6; CREEPY MIND-BLOWING

ALBERTO

As he advanced between the cars, zigzagging or jumping over them, he tried to escape the gunfire and the helicopter's light; it seemed impossible to flee. Fortunately, some drivers lost their concentration due to the chase, resulting in multiple collisions. Alberto took advantage of the chaos and slipped into the back of a truck carrying food. He managed to get off a few kilometers later, where it was close enough to take her to Dr. Gallo, his father's doctor, who wouldn’t ask for money to treat her; he would charge everything to the family account.

In the waiting room, he felt calmer, assuming his bad luck had ended, and he was surprised to find that he was about to experience worse luck. Like a bolt of lightning, his father, the Alpha, appeared in the room, accompanied by ten bodyguards, who growled at him without greeting.

“I can’t think of any reason to justify your foolishness.”

“Dad, what do you mean?” Alberto replied, and despite being transformed into a human, it seemed his ears were retracting backward.

His father clenched his fists, driving one against a wall, and exclaimed, “Which part do you want me to bark at you—the part about your ruckus in the city, about the thousands of photos and videos we’ll have to figure out how to erase or deny, or the simple fact that you brought a human into this exclusive clinic for beings like us? I bet you can’t even calculate how much money and influence I have to manage to ensure your stupid adventures don’t affect us, but it’s obvious you must have a good reason to justify this. Do you?”

Under the imposing gaze of his Alpha, Alberto could only respond, “Father, she was in danger; she almost died.”

His father roared, baring his teeth as if he were transformed. Despite being close, he shouted, “It’s inconceivable that you would cause all this commotion over a mere human; it’s stupid, as humans die every day. I’ve killed hundreds, and not for fun; it’s similar to when you kill the mosquitoes that interrupt your sleep. I don’t know why you act without thinking. It makes my stomach turn to imagine that when I’m gone, you’ll be in charge. If only…”

“If only what, Father?”

“If that calamity hadn’t taken Martin from us, things would look different.”

“Alpha, of course, everything would be better if my brother and my mother were alive…”

“Shut your mouth; you have no right to mention them. You are to blame for their disappearance.”

“Father, that’s very unfair; I was just a little cub.”

“Stop making excuses. How many times have I told you that failure leaves no room for excuses, just as triumph doesn’t require explanations. That happened; anyway, we won’t mend the past with growls, but what I need is for you to obey me and stop acting like a child. Remember who you are, the next Alpha. You must behave and be an example for your sister.”

“Father, it bothers me that you confront me and then shut me down; I can never vent.”

“Then what do you propose? A duel to the death?” The Alpha clenched his right fist, causing it to grow ten times in size within a second, hair sprouting, and his nails replaced by claws.

“No, Father, I can’t fight you, not only because I’m not on your level, but because you are my progenitor and my Alpha; I owe you respect.” Alberto knelt, watching as his dad returned his arm to normal. That ability to transform into parts was one he had not mastered.

“That’s something you should never forget; both aspects of it, you must train harder to master your abilities. You have to become the best and be proud of it. While ego is a sin, it’s better to be congratulated for succeeding than to be pitied.”

“Yes, Father, you’re completely right; please forgive me for disobeying you and acting without thinking.”

“Remember this: that human cannot stay alive now that she knows our secret. We cannot risk losing our anonymity. You know what to do.”

Alberto stood up to respond, “Father, I can’t do it; I feel something very strong for her.”

“Don’t you dare suggest anything like that. You are pure blood, from a lineage of Alphas; it’s inconceivable for you to get involved with a human who, judging by the neighborhood of her adventures, I infer is a poor girl. That gives you even more reason to eliminate her.”

“No, Father, I can’t do it. What I feel for her, I’ve never felt with any female. I don’t know if it’s love, but it’s something inexplicable; it’s as if the entire universe revolves around her.”

“I don’t care if she’s your center of the universe. What matters is that I gave my word to the Duke of Sicily that you would marry his beautiful daughter, the most stunning she-wolf in Europe. A pure blood, with great qualities and an infinite dowry.”

“Father, I know that the main reason you want that engagement is because that pack controls the trafficking on that continent.”

“You disrespect me again, questioning my word. You truly need a lesson.” This time he transformed completely, as if he were going to break the room. He had to go on all fours because the ceiling was too low for the enormous wolf the Alpha transformed into. Alberto froze and failed to react to a backward swipe of a claw that hurled him against a wall, which he crashed through as if it were made of cardboard, landing in the next room.

“Get up and fight; I assure you that while I’m alive, I won’t allow you to cross paths with that human.” The Alpha crossed through the ruined wall and transformed into a human, adjusting his tie.

“Father, I can’t; I respect you greatly. Please let me take her. I promise I will discover what I feel for her, and if it is love, I will find a way to turn her into one of us.”

“You speak nonsense; you know how complicated it is to transform someone. It’s like a lottery; there’s a higher chance they won’t survive the bite.”

“No, Father, I mean the magical saliva. I heard that in the Amazon jungle, there are plants that bloom on the full moon, which is used to prepare that elixir. With that, I will transform her.”

“That would serve to transform all the slaves and create the largest army of wolves in the world with which we would defeat all our enemies, especially those Italian vampires, whom I am tired of paying tribute to.”

“Father, please, give me some time; after all, I’m your son, your heir.”

“Of course, I’ll give you time; in the meantime, try my fangs.” He lunged, transforming in seconds and trapping him in his enormous mouth, blood splattering everywhere.

“Ah!” Alberto exclaimed, regaining consciousness. As he opened his eyes, he saw a massive jaguar biting his belly. He felt those teeth piercing his skin; it was a pain mixed with burning, but what worried him was that he couldn’t see his beloved, especially now that another one of those was biting his neck, trying to sl*t his throat. He could feel life slipping away. It would be dishonorable to end up in the belly of those mangy wild cats, as his father called them.