Chapter 3 : A Complicated Present

*Lena*

I blinked hard, convinced I must be hallucinating. Zara’s prognosis was wrong. I wasn’t delusional, something was actually happening to me. 

My legs gave out and I sank into the bathroom floor, my heart pounding so loudly I could hear it echoing in my ears. This wasn’t possible. I remember the nurse changing the bandage just before we left. I distinctly remembered seeing something there.

There was no way it could disappear within a week. Wounds didn’t just disappear overnight.

With shaking hands, I ran my fingers over the spot where the bite had been. The skin felt normal - no tenderness, no raised scar tissue. Nothing. 

Shaking my head in disbelief, I stumbled out of the bathroom. I needed a distraction, something normal to ground me. Feeding the cats - that would help. That would definitely take my mind off all this… madness. I made my way to the living room, my legs unsteady beneath me.

I entered the room, dazed, still completely confused over whatever it was that was happening to me. But as I approached the cats, the atmosphere shifted instantly. All five of our usually affectionate cats suddenly bristled, their fur standing on end. Hisses and yowls filled the air as they backed away from me, eyes wide with... was that fear?

“What’s wrong?” I asked, my voice trembling. I took a step forward, and chaos erupted. The cats scattered, climbing furniture and knocking over lamps in their frantic attempt to escape. I’d never seen them like this - it was as if I’d transformed into some kind of monster in their eyes.

“Hey,” I said, stretching out a hand, trying to approach them and possibly get them to calm down. But their agitation only increased. Their tiny bodies trembled, and their cries grew more desperate. My confusion turned to panic. What was causing this reaction? Unable to bear their distress any longer, I retreated from the room, my mind spinning.

Desperate for fresh air, I stumbled onto the backyard. But even here, the strangeness followed. My usually friendly puppy, who always greeted me with excited licks and a wagging tail, now stood rigid at the far end of the yard. As I approached, he began barking furiously.

“It’s just me,” I pleaded, my voice breaking. The puppy’s barks grew more frantic, his eyes wild with an emotion I couldn’t understand. I glared at the dog, pouring all my frustration into that one look.

As quickly as it had started, the barking ceased. The puppy’s posture relaxed, and he cocked his head to the side, looking at me with his usual innocence. The abrupt change left me so confused.

I sank to my knees in the grass, overwhelmed by the bizarre events. What was happening to me? Why were the animals reacting this way? And most importantly - was I losing my mind?

—

The next day, I ran to the ice rink in search of Eason. I knew he had a lot to deal with, with his hand and his leg injury, but I needed to tell him what was going on with me. I couldn’t handle it alone any longer.

Even from a distance, I could see him clearly, as if he was right in front of me, and he wasn’t alone. Jake, the captain of the hockey team, had his hands in the pocket of his jeans, a sick, twisted smile on his face.

His annoying black hair was slicked back in that over-gelled way he always sported. I could see Eason glaring down at Jake, his stance tense.

Something was wrong. I knew Eason wasn’t so keen on Jake, so whatever conversation they were having definitely wasn’t a friendly one. I quickened my pace, but I didn’t need to. I could hear every single thing they were saying already.

“You did this,” Eason hissed, thrusting his broken wrist toward Jake. Just as I reached Eason’s side, I saw Jake’s face twist into a sneer.

“Prove it,” he spat, his voice dripping with contempt as his dark green eyes glinted maliciously. “Face it, you’re nothing without your pretty face. How long do you think you can coast by on looks alone?”

I flinched at the cruelty in his words, anger bubbling inside me on Eason’s behalf. A dark image filled my head, one that involved Jake on the ground, bleeding. But before I could intervene, Jake’s gaze swept over to me, his lips curling into a cruel smile.

“And let’s not forget your little girlfriend,” he sneered. “Pathetic, really. The two of you, clinging to each other like scared children.”

In a flash, Eason’s composure shattered. It happened so fast, that even with my newfound abilities, I didn’t see it coming. He lunged forward, his fist connecting into Jake’s jaw with a satisfying crack. I have never seen Eason that angry, nor have I seen him get so violent. He took my hand, probably not wanting to let me out of his sight, as he advanced toward Jake again.

“Don’t you dare talk about my girlfriend like that,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous. “Show some fucking respect you asshole.”

Jake stumbled back, wiping blood from his split lip. His eyes were filled with malice as he struggled to regain his balance. “That’s it,” he snarled. “You’re out of the Eagles.”

A tense silence fell over the rink, as we stared at each other. I could see Eason’s shoulder tense, his whole body rigid with anger and fear.

“You coward,” I yelled, my anger rising to match his. “You can’t do that.”

Jake’s lips curled into a wicked smile. “I sure as hell can. Unless… Eason can beat me in a match. Right here, right now.”

My heart sank. This was obviously a ploy to humiliate Eason because Jake couldn’t stand that Eason had the guts to confront him. He knew that there was no way Eason could win in his condition. His stance was still slightly off-balance because of his foot, and he could barely grip his hockey stick. 

Before I could think better of it, I stepped forward. “I’ll play in his place,” I declared, my voice stronger than I felt.

Jake’s laugh was harsh and mocking. “You? Don’t make me laugh, little girl. What could you possibly do?”

I smirked. Trust Jake to underestimate a girl. I didn’t blame him though, everyone knew I wasn’t the best at ice hockey. But with my newfound abilities, who knew what I could do?

“If I win,” I said, my voice steady, “you’ll eat dog shit. In public.”

Jake’s eyes widened in shock before narrowing again. “Fine,” he sneered, clearly confident in my lack of skill. “It’s your funeral.”

We headed to the locker rooms to change, and soon enough we were staring at each other maliciously in the frozen rink. My hockey stick was gripped in my hand as tightly as Jake’s was, yet his stance was relaxed, almost bored. He clearly thought this would be over quickly. That only encouraged me.

I tugged at the deep navy blue of Eason’s jersey, which was way too big for me. His helmet shifted slightly on my head, barely covering my brown hair, but I was locked in on destroying Jake on the rink. 

Eddie the Eagle, the team's official mascot, ran out onto the rink, ramping up a crowd I didn’t realize had gathered. He spread his majestic golden wings, gliding out onto the ice to the pounding beats of music I also didn’t realize had started playing.

I could feel Eason’s worried gaze on me. Little did he know, I had a few surprises in store for him.

“Kick his ass,” a familiar voice yelled from the crowd that had gathered. I turned, surprised to see Zara, hollering excitedly. Word does travel fast here.

The whistle blew, and we were off. Jake moved with practiced ease, quickly taking control of the puck. But something felt different. My body responded with a speed and agility I’d never experienced before. Despite my heavy gear, I felt incredibly light on my skates as I intercepted his shot, stealing the puck away.

Gasps echoed from the crowd. Even I was shocked at my sudden prowess. Jake’s face twisted in disbelief behind his helmet as I whizzed past him, my movements fluid and precise as my body shifted weight seamlessly on my skates.

Back and forth we went, the puck a blur between us. With each passing minute, my confidence grew. Jake’s smug expression had morphed into one of frustrated concentration. He hadn’t expected a challenge, and it showed.

As I moved past him, rage simmered within me. That dark image popped up again, and I could feel the hand on my stick itching with the urge to swing it against his jaw. However, I managed to suppress my anger and focus on the game.

Just when it seemed we were at a deadlock, something within me surged. Time seemed to slow as I maneuvered around Jake. My stick connected with the puck and passed the goal line in a perfect shot. The siren blared, and for a moment, everything was silent.

Cheers and shouts filled the air as reality sank in. I won. I’d won for Eason. Before I knew it, I had taken my helmet off and skated to the side of the rink. I slumped against one of the dasher boards, watching the chaos erupt around me. 

Then Eason was in front of me, pulling me into a warm hug. “You were amazing,” he whispered against my ear, leaving a kiss on my sweaty neck.

Panting heavily, I turned to face Jake. “A deal’s a deal,” I said, my voice steady despite my racing heart. Jake’s face had drained of color. He glanced around frantically, clearly looking for an escape. But the crowd had closed in, their voices rising in a chant demanding he fulfill his promise.

“I... I…” he backed away, helmet gripped tightly in one hand. But there was nowhere to go. Finally, shoulders slumping in defeat, he addressed Eason and me. “I’m sorry,” he muttered, the words clearly painful for him to say. “I was out of line. It won't happen again.”

Eason just nodded, turning us away from Jake and toward the crowd. He probably knew the apology was fake, but I was glad we’d managed to put Jake in his place.

All around us, people were clapping and offering congratulations. Their joy was infectious, and I found myself grinning, riding high on the rush of victory. I turned to share this moment with Zara and my smile faltered. She was staring at me with a grave frown and furrowed brows, and there was a tension in her posture that utterly confused me. All at once my excitement vanished.

Before I could ask what was wrong, Eason stepped closer, drawing my attention back to him. His left hand disappeared into his pocket, and my breath caught as he pulled out a small box. My mind raced. Was this...? Could he be...? It has been eight years…

“Will you…” he began, his voice soft but filled with an intensity that made my pulse quicken. I held my breath, a mixture of excitement and uncertainty swirling in my chest. “Will you still be attending my birthday party tonight? I know you said you were already, but I just want to make sure you’ll definitely be there.”

Relief and disappointment mingled as I processed his words. It wasn’t a proposal - or was it? Maybe the party was just a pretext? I shook my head, banishing the thought. I wasn’t going to think about it, not today.

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could form an answer, I felt a hand on my arm.

“I need to speak with you,” Zara’s voice cut through my thoughts, urgent and tinged with worry. “Now.” The seriousness in her tone, coupled with the look in her eyes sent a jolt of alarm through me. I glanced back at Eason, who was obviously waiting for an answer.

“I…” I started, torn between responding to Eason and addressing whatever had Zara so worried.

“Now,” Zara insisted, her grip tightening slightly on my arm. With an apologetic look at Eason, I allowed Zara to pull me away from the crowd into a quiet corner. Her grip on my arm was tight, her eyes intense as they bore into mine.

“Lena,” she began, her voice low and urgent. She still didn’t let go of my arm, and she was staring at me as if she wasn’t exactly looking at me. “I need you to listen to me carefully.”

I nodded, my throat suddenly dry. “What’s going on? You’re scaring me.”

She took a deep breath as if steeling herself. “I know I laughed it off the first time you brought it up, but I’ve been doing some research.” She finally let go of my arm, taking her phone out of her pocket, showing me images I didn’t quite understand. “Your heightened sense, and now this incredible physical performance…” She paused, her eyes searching my face. “Lena, everything I’ve found, everything I’ve seen... it all points to one conclusion.”

“Are you going to tell me I’m delusional again?” I asked, trying to reduce the tension with a small laugh. It sounded fake, even to me.

She shook her head. “This is serious.” Zara’s voice dropped to a whisper, “According to everything I’ve read on Google, and everything I've witnessed... Lena, I think you’re in the process of turning into…” she trailed off, staring at me with wide eyes.

“Into what? What are you talking about?” My heart pounded against my ribcage excessively. 

She placed a hand on my shoulder, delivering the final blow. “I think you’re turning into a werewolf.”