The Enfield Rose Pack.
Working a double shift at the local hospital, I was running on empty.
I had stained my uniform, been vomited on, spat at, had a fu bedpan thrown at me, needless to say I was exhausted and in dire need of a long hot shower, I still had 20 mins to the end of my shift and another 20 mins walk to get home.
We had an influx of high needs patients being admitted most of the night with what looked like animal attacks ie bite and claw marks.
I blame the full moon, so large and bright always gave off an eerie feeling and made our night shift team uncomfortable and nervous.
Time to clock off, a quick change out of my filthy scrubs into my running pants and hoodie I figured I would run the distance to my house wear off the pent up energy that I always get at the end of a lon exhausting shift, walking out the doors I keep thinking I need a new job.
I begin to jog, running through the local park, I feel as if I'm being followed I slow, turning but there's no one around, I have the chills of being watched.
I'm almost home, the darkest part of the park which leads to my back gate, something large slams into me, I topple and I can smell a rancid hot breath making me want to pass out, the next recollection is I'm waking in a hospital bed with several bandages covering my chest, arms and neck.
The nurse rings for the Dr, who comes in all nervous asking what I remember before telling me I had lost several pints of blood fro. a large gaping bite mark that nearly ripped my neck apart.
That was not an exaggeration, he showed me scans they took as they believed my spine had been severed at my neck due to the way my head was hanging when I was found.
I could not remember anything, it was a complete memory loss but for a smell, a smell so rancid and putrid of decaying flesh and saliva dripping on me.
A month goes by, I'm able to go home being released from the hospital was a dream come true well for a little while.
Two days after I start to feel twitchy like my skin was shrinking and irritating me, I swear I could feel my teeth growing I must be having side effects to the medications.
The blood red moon is high in the sky, so beautiful so endearing, u feel this sudden urge to run outside, I stand under the light of the moon, peeling my clothes off, then all hell breaks lose.
Bones snap, the pain is absolute torture, Ive only ever had a broken arm but this, omg this is excruciating.
I feel like I've broken every bone in my body, I think I've slid out of my skin, I'm running free and loving every step, the pain has miraculously gone all I feel is the pure freedom of being unhindered by all restraints.
I find myself close to a lake, the moon is larger here and so much brighter, I peer into the water and see...........
I don't see me, I see a very large overgrown long haired golden ahhhh dog I want to say wolf because I have never seen a dog this large. I turn around slowly not wanting to scare the poor dog but there is nothing behind me. I look back and sure enough there it is.
Oh no, this cannot be happening, this cannot be real life, I'm dreaming surely. I'm looking at this large hairy dog and every movement I make so does the beast, its like we are one.
I run, far and fast, I don't want to stop and look behind for fear that I'm chasing myself.
I hear a howl, it's like a command.
I'm being drawn towards the howling against my will, I need to know what's happening why am I dreaming, please wake up Layla, wake up now!!!!!
The morning arrives, I wake up curled under trees, naked. I'm covered in mud and there is a man standing beside me holding a blanket looking at me with pride.
Who are you? Where am I?
What did you do to me.
So many questions I can't get them all out I'm stuttering, I cautiously reach for the blanket, wrapping it around me.
He tells me to get up and follow him, he will explain.
I'm so confused, it still feels like a command not a question.
He begins to tell me a crazy story that he seems very much to believe.
He is an Alpha Werewolf, but years ago his pack was killed and slaughtered in front of him, leaving himself and a lowley omega Wolf ( yeah right you're insane)
After running and running they settle here, close to Philadephia, he has a strange feeling that he needs to stay here and wait for the one.
It wasn't him that attacked me, it was his Omega, he couldn't resist my blood, it was driving him slowly insane being close enough but not being his.
I'm honestly trying to punch myself all over, wake up Layla, you're dreaming hallucinations even.
There is no such thing as werewolves like sheesh man whatever you're taking I can help you I'm a nurse.
He changes, from a man a stooped older man into a jet black wolf with razor sharp teeth dripping with saliva, I stand up and back away slowly, very slowly. I step in a twig it cracks I'm running as fast as I can this is a nightmare.