Chapter Seven- Telling All

"And down to the mats," Adam said as the students guided their partner down. "Good. Now, let's put it all together." Adam took control of the class while Shiro circled around, correcting positions. Adam felt Shiro was too concerned about his confession to Keith to focus properly on teaching others; he was partially right. Shiro kept looking at Keith with an anxious look and when he wasn't looking, Keith gave him concerned looks that made Adam suspect that Keith had noticed Shiro's looks.

"Okay. Time's up, class. Good work tonight. We'll practice this more next time." Adam said an hour and a half later. All the students, minus Keith, left the room with Adam behind them.

"Shiro?" Keith asked. "Are you all right? Are we all right?"

"Yes, Keith, I and we are all right. We do need to talk, though. Let's get changed and I'll see you at the front door."

Keith's face brightened as he left and Shiro also went to change clothes in the teachers' locker room. He was soon by the front door waiting for Keith, shifting a little. He was nervous about telling Keith. What if he became afraid of Shiro and decided to live elsewhere and break up with him? He slowly exhaled as Keith came up.

"So, what are we going to talk about?" Keith asked as they started down the sidewalk.

"Well, how's your packing doing?"

"Not bad. I'll be ready the day after my birthday."

"Great. I'd like to take you out to celebrate your birthday."

"Yeah? Sounds great and maybe a walk after that? The moon's supposed to be full on my birthday."

"What?" Shiro pulled out his phone and pulled up an almanac app. His face paled. Keith's birthday was during the full moon! "Uh, maybe we could celebrate before your birthday."

"How come? You know I love the full moon."

"Yes, but I'm afraid I don't, not anymore."

"Why?"

Shiro sighed. "Keith, after our last class, I was bitten by a werewolf and imprisoned the next two nights."

Keith blinked before a smile came to his face. "You're a werewolf now? That's really cool. Not the imprisonment, the werewolf part I mean."

"I know what you meant. I'm glad you're taking this so well."

"I never told you but I love the supernatural and always hoped that vampires and werewolves were real. Shiro, was your imprisonment awful and why kidnap you, anyway?"

"It turns out that a newly-bitten has a special ability. He or she can bite someone and they will change soon after the bite instead of the next full moon night. They intended to have me bite lots of people into werewolves and then they would be bought as slaves. They had gotten lots of order and the buyers wanted their slave in a hurry.

"My captivity wasn't too bad. My first day I was cuffed to the wall and fed raw meat as that was all I would desire during the cycle. I was told about being a werewolf. The strengths, weaknesses, and advantages. I was chained in a room during the moons and I bit every person they brought to me as the urge to turn others is strong and can't be fought.

"My second day was a bit better. I wasn't cuffed but they hung Wolfsbane, one of my weaknesses, outside my cell. It diminished my vicious tendencies but made me feel ill and weak. I had company at mealtimes. His name was Doctor Collin and he is human. His job is to keep werewolves healthy and he seemed to like talking to me. He left me a gift of potted Wolfsbane and seeds so I can use them as a safety measure for this cell I'm having built in the basement."

Keith had listened in wonder and horror as Shiro recounted his experience. "So, they won't kidnap you again?"

"No. The quick turn is only during a newly-bitten's first cycle."

"The ones you bit. Were they any kind of people?"

"They grabbed homeless people and troubled teens and the homeless were young adults or teenagers."

"What's it like being a werewolf?"

"Full moon and weaknesses aside, it is incredible. I can change at will and be self-aware during non-full moon times. My senses are sharper, I'm strong and faster too. My aging will slow, but I'm not immortal."

"You said weaknesses. What else are you weak to?"

"Silver. Touching it burns me, not that I have been. I learned a silver bullet can kill me. Oh, that reminds me, I can heal quickly and my saliva has an instant healing power in it."

"That's all cool, Shiro. We could celebrate my birthday the week before it happens."

"I appreciate that, Keith." They stopped before an alley and Shiro added, "Perhaps you could assist me in growing the Wolfsbane after you move in."

"I'd be happy to, considering you feel sick around it."

Shiro smiled at Keith and then frowned and his nostrils flared. He smelled death and decay, a foul smell indeed. Keith noticed his expression and asked, "Shiro?"

A dark chuckle came from the alley and Shiro pushed Keith behind him as he turned to see a pale thin man emerge from the darkness. He bared a grin that showed a pair of fangs. His red eyes slid from Shiro to Keith and his grin grew. "Oh. Two victims tonight," he lisped.

"Think again, vampire," Shiro growled before taking wolf form. He lunged at the vampire, forcing him into the alley again. Shiro's claws popped out and slashed at the pale skin; to his surprise, the scratches healed almost immediately. The vampire smirked. "You cannot hurt me for long however, I can kill you by drinking your blood. After that, I'll drink your friend's blood too."

"No!" Shiro howled before he lunged at the vampire. His claws and teeth were a blur as he savaged the vampire. But no matter how deep the wounds were, they healed within moments or seconds. Soon, Shiro was panting and he backed up against the alley wall while his opponent advanced, sneering.

"Foolish werewolf. This night will be your last."

Shiro growled and was about to go down fighting when a shot rang out. The vampire jerked as he was the one hit and then light appeared in his chest before a burst of light as bright as day lit up the alley and Shiro shut his eyes while his ears heard the vampire scream before it was truncated. The light faded and Shiro opened his eyes to see Adam with a unusual gun.

"Heh, well these bullet really do the job," he commented.

Shiro changed back and clapped Adam's shoulder. "Good timing. He was about to finish me off thought I would have fought back."

"Leave the vampire hunting to the professionals, pal. Why don't you take your boyfriend home and then head home yourself?"

"Good point. I'm beat fighting the vampire to protect Keith." He went back to Keith who seemed stunned. "Come on, Keith," he said, steering the teen away.

They were about a block from Keith's home when the teen said, "Wow! My teachers are cool! One's a werewolf and the other's a vampire hunter!"

Shiro laughed. Trust Keith to love what he just saw. He will definitely love living with me, a werewolf.

The End