DISCLAIMER: I neither own Glee nor the characters. They are the property of Ryan Murphy and FOX. This is purely for fun. Enjoy!
A/N: Welcome to the final chapter of Howl. I hope you enjoyed this story. Happy Halloween!
Chapter Nine: The Challenge
Lifting out of the peaceful fog of his dreams, Finn felt a kind of contentment that he hadn't experienced in ages. Draped around Rachel's body, he inhaled the scent of her skin and let out a little growl of pleasure when he remembered the events of last night and the reconnection he'd experienced with his mate. He blinked his eyes against the soft sunlight that peeked through Rachel's small windows, highlighting her silhouette as he reached out to make sure that this was real. That it all hadn't been some cruel nightmare and he was actually still in the dark, cold forest all alone.
As his fingers slipped through the curtain of shiny dark hair that rested over her breast, eliciting a soft sigh from the angel in front of him, he knew that it hadn't just been a dream. He and Rachel were together, and he wasn't ever going to leave her side again.
But first, he had to challenge Warren. The challenge had stirred up something purely primal and animalistic inside of him, and he felt the changes coming on swiftly as he tried to struggle against them. The full moon wasn't for weeks; there was no reason why he should be losing control like this. The more he thought about the challenge, however, the more the wolf was struggling to get out.
He tried his hardest to focus but it was no use, as the wolf began to snarl viciously from somewhere deep inside of him. Challenge Alpha! It yelled as he felt a surge of power ripple through him. Challenge alpha and protect mate!
Laying back in the comfortable bed, he tried his hardest to keep his control in check as Rachel started to stir beside him. He didn't want his glowing red eyes to be the first thing she saw in the morning, but it was too late now as she blinked away the fatigue and stared at his face quizzically.
"Finn?" she yawned deeply as she rubbed her eyes. "Are you okay, baby?"
"I don't know," he confessed, his voice gritty and raw. "The wolf is very restless today. He wants to fight and my control is slipping."
She placed a tender hand on his cheek as he felt his canines lengthen. "You don't have to hide yourself from me anymore, Finn. Just relax and allow the changes. The wolf inside of you is very powerful, and sometimes it's better to let him have his way." Grateful for her blessing, he took steady breaths and stopped fighting against the changes, finishing the transformation in the early hours of the day as the wolf grew more and more restless.
"I need to find a way to get in touch with Warren. We need to fight as soon as possible."
She bit her lip in worry. "I know. I'm scared though. I don't want you to get hurt."
He pulled her into his arms, crushing her against him while his clawed fingers brushed through her hair. "I have to fight him, Rachel. After that we can be free of the pack and live like a regular couple again. I can finally go home and see my parents." He begged for her to understand. "I can't go back to living like an animal."
She nodded. "I know a spell that can locate him and send him a message. We can tell him to meet you someplace upstate, away from other people."
"That seems like the best idea," he agreed, not wanting to be near anyone who might witness the bloody brawl that he was anticipating.
They cuddled together on the bed in silence for a while after that, simply enjoying the pleasure of the other's company as they wasted away the morning hours in bed. Finn kept trying to reverse the changes but it required too much effort, so he stayed like that and Rachel didn't even seem to mind. In fact, it was almost as if she kind of liked it.
Sometime before noon, however, the buzzing of a cell phone interrupted their blissful laziness and Rachel reached over to answer it, scrolling through her phone and giggling as she read the text. "Kurt says he's on his way over. And we better not be naked when he gets here."
"Buzzkill," he muttered, kissing the naked skin of her neck hungrily as he trailed his hands up her midriff. He lightly grazed his claws against her skin and she was practically purring in his arms. Giggling sexily, she slapped his hands away.
"No no no. Time to get up." She playfully pulled him out of bed and he slipped on his boxers and pants as he followed her into her kitchen. She started making her stinky herbal tea and he declined a cup, even after her adamant argument that the tea enhanced the power of the third eye.
About fifteen minutes later, Kurt showed up at Rachel's house and blanched visibly when he saw that Finn was fully transformed. "What happened to you? You didn't look this furry yesterday."
"It's the wolf," Finn said, trying to explain it to his brother. "It wants to fight and he's getting antsy."
"Well, when is this figurative pissing contest taking place?"
"Tonight," he said with conviction, ignoring Kurt's joke. "It has to be," he was nothing but determined as another fierce ripple of power flowed through him. "The wolf is ready."
"I'll gather what I need to perform the location spell. Kurt, can you help me gather the herbs?"
"If I touch something even remotely slimy or gross, Rachel, I'm holding you personally responsible for paying for my therapy." Rachel explained what she needed and Finn smiled as Kurt collected some brightly colored rocks and stones from Rachel's shelves while she measured out different kinds of pungent herbs. She handed Finn a piece of paper and a pen while she set up her altar.
"Write down the message you want to send to Warren. Make sure you direct him to the place you want to meet, and make it as remote as possible." Finn nodded and took a minute to sift through his extensive knowledge of upstate New York. Warren led the pack there a lot in the early summer, and Finn could remember a specific location not too far outside of Pougkeepsie in the Hudson River Valley, about two hours north of the city. He told Warren to meet him there at midnight, in the campsite where the pack had once stayed, deep in the forests of Dutchess County.
"Here you go, Rachel." He passed the paper over to her and she reread it once before folding it and placing it on her altar. She held out a map in front of her, and in her free hand she held a cloudy purple crystal that was attached to a chain, dangling it over the map as she closed her eyes and chanted to herself.
After a minute of repeating the spell, the chain fell from her hand and the crystal landed upright on the map, somewhere in southern Westchester County, a half an hour north of the city. Warren and the pack were close, but at least they were away from the outer boroughs where people could actually get hurt.
Now that Rachel knew where he was, she took the letter in her hands and held it over one of the flames of her candles until it started to burn. When the letter was reduced to ashes, she looked up at Finn and smiled.
"It's done. He knows where to meet you." Kurt stared at Rachel while she swept up the ashes of the letter.
"It's like you're Cher in the Witches of Eastwick, or even better, Bette Midler in Hocus Pocus!"
Rachel ignored him and addressed Finn. "We can leave when the sun sets so it will be harder to see your face. We'll get a train to Poughkeepsie from Grand Central."
"We?" Finn repeated, panic stirring within him. "We're not going anywhere, Rachel. I'm going alone."
"No way!" she yelled as the flames of the candles on her altar blew out from the swell of magic in the room. Her diva fits had always been intimidating but now their fights were laced with magic and Finn could feel her aura surge with anger. "I'm coming with you. There's no way I'm going to just sit around and watch you walk out of my life again. I won't allow it."
"Rachel, these people are dangerous! They could kill you!"
"And I could kill them too, Finn. One spell from me and I could ruin their lives forever." Her voice was deadly serious as her temper flared. "I can help protect you, Finn. Please. I have to come."
"No," he said, his voice an inhuman growl as Kurt stepped out of the living room, obviously scared. "I won't be able to protect you while I'm fighting Warren, and you're only going to be a distraction. I can't risk it."
Stubborn tears filled her eyes that she refused to let fall. "I need to know that you're going to be okay," she said, her voice cracking under the weight of her emotions. He walked up to her and placed a hand over her chest, where their hearts still beat as one.
"You will know, Rachel. I have to do this by myself."
She sniffled miserably, and refusing to make eye contact, left the living room and headed for her bedroom where Kurt was quick to follow without saying another word. It hurt him to know that she was so upset, but he was doing this for her, to ensure that they even had a future together after tonight.
All he had to do now, was wait.
It was lonely on the train as he made his way up to Poughkeepsie in the middle of the night; leaving Rachel in Brooklyn had been difficult, but he knew he was making the right choice as he thought about Warren's past threats and the danger that Rachel would be in around the pack. Kurt was still there with her so she wouldn't be lonely, and if he won he would be seeing her in a matter of hours, ready to start their lives together.
Hiding his face from view with an over-sized hoodie, he tried his best to disguise the canine features that had never disappeared throughout the day. The wolf was aching for his battle, and could neither be tamed nor controlled now that the fight was mere hours away. He thought about the pack, and his future role as alpha. Would they even accept him as their new leader? The only person he trusted to be on his side was Nick, but until Warren was gone, his allegiance was still bound to the group.
When he arrived in town he could immediately smell the lingering traces of his pack in the air. They had headed through here not too long ago, and he could tell that they were still nearby. He followed the scent of them deep into the forest, and familiarized himself with his surroundings as he ran deeper and deeper into the wilderness. After running through the darkness for what seemed like hours, he approached a familiar location where his own stale scent lingered in the air.
It was a small clearing surrounded by dense trees where an abandoned cabin stood, steadily falling apart and dilapidated with age. While the pack had mostly slept outside, they valued little places like this for when it rained, and the fire pit was currently ablaze as the clearing was basked in an eerie glow.
He smelled the rest of the pack before he saw them; one by one they stepped into the clearing with various looks adorning their features. Some of them were gazing at Finn with respect in their eyes; like Nick and some of the other younger wolves. Some of them had nothing but hatred for Finn as they glared at the traitor in their midst.
Finally, Warren emerged from the heavy brush and Finn was immediately on full alert as he joined Finn in the center of the clearing. A steady growl escaped his throat as he came face to face with his former pack master; the person who had threatened his mate and ripped him away from his friends and family.
"Finn," the alpha greeted him curtly, a blazing hatred glowing in his red eyes. "Do I need to explain the rules?"
"I don't think that's necessary," Finn said, as the two men started to pace around each other. He watched as Warren forced the transformation and snarled at his competition. Their red eyes met each other as the growls and snarls increased in volume and frequency. There was silence amongst the other men as they huddled around the two wolves in a circle. Finn met Nick's eyes for a moment and his friend nodded his encouragement.
Then, Warren attacked.
His body moved like a blur as he swiped his claws inches from Finn's jugular, and he jumped backwards away from the alpha, using his momentum to land on his haunches and prepare to counterstrike. He flew forward and connected with Warren's chest, knocking them both back with he force of his blow and slamming them against the ground. He heard Warren cough for air as they landed, and Warren quickly kicked Finn in the chest, hard, sending him flying as the pack-master jumped to his feet.
Finn didn't waste any time as he lunged at his target, extending his claws and connecting with the soft flesh of Warren's shoulder, tearing into the skin and ripping a huge gash down towards his chest. He stumbled, completely shocked as the blood started to flow freely from the ugly wounds. Warren grabbed the shoulder with his free hand and snarled viciously at Finn while trying to keep his distance.
"Just a scratch," he spit out, glaring at Finn while they paced around in a tight circle. Finn noticed the older wolf sway dangerously and knew he had the advantage. "That mate of yours did more damage with her little pimples than you could ever do. Maybe you should have brought her along for the show so she could see what kind of monster she really lets into her bed."
"Don't you dare talk about my mate like that!" He roared as a surge of power coursed through his blood. His mate was his strength, his source of power, and he could almost feel her own magic surge through him while Warren smirked maliciously. He ran forward to attack but Warren jumped out of his way and let out a hollow laugh.
"Maybe when I'm done with you I'll track her down and make her my mate after I kill you. A powerful bitch like her would be the perfect addition to the pack." The threat set his blood ablaze with anger as the wolf inside of him was begging to rip him into shreds. Losing the rest of his control, he snapped as he sped forward, letting the wolf take full control as his hands reached forward and closed around Warren's neck. Squeezing, he felt a sadistic yet satisfying pleasure as he watched Warren struggle to breathe, fighting against Finn's hold but failing to overpower him. The men around them watched in shock as their old alpha fell victim to the stronger wolf.
"You knew before anyone else that I was stronger than you, but you still tried to hide it because you were afraid of me. I know that now." Warren clawed at Finn's hands but he ignored the blood dripping down his arms and squeezed even tighter, making Warren's eyes almost bulge out of his face. "If you want to live, then renounce your position as alpha and pledge your loyalty to me. If not, I snap your neck like a twig."
Warren looked panicked, but he snarled at Finn and choked out an answer. "Never. The pack is mine, and your little witch is dead when I find her!"
Any sympathy he had left for Warren dissipated as his resolve was set. "Wrong answer," was all Finn said before holding his head in his hands and snapping his neck, the sickening crack filling the forest as the lifeless body slumped to his feet. All of a sudden, a burst of power filled his every pore and almost left him breathless as strength rippled through his every muscle. He stretched out his limbs, reveling in the magic that surged within him.
Warren was dead.
He was the alpha now.
Looking around the group that surrounded him, his pack, he stared into the eyes of the men around him and adressed them at full voice. "I'm giving you all a choice," he commanded. "You can either leave and find a pack for yourselves, or stay with me. I refuse to live like an animal anymore, but it would be better to maintain pack status during the nights of the Full Moon, so we don't have to be alone." Some of the men looked hesitant, but he continued. "It's all up to you. We should all have the opportunity to be normal again, but we cannot deny what the wolf wants."
"I'm in, Finn," Nick stepped forward and placed a closed fist over his chest as he stood in front of his new alpha. "I might not be able to pick up where I left off, but at least I can try to make a fresh start." Finn nodded his agreement as a few other guys stepped forward. He noticed a couple of older men run from the clearing, but he couldn't be bothered to care. He finally had his independence back and now he and Rachel could be together.
Throwing his head back in the air, Finn let out a victorious howl as the new alpha took control of his pack and rejoiced in his freedom under the stars.
She had been waiting for this moment for a long, long time; anticipating the night when she would actually witness Finn's full lupine transformation under the shining full moon. For weeks she had been begging him to tag along on the night that he so despised, promising him that her barrier spells would be enough to keep her safe from the power of the wolf. After endless fights filled with screaming, crying, and clashing surges of magic, he finally relented after inviting Nick over to test her spells out. She had passed with flying colors, but poor Nick had splitting migraines and muscle aches for a week. She made him a necklace like Finn's to help dull his senses as a thank you.
She was glad that Finn had a friend that he could trust in the New York area. Nick had promised to help run the pack as Finn's beta, or second in command to the alpha. Nick didn't want to return home to Pennsylvania, so he stayed in New York where he and Finn were now working as bouncers at a club in the city. It wasn't much, but it was enough to put money in their pockets and keep them focused now that they were a part of society again. Nick had even started seeing a girl, even though they were light-years away from mate status. Most of the other men from the pack had either stayed in the northern and western suburbs of the city, or left to go their separate ways.
Finn was transitioning back into his old roles quite smoothly, and just last week they contacted his parents in Lima. They were going to visit Lima for Thanksgiving, and Finn was starting to plan out the conversation with his parents, and how he would explain his new condition. They were both nervous of his parents reaction, but they still had some time before the reunion could take place.
Right now, however, they had to survive the night of the October full moon. They took the train to Poughkeepsie together; Finn's face was covered since he had the most trouble controlling his features when the moon was full, and Rachel was holding a giant backpack full of the supplies that she was going to need for the night. They were going to be meeting in the woods where Finn had defeated Warren, and while she knew that Finn had been the one to kill him, she couldn't blame him for spilling blood. Warren was a threat to both her safety and his, and even though it was cruel to think so, she knew that all of their lives were better without Warren Rodgers in it.
They were planning on meeting Nick at the cabin, along with any of the other men from Finn's pack who wanted to join them for the shift. While most of them had left the pack for good, a few of them still relied on the comfort and protection that the pack provided on the nights of the full moon. Finn was more than willing to oblige their requests to join him, and Rachel had a special spell planned for them that she was anxious to set up. By the time their train reached Poughkeepsie the sun had already started to set, and they had precious little time left before the moon started to rise.
Finn ran through the forest with Rachel on his back, flying through the trees as the last rays of light sunk below the horizon. When they made it to the small clearing, she was surprised when she noticed how many others had actually shown up. There were about seven other men here. They hadn't been expecting that many.
"Hey guys," Finn greeted amicably. She realized that this was the first time meeting the rest of Finn's pack besides Nick, and felt a little bit awkward under their intense stares. "This is my mate, Rachel. She's going to perform some protection spells to keep us safe tonight." She waved shyly at them and they all nodded towards her in greeting. Slipping her backpack off of her shoulders, she entered the dilapidated cabin, setting up the supplies she was going to need for the spell; a canister of salt, four totems that she created from wood and flowers, and the different colored candles and crystals she would need.
"Here," she insisted, handing one totem each to four of the men in Finn's pack. "Take these totems and stick them in the ground, a mile away in every direction; north, south, east and west. It will create a barrier that will keep you all from wandering too far away during the night. That way, we can know for sure that he surrounding areas will be safe."
"What about you?" Nick asked as the other men ran off with her totems. She might not be a wolf, but as the alphas mate she still commanded their respect. "You're going to be trapped inside the barrier with eight hungry animals."
"Nope, not exactly," she declared, taking her canister of salt and exiting the shack. She started to pour it around the foundation of the cabin, in a giant circle, until a ring of salt was visible on the forest floor. "This ring of salt will seal me inside once I cast my protection spells. I'll be safe all night long. And in the morning I can even make us all breakfast if you find your way back here!" She finished her task and rejoined the rest of the boys who were still staring at her in awe. "The moon is about to rise," she stated softly, staring up at the darkness of the sky as the other men returned from the task she had given them.
"I know," Finn approached her slowly, pulling down his hoodie and staring at her while his eyes glowed a vibrant, crimson red. "You should get inside the cabin."
She nodded as the other men disappeared into the trees, and she saw the pain register on his face as the changes began. Grabbing him by the lapel of his sweater, she pulled his face down to meet hers in a kiss filled with urgency and desperation. She didn't know what to expect but she knew it had to be painful, seeing as his face was already tight and rigid with pain. His hands rested on her shoulders and he gently pushed her back when he knew it was time.
"I love you," she said as the moonlight bathed the clearing in a soft glow. He nodded and forced a smile.
"I'll see you in the morning," he replied solemnly, gritting his teeth against the pain as she backed up away from him and ran into the cabin. She quickly sealed the door with every protection and barrier spell that she knew, and stood at the window so she could see the transformation with her own eyes.
By the time she made it to the window, Finn was already naked; his clothes a bundle of fabric by his feet as he stood there waiting under the light of the full moon. She grabbed a spare blanket from her bag and wrapped it around her body, just as Finn started to double over from pain. All she wanted to do was run to him and help, but she knew she couldn't as she stayed in place and witnessed the nightmare unfolding in front of her. An agonized scream ripped from his throat and their hearts started to pound as the sound of crunching bones filled the night sky.
Screaming once more, she watched as Finn fell to all fours as his body continued to shift and change. She could barely stand to watch anymore as his face morphed from human to canine, and she finally looked away as an inhuman snarl resonated outside of the small cabin. After a few tense moments where his tortured cries were the only thing she could hear over the pounding of their hearts, she peeked over the blanket and saw the largest, most vicious animal she had ever seen in her life standing where Finn had just been.
Rearing it's massive head back, the animal let out a chilling howl that made goosebumps erupt all over her body as she took in it's enormous size. It glanced at the cabin once before running into the forest and disappearing into the night.
She cried all night long as the sound of howls echoed all around her.
Eight hours later, when the moon finally set and the sun started to rise over the plentiful valleys of upstate New York, Rachel left the cabin with a blanket in her arms and Finn's extra clothes in her bag. Breakfast was cooking slowly over the fire pit as Rachel headed into the woods to try and look for the men.
She didn't have to look far. She took a few steps into the woods and immediately came across Finn's sleeping body, covered in dirt and cuts and bruises yet sleeping somewhat peacefully. Her barrier spells had worked, and she knew deep down that the other men weren't too far away and would catch up with them soon. Sinking down to the forest floor, she draped the blanket over his nakedness and stroked his hair until he started to wake up.
"Rachel?" His voice was raw from the pain as his bleary eyes met hers with a tint of worry in them. "You're okay?"
"Of course, Finn." He slowly started to get up and she helped him maintain his balance as she led him back to the cabin. This was their life now, and she was going to do whatever she had to do in order for her mate to be safe, even if it meant spending every night of the full moon just like this. They were going to make this work, no matter what. "Everything is going to be okay."
THE END
Happy Halloween!
