Alex stayed at David's house and waited until nightfall.
When night finally came, David's mum left for her night shift at the hospital. Once the house was quiet, Alex went to the boot of his jeep, brought out the chains, and chained David up in the basement.
The transformation began. David screamed as his bones snapped violently, as if they were trying to tear through his flesh. His ears stretched longer, and coarse hair sprouted all over his body, even across his face. His mouth extended, growing wider as his teeth sharpened into fangs, and his fingernails lengthened into deadly claws. His clothes ripped apart as his body expanded, muscles swelling rapidly. Even his shoes burst open as his legs tore through them.
His eyes turned a bright yellow, and his face became wolf-like.
Suddenly, the hair covering his body began to recede until it disappeared completely. The only hair left was the red strands at the sides of his face. His legs shrank back to normal size, his claws shortened slightly, and his mouth returned to its normal shape—though his fangs remained. His face became less wolf-like as his body reduced to its original size, his bones snapping painfully back into place.
David felt a small amount of control return to him.
"Alex!" he yelled.
Alex rushed into the basement, gripping a baseball bat. He froze when he saw David standing there, his torn clothes scattered across the floor—reminding him of Sarah's back when they had been in the woods.
"Why are you still in your human form?" Alex asked.
"I don't know," David replied.
"How do you feel?"
"All I feel right now is anger and pain," David said. "It's like my entire skeleton turned inside out."
Alex tried to joke. "Maybe that's why you're naked right now."
"Not funny," David replied sharply.
"So… what are you angry at?" Alex asked.
"Everything," David growled. "I just want to break free from these chains and rip something apart."
As he spoke, his breathing quickened and his heartbeat thundered. He strained against the chains, but they held. He told Alex to leave, but Alex refused.
Suddenly, David pulled harder and managed to free one hand.
"Run!" David roared.
Alex ran out of the basement and slammed the door shut, leaning against the wall. A loud crash echoed from below. Fear crept up his spine as he stepped away from the door.
The basement door burst open.
David stepped out.
Alex ran up the stairs, but David leapt ahead of him, landing above the staircase and blocking his path. With no other option, Alex swung the baseball bat at him. David easily caught the attack and struck Alex with his other hand, sending him tumbling down the stairs. Alex landed hard on his back.
"I told you to run," David said in a deep, low voice.
David jumped down and pinned Alex to the floor, throwing punches. Alex managed to hit David in the head with the baseball bat, knocking him off. Alex scrambled to his feet and ran toward the door—but David sprang up and slammed both feet into the floor, then grabbed Alex from behind and threw him against the wall.
David lifted Alex by the neck and began choking him.
"David… stop… control yourself," Alex gasped weakly.
Alex's face turned pale.
David shook his head violently and let go. He clutched his head in agony and shouted over and over, "I am not a killer!"
He dropped to his knees as his bones snapped again, shifting painfully. Moments later, he reverted to his human form and collapsed.
Alex rushed to him, helping him to his feet and onto the couch.
"Where's your room?" Alex asked.
"Upstairs," David replied. "First room on the left."
Alex ran upstairs, grabbed a pair of clothes, and brought them back. David quickly dressed.
"What happened?" Alex asked.
"I don't know," David said. "One minute I was talking to you, and the next my heartbeat spiked and all I felt was anger. I broke free without realizing it. My instincts took over—I just wanted to destroy something. But when I saw you slipping away, I couldn't let that happen. I had to fight it… or I would've killed you."
"So you're in full control now?" Alex asked.
"No," David replied. "I can still hear your heartbeat. I still want to rip you apart—but I'm holding it back."
Alex slowly placed the baseball bat on the table.
"Where did you even get that bat?" David asked. "I know neither my mum nor I own one."
"It's mine," Alex admitted.
"You play baseball?"
Alex laughed. "Nope. I don't even know the rules. Do you?"
"Nope," David replied.
They both laughed softly.
"I thought werewolves were supposed to be bigger," Alex said, "with fur all over, massive jaws, and huge claws."
"At first, I had all that," David said. "That's why my clothes were destroyed. But it faded—except for my fangs, claws, and the red hair on the sides of my face."
"And Mark and his pack," Alex added. "They were in full wolf forms in the woods."
"Yeah… wait," David said. "Does that mean I can turn into a wolf?"
"I wouldn't call what Mark and his pack become wolves," Alex said. "They're way bigger than normal wolves."
David sighed. "I'm done with supernatural talk for today. Right now, I just want to clean up and fix the basement door before my mum gets back."
"I think I saw a hammer and some nails in the basement while I was chaining you up," Alex said.
"Great." David said in relief
"I'll help." Alex suggested
"Thanks," David said.
Together, they fixed the basement door and cleaned the house. When they were done, Alex left in his jeep. David burned his torn clothes outside, then went to bed.