A Renegade’s Jeremiad

Chapter 14: Moonlit Metamorphosis

May 8th. 9:50PM

Moon: Waxing Gibbus (two hours and ten minutes before the full moon)

Henry groaned as he opened his eyes. Without missing a beat, he felt up his joints and movement, finding himself tied down to a bed laden with silk sheets. “What?” Henry remarked before looking around, realizing he was in a dank cave. The exit wasn’t easily located and not only this, there was an opening at the roof of the cave, the light of the moon shimmering from the sky, yet not quite in alignment with the shadows that were cast by the ornate covering. This covering displayed several shapes that Henry did not recognize. Worst of all, Henry still felt drained. He wasn’t leaving any time soon. “My mate!” Clarissa’s voice rang out, making Henry tense as she stepped out of the shadows. “You’re awake. How wonderful!” Clarissa exclaimed, tackling the bed and nuzzling Henry. “I was so scared that I did too much… Oh, how great it is to see your beautiful eyes again,” Clarissa muttered between the rapid kisses she crushed against Henry’s cheek. “Hey, hey… That’s enough!” Henry exclaimed, struggling against Clarissa’s grip.

Clarissa chuckled as she pulled back, looking over Henry before smirking at him. “Oh Henry… Haven’t you noticed what situation you’re in?” Clarissa asked, pressing her chest against Henry to fluster him. “Stop it!” Henry growled, “I do not want this! Cease your actions at once.” Henry then paused when he realized that this was more than just being unable to move. He couldn’t focus and had no way to keep his emotions in check with the severity of the situation and with Clarissa’s actions flustering his mannerisms. Clarissa’s smirk widened into a wolfish grin while her irises glowed amber as she stared into Henry’s widened eyes. “And realization has taken root!” Clarissa exclaimed. “The moon…” Henry mused. “Yes~” Clarissa stated, “Soon you and I will be together. You will belong to me and I shall belong to you. Though, before you retort, I would advise you not to resist. I do not want you getting hurt nor do I wish for you to have a bad relationship with your wolf out of the gate.” Henry said nothing, his gaze burrowing into the rocky ceiling above.

Meanwhile, Marcus had been prepping for his visit with Sarah when Duncan stumbled in. “Marcus,” Duncan began, “Henry has been intercepted. Not by the vampire, but by one of the wolves” Marcus huffed, his face turning r****h-red. “SERIOUSLY?!” Marcus bellowed, “Track down that wolf immediately! With the timing being so close to the full moon, we cannot afford to let the wolves have their way. Just in case the worst-case scenario occurs, I will have Dr. Cainus prepare his experimental treatment. Hopefully, it will be developed enough to tackle the issue.” Duncan sighed, rubbing his forehead. “Are you sure that cure will work?” Duncan asked. “It may be our only option to evade the apocalypse, Duncan. I will gladly take the risk,” Marcus answered, “Especially if family is at risk. Now go!” Duncan raced out of the room without another word.

After a moment to compose himself, Marcus marched down to the clinic and paged Cainus. “Director. Vhat iss ze problem?” Cainus asked. “Henry has been taken by the wolves tonight. I need you to prepare your cure and keep it on standby until we can get him in here in the event we can’t get to him before he is turned. You have full resources at your disposal. I hope this will be successful,” Marcus stated. “Ah. I zank you fur zis excellent opportunity. Howefer, ze serious nature uff zis situation iss nicht lost on me. I assure you, Director. Henry vill get nichzzingkt less zan ze best treatment schould he r-r-reqfire treatment at all,” Cainus assured, making his sincerity evident through his tone. Marcus nodded before replying, “Thank you, Dr. Cainus. I will leave you to that and check in later.” Marcus then left the clinic to calm the other residents, knowing that this news would cause them to panic.

Back with Henry and Clarissa, the time was 10:45PM, Henry still couldn’t move and Clarissa simply refused to stop nuzzling and pressing against him. “Henry… I love you~” Clarissa cooed, giving Henry a feather-soft gaze. Henry scowled, struggling to focus as Clarissa pressed into him. “Don’t fight it. You are safe with me, my sweetling. I have food, water, warmth, and this cave will give us shelter. I will not let you suffer the transformation alone,” Clarissa muttered against Henry’s ear, emitting little growls as she held him down. “This is not right! Don’t you dare keep me trapped in here!” Henry yelled, trying to thrash out of the ropes, but Clarissa refused to allow it. “Stop,” Clarissa growled, “You are only hurting yourself and hurting my heart. Let me nuzzle~” She promptly nuzzled Henry, making him flustered as she cuddled close, forcing him to fall asleep through her gentle warmth.

As Clarissa stalled Henry’s resistance, Duncan raced through the foliage with a group of Rook Hunters, with the inclusion of Nick, at his side. “Henry!” Nick shouted, “Give us a sign! We won’t let you become a wolf!” Nick raced ahead of the pack, blinking back the tears in his eyes as he tore along the treetops. Duncan muttered, “Ugh… Where is he? They haven’t been in any of the usual observation spots.” Duncan turned to the left side of the hunters before commanding, “Rook! Field report!” One of the Rooks came over, shaking their head. “I’m sorry, Commander, the wolf has hidden her tracks well,” The Rook sheepishly reported. Duncan cursed and punched a nearby tree into splinters with a burst of red hunter energy. Being a master of that energy type, Duncan did not need the full transformation just to use a mere burst. Duncan bellowed, “I get a group of hunters specifically trained to track and destroy the wolves, yet they can’t track the abomination we are searching for. Just my luck!”

The time is now 11:58 PM. Clarissa woke Henry up, cuddling him closely. “Arise, my mate. The moon calls to us,” Clarissa murmured. Henry, scowling profusely, attempted to use hunter energy, only for Clarissa to growl as she endured the pain. “That was not nice, Henry! Do not upset me!” Clarissa growled, “I’m doing this for you! Soon you will see the truth of the world we live in.” Clarissa dragged the bed towards the moonlight as she then got onto Henry, smiling fiendishly. Henry could only tremble as midnight came, bringing out the full moon as Clarissa howled. As Clarissa began to transform automatically, she muttered, “I love you- I love you…. I love you! I love you~ I love you~ I love you~”

Clarissa trailed off as she went into her warwolf form, leaning down in the full embrace of the moonlight. Henry’s eyes trembled as frightened squeaks left his lips. Clarissa then opened her maw and pressed close, suddenly nibbling Henry’s cheeks, about ten times each. Henry groaned, twitching. His veins bulged, his teeth ached and pulsed, his eyes rolled into the back of his head and his complexion grew bone-pale and frigid. Clarissa pushed the bed back into the corner before getting back onto the bed and curling around Henry as he suffered, giving him warmth and comfort. “Henry…” Clarissa murmured as he fell unconscious, “My Henry.”