SET IN STONE

Chapter 3

The story of how he moved from being a decorated soldier in the United States Army to being the most wanted wolf in over a hundred packs across the city, also began twelve years ago, nights after the incident that claimed all members of his immediate family.

After being discharged from the hospital a matter of hours after the blood transfusion was announced to be a success, Adam returned to his home. Every nuke and cranny of the whole building smelled of her and somehow he realized his sense of smell had been heightened which made it more difficult to live in the house without her.

He would stay awake all night, listening to sounds of objects and people miles far from him. His loneliness and heart ache could not allow him to pay proper attention to the changes taking place in his own body. He was slowly dying, laying in bed all day not caring for food or a set of his habitual exercises. He had decided to take his own life after the funeral of his wife and child and that was the day everything changed, a change he could no longer ignore as it stared him right in the face

Walking home from the chapel where the funeral was held, Adam found himself staring into the night's sky beautified with millions of beautiful stars and a glittering…. full moon. As he stared more and more at the moon, he felt a force pulling at his very soul. Adam tried futilely to hang on to all the things that made him human as he felt another consciousness taking over his own. Moments later, he howled into the night, his hair was untidy, his eyes were shining brightly and soon his mouth shut out fangs that knew only to pick apart the flesh of its unlucky victims. All his life he had been taught to not believe them, a couple of nights ago, he had fought, shot and stabbed them and now he was one of….them

Reason rushed past him and he soon forgot the point of walking on two legs. With half of his brain completely controlled by an invisible force that craved nothing but flesh…human flesh, he ran hoping at the same time not hoping to find anybody around. His eyes had lit up in glee while his soul was turning in sadness when he found a ten year old girl who appeared to be looking for her parents. He cursed while he ran towards her, he grieved for the parents that will never see their daughter alive again and then he thought of Nicholas.

"Run away" he growled in a voice that was not human. He was only delaying the inevitable. How far could a ten year old go that he couldn't reach in seconds given his supernatural abilities but he had to try so he doesn't appear that he failed Mary, that he failed Nicholas, that he failed his family again.

The little spark of humanity was dwindling fast and he needed to do something before it ran out completely. Wallwood. With the recent events, Wallwood and its surrounding environs became slightly less popular than before and although the authorities brushed any hint of it being an attack of werewolves, no other person was willing to find out for themselves, Adam was the last one.

With whatever will he had left, he dragged his newfound four legs to Wallwood. He was amazed at the distance he covered in such a short time. Wallwood was not relatively far from the point where he was, a normal man could jog there but take regular stops so as not to have an heart attack on his way but apparently not a turned wolf . He reached Wallwood and began howling into the night hungry for human flesh he knew he would not find there. His howling got the attention of some more wolves and as he saw the likes of them that attacked his family, anger surged through out his veins.

The only thing he remembered before he blacked out was his claws running straight for the chest of what was now his kind.

He woke the next morning, alive. His survival was shocking to say the least but what was even more astonishing was the place he found himself. If he didn't know better, he would say he died and went to heaven but he knew, heaven waa not for men like him, not because of the amount of blood on his hands but because of the last two, his wife and child died because of his carelessness.

This place however was beautiful, it had the painting of a full moon and in such a bright morning the sun shone on it. almost like an eclipse how poetic? The person who owned such an exquisite place must have a good taste for art as Adam's eyes darted to the sculpture placed carefully on top of a desk, it was a sculpture of the full moon. Moon painting? Moon sculpture? his heart began to beat fast in trepidation.

"You are awake, Mr Adam Stone" he heard the voice of a somewhat grown man before he saw the same waltzing into the room. His companion stared at the room with an air of satisfaction "How do you like my personal bedroom?"

Personal bedroom? This looked like a museum. Adam said nothing, he just stared at a man who was no more than five years older than him in terms of appearance but deep in his glowing dark eyes, he knew this man was at least a hundred. This must be the leader of the wolves he encountered on his two trips to Wallwood.

"They said I'm a genius, that I will definitely succeed my father one day and do a better job than him" he smiled as he turned to Adam "But I could never tell what people are thinking" he frowned on that note, stared at the window and suddenly, almost menacing his gaze returned to Adam "What are you thinking?"

"I am thinking you are older than you look" Adam said flatly. He suddenly remembered that he had nothing to live for so why fear death?

"157" the man answered "Born to Elena and Marcus Heart" and then he paused, still looking at Adam "I've seen a lot of things, son" he sighed deeply and then added casually "Want to know what I'm thinking now?"

Adam nodded. A decent conversation before being sent to hell will not hurt.

"I'm thinking you killed my men" he flashed a murderous look at Adam.

"I think they had it coming" he said firmly. Adam will not cower or apologize for protecting his family.

"And I think you're right" he laughed "Old Raymond told me everything" he then stopped his laughing "Those fools! Going after a little boy because I made a joke about craving young flesh"

It all made sense now. The wolves didn't inflict as much harm as they could because they were following orders, this man really was the Alpha

"My name is Nicholas Heart, a born werewolf and Alpha of the pack that rules the territory of Wallwood" this bastard has my son's name Adam thought but said nothing.

"You killed three of my wolves so you'll have to pay for it with your life" he stared at Adam to see the man smiling. He really was not scared of death.

"You'll have to join my pack" Nicholas smiled in satisfaction at the surprise on Adam's face.

How strange? This beasts were willing to hunt down a child, not with the intent of killing but rather presenting him to this man who was willing to replace them with their murderer. Adam was a soldier and he knew a great deal on blind loyalty and service but this was another level for him

Adam thought about it for a while and no matter how he thought of it, it was a win for him. He could refuse and get killed, so what?? He didn't want to live anyway. Nicholas knew that killing him could not be seen as punishment at all so what if he just let Adam walk and wait for him to kill himself? Would be more pleasing knowing that his little wolves did that to the man. After a couple of minutes, Adam smiled, he had figured what would be his best win

"Alright" was all he said putting an abrupt end to a life that was once set in stone…