The werewolf curse, a legacy of the origin of werewolves, was what defined their existence. To trigger this curse, one would have to have killed someone. It does not matter whether it was a mistake or not, when once one has killed someone, your curse is automatically activated or rather triggered.
Not everyone in Packs have triggered their curse yet, like kids, teenagers, and so on, but it will happen because it was meant to happen, no matter how long it takes or how long one tries to avoid it. And for those who have not triggered their curse yet, they don’t transform on the full moon until their curse is triggered. So until then, they remain unaffected.
But one can feel when their inner wolf is with them, especially when they have turned eighteen and they can also smell their mate. The werewolf curse is sure as hell tricky and can be confusing at times.
Many werewolves decide to trigger their curse on their own, intentionally, no mistakes, so they can train and be able to learn control while some are too scared, hesitant or not ready yet even though they have lived in packs all their lives and seen different people transforming and all.
One thing for sure was that the werewolf curse cannot be stopped or avoided for too long. Avoiding it is temporary because if you avoid it, then it comes to you and eventually catches up with you.
In the case of the young wolf Jeremy, he was not ready yet.
He clutched at his chest, struggling to breathe, going on and on about how he killed someone. The weight of what he had done pressing down on him. “And… and I killed him,” Jeremy kept repeating, his voice a whisper. “I killed him, and now I’m i-”
“Listen to me, Jeremy,” Bryan said, his voice steady as his grip on Jeremy’s shoulder tightened slightly, grounding him. “What you are feeling right now is normal. The first kill is always the hardest, although it was not for my brother and me. But this was not murder, it was self-defense. You didn’t ask for this, but you survived because of it.”
Aiden then leaned closer, his tone softer now. ” And your curse does not make you a monster. It makes you stronger, but you have to learn to control it. We will help you through this, your family, friends, everyone will. You have seen how everything works with others, you are part of our pack, Jeremy, and we take care of our own. You are not alone!”
“Do you understand us?” Bryan asked him.
“Y-yes,” Jeremy’s breath hitched as he looked between them. “B-but I’m not ready yet,” he admitted, his voice breaking.
“You can never be ready, it just happens,” Aiden told him and then pulled him up to his feet, Bryan also standing up straight. “Now, let’s get you cleaned up.”
Bryan and Aiden took Jeremy back to their home and straight into their office, not the one upstairs though, that office was now their private study.
It was much safer for the main office, where they receive visitors, talk business, pack work and everything to be downstairs in a private wing, down the hall.
“Now, care to tell us what you were doing out so late, Jeremy?” Bryan asked him once they were seated, while Aiden wiped off the blood from his hand and also sat down after he was done.
“We understand you are a bit shaken up right now, but we need to know if the rogue was able to infiltrate into the pack or not, for security reasons.” Aiden explained to Jeremy.
Jeremy nodded in understanding and began to speak, “I was not at home. I was out and came back very late, so it was when I was returning that I got attacked.”
“Thank you for your cooperation,” Aiden said to him, not wanting to ask more questions as the boy was obviously still in shock, “Your parents will be here soon to take you home, do not worry much about your first transformation, they will be their to guide you and there are many others too who can be of help, so just wash up and try to get some rest. Everything will be fine!”
After some minutes, a knock came in, informing the Alphas that Jeremy’s parents were here for him.
They all excited the office, and Bryan and Aiden escorted Jeremy to his waiting parents. Jeremy’s parents were distressed and thanked their Alphas for their help. They were also proud that Jeremy was able to defend himself.
As Jeremy’s family reunited, Ryker approached Bryan and Aiden to give them Intel about the rogues but waited until Jeremy and his parents left.
When they finally left, Aiden turned to Ryker and asked, “Anything?”
“No,” Ryker shook his head. “There was no sign of any other rogues, we checked the whole area, every single spot. This one seemed to be alone.”
Bryan nodded, some thoughts running through his head. “Keep monitoring the area, just in case.”
“Agreed. We can’t assume this was an isolated incident.” Aiden stated, “I want you to hang the rogue’s dead body somewhere outside the pack border as a sign, and we will see whether that rogue was truly alone or not.”
“I also agree, that is a good idea. I will get on to it,” Ryker acknowledged.
“Alright, let’s call it a night. Get some rest, Ryker, when you are done.” Aiden said to him.
“Of course, and you too, Alphas.” Ryker added with a nod as he shook hands with them before turning to leave.
“Ryker!” Bryan called out before he had gone too far.
“Yeah?” Ryker replied, turning back to face them.
“We have not hung out, just us three. What do you think about us doing that,” Bryan suggested. “We have all been too busy or occupied, let’s take some downtime someday.”
“I’m in!” Ryker smirked, “I could use some hanging out.”
“Me too!” Aiden agreed, a smirk also creeping onto his face.
“It’s settled then,” Bryan smiled.
Everyone went their separate ways, except Bryan and Aiden, who shared the same way.