Chapter 17: Under the Light of the Full Moon

The next day dawned with a different energy at Salvatore High. Ethan woke up in his room, his body strangely restless, as if an electric current was coursing through his veins. He sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes, and realized something was different. His senses were sharper than ever—he could hear the sound of birds outside with crystal clarity, smell the coffee brewing in the school kitchen from a few feet away, and even catch the faint thump of someone's heartbeat as they passed by in the hallway.

He frowned, trying to understand what was happening, when he heard voices in the courtyard below his window.

— It's a full moon tonight — said one of the werewolf students, talking to some other werewolves at the school as they prepared for classes.

— Have you felt it yet? My senses are on high. It's going to be an intense night — he continued, his voice full of excitement and a touch of nervousness.

Ethan's eyes widened, his heart racing at the boy's words. Full moon. He knew what that meant—his first transformation as a werewolf was coming. He'd heard Hope talk about how the full moon heightened a werewolf's senses and instincts, but feeling it firsthand was something else. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, but the uneasiness inside him only grew.

His thoughts began to wander, and inevitably, they ended up back on the night before—the almost-kiss with Hope. He could still feel the heat of the moment, the way her eyes sparkled in the starlight, the way she leaned in close to him, so close he could smell her perfume. He knew she felt the same way he did; it had been clear from their conversation, from the way she looked at him, from the tension that seemed to vibrate between them.

But then that idiot Landon had shown up, interrupting the moment and leaving Ethan with a mixture of frustration and longing he couldn't ignore. If Landon hadn't gotten in the way, maybe he and Hope would have finally made it. Ethan shook his head, trying to push the thoughts away, but the memory of that moment haunted him.

Classes that day were a test of Ethan's patience. He could barely concentrate, his hyperactive senses making every sound, every movement, almost unbearable. The sound of chairs scraping against the floor, the whispers of students, even the smell of chalk in the classroom—everything seemed amplified, as if the entire world were screaming in his ears.

When the bell finally rang, announcing the end of classes, Ethan was the first to leave the room, needing fresh air to calm his mind.

As he walked down the hallway, his thoughts still swirling around Hope, he spotted her. She was standing a few feet away, talking to Landon, who seemed as glued to her as ever. Ethan's eyes met Hope's, and for a moment, the world around them seemed to fade away. The tension between them was palpable, an invisible current connecting them, full of unspoken words and emotions neither of them knew how to express.

Hope blushed slightly, her eyes shining with a mix of nervousness and something deeper, while Ethan felt his heart race, the urge to get closer to her almost irresistible.

Landon, who was standing next to Hope, noticed the look between the two and frowned, clearly uncomfortable. He could feel that something was going on, something he wasn't a part of, and it made him feel insecure.

Ethan walked past them, nodding politely but meaningfully. Hope nodded back, her lips curving into a slight smile that made Ethan's chest tighten. Landon, for his part, said nothing, just watched the exchange with a tense expression, his fists clenched at his sides.

By afternoon, Ethan could take no more. His head was aching—not a normal human headache, but something deeper, as if his bones were protesting what was to come. He knew that tonight would not be normal. The full moon was approaching, and with it, his first transformation.

He needed a moment to himself, so he went to the same place where he had almost kissed Hope the night before—a tree in the back of the school, surrounded by grass and away from the noise of the other students. He sat against the trunk, closing his eyes and trying to control his breathing, but the pain and uneasiness only grew.

It was then that he heard light footsteps approaching. He opened his eyes and saw Hope walking towards him, her face full of concern. She sat down next to him on the grass, her knees drawn up against her chest, and for a moment, the two of them were silent, just feeling each other's presence.

"I know how you feel," Hope said finally, her voice soft but firm.

— It's a full moon. Your senses are heightened, and… the transformation will happen tonight. I've been through this before, Ethan. I'm not going to lie, it's going to be hard, but you're not alone. I'm going to help you — she continued, her eyes full of empathy.

Ethan turned to her, his eyes shining with a mixture of fear and gratitude. He could feel the warmth of her presence, the way she seemed to calm the storm inside him, and it reminded him of what she had said about the imprint .

"Thanks, Hope," he replied, his voice hoarse with emotion.

"I… I'm scared, to be honest. But knowing you're here… it makes everything seem a little less scary," he admitted, the vulnerability evident in his voice.

Hope smiled, a gentle smile that made Ethan's heart race.

"You'll get through this, Ethan. And I'll be with you every step of the way," she promised, reaching out to touch his hand.

The contact was like a spark, and for a moment, the two of them stared at each other, the tension from last night's almost-kiss returning full force. But this time, they didn't move closer—the weight of what was to come was too great.

As night fell, the full moon shone in the sky, a silver disk that seemed to pulse with energy. Ethan and Hope made their way to a secluded area in the woods surrounding the Salvatore School, away from the other students. Alaric, Rafael, and Josie were nearby, ready to help if needed, but Hope insisted on staying by Ethan's side. They had prepared reinforced iron chains, attached to a sturdy tree, to restrain Ethan during the transformation, knowing that the first time could be unpredictable.

Ethan, though reluctant, agreed, his hands shaking as Alaric fastened the chains to his wrists.

"Just to be safe," Alaric said, his voice firm but tinged with concern.

"We'll release you as soon as the transformation is under control," he assured, taking a step back.

Ethan nodded, his heart racing as he felt the full moon approaching its peak. Hope stood beside him, her eyes filled with determination, but also with nervousness. She knew how dangerous the first transformation could be, not only for Ethan, but for everyone around him.

The change began with a searing pain that shot through Ethan's body, as if every bone was being broken at once. He fell to his knees, screaming, as his eyes glowed a fluorescent green and his fangs began to grow.

"Hope!" he shouted, his voice filled with desperation as he pulled on the chains, the metal creaking under the force of his movements.

Hope knelt beside him, holding his hand tightly, her eyes filled with determination.

"Ethan, look at me!" she said, her voice firm but full of empathy.

— Breathe with me, okay? I know it hurts, but you're stronger than that. Focus on my voice, on my hand. You can do it! — she encouraged, squeezing his hand tighter.

The pain was unbearable, and Ethan felt as if his body were being ripped in half. He screamed at the top of his lungs, a guttural sound that echoed through the woods, as his skin began to tear, like paper being torn apart. From within his human skin emerged his werewolf form, a visceral and terrifying transformation. The skin that fell from him crumbled to dust, scattering across the ground like ash as the werewolf took shape.

He stood over seven feet tall, a colossal figure that seemed sculpted from sheer brute strength. His musculature was beyond the ordinary, with broad shoulders and arms that looked like they could rip trees from the ground. His fur was black as night, glistening in the moonlight, and his eyes—once blue and one green—were now both a brilliant green, like emeralds shining with a savage intensity that indicated his inner beast was in command. His claws were long and sharp, and his teeth, bared in a snarl, were so large they could easily rip through metal.

Hope, standing beside him, felt a shiver of fear run down her spine. She had seen werewolves before, but never anything like this. Ethan's transformation had been brutal, his skin tearing away and turning to dust, and now he was… different—bigger, fiercer, a force of nature that seemed unstoppable. His size, his immense musculature, his glowing green eyes that betrayed no trace of the Ethan she knew… it all made her recoil instinctively, her heart racing. For the first time, she was afraid of him, not because he was a monster, but because of the savage intensity he exuded.

Ethan, or rather the beast that now controlled him, let out a deafening howl that shook the ground, a primal sound that echoed throughout Mystic Falls and sent birds flying in panic. With a sudden movement, he pulled on the chains, the metal creaking and snapping like paper. The chains fell to the ground with a metallic sound, and before Hope could react, Ethan launched himself forward, running towards the main courtyard of the Salvatore School.

"Ethan, no!" Hope screamed, fear mixing with determination as she ran after him.

Alaric, Rafael, and Josie also began to run, but Ethan was too fast, his colossal form moving with frightening speed.

Alaric, realizing the danger, immediately took control of the situation.

"Josie, get the students inside!" he ordered, his voice firm as he ran after Ethan.

— Rafael, help me restrain him! We can't let him hurt anyone! — he added, his eyes fixed on the colossal figure in front of him.

Josie nodded, running towards the main building, where students were already gathered at the windows, their eyes wide with fear and fascination.

"Everyone inside, now!" she shouted, her voice echoing across the courtyard.

Some vampires, like MG and Kaleb, hesitated, fighting instincts making them want to intervene, but Ethan's size and ferocity made them retreat.

"That's not a normal werewolf!" MG exclaimed, his voice shaking as he and Kaleb hid behind a tree.

— He's… he's a monster! — he finished, his eyes wide with shock.

Kaleb shook his head, equally shocked.

— Man, I don't know what this is, but it's not one of us. It's... it's a monster! — he said, his voice thick with fear.

The school's witches, led by some older students, began to mutter protective spells, creating magical barriers around the building to prevent Ethan from getting close.

"He's going to destroy everything!" one of the witches screamed, panic evident in her voice as Ethan's howl echoed again, making the ground shake.

In the schoolyard, other werewolves had already transformed, the full moon activating their curses. Rafael, who was also among them, transformed into a werewolf—a large wolf with brown fur and glowing yellow eyes, but much smaller than Ethan, about six feet long.

The students who were still awake heard Ethan's howl and gathered at the windows, in awe of the colossal figure that emerged from the woods. No one recognized him immediately—he was simply too big, too fierce, to be associated with the Ethan they knew.

Lizzie, who was in the dormitory, ran to the window, her eyes wide.

"That's… he's huge!" she exclaimed, her voice mixed with admiration and fear.

"What do we do now?" she asked, more to herself than to the others.

Ethan, completely overcome by his inner beast, growled at the sight of the other werewolves in the courtyard. Rafael, acting on instinct, advanced on him, his teeth bared in a snarl of defiance. But Ethan was an unstoppable force. With a single swipe of his claw, he knocked Rafael off his feet, slamming him into a tree with a force that cracked the trunk. Rafael fell to the ground, stunned, and did not get up, easily overwhelmed by Ethan's superiority.

The other werewolves at school, sensing Ethan's overwhelming presence, hesitated. Their instincts screamed to bow to him, as if he were a natural alpha, a force that transcended any hierarchy they knew. But some, driven by fear and adrenaline, decided to stand up to him.

Three werewolves rushed at Ethan, snarling and baring their teeth, but the result was the same—Ethan slaughtered them with terrifying ease. He cut them down one by one, his claws tearing through fur and skin, his roars echoing through the night. He didn't kill anyone, but the werewolves were badly injured, lying on the ground, groaning in pain, their bodies shaking with fear.

Every werewolf in the school, even the ones who didn't fight, felt the same primal instinct—a deep fear of Ethan, a need to submit to him, as if he were something greater, something beyond them.

Hope, Alaric, Rafael (who had already returned to human form, still dazed) and Josie finally reached the courtyard, panting. Hope stopped when she saw the scene—the injured werewolves, the students at the windows, all looking at Ethan with a mixture of fear and fascination.

— My God… — she murmured, her heart racing.

"That… that's Ethan," she said, her voice full of shock and concern.

Lizzie, who had run down to the courtyard upon hearing the commotion, opened her eyes wide.

— What?! — she exclaimed in disbelief.

—That monster is Ethan?! How… how is that possible? — she asked, her voice filled with astonishment.

Alaric shook his head, his expression serious.

—I don't know, but he's unlike any werewolf I've ever seen—he replied.

"He's… he's a force of nature," he added, his eyes fixed on the colossal figure in front of him.

Ethan, still in his werewolf form, seemed to hesitate for the first time. His bright green eyes met Hope's, and for a moment, something inside him seemed to shift. He took a step toward her, his colossal figure moving with a strange delicacy.

Hope stood frozen, fear still present, but also a hope that the Ethan she knew was still there. He reached out, lifting a paw with huge claws, and with surprising tenderness, touched her face, the gesture filled with affection, as if a small part of him was still struggling to connect with her.

Hope felt tears stream down her face, her heart clenching. She didn't pull away, allowing the touch, feeling the connection that united them even in this moment of chaos.

— Ethan… — she whispered, her voice shaking.

— You're there, I know you are — she said, her eyes shining with emotion.

Landon, who had come down from the dorm when he heard the commotion, stopped a few feet away, hidden behind a tree. He saw the scene—the colossal werewolf, who he now knew to be Ethan, touching Hope's face with a tenderness that seemed impossible for such a ferocious creature, and Hope allowing it, her eyes shining with emotion.

Jealousy burned in his chest like fire, mixed with an insecurity that made him clench his fists. He knew Hope cared about him, but the way she looked at Ethan, the way she seemed so connected to him even in that bestial form, made him feel like he was losing something he'd never fully had. He turned away, his face twisted in frustration, and walked back into the building, unable to watch any longer.

But Ethan's moment of lucidity was brief. His eyes flared with a savage intensity again, and he recoiled, as if losing consciousness once more. With a final howl, he turned and ran, out of the Salvatore School and disappearing into the night.

He ran for miles, crossing fields and forests, his colossal form leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. Trees were felled by his claws, deep paw prints were etched into the ground, and rocks were split in half by his brute strength. He got 30 to 40 miles away from Mystic Falls, driven only by the instincts of his inner beast.

Hope stood in the courtyard, her heart pounding, tears still streaming down her face. Ethan's touch, so gentle even in his werewolf form, still felt like it burned into her skin, but the fear she had felt for him—the fear of that colossal, uncontrollable beast—had left her shaken.

She was a tri-hybrid, she had faced monsters and dangers that most students at the Salvatore School would never imagine, but seeing Ethan like this… it was different. He wasn't just a werewolf; he was something more, something she didn't fully understand. And yet, she knew she couldn't give up on him. Not after everything they had been through, not after the imprint that connected them in a way she was still trying to understand.

She remembered her own first transformation, the pain, the fear of losing control, and it made her feel even more empathy for Ethan. She needed to find him, needed to help him find his way back to himself.

Josie stepped closer, her voice full of concern.

"Hope, are you okay?" she asked, her eyes still wide from what she had just witnessed.

Hope took a deep breath, wiping her tears with the back of her hand.

— No… but I'm staying — she replied, her voice trembling but firm.

"He's out there, Josie. He's lost, and I need to find him. I'm not going to let him go through this alone," she said, determination evident in her voice.

Alaric, who was helping Rafael up, turned to Hope, his expression serious.

"We'll find him, Hope. But we need to get organized," he said.

"He's fast, and… he's dangerous now. We don't know what he can do while he's out of control," he continued, his voice thick with concern.

"Josie, can you use a locator spell?" he asked, looking at the young witch.

Josie nodded, already beginning to mutter a spell, her hands glowing with a soft light as she concentrated.

"I'll do my best," she said, her voice determined.

The sun was just beginning to rise when Ethan woke up, his body aching and his mind foggy. He was in an abandoned cabin in the middle of the woods, the floor covered in dust and cobwebs. The wooden walls were rotting, and a musty smell hung in the air.

On a broken table in the corner was an object that caught his eye—a strange symbol carved into the wood, which looked like a circle with crossed lines, as if it were an ancient seal. He frowned, feeling an inexplicable chill, but his mind was blank, and he didn't have the energy to think about it right now.

He stood up, realizing he was completely naked, his skin covered in dirt and light scratches.

"What… what happened?" he muttered, his voice hoarse as he looked around in confusion.

It was around 6:30 in the morning when the sound of footsteps echoed outside the cabin. The door, which was ajar, was pushed open, and Alaric, Hope, Rafael, MG, Josie, and Lizzie entered, all with expressions of relief and concern. They had tracked Ethan using Josie's locator spell, and after hours of searching, they had finally found him.

Ethan, still naked, stood up, and the group stopped, eyes wide at the sight of him. The girls, especially—Hope, Josie, and Lizzie—were stunned to realize Ethan's impressive size, not just in stature, but in another, more... intimate aspect.

Hope blushed furiously, looking away for a moment, her heart racing not only from the relief of finding him, but also from the unexpected sight. Josie covered her mouth, trying to hide an embarrassed smile, while Lizzie, ever the one without a filter, let out a comment that made everyone turn to look at her.

"Oh my God…" Lizzie murmured, her voice full of astonishment, her eyes fixed on Ethan.

— He's… he's huge. Like, seriously, that's… wow — she said, without any shame.

Josie's eyes widened, immediately realizing what Lizzie meant, and she slapped her sister's arm, her face red with embarrassment.

"Lizzie, stop!" she whispered, but she couldn't help but glance at Ethan, clearly surprised by what she saw.

Alaric, realizing the situation and Lizzie's comment, cleared his throat loudly, trying to remain serious, but with a slight tone of discomfort.

"Okay, this is… inappropriate," he said, quickly taking off his coat and tossing it to Ethan.

"Here, cover yourself, Ethan. Let's get you back to school," he added, his voice firm.

Ethan picked up his coat, still confused, and then looked down, finally realizing what the girls were staring at. A mischievous smile appeared on his face, and he chuckled softly, the tension of the moment dissipating with his natural ease.

— So… I guess it's not just my werewolf form that's impressive, huh? — he tried to joke a little, his voice hoarse but with a light tone, as he wrapped his coat around his waist, covering himself as best he could.

Hope, who was already blushing, turned even redder at the joke, looking away and trying to hide a smile. Josie covered her face with her hands, completely embarrassed, while Lizzie laughed out loud, without any shame.

— You're no good, Ethan! — she exclaimed, still laughing, which made MG and Rafael exchange an amused look, although also a little uncomfortable.

Ethan, now covered, looked at Hope, his tone becoming more serious, but still with a hint of lightness.

"So… what happened?" he asked, his voice weaker.

"I… I don't remember anything," he admitted, confusion evident on his face.

Hope took a step forward, her heart clenching as she remembered the night before—the fear she had felt, the tender moment, and Ethan's escape.

"You've changed, Ethan," she said, her voice soft but thick with emotion.

— And… you lost control. But you're here now, and that's what matters. We'll help you figure this out, I promise — she assured, her eyes shining with determination.

Ethan nodded, still confused, but relieved to be back with Hope and the others. He knew his transformation had changed everything—not just for him, but for everyone at the Salvatore School. And as the group helped him back to school, he couldn't help but feel that something bigger was coming, something he didn't fully understand yet.