Chapter 3 3

"Man, this place is crazy! I don't know if I can handle it," said Adolf.

"Friend, we just got to New York and you're already talking like the locals?" Jack teased.

"I can't help it, man. I'm a half siren, half werewolf. I can read minds and pick up languages super fast. Just one of my many talents!" Adolf said with a laugh and continued

"But maybe we should blend in a little better. We stick out like sore thumbs in these clothes. Look, there's a boutique over there, let's see if we can find something that looks a little more... urban."

Jack nodded. "I'm down. It'll be fun to blend in with the crowd. Maybe we'll learn something new about the city while we're at it."

Sure! I'll try to show what's happening instead of just telling it:

As the two men approached the boutiques, the receptionist behind the counter gave them a friendly smile.

"Welcome, how can I help you?" she asked, her American accent warm and inviting.

Adolf stepped forward, his hand outstretched. "Just looking for a change of clothes," he said with a disarming smile.

The receptionist shook his hand, her eyes meeting his. Suddenly, her pupils began to change, shifting from round to slitted.

The receptionist blinked, then looked around, dazed. "I... I can't remember what I was doing," she said, her voice sounding drowsy.

"It's okay," said Adolf, his tone soothing and reassuring. "Just relax."

"Yes," said the receptionist, her words slow and slurred. "Just relax..."

Adolf turned to Jack. "Let's get what we need and get out of here," he said, his tone urgent.

Jack stared at his friend, his eyes wide and unblinking. He was speechless, frozen in place by the shock of what he had just witnessed. Adolf, on the other hand, seemed completely unbothered by the situation. He simply strolled over to the clothing racks, scanning them with a critical eye.

"We need to change," he said, his tone matter of fact. He plucked several garments from the rack and handed them to Jack, who took them, still confused.

"What did you do to her? " he asked.

Adolf glanced at him, his expression unreadable. "It's called a glamour," he said, his tone matter-of-fact. "I just used my werewolf powers to influence her mind, make her forget what she saw."

Jack's eyes widened. "Is that... is that ethical?" he asked, his voice shaky.

Adolf shrugged. "I didn't hurt her, and she won't even remember it happened. Sometimes, it's better to forget."

Adolf's eyes met Jack's, and for a moment, Jack felt like he was staring into the eyes of a predator. But there was also something strangely reassuring about the look, like a promise that everything would be okay.

"You don't have to understand it," said Adolf, his voice low and steady. "Just know that sometimes, the only way to heal is to forget."

There was a long silence, and Jack felt like he was suspended in time, caught between the past and the future.

"What about the CCTV footage? " Jack ask.

That has already been takencare off. She deleted it and blinded the camera. Save the questions for the hunt. "Adolf giggled and they left.

Jack's pulse quickened as he walked alongside Adolf, his footsteps matching the other man's stride. The city streets bustled with activity, but it felt like everything was happening in slow motion. Jack's senses were heightened, and he could smell the exhaust from passing cars, the musty scent of damp concrete, and the distant aroma of freshly brewed coffee.

Jack looked over at Adolf and noticed the other man's easy stride and relaxed demeanor. He seemed completely at home in this city, like he knew every nook and cranny.

"You seem to know this place like the back of your hand," Jack said. "How did you get so familiar with it?"

Adolf smiled and shrugged. "I guess you could say I've been around the block a few times. But let's not worry about that now."

They moved for some minutes through the roads until they reached an old building.

The building stood talll, as if wanting to pierce the sky.

"Where's this? " jack asked, his face without expression.

"It's an old building. Legend says it houses the most powerful demons and witches. Only the purest heart can survive a night. " Adolf said, avoiding eye contact with jack as his gaze is fixed at the building.

"Really? Well, why don't you save those stories for the kids in the packs. " he threw a bunch on Adolf abdomen.

Adolf let out a loud laughter, revealing his canines and incisors.

They stood at a shade, waiting till night fall so they'll move undetected.

The sun went down and they pushed pushed open the rusted doors of the abandoned school, stepping into the dim, dusty hallway. They moved cautiously, their footsteps echoing off the walls. As they made their way down the hall, they passed room after room, all of them empty and eerily silent.

Eventually, they came to a science lab. The room was filled with dusty equipment and broken glass. They looked around, and then laid down on the floor. They were both exhausted, and the hard floor felt like a comfortable bed.

As the moon rose higher in the sky, its light streamed through the broken windows, casting long shadows across the floor. Jack shivered, his body trembling as he felt something change within him. Slowly, he felt the fur begin to grow on his skin, his fingers elongating into claws.

"Jack! What's happening to you?" Adolf exclaimed, his eyes wide with fear.

"I don't know!" Jack cried, his voice deepening as he spoke. He felt his body transform, his senses heightening as he became more animal than human.

As the transformation took hold, Jack could feel his humanity slipping away. All he could think about was the blood pulsing through his veins, the animalistic urge to hunt and kill. His eyes turned green, his teeth sharpened, and his body became covered in thick, matted fur. With a howl, he leapt at Adolf, his claws outstretched.

Adolf's heart pounded in his chest, his breath coming in short gasps. He scrambled to his feet, just barely avoiding Jack's attack. He knew he had to keep his wits about him, to outsmart the beast that was his friend.

"Jack, stop!" he cried out, his voice shaking. "It's me, it's Adolf! You're not yourself! Please, try to remember who you are!"

But Jack was no longer listening. His entire being was consumed by the hunt, by the need to feed. With a roar, he charged again, his eyes wild and bloodthirsty.

As the wolf leaped towards him, Adolf closed his eyes and focused his mind. He tried to reach out to the part of Jack that was still human, still rational, still his friend. He felt his telepathic powers flow out of him, like a wave of energy, wrapping around the wolf and engulfing it. For a moment, the wolf froze, its eyes glazed over.

And then, the wolf's jaws snapped shut, inches from Adolf's face. The beast let out a low growl, its fur bristling.

Just as it seemed like all was lost, the wolf suddenly lowered its head, its tail wagging. It nuzzled Adolf's hand, letting out a soft whine. For a moment, Adolf felt relief wash over him. But then, the wolf's eyes turned cold and hard, and it lunged forward, knocking him to the ground. It tore at his skin, ripping and shredding, blood spilling everywhere.

Adolf cried out in pain, but he refused to give up. With all his might, he fought back against the beast, trying to break free from its grasp.

The wolf's claws and teeth tore at Adolf's flesh, ripping him to pieces. Blood spattered across the floor, pooling in the cracks and crevices.

Jack bolted upright, gasping for breath. As his eyes focused, he realized Adolf was still alive. He looked around to see if there was any blood stains,but found none.He looked over to see Adolf standing next to him, a concerned look on his face.

"It was just a nightmare," said Jack, trying to catch his breath. "But it felt so real."

"It's okay, you're safe now," said Adolf, putting a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Want to talk about it?

"I rather not say. " he mumbled.

"That's okay, you don't have to share if you're not ready," said Adolf, his voice gentle. "But if you ever want to talk about it, I'm here to listen. No judgment, just support. Okay?"

Jack nodded, grateful for his friend's understanding. "Thanks, I appreciate it," he said. "Can we just... move on from this? I'm feeling pretty shaken up."

"Let's just retire back to sleep. " Adolf said.

"That sounds like a good idea," said Jack. "I could use some rest after that nightmare."

Adolf nodded. "Just try to relax, and focus on your breathing. Deep breaths, in and out."

Jack took a deep breath, then another, until his heart rate started to slow and he began to feel calmer. He closed his eyes, letting himself drift back to sleep.