Pete

I was rooted in place, unable to move a muscle. Luke was right, it was better to show me this before talking. I never would have believed them otherwise. I probably would have fainted at this sight just a few days ago, but the past week had somewhat tempered me.

I had a thousand things racing through my mind. First and foremost was the fact that an escape from here would be impossible. While the possibility of my scrawny self escaping 4 well built men was already near zero, escaping from four men who could transform into…that was downright impossible.

“So when you said initiation….” I asked.

“ Yes, it means you are joining our little pack”, Rob said in a tone that seemed to suggest that I was about to receive a christmas present.

“ You see, Pete, We’ve told the gang that’s looking for you that you’ve left town. Once you complete the transformation and return to the human form, you’ll have a new identity and they’ll never be able to find you. Normally only people with wolfblood are changed into werewolves, but given your situation, we’ll put in the extra effort needed to change you even though you're a mundane.” Sam chimed in.

As I thought, they weren’t offering me a choice here, just telling me what needed to be done. Also, shining shit and calling it gold while they were at it.

“ How? Would I look really all that different after I transform and return to human form?”

“Well, that’s the part where we need a little bit of a sacrifice from you, Pete”, Rob said.

‘What the fuck?, so the transformation and joining their pack part wasn’t what they considered sacrifice?’

“What’s the sacrifice?” I asked, knowing that I’d hate the answer.

“Right now, the power balance of our pack is a little skewed Pete. We have more than enough male werewolves who enhance the physical strength of the pack, but we’re lagging behind in terms of female wolves who could enhance the pack’s aura and willpower” Sam said.

Oh no.. Oh shit…no…no..no…

“The transformation will end up changing you into a woman Pete” Luke said, speaking for the first time since entering the clearing. His voice carried that strange weight I’d noticed before.

I realised what I'd always known on some level. Luke wasn’t just an alpha male, he was an Alpha, the leader of this pack.

I could try and run away, but I doubt I’d get far with 4 werewolves on my tail. If I refused to join their pack, then I was just a scrawny 5 foot 6 guy in the middle of the forest, who’s a murder witness. They’d either kill me or force the transformation on me. If I go kicking and screaming, I’d probably be kept forever on a short leash. They hadn't let me leave the apartment and go into the shop all of last week.

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I’d walked into this forest thinking that I'd be killed. This was definitely a better outcome, though not by much. But, if they could change my gender, I could probably find a way to change back eventually. I needed a lot more information and time, but I could see a sliver of hope of getting myself out of the clutches of these people.

For now, they were keeping up the ruse, pretending like I had a choice when I really didn’t. But, it was important to convince them I was excited about the prospect of changing my gender and species. I had to make sure they trusted me before I could finally find a way to escape.

“So, what’s it like being a werewolf?” I asked Sam.

“Oh it’s great Pete. You’ll be able to run faster than a Cheetah, be stronger than an Elephant, be able to track better than a Bloodhound and become almost invulnerable to all things mundane. Even when you transform back, your enhanced capabilities stay with you, although muted. But, you’ll still be stronger and faster than any mundane in their peak condition” Sam said with glee, obviously glad that I was reacting positively to the idea.

I pretended to think for a while, doing my best to imitate a thoughtful expression.

“I can’t say that I like the idea of turning into a girl, but given my situation, I don’t think I have a choice. I’m really looking forward to having super strength though” I said.

While partially true, I’d much rather have inhabited my scrawny, weak body than have a connection that I didn’t understand the full extent of with this group of psychopaths who could murder someone without even flinching.

“That’s great Pete. I’m so glad you could join us” Luke said with a sly grin that told me that he may not have bought my willingness to join and that he didn’t really care either way. It told me that the amount of command he had over the pack was substantial enough that he was confident about bringing me in line.

“So, let’s start things off huh?” Rob asked.

Luke nodded in reply and Rob took out a thermos from his pack and opened it.

“First I’m gonna need some of your blood Pete” Rob said.

“ Um.. How much do you need?”

“Just a couple of drops will do.”

I took the knife he offered me and poked the tip of my index finger. I squeezed and let a few drops of blood fall into the thermos. The solution inside sizzled angrily as my blood mingled with the solution. Sam looked satisfied, he turned to Luke. Luke took the knife and cut his palm open, squeezing as a stream of blood flowed into the thermos. The solution started giving off a large amount of vapours. Luke wiped his hand and I could already see the cut on his palm mending.

“Alright Pete, now you drink” said Sam as he handed me the thermos. I brought the flask near my mouth. Thankfully, the vapours weren’t giving off any heat. I brought the thermos to my lips and hesitated for a moment before gulping it down. I was pleasantly surprised that the solution was almost tasteless, with only a slight taste of iron. I finished the content of the thermos in four gulps and handed it back to Sam.

“Is that it?” I asked.

“Yep, almost done”, said Sam.

“AAARGHHH…” I screamed out loud as I felt some sharp things piercing my neck. I turned around to see Luke standing behind me with his head transformed into that of a werewolf, my blood painting his sharp fangs crimson.

I clapped my hand over my wound as I felt a burn spreading from my wound. Soon I was on the floor writhing in pain as I felt like someone poured napalm down my throat. I heard the sound of my bone snapping as my consciousness started to fade.

The last thing I remembered seeing was Luke falling forward before darkness took me.