Somehow he'd managed to hide it from Liam and Theo. To be fair, they'd been a bit distracted by Gabe and the other hunters and many many guns, and the hospital was already thick with the stench of blood. Once it was all over and the hunters were defeated, they'd left with Corey and Mason to go help Scott, leaving him alone with Melissa.
As soon as they were out the door, Nolan slumped to the ground, clutching his side. Melissa was there in a flash, easing his maroon shirt up, revealing the bite on his hip. There was no hiding what had caused it. The shape was distinctive. The pity in Melissa's eyes made him turn away, blinking back tears.
He would become the exact thing he had feared so much.
Gabe had left him in the hospital room, bruised and wheezing from what was probably at least a fractured rib. Nolan dragged himself to the wall, the pain making him shiver as he sat up against it, clutching his side, barely hanging on to consciousness.
The sweet scent of pain and blood had been what had attracted her.
The door creaked as it opened, and he looked up with dazed eyes as a tall blonde woman stood there, examining him with glowing green eyes.
"Well, aren't you a pretty little thing?" She purred.
Nolan shuddered, trying to scramble back but she was on him in a flash, straddling his lap and cupping his face in her hands. He could feel the points of her claws digging into his cheeks as she turned him this way and that, examining him with a cruel smile.
"Such pretty eyes," she cooed. "I'm quite partial to baby blues."
There was nothing he could do as she pushed him the floor, hiking up his shirt and licking up his abs, humming in pleasure as he shuddered.
"Your pain is so delicious," she sighed, fangs scraping over his stomach. Nolan's lower lip trembled, his eyes welling up with tears. "It's a pity I don't have much time for you right now, cutie. I'll have to come back and find you later."
She flipped her hair back, pausing dramatically as she bared her fangs, seeking out his gaze. He watched in horror as she shot forwards, biting down on his hip, the agonising pain making him black out.
When he came to, he was leaning against the wall again, Melissa McCall waving smelling salts under his nose. He would have thought it was a nightmare if not for the sharp pain at his side, thankfully hidden by the maroon shirt he was wearing.
Nolan staggered home, falling into an uneasy sleep filled with nightmares. Green eyes, sharp fangs, Gabe sneering, glass breaking, guns firing, screams and blood, so much blood. He woke to his mum shaking him, calling his name.
"Mum?" He whispered, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"You were screaming," she said, a worried look on her face. He folded into her arms and she held him, stroking his hair as he sobbed.
Once he'd calmed down he pulled away, keeping his eyes averted as he scrubbed his face with his sleeve, wiping away the tears.
"Where have you been, Nolan?" She begged. "You haven't been home in over a week and now you're back and screaming in your sleep. Talk to me."
"I'm fine," he said woodenly. "I was just staying with a friend."
"Why?" She whispered, searching his face. "Why did you leave?"
He couldn't answer that. He couldn't tell her that he'd been ashamed of how he'd treated Corey, stabbing him in the hand. Or of how he'd watched as Gabe had laid into Liam, punching and kicking him and done nothing. Or of how he'd pointed the crossbow at Liam at the abandoned zoo with no idea if he was capable of pulling the trigger or not. And now, of how he'd watched the life slip from Gabe's eyes as Theo took his pain and felt nothing but relief.
And the biggest secret of all, he could barely even think it in his own mind, let alone admit it out loud.
That the bite had healed, along with all of his other injuries.
His mum eventually left, the dark circles under her eyes no less prominent for all of the half-truths Nolan had fed her. She knew when her son was hiding things from her. She urged him to try and get some more sleep but as soon as the door shut he grabbed his laptop and booted it up, leaning back against his pillows as he searched up when the next full moon was.
Thursday night.
He slammed the laptop shut and shoved it away, wrapping his arms around his legs and curling into a tight ball.
Less than a week.
He'd begged Melissa not to tell the others. He wanted to be the one to tell them, but it took him three days to gather up the courage.
Nolan stared at Scott's door, trembling, hand hovering over the wood.
It opened before he could knock.
"He's not here," Melissa said. "None of them are."
"Where did they go?" He asked in a small voice.
She pulled him inside, lifting up his shirt and examining the unmarked skin.
"It healed," she said, taking a shaky breath. "Okay, it healed. When's the full moon?"
"Um, Thursday night," he stuttered.
"This Thursday?" She gaped at him, horrified. "This Thursday when there isn't a single werewolf in Scott's pack in Beacon Hills Thursday?"
"What?" Nolan breathed, feeling panic set in. He slid to the floor, wrapping his arms around himself to try and stop the shakes.
"I didn't want to keep this a secret," Melissa scowled, "I should never have let Scott leave without telling him."
She paced the living room, wringing her hands together, mumbling to herself.
"Okay," she said, striding towards him and squatting down so they were eye-level. "Option number one, we go to Argent-"
"No," Nolan yelled, trying to fling himself back, but there's nowhere to go.
"Okay, okay," she soothed, hands held up in front of her. She looked frightened, and Nolan took a deep breath, trying to calm down.
"Sorry," he whispered.
"It's fine," she nodded. "It just means our only option is Scott. I have to take you to him."
"Oh," Nolan said. "Is Liam there too?"
"Yes," she confirmed. "The whole pack is there."
"Okay," he nodded.
To be on the safe side, Melissa tied his hands together with thick chains and put him in the back seat of her car.
She checked her mirror constantly, on high alert, like he would turn there and then in the middle of the day and attack her.
He just stared out the window, trying to dull the queasiness of his stomach, the heart-wrenching fear. Liam would fix it. Liam would help.
It took hours to get to wherever they were going. Melissa stopped only twice. Once for a toilet break and food, the second time for petrol. Both times, her hands shook as she unshackled him.
"I'm not going to hurt you," he promised, trying to set her at ease.
"You don't know that," she shook her head. "You don't have control."
And wasn't that the truth, he thought bitterly, looking away.
They pulled to a stop outside of a large mansion. Nolan gaped at it from inside the car while Melissa got out and went to the door. She returned with Scott, Derek and Liam in tow.
"We have a problem," she said, gesturing to Nolan.
"Nolan, what are you doing here?" Liam asked, eyes wary, frowning at the shackles that kept him bound.
"He was bitten," Melissa informed them. "At the hospital."
"By who?" Scott asked, glancing at Liam, who only shrugged. All four of them looked quizzically at Nolan.
"I don't know who she is," Nolan said, lower lip trembling. "She bit me after Gabe attacked me. I couldn't get away."
The tears were streaming down his cheeks.
"She?" Derek asked.
"She said she'd come back for me," Nolan said to him, vision blurred. "She never did."
Scott glanced at the tense set of Derek's shoulders and then back down at Nolan. "What did she look like Nolan?"
"Wavy blonde hair," he gasped. "Green eyes."
"Kate," Derek growled, eyes flashing. Nolan quaked, leaning away from him. Derek shook his head, backing up a step. "She's dead," he told him, and then he was walking back up to the house.
"Kate?" Liam asked. "Kate Argent?"
"Argent?" Nolan whispered. That hated name again. First Gerard and now Kate, ruining his life. How he loathed that name.
"Come on," Liam said, undoing his shackles and pulling him out of the car. "Let's get you inside."
Nolan allowed himself to be lead, eyes on his shoes as he entered the house.
The murmur of voices stopped as they entered the lounge room. Derek was already dragging Stiles out of the room.
"You all remember Nolan," Liam said nervously. Nolan glanced around, left only with the impression of eyes, eyes all on him, judging him.
"Why is he here?" Theo asked. Nolan concentrated on him, letting the rest of the pack fall away.
"You remember the crazy blonde lady that ran past us at the hospital?" Liam said to him.
"The one who called you baby beta blue eyes? Like I'm gonna forget that in a hurry," Theo smirked.
"Yes," Liam scowled. "So turns out that was Kate Argent and she bit Nolan before booking it out of the hospital."
Theo's eyes glittered as he looked at Nolan, appraising him.
"So the little hunters gonna be one of us?" He asked, eyebrows raised.
"Looks that way," Liam shrugged.
"What flavour?" Someone asked. Nolan looked towards the corner where the voice came from, eyes wide as he gaped at the very attractive, very tall teenage boy leering at him, leaning forward eagerly.
"Brett," Liam scolded.
"What? I'm curious. He doesn't smell like wolf."
"Jaguar," Lydia said primly, glaring at Brett. "Kate was a jaguar."
"Ooo kitty-cat," Brett grinned.
Nolan blushed and looked away from his intense silver eyes. Liam gave him a pitying look, taking his hand and leading him from the room. Nolan followed gratefully. The eyes on his back itched.
"Two nights until the full moon," Liam said, sitting beside him on the bench. They were on the balcony outside Liam's room, looking out at the beach. It was ridiculously beautiful here, and Nolan soaked in the feeling off the sun on his skin. It would only cause a fresh wave of freckles to dot his skin, but he was too content to move, feeling safe for the first time in a long time. After watching Liam for weeks now, he knew that nothing bad would happen to him while Liam was here.
Even with his IED and his werewolf egging him on, not to mention the fact that Nolan would have deserved it, the worst thing Liam had done to him was launch both of them off a small ledge. It had hurt, sure, but Liam could have killed him, and he hadn't.
He made no secret of his dislike, but Nolan didn't care about that. At least it was honest.
"Yeah," Nolan whispered.
"Are you scared?" Liam asked.
"Terrified," Nolan admitted.
"I was too," Liam said. "Scott tied me up in his bathroom, tried to tell me we were brothers now." He shook his head, a rueful smile on his face. "I got away and then he and his friends lured me into the woods and tied me up again."
"Is that what you're gonna do to me?" Nolan asked nervously.
Liam looked at him sharply. "Tie you up?"
Nolan nodded.
"We sort of have to, until you learn control. Otherwise you could hurt someone."
"I don't want to hurt anyone ever again," Nolan said fiercely. Liam looked impressed.
"Good, so we'll tie you up then," he said.
Nolan was quiet for a little while, considering this. The thought of being tied up and helpless scared him. He was sick of being helpless.
"How do I gain control?" He asked.
Liam hummed thoughtfully. "You have to find something to anchor you. For some it's a mantra that they repeat to calm them down."
"Like you when Gabe was beating you up?" Nolan asked curiously.
"Yeah," Liam said, sighing as he turned away. "Like that. It's a buddhist thing. What three things cannot long be hidden? The sun, the moon, the truth."
"How does that help?" Nolan asked, frowning at him.
"I don't know, it never helped me that much," Liam shrugged. "You're supposed to keep repeating it and take deep breaths to soothe yourself."
"I doubt that would help me," Nolan sighed. "It sounds dumb."
"It is pretty dumb," Liam agreed, smirking at him.
"So what else is there?" Nolan asked.
"For quite a few people their anchor is a person," Liam said quietly. Nolan studied his face. His eyes were distant all of a sudden, like he was thinking of someone else.
"Like a friend or family member?" Nolan asked tentatively.
Liam shook his head. "It could be I guess, but for most people it's a girlfriend, or a boyfriend."
"Like Hayden," Nolan nodded. "She's your anchor?"
"Um, no, actually," Liam said, shifting uncomfortably, his fingers tangling together. "Theo is."
"Oh," Nolan said. "I didn't realise."
"It's okay," Liam shrugged, his cheeks red. "It's a fairly new discovery for me as well."
"So you're…?" Nolan asked, trailing off.
"Bisexual," Liam whispered.
"Oh," Nolan said. "Um, cool?"
"I guess," Liam said. "What about you?"
Nolan flushed. It was his turn to look away. "I'm gay," he admitted.
"So you and Gabe?" Liam asked quietly.
"No," Nolan said vehemently. "No, it wasn't like that." He shuddered, remembering Gabe strangling the boy as he and Monroe watched. Any vestiges of a crush he had once held for the boy had disappeared then. He'd stood up, glancing at Nolan, but there was no light behind his eyes anymore. He had been looking at a stranger.
"That's good, I guess," Liam said, shifting again. "He didn't seem like a very nice guy."
"He wasn't," Nolan whispered. "I thought he was, but the things he was capable of scared me more than any of you ever has. He was only human, but he was a monster."
"Was he really that bad?" Liam asked.
"He shot up Scott's house," Nolan admitted. "It was his idea."
Liam's eyes flashed and he stood up, walking to the balcony, gripping the edge. He took a few deep breaths.
"You didn't know," Nolan said, shaking like a leaf. "Oh my god, I'm sorry, I didn't realise."
"It's not your fault," Liam said through gritted teeth, his back still turned to him.
"It is my fault. He said he did it for me," Nolan whispered. "He told Monroe it was me, so that she wouldn't kill me. He thought he was helping."
"Helping," Liam said. He laughed, but there was no humour behind it. "Mason was hurt. Melissa, Lydia, Scott's dad. It took Theo and I over an hour to clean it all up. The glass, the blood, the bullets. The worst night of my fucking life and he thought he was helping." He shook his head. "Unbelievable," he muttered.
"I'm sorry," Nolan whispered, tears threatening to fall from his eyes. He couldn't stop fucking everything up.
"No," Liam sighed. "It's okay, Nolan. It wasn't your fault. It really wasn't. It wasn't even Gabe's, really. It was that monster, making everyone scared, making them act differently."
He sighed again, turning to look at him. Nolan studied his face, seeing no trace of anger there, just sadness.
"Don't tell Theo," Liam said eventually. "He won't react well."
"Okay," Nolan said, biting his lip.
"I'll tell him," Liam said quietly. Suddenly, he looked five years older, battle weary and tired. "Come on. Let's go get some food or something."
Nolan nodded and followed him back inside the house.
He stood in a corner of the kitchen, shifting nervously from foot to foot. There were too many people between him and the door. Somehow, the rest of what Theo had affectionately dubbed 'the puppy pack' had drifted into the kitchen, until all of the members that still attended high school were there.
"Where's Lori?" Liam asked Brett.
"Went shopping with Malia and Lydia. Something about too much testosterone," Brett shrugged.
"I guess we'll start without her then," Liam sighed.
"Is he really going to be part of the pack?" Corey asked immediately. His eyes were wary as he glanced at Nolan from behind Mason, who was standing between them, an unfriendly look in his eyes as he watched him.
"Yes," Liam said firmly.
"Just like that?" Mason asked. He sounded angry, and tired.
"Mason," Liam said quietly, his expression pained. "I know, okay, I know what he's done. And it's terrible and he'll be beating himself up over it for the next ten years I don't doubt it, but that's what we do. We give second chances."
Mason sighed, glancing at Theo and then looking down. Nolan looked at Theo as well, seeing the tense line of his shoulders. He knew that the rest of the pack didn't like Theo much, though he didn't know why. It must be bad though, to make Theo look that uncomfortable and guilty.
Liam moved closer to Theo, nudging him and giving him a reassuring smile.
"Are you two dating now?" Brett asked curiously.
Liam flushed. "Um, I think so?"
"You're not sure?" Brett smirked.
"We're dating," Theo said, glaring at him. "So you can fuck right off, Talbot."
Brett held his hands up, eyes glittering with amusement. "Touchy, much?"
"I thought I told you to can it?" Mason growled, turning on Brett, fists clenched. For some reason, Brett looked at Nolan before turning away from all of them, staring out the window, a bored expression on his face.
Nolan watched him for a moment, confused.
"What are we gonna do about the full moon?" Theo asked.
"Dunno," Liam shrugged. "Anyone got any suggestions?" He looked around the room as everyone considered what to do. There was a sea of blank faces.
"I guess we'll just have to tie him to a tree," Liam sighed.
Which was how Nolan found himself tied to a palm tree with three loops of chain around his chest, holding him firmly in place.
The past two days had been very uncomfortable. No one was really talking to him apart from Liam, and he was sleeping on the couch, which meant staying up late until the last person had gone to bed and getting up early when the first person got up. He couldn't settle, not when he was surrounded by people who either wanted him dead, or hated him, or at best, were a bit wary of him.
The moon was rising in the sky and Nolan could feel it. His skin was itchy, his jaw ached and he felt irritable. And if Brett kept staring at him like that then he was going to snap.
"Stop it," he growled.
"No," Brett just grinned, tilting his head, eyes shining with fascination. The taller boy had been following him around everywhere, sniffing his hair and stroking his skin. Nolan had learned quickly not to run, because Brett loved the chase, loved pinning him against the wall and scenting his neck.
Even to himself, Nolan didn't want to admit that he liked it too.
He looked away and up at the sky.
"It's nearly time," Liam said. His eyes shone gold as he gazed up at the moon.
Nolan whimpered as pain lashed his body, making him twist and snarl, fighting against the chains. It hurt, it hurt. His blood boiled inside him, the pull of the moon making him see red. He let out a vicious growl as fangs grew in his mouth, cutting into his lips and causing blood to pool in his mouth.
"Nolan, Nolan," Liam called, but it was far away, down a long tunnel. His ears roared with the pounding of his own heart, every breath overwhelmingly loud, and he fell back, panting as sounds and scents and everything else bombarded him from a million directions at once.
He could feel his skin rippling, fur growing over his face and arms and he was so uncomfortably warm that he tore at his shirt, ripping out of it, claws scratching across his chest, and blood was running down his chest.
"Nolan, calm down," Liam roared, eyes glowing and fangs bared into a snarl.
He reacted to the threat, twisting his body in an unnatural direction and sliding out of the chains, scampering up the tree using his claws. From high above, he hissed at the wolves standing below. Stay away.
From up high, the whirlwind of scents and sounds was a little less overwhelming. He took a shaky breath, looking down at himself, startled to see the cuts on his chest had already healed, the only evidence that they had even been there was a smear of blood.
"He's adorable," Brett cooed, gazing up at him. Nolan narrowed his eyes as he looked down. Brett was circling the tree, slinking around it again and again, eyes never leaving him. He was wary, but his jaguar settled as it was clear that Brett would not be able to climb it.
"Brett, leave him be," Liam sighed from where he sat on the grass, also looking up at Nolan.
"Did you see how his freckles turned into spots?" Brett asked. Nolan could smell something sweet wafting up from the wolf and he frowned, inhaling it.
"What's that?" He called down to Liam.
"What's what?" Liam asked.
"That smell," Nolan frowned.
"Excitement," Brett purred. "Arousal. I want you, little kitty-cat. Why don't you come down and let me show you?"
"Not fucking likely," Nolan muttered.
"You sure you want to stay up there all night?" Brett goaded. "Long time til dawn, sweetheart."
He glared down at Brett, digging his claws more firmly into the tree. He was strong now. He could hold on all night.
By the early hours of the morning, his determination had flagged significantly. Even with his newfound strength, his arms ached, and he longed to take a nap, like Liam was currently doing on the lawn below him. Brett, however, was still watching, still waiting.
"Can't you just leave?" Nolan whined.
"Why?" Brett asked. "I just want to play, Noley."
"Don't call me that," Nolan snapped.
"Freckles?" Brett asked.
"No," Nolan growled.
"Sweetheart?" Nolan frowned and Brett chuckled. "Not one for pet names, I take it."
"I don't want you to call me anything," Nolan said aggressively, eyes shining green as he glared down at Brett.
"I want to call you mine," Brett said, his voice low and rough.
"Jesus," Liam muttered sleepily. "Will you two just shut the fuck up and let me sleep, please?"
"Why don't you go cuddle your boyfriend?" Brett smirked. "Trouble in paradise already?"
"No," Liam snapped. "I didn't want to leave Nolan alone on his first shift."
"He's not alone," Brett pointed out.
"You don't count," Liam scowled. "You want to like, eat him or something."
"Mmm," Brett sighed dreamily, gazing up at Nolan again. Nolan hissed.
"Ugh," Liam said. "That's disgusting."
"Like you and Theo are any better," Brett said. Liam stuck his finger up at him, and Brett snickered.
"You two fighting again?" Scott asked wearily as he walked towards them.
"Always," Liam sighed.
"Why is Nolan in the tree?" Scott asked. He didn't look surprised or annoyed, just resigned.
"Liam startled him," Brett smirked. "And what do cats do when they're startled, Liam?"
"Oh fuck all the way off, honestly," Liam snapped. "You're such an asshole. Nolan would have come down ages ago if you'd just fucking leave him alone."
"Nolan doesn't want me to leave him alone," Brett said smugly.
"Yes, I do," Nolan insisted. His voice wobbled, not sounding particularly convincing, even to his own ears.
"Your heart skipped a beat, Freckles," Brett winked. "I don't believe you."
"Wait, Nolan's in control?" Scott asked, staring up at him, dumbfounded.
"Yeah, for the most part," Liam said. "He's a bit hissy, but that's pretty normal for him."
"Hey!" Nolan objected.
"How is that possible?" Scott frowned.
"Dunno," Liam shrugged. "He was thrashing around a lot and then I roared in his face and he scarpered up the tree. As soon as he got up there he calmed right down."
"Interesting," Scott said. "Nolan, can you come down here please?"
"No," Nolan said petulantly.
"Brett won't touch you," Scott promised.
"Yeah, I will," Brett said confidently.
"No," Scott said, flashing his red eyes at him. "You won't."
Brett growled, resisting, and Scott bared his fangs, letting out a low growl of warning. He pouted, but walked over to Liam and flopped onto the grass, sulking.
Nolan watched him, eyes narrowed, but Brett didn't make a move as he slowly eased his way back down the tree. He almost collapsed as his feet touched the ground, weak from holding himself up in the tree for hours. Palm trees don't have perches, unfortunately.
Scott examined him with his red eyes, head tilted.
"You don't smell like mine," he frowned. He leaned closer, as if to sniff his neck, and suddenly found himself shoved back by two sets of hands. Liam's and Brett's.
"Don't touch him," Liam snarled.
"Ah," Scott said, eyes twinkling with amusement. "That's why."
He backed up and Liam watched him warily, straightening slightly once he felt the danger had passed.
"What just happened?" He asked, dazed.
"You protected your pack," Scott grinned.
"But I'm not an alpha," Liam said.
"You will be," Scott said cheerfully. "You already have the pack, that's half the battle."
Scott walked away, whistling, and Liam turned, eyes widening as he looked into Nolan's petulant face. Brett had his arms wrapped around him, nose buried in his neck, purring happily.
"I should have stayed in the tree," Nolan groaned.
They went back inside, no one really seeing any point in staying outside when Nolan was more or less in control.
The first thing Nolan did was head to the bathroom. He wanted to see.
Liam and Brett stood at the door, watching as he examined his reflection, frowning. Theo wandered over as well, snorting as he looked at him.
"This is bullshit," Nolan scowled.
"What?" Liam asked, amused.
His body was covered in a light layer of fur, a light tan sort of colour that matched his hair. It was covered in darker brown spots, mostly across his cheeks and shoulders, the same places that were ordinarily smattered with freckles. His fangs were smaller than what he expected, and thinner. His eyes were the only cool thing, really, a green so bright that they glowed.
"A kitten would look more intimidating than me," Nolan pouted.
"That's so true," Theo laughed. Nolan hissed, offended. "Hissy spitty cats are not intimidating at all," Theo smirked.
"It's not fair," he sighed, turning back to his reflection. "You guys look so badass and scary. I couldn't even scare a little girl."
What was worse is that he could feel the power humming under his skin, could hear and see and smell things that he could never have done as a human. But he just looked… cute.
"At least everyone will underestimate you," Theo shrugged. "That can come in handy."
"I guess," Nolan grumbled, turning away from his reflection.
"You'd look so cute with a collar," Brett sighed. The sweet scent was back, and Nolan growled a warning.
"Alright, big guy," Theo said, grabbing Brett and dragging him away. "That's enough out of you."
"And a bell," Nolan heard Brett say. He shuddered.
"Just ignore him," Liam suggested, still leaning against the door and watching him.
"I'll try," Nolan said, taking a deep, shaky breath. "But he's very loud."
Liam rolled his eyes. "Ain't that the truth."
Nolan looked at him. Liam opened his mouth and closed it again with a snap.
"What is it?" Nolan asked.
"I-" Liam began, growling a little, shaking his head. "I don't understand how you're in control. What's anchoring you right now?"
"I dunno," Nolan frowned. "You, I guess."
"Me?" Liam squeaked, shocked, mouth gaping open. "Nolan, I-"
He heard two growls from the hallway and his eyes widened. "Not like that," Nolan said quickly.
"I just, I dunno. You feel safe. You hate me, and I know what to expect from you."
"Nolan," Liam frowned. "I don't hate you."
"Well, maybe hate's a bit strong," Nolan mused. "But you don't like me very much."
"There's a pretty good reason for that," Liam pointed out.
"I know," Nolan nodded. "But still, you've never hurt me. Everyone else has. My parents, Gabe, Monroe, Gerard, Kate."
He looked away, embarrassed to have revealed that much.
"Okay," Liam said slowly. "That's sort of fucked up, but… okay."
"Okay?" Nolan asked.
"Yeah," Liam nodded. "I'm your alpha or whatever. I don't mind being your anchor and helping you keep control."
"Thanks," Nolan said quietly.
Liam reached a hand up, gripping his shoulder and Nolan sighed, feeling his skin ripple, his fangs and claws slipping away.
"Welcome back," Liam smiled.