with you, so you don't get mauled to death by a deity."

Jeremy scoffed, a slight smirk on his lips. "She's not wrong. Or at least warn your dad before blue-boy sucks you dry."

Jessica approached Jeremy, shoving him as he tripped over a log. "Watch out, or she'll bite you," Erin said, a massive grin on his lips.

"You dick, Jeremy," she growled.

   I cleared my throat until all eyes were on me. "I still don't understand why Jeremy is here."

"Oh, that's right. Blue-boy has no fucking clue." I looked at Erin, then Jessica, before Jeremy continued. "I'm Erin and Jessica's protector."

   My eyebrow shot up as I stared at him for a moment. "An incubus?" I asked.

"I guess he knows that half of it," Jeremy said. The bushes rustled again, and all four of us gathered close together.

"Dare me to morph?" Erin asked.

"Your dad would kill me if anything happened to you, dog-boy." Jeremy snapped, backing into Jessica. Jessica released a loud, animalistic growl as she shoved Jeremy forward.

"You take care of it, dickface." She shoved Jeremy again. My stomach rumbled as sharp, searing hunger pains stabbed at my throbbing lungs and heart. My fangs grew, and my senses kicked into hyperdrive. All four of us were back to back.

"You're hungry now, blue boy?" Jeremy snapped. I could smell whatever was lingering behind that bush but couldn't get a good view of what was out there.

"I can't help it!" I countered, irritable. We all hesitated the beast, or whatever was behind the bush, as silence hush dragged through thick, breezy air. Suddenly, a raccoon emerged from the bush, hobbling from the brush with a paper pamphlet for a nearby motel's tiny paws. Erin, Jessica, and Jeremy took a hesitant sigh of relief.

"There's your dinner, blue boy," Jeremy said, gesturing to the raccoon gaping at the three of us. Hunger pains rumbled through my gut and chest like thunder in the clouds. I watched the raccoon shuffle in front of Erin. His eyes fixed on Jessica.

"Don't tell me I have to eat him," I muttered. Erin rolled his eyes, shoving me forward.

"It's the raccoon or your family." He said, giving me one last shove towards the raccoon, "Bon appétit."

   I gulped down whatever dignity I had left in me as instinct took over, and I charged the raccoon, my fangs pulling from my gums. Then, my teeth clamped down on the raccoon as it fought for its life, clawing my porcelain skin as it struggled under the strength of my jaw. The creature relaxed in my arms as I sucked him dry, blood seeping from my lips, coating its fur as the raccoon took its last breath before succumbing to its deathly end.

"Atta boy, Adam," Jeremy said as I licked my lips clean of blood and dropped the lifeless animal to the cold dirt beneath my feet.

"We should bury him," Jessica said.

"In the ground?" I asked her.

"Yes, dumbass." She growled at me. "There's only one way you can bury a corpse."

"Then do your morphing shit while I turn around—" Jeremy ushered her. Jessica rolled her eyes, watching Jeremy spin around with his fingers covering his eyelids.

"Oh, PLEASE! You get turned on by this shit, don't you, Incu-boy," she muttered at him. "That's why you're a part werewolf."

"Is that the best you've got, bitch?" Jeremy grumbled, his eyes still covered as he spun around.

"Both of you, shut the fuck up!" Erin finally snapped. Erin collapsed to his knees as his bones twisted and contorted. In mere seconds, he morphed again into a giant wolf-like dog, with snarling teeth, goldeneyes, and soft flowing fur all over his shabby body as he shook his ripped clothing to the ground. Then Erin dug with his front paws all the time, staring at me as I leaned against a nearby tree and watched him. He pushed the raccoon into the ten-inch hole with his snout and covered the hole with dirt.

"I'm going home," I announced to the group as Erin morphed back into human form.

"Not without me," Erin said blankly.

"Yeah, you're a piece of fucking work, blue boy," Jeremy said. Jessica shoved Jeremy; this time, he stumbled over a rock, poking up between the woodsy floor and some fall leaves, and tumbled before he caught himself.

"I'm the piece of work?" I replied in disbelief. "My best friend and his cousin are wolves, and you're a perverted demon, or whatever it's called."

"Incubus, fang-boy."

   I rolled my eyes and scoffed. "Whatever," I said. "I'm going home."

"Do you even know where home is?" Jessica snorted at me.

"No, but I'll find my way," I replied. Suddenly Erin was beside me, his arm wrapped around my shoulder as he walked me to the middle of everyone and spun me towards two trees opposite where I was walking. "It's that way, Adam."

"Thanks," I said.

"But we're coming with you. Nightfall will be in a few, and too many dangerous things go bump in the night."

There was silence beside the birds and wind in the distance. Even their breathing was silent at this point as they stared at me. "Fine, FINE! You lead the way," I said, shoving Erin forward.

"Gladly," He replied, and we started our walk home.