Game on.
It wasn’t right. It wasn’t natural. He wasn’t sure what to think when it happened and he was scared. Not that Sam would admit that to anyone, but... yeah, Sam Uley - the most popular Senior at school, boyfriend to the prettiest girl on the reservation, Leah Clearwater - was scared shitless.
Sure, he grew up with the werewolf stories, hearing the legends of his great-grandfather Levi, they all did, but they were myths, they weren’t real. And if the stories were real, shit like this happened to other people. Not popular, normal people like Sam.
To say the boy panicked would be putting things mildly. When Sam transformed into a werewolf from the depths of hell, he ran. Sam the wolf ran into the forest and had been hiding there ever since. He had lost track of time, had no idea if he’d been gone days or weeks, but he was worried that he’d hurt his mother if he was stupid enough to go home looking the way he did.
Then one night he heard it. The call of a wolf. It was a commanding howl and it called to him. Sam raised his snout to the full moon and answered, howling from his very soul with glee. He was not alone.
The howl came again. It was closer this time. Sam looked around with anticipation and answered the call with another howl of his own, but when he saw the wolf that entered his part of the forest, Sam was afraid once more.
Sam the wolf was large... huge really, the size of a horse, muscular, with dagger-like incisors and golden eyes. The wolf staring at him two feet away was over six feet tall, with grey fur, a shorter snout, human-like intelligent amber eyes and a tufted tail. But it was more than his looks that frightened Sam. The other wolf stood on two feet... not four.
The thought of retreating was soon screaming in his head. Sam backed slowly and the other wolf growled low in his chest. A warning. A warning that Sam heeded. Lowering himself to the ground, Sam’s tail slid between his legs, his head lowered instinctively as the werewolf sauntered closer.
Sam’s eyes slid closed as he held his breath. The werewolf stood over him, still growling. The werewolf snapped at him. He heard the distinct clicking of teeth. Soon the werewolf grabbed Sam by the nape of his neck and applied just enough pressure to let the teenager know who was in charge. Sam didn’t move... but a whimper escaped him. Which was apparently what the other wolf was waiting for.
The werewolf released Sam and nudged him with his snout. Sam raised his head, tongue lolling out and he huffed a small sound, testing his new vocal cords. This amused the werewolf. The new alpha swatted a paw at Sam, knocking him over and chuffed at him. Sam rolled and came back to his feet, butt in the air, tail wagging and huffed.
Game on. The werewolf howled and tackled Sam. Sam fought back, but neither used their sharp teeth or nails. It was all in fun, after all.
Sam never felt so alive. Nothing in life had prepared him for that night. The two ran around the forest all night, playing, jumping, wrestling until the late hours of the morning.
The werewolf looked up at the full moon as if saying good-bye. Dawn was due to break soon. The werewolf huffed and - circling three to four times - found a likely spot to kip for the rest of the night.
Sam wolf watched with interest and got comfortable. He had no idea what the rest of his life would be like. Life as a wolf wasn’t something he thought he’d have when he grew up, but it wouldn’t be so bad since he wasn’t alone. He’d miss his mother. He’d miss Leah.
His breathing slowed and soon Sam was asleep beside his new alpha.
“Oh bugger,” was the first thing Sam heard.
He blinked his eyes open and was shocked to find he was human again. Not just that, but he was butt ass naked. Sam’s body jerked in surprise, “Shit!”
“Hmm, you’re awake then? Good.” The man beside him said. He was stretching his muscles and, Sam noted with shock, was also naked.
“Are you...”
The man, pale with premature wrinkles, light brown hair and numerous scars over his body and face, looked at him. “Am I?” He looked as if he had to think on his answer and shrugged, “I don’t suppose I am. The name is Remus, Remus Lupin.”
“Sam Uley,” Sam introduced himself and squinted at the man... Remus. Remus didn’t hide his nudity. He had no shame of who he was, what he was. Sam wasn’t sure he felt the same. Granted, the man was older and Sam had bigger muscles and he might even be a few inches taller, but... “You’re not from the reservation.”
“Noticed that did you?” Remus dusted off his hands and looked around, “No, not from the reservation. Though I am currently living in a house nearby. At least I believe it is... Where the devil am I?”
Sam grinned, “La Push.”
“Bloody hell,” Remus said in surprise, “Is that right? Hmm, that’s only the next town over... of sorts. We just moved into the erm... well the house is near Forks, I believe the name is or rather it’s half way between the two really...” Remus’ voice drifted off as a barking dog could be heard in the distance. The man called out, “Yes, yes... I’m over here you flea ridden idiot.”
When the dog finally made it to the pair, he stopped short and canted his head in confusion. Only Remus didn’t seem to want to answer his question as he asked one of his own, “Where have you been? I’m assuming you got lost. You’ve never had an issue keeping up before. You must be getting old.” The large dog huffed and Remus responded again, “Do shut up, Padfoot.”
The dog snorted / sneezed and Remus laughed. He then gestured to the teenager, “This is Sam. He lives at the reservation. Did you perchance bring me a change of clothes. The temperature is a bit nippy this morning.” Padfoot looked from Remus to Sam and back. Remus made a gesture, “Get on with it.”
Sam blinked in surprise when the dog suddenly became a man. That man, Padfoot, was at least fully clothed unlike the werewolves. Remus continued the introductions, “This is Sirius. His dog form is called Padfoot. Sam here is a shapeshifter.”
“I’m a werewolf,” Sam corrected.
“No, cub. I’m a werewolf.” Ever the professor, Remus instructed the youth, “You’re a shapeshifter. You forget, I’ve seen your form.”
“Oh... is that why you say you’re not my alpha?”
“Precisely,” Remus agreed, but noted the despair from the young man and acquiesced, “But don’t worry. We’ll help you become the strong Alpha you were meant to be.”