So, I decided to try something new. It's inspired by the film An American Werewolf in London, with a few elements from that crappy novel/novel adaptation Twilight. My mind decided to go a little haywire and went: what if our favourite archaeologist is a werewolf? And with a few combinations, this was the result. Hope you like it! I would really like opinions on all fronts. I'm a little bit scared how this will be received.

You may notice as well, I've done a bit of research into University College London. I'm trying to make this as real as possible, so I picked the course that Lara may have most likely chosen after passing her A Level Exams (this would be the equivalent of Leaving Certificate). Anyone who lives or lived in England, correct me if I'm wrong. I'm also assuming that the college semester begins on the second week of September.

Another thing to add, since Tomb Raider Wiki says Lara is 21yrs old, her course is three years, so it kind of makes sense if the story is set in 2010. So she attended college from 2010-2013. Lastly, this story covers Semester One of her First Year.

"And so, the adventure begins."

- Unknown

Chapter 1: University College London

Mid-day…

12:00…

12th September 2010…

(Scene: John Adams Hall, Endsleigh Street, Outside University College London, London/Lara's POV)

Roth stepped on the brake, bringing his jeep to a halt. He glanced at me, I saw the worry and anxiety in his eyes and I know what it's about. You see, I'm not exactly normal, so I'm going to be dead straight about it. I'm a werewolf, always have, ever since I was born. The curse has been in my family for generations, though not all my family members were werewolves, sometimes the curse would skip a generation; how lucky and curse the next. As far as I know, the furthest my family name dates back to is the time of King Arthur's rule. There is still question marks where and when the curse originated and which of our ancestors decided to make a deal with the Devil or something like that. My father was a werewolf and a brilliant, but controversial archaeologist, so how unlucky for me and because of that, I rarely saw my father. He would be in his library, scourging through every book, scroll and manuscript that would give a hint to a cure for this curse. Father did come out of his study every now and again, but I spent most of my time with mother. She and I would play together, playing chess to challenge me mentally or having piano lessons with her.

That's when my father-daughter relationship took a turn. I was eight years old, year 2000, I didn't know I was cursed. I never knew. It was three years after I discovered my first archaeological find: the jade pendant that I never took off. I was five years old, running in my penguin pyjamas, squealing to Roth with excitement. Like Christmas came early to me. Mother couldn't bring herself to tell me and father was too busy to care, or maybe he did, but was so obsessed with his work, he has forgotten to tell me. It was the night of the Full Moon, as cliché as it sounds, though it's a time we hardly can control our transformations, other moon phases, don't affect us. So thank god Full Moons only happen once a month. Actually, I have two werewolf forms; the first I can turn into anytime. I really look like an abnormally large wolf, you know if you read and watched far too much Twilight and the second form speaks for itself.

Father disappeared somewhere, so it was just myself and mother. Mother was reading one my favourite books. Then it happened all so fast, the unbearable pain came first, which caused me to fall to the floor. The feeling of my bones shifting, changing was… inhumanely agonising. I cried to mother, begging her to tell what was happening to me, then everything else was a blur. When I woke up, I saw father crying over mother's bloodied and mutilated body, or what was left of it. That's how I learned both my father and I are werewolves. It wasn't news for father, but it was for me. In my first transformation, I claimed my first victim and it was my mother.

I have never seen such rage in my father's eyes. He called me a monster, a killer, a wild beast. Like he's any different, unless he has more self-control than I have. What's worse, he buried himself even deeper into his studies, then ordered Winston to have me locked up in the cellar, more like a werewolf-proof cell. How could father do this to me! I thought he loved me, instead, every time he laid eyes on me, he saw different. It was two weeks after the incident, Winston let me out of the cell, much to father's resentment. God it felt so good! To be free from such a cramped space, had I stayed in there any longer I would've gone mad!

Father and mother wouldn't let me go to school because of my 'condition'. The last thing they needed was me turning in the middle of school and attacking an entire classroom. Instead, I was homeschooled until The Incident. I wasn't safe enough for Boarding School, I was told not to leave the manor and only allowed to stroll around the grand garden. I did so until memorised the maze inside-out. I was able to find my way around blindfolded! Thankfully Winston gave me some schoolbooks to read, but the perks of being a werewolf is my increased intelligence and the ability to process things faster than most humans. In simpler words, it's like Photographic Memory. On the physical side of my abilities, I'm faster, stronger, enhanced senses; includes sight, sound and smell, agility.

After my father was killed, murdered by someone I don't know and covered up as suicide; there's questions marks on that, many people believe it was suicide. I just went with the crowd, but I was suspicious because I could pick up a very faint, unfamiliar scent in his office. Then, Conrad Roth became my Guardian and took me in. Roth is an ex-Royal Naval Officer, he's also a freelance salvager and treasure hunter. He is a close friend of father's and well knew what he was getting into. Roth accompanied father in his expeditions and sometimes, acted as a bodyguard. He knew my father was a werewolf, but he didn't judge me like I'm some sort of monster. He didn't look at me in fear when I told him I killed on my first transformation. Sure, he was saddened at mother's death, yet all he saw was a young, shy and introverted girl, looking to be loved by someone. Roth turned to look at me.

"I still can't believe it's been eight years! Now look at you, heading into college." There was such pride in his thick northern English accent. He's from Sheffield, Yorkshire. I gave him a gentle smile, unable to reply. "Look Lara. I know you and I had that little skirmish two nights ago, about you stepping out into a world that could end up being your hunting ground." I winced at his blunt and direct words, yet he had a point. If I lost control, the centre of London would be nothing more than a city full of defenceless prey, served on a silver plate. "You can control it. After all, you're a Croft.",

"I'm not sure if I'm that kind of Croft." I countered. After mother's death, I felt ashamed and blamed myself for the monstrosity I brought upon the mansion. I felt I didn't deserve the grand surname at all. Every time I looked into a mirror, I saw nothing but the beast I became. Some supernatural being to be feared.

"Sure you are." Roth placed a hand on my shoulder, "You just don't know it yet."

We both got out of the jeep to grab my gear. It was nothing more than the bare essentials since I outright refused to use the money my parents left in my trust fund. I decided to start from scratch, Roth kindly paid for my textbooks since I was restricted from the outside world. I couldn't leave unless he was with me. It made it difficult for me to earn my own money. Now, I'll start supporting myself to pay for my college funds once I get my hands on a part-time job. Roth carried my gear bag which was somehow the lightest, while I carried the books. The weight in them would've tired Roth despite all the military training. I swear, it must be his age getting to him.

"To be honest Lara, your wolf strength makes things a lot easier." I chuckled at his statement. We entered the gates, to my new life. I was lucky to get accommodation, which I'll have to pay as well, but Roth approves of my decisions. Luckily it's near the college, just outside the campus. Actually, the building is located right around the corner from the Archaeology and Anthropology Buildings. He says they'll keep me grounded, which I needed, not using the wealth from my boring aristocratic background. I looked around, the area was buzzing with life. There are students talking to each other, catching up, I wonder if I'll fit in at all. I stepped in front of the woman who seems to taking note of the students coming in for their flat keys or whatever accommodation they paid for. She then noticed me.

"Name please miss?" She quipped,

"Lara. Lara Croft." I answered. The women dragged her pen down through the list of names to find mine, while my sensitive ears picked up the odd whispering and murmur of other students. They're all wondering what's a rich, posh girl doing here? I should be attending Cambridge or Oxford; my parents respective universities, but I went against their wishes. I chose my own path, I refused to live in their shadows. To be fair though, UCL is a good college in its own right.

"You are Room 29 Miss Croft." I took the keys.

"Thank you." Roth and I walked off. We entered the accommodation, looking for Room 29.

"Aye lass, I forgot to ask what course you are doing." I stared at Roth,

"I decided to do a BA in Archaeology and Anthropology.",

"Like old Dicky hey?" Dicky, if I'm right was some sort of nickname for father bestowed by Roth and his old friend from Glasgow, Angus Grimaldi, he prefers Grim though. I remember meeting Grim once, he looks intimidating, threatening to give you the 'Glasgow Kiss' (a rather nasty head butt) if looked at the wrong way, but he became fond of me too. Guess I have that effect on people. They probably had some awesome adventures in their youth.

"Guess my instincts were right." He laughed,

"You knew I'd pick a course like that." I teased,

"I had doubts, but my instincts never proved me wrong. I am proud of Lara. You're a daughter I never had." Roth was a surrogate father to me. There was question marks about how my father died. Some say he was murdered, others say it was suicide, as I said before, but my father was never suicidal! I'm putting my bets forward that he was murdered. Eventually, Roth found my room, I inserted the key and opened the door. The room was bare, guess my roommate isn't here yet. Good, I get first choice on bedrooms, not like I'll be redecorating much. I decided to go for a two-bedroom flat in hopes, I don't really care who I share it with; we can split the fee. It's £153/week. That's £76.50 between the two us. Less strain on me when it comes to part-time work pay. Although, by the time I checked online, it was the last one left. I walked into one of the bedrooms, then started scanning the room. Not a bad size for college accommodation, enough to store most of my stuff. I placed my belongings on the bed, I'll sort them out later and that's when my stomach growled. Roth let out a hearty laugh.

"Guess the dog needs feeding.",

"Make another wolf or dog pun Roth, I won't hesitate to rip your throat out." I growled, literally and wolf-like.

"I taste terrible lass, nothing but of sweat and sea salt. Come on, there's a nice café not far from the campus. Maybe we can satisfy that wolfish appetite of yours." He joked,

"It's not my fault! Father never told me I would have such a large animalistic appetite with a fast metabolism to booth." I playfully punched his shoulder, but a tad bit too hard as the Northern bastard winced a little. I'm not sorry, he deserved it.

Two Hours Later…

14:00…

(Scene: Café, University College London, London/Lara's POV)

I was sitting across from Roth, sipping at my tea, which I say was nicely brewed. If there's one thing I'm fussy about, it's how my tea is made. Just ask Winston, the family butler; whom I accidentally locked into the walk-in freezer when I was six years old, Roth was coming to visit, while all other servants of Croft Manor left, Winston chose to stay. Some Little Angel I was. He became part of the family, more than just a butler and was one of the few people who can make tea the way I like it. Roth settled for some a cappuccino. In a few hours it's just going to be me, I'll be earning my own money to pay for my tuition fees, rent, but I'm ready for the challenge. I need to find a job, how hard can that be?

"I know I said this earlier, but I still can't believe you're all grown up." Roth smiled,

"I'll be fine Roth. I'll call you whenever I can." I said to him,

"I'm proud of your decisions, they'll keep you grounded.",

"Thanks Roth. You know I just couldn't ride on my parent's money.",

"And I'm sure they would have respected that decision." He encouraged,

"I don't know. Father and I dangerously fell out after… I…" My voice trailed, "You know, with mother." Roth's face softened, he knew the incident is a soft subject to me. God! I can't get the feeling of it out of my head! Pouncing on her, growling before driving my sharpened teeth into the jugular vein, tasting the warm, sour blood. Her flesh in my mouth and… everything was horrible, but as a werewolf, I enjoyed it. I enjoyed every second of it. The thought of it makes me throw up sometimes. I felt Roth place a reassuring hand on mine. I looked at him in the eye.

"It's not your fault. The first turn is always the most difficult to control, especially during a Full Moon.",

"I killed her Roth!" I felt my voice straining, "Her daughter, her eight year old daughter killed her own mother!" I took a deep breath. The doubts started surfacing. "Maybe it was mistake coming here Roth. I am a monster! I deserve to be locked up or put down.",

"Now you listen to me lass." Roth's voice hardened into his military tone, "You're like a daughter to me and I know one thing: Dicky and Amelia Croft loved you dearly. You know, Lady Croft had a gun on her, loaded and all. When you turned into that beast, she could've killed you, but she couldn't. Amelia could not bring herself to pull the trigger, let alone unclip the safety. She knew she was facing her child, someone she held close to. They loved you Lara and you're no monster. The only monster there, is that beast inside you. You're separate entities. You can control it." I smiled weakly at Roth's words. I couldn't help but think, mother had a chance to shoot me, to put me down, she couldn't though. Her love for me was too strong, how could she pull the trigger on someone she loved so much? I then turned my attention to my watch, it read: 14:15. My orientation starts at 14:30.

"Sod it! My orientation begins in fifteen minutes.",

"It's alright Lara. Call me whenever you can, big or small." We both stood up and hugged. We really have a strong father-daughter bond. "Now just remember, you're in control. Not the wolf.",

"I will." We walked out of the café, returning the accommodation and saying goodbye. I watched as Roth stepped into his jeep, reversing then exiting through the gates. I'll miss him, despite the fact I can call him. I faced the campus, the college. My new life begins, then I walked off to join the group for a brief campus tour. After that, I can unpack, start looking for a job and just fit in, maybe on the side note, I can search for a cure for this curse.

And that's it. Some tender surrogate father-daughter moment with beloved Conrad Roth and Lara. I slightly tweaked the Croft history, not to a major extent, just so Amelia died by her own daughter (yes, I'm cruel) and her father was still murdered (covered up as suicide). But unlike the plot in the games, Lara did have a little more time with Amelia. Because I can't work out Amelia's age by her year of birth, all I know her birthday is October 13th. So I assumed in-game Lara was three or four when she died in the plane crash. It explains her inability to remember her.

So yeah, I think see this going down the path as AU pre-Yamatai. So yes, there will be mentions of Yamatai at some point. I'll put up the next chapter soon!

Dont worry, Sam will be entering the scene very soon.