Chapter 4
"You mean like werewolves, witches, and vampires?" Mark asked. "Not a whole lot. Why?"
Natsuki took another deep breath. "What if I told you...they actually exist?"
Mark was about to laugh it off. "I...That can't be possible." he chuckled.
"It is." Natsuki told him. "How else would you explain the wolf bite disappearing on your arm?"
Mark was caught off guard. "I...never told you about that." he stared into Natsuki's pink eyes. "How...do you know?"
Natsuki let out a sigh. "Because I'm the one who bit you."
Mark got to his feet. Pacing back and forth, he began thinking. "This is insane."
"It's all true." Natsuki told him. "Not only am I a werewolf, but Yuri is a vampire and Monika is a witch."
Mark stopped and looked at Natsuki. "I can believe Monika to be a witch, but Yuri can't be a vampire. I've seen her walk home in broad daylight. Wouldn't she have burned?"
Natsuki waved her hand back and forth. "That's just a myth." Natsuki told him. "Vampires don't burn in daylight or shine like in those god awful Twilight films. And before you ask, yes they can still see their own reflection. The only thing movies got right is the need to feed off blood to survive. They can eat human foods but need blood to sustain themselves otherwise they wither."
Mark ran a hand through his hair. "What about Sayori?"
"Sayori?" Natsuki cocked her head slightly. "What about her? She's human."
Mark fell silent. "Why turn me?" he asked, changing the subject.
"Because you were sick." Natsuki answered.
"Sick? With what?"
"Cancer." Natsuki replied. "You didn't know it, but you were suffering from early stage cancer."
Mark crossed his arms, doubtful of what Natsuki just told him. "How'd you know I had cancer if I didn't even know?"
"You know how it's said that dogs are able to smell cancer?" Natsuki asked.
"Yeah."
"There ya go." she told him.
"So, what, in order to cure me you turned me into a werewolf?" Mark asked.
"That about sums it up, yeah." Natsuki nodded. "Even though I did, I'm still pissed at you!"
"Me?! What the hell did I do?!"
"You stabbed me with a screwdriver, you dick!" Natsuki growled, glaring at Mark.
"Oh yeah..." Mark rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry."
Natsuki sighed as she shrugged. "It's fine. One of the perks of being a werewolf: fast healing." Natsuki suddenly stretched her arms. "Annnnnyway, I brought you here for another reason other than to tell you about the supernatural."
"And that is?" Mark asked.
"Tonight will be your first transformation." Natsuki told him. "I'll be helping you through the process." Natsuki watched Mark walk back and forth before her, clearly deep in thought. "I gotta admit, I'm surprised you're taking this so well."
"Don't get me wrong, I still have my doubts." Mark replied. "But you knew about the wolf attack, and how I fought back. Nothing logical can explain how you knew exactly what happened unless you were there."
"Which I was." Natsuki said. "Just...in another form."
Sitting back down on the couch, Mark hid his face in his hands. "This can't be real..." he leaned back, letting out a sigh. "Will it hurt?"
"Yes." Natsuki answered honestly. "It hurts like hell every time."
Mark ran a hand through his hair. "How long until I...change?"
"Nightfall." Natsuki replied. "I'll help you through it as best I can."
Hours later
Still in the treehouse, Natsuki and Mark stared out of the window, watching the sun slowly descend behind the horizon.
"Y'know, under different circumstances, this would be pretty romantic." Mark said.
Hearing these words caused Natsuki's face to turn bright red. "D-don't get the wrong idea, idiot!"
Smirking at her reaction, Mark sat on the ground, his back pressed against the wall. Seeing this prompted Natsuki to join him.
"Any minute now." Natsuki said. "Are you ready?"
"Hell no." Mark shook his head. "But I ain't got much of a choice."
"The transformation will be painful." Natsuki reminded him. "I've been a werewolf my entire life and it still hurts."
She suddenly got to her feet. "C'mon. I don't wanna change in here and risk you tearing this place apart."
Climbing out of the treehouse, Natsuki and Mark walked through the woods.
"How many other people in this town are supernatural beings?" Mark asked.
"Not many that I know of." Natsuki replied. "Me and my dad are the only werewolves, that I know for certain."
"Huh..." walking through the woods, Natsuki looked up at the sky.
"How often are the transformations? Every full moon or-"
"After the first transformation, each one after is by your own will." Natsuki replied.
"So, what'll stop me from just staying human?"
"The Call of the Wolf." Natsuki answered. "After a while, you'll begin to feel restless if you haven't transformed for long periods of time. If that happens, you lose all control and go berzerk."
"That sounds bad."
"It is." Natsuki nodded. "That's why I go out every weekend. Let my wild side free for a bit."
"Huh."
Stopping in the center of a small clearing, Natsuki looked to Mark. "It won't be long now."
"So, what? We just wait here 'til- hrk!" Mark felt a quick rush of pain through his chest and head. Holding his head, Mark grit his teeth as he felt them grow and sharpen.
Feeling pain in his fingers next, he looked at his hands to see long sharp claws push out his fingernails and replace them. His clothes tore as his body began to expand. His arms and legs contorted to feature that of a wolf.
Falling to his hands and knees, Mark's skin began to tear as fur pushed its way to the surface. Covering his back, chest arms and legs with the fur, his face began to change next.
After what felt like an eternity, Mark fell silent as his breathing returned to normal. He now resembled a pitch black wolf, only double the size.
Glancing around, his eyes landed on Natsuki who had been gently petting his back in an attempt to ease his pain. Surprisingly, it worked and the pain was quickly forgotten.
"That wasn't so bad." Natsuki said as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "And your fur is so soft."
Letting out a breath through his nose, Natsuki pulled away. "Alright, my turn."
End of chapter 4