A Taste of Power

Ethan barely slept that night. His body felt wired, too aware of every sound—the ticking of the clock, the hum of the fridge downstairs, the faint rustling of leaves outside his window. It was as if his entire world had been dialed up to a sharpened intensity.

By morning, the changes hadn't faded. If anything, they had deepened.

His nails, slightly longer and sharper. His muscles, leaner, more defined. His ears still held a slight point, subtle enough to be ignored—for now.

And the hunger? It was worse.

He needed to get out, to clear his head.

Greenwood High – The Change Begins

As he walked through the crowded hallways of Greenwood High, something strange happened.

People noticed him.

Not in the usual "Oh, it's that loser Ethan" kind of way. No—this was different. Their eyes lingered. Girls whispered, some stealing second glances. Even the usual bullies—Troy and his football goons—seemed to hesitate when they passed him.

It was subtle, but Ethan felt it.

A shift.

Then came the real test.

Troy shouldered past Ethan near the lockers, slamming into him. The usual move. Normally, Ethan would stumble, maybe even hit the ground.

But not today.

Today, Troy bounced off him.

The guy stumbled back, eyes wide. "What the—?"

Ethan barely moved. He just stood there, staring at Troy, his golden eyes narrowing slightly. For the first time, Troy looked... uneasy.

Ethan could hear it. The slight shift in Troy's breath. The faint scent of fear.

And something inside Ethan... liked it.

A slow smirk crept across his lips. For the first time in his life, he wasn't the prey.

"I don't know what I am," Ethan thought, his fingers flexing as raw power coursed through his veins.

"But I think I like it."