Teen Crush

The moon hung high in the sky, casting its pale, silvery light over the city. The air felt different tonight—charged, almost alive. Noah could feel the weight of it, the strange pull that had been growing stronger each day since his encounter with Kael. The words he had spoken, the implications of the path that lay before him, lingered in his mind. He had spent the last few days trying to wrap his head around everything that had happened. It was as though his entire reality had been torn apart and reshaped in a matter of hours.

He hadn't made any decisions yet. He couldn't. Part of him wanted to run, to turn away from all of it. But another part of him—the part that had always craved adventure—yearned for the mystery, for the unknown. He felt a magnetic pull toward the pack, toward Kael, and yet, he wasn't ready to step fully into their world.

Tonight, however, would test his resolve.

Noah had planned on a quiet evening. After school, he had decided to take a walk through the park, clear his mind, and figure out what he wanted. But as he passed by the small street leading into the woods, something caught his eye. It was a shadow—a figure standing in the darkness, just beyond the trees. The figure shifted, moving with a strange fluidity that sent a shiver down Noah's spine.

At first, Noah thought it might be Kael, but as he got closer, he realized it wasn't. The figure stepped forward into the light, revealing itself as a tall, muscular man with dark, unruly hair. His eyes were burning with intensity, glowing faintly in the darkness, and his lips curled into a half-smile that seemed anything but friendly. Noah's instincts told him to turn and leave, but something deeper inside him, something he couldn't explain, urged him to stay.

The man watched Noah closely, his gaze lingering on him in a way that made Noah uncomfortable. There was something predatory about it—something dangerous.

"Are you lost, kid?" the man asked, his voice low and raspy.

Noah tensed. "No," he replied, trying to sound confident, though there was a flicker of uncertainty in his voice.

The man chuckled softly, as if amused by Noah's unease. "You're not lost. But you might be heading down a path you don't quite understand." His eyes narrowed as he took a step closer.

Noah took a step back, his heart beating faster. "What are you talking about?"

The man's smile widened, showing a flash of teeth that were too sharp, too animalistic. "I know what you are," he said, his voice laced with malice. "And I know what you're becoming. You can't hide from it forever, you know. It's in your blood."

Noah's pulse quickened as the man took another step forward, closing the distance between them. Something about the way he moved, the way he looked at Noah, made him feel trapped. His instincts screamed at him to run, but the man was too fast. Before Noah could react, the man grabbed him by the arm, yanking him forward with surprising strength.

"Let go of me!" Noah shouted, trying to pull away, but the man's grip was like iron.

The man's eyes glinted with amusement as he looked down at Noah. "You're not strong enough to fight me. But you will be, soon enough." He leaned in close, his breath hot against Noah's ear. "All you need is a little taste. A little bite, and you'll be one of us."

Noah's heart raced, his thoughts scattering. He could feel the heat of the man's breath on his skin, could feel the sharpness of his teeth as they brushed against his neck. It was too much. He didn't know what was happening, but his body reacted instinctively. With a burst of strength he didn't know he had, Noah twisted out of the man's grip and shoved him back. The man stumbled, surprised by the force of Noah's push, but he quickly regained his balance and glared at him.

"I won't let you do this," Noah said, his voice shaking with both fear and anger.

The man sneered. "You think you have a choice? You're already one of us, whether you like it or not. You're just too blind to see it."

Just as the man took a step toward him again, a low growl broke through the air. It was deep and dangerous, a sound that vibrated in Noah's chest. The man froze, his expression faltering for just a moment. He looked past Noah, his eyes widening slightly.

A shadow moved through the trees. It was Kael.

Noah hadn't seen him approach, but the moment Kael stepped into the clearing, the air seemed to shift. The man stiffened, his posture becoming more defensive. Kael's presence was overwhelming, a force that commanded respect and fear.

"You've made a mistake," Kael's voice rumbled, calm but filled with authority.

The man's lip curled. "You can't control me, Kael. I've been watching him, and he's ready. He needs the bite."

Kael took a step forward, his eyes narrowing as he sized up the other werewolf. "You don't have the right," Kael said firmly, his voice cold. "You don't get to make that decision for him."

The other werewolf smirked. "You're too soft, Kael. This is how it's always been done."

Kael's eyes flashed with warning. "Not anymore."

In the blink of an eye, Kael moved. He was faster than Noah could follow. The next thing Noah knew, Kael had the other werewolf pinned to the ground, his powerful frame pressing the man's chest into the dirt. Kael's teeth bared, and his growl was pure menace. The man beneath him struggled, but Kael's grip was unyielding.

"You think you can undermine me?" Kael spat. "You think you can act without consequence? This is my pack. And I protect those in it. That includes Noah."

Noah stood frozen, his mind racing. He had never seen Kael like this before. The power in his movements, the authority in his voice—it was overwhelming. The other werewolf, now pinned beneath Kael, growled in frustration, but he didn't attempt to escape. He knew he was beaten.

Kael leaned in close, his face inches from the other werewolf's. "If you ever try something like this again, I'll make sure you never walk this earth again."

The man snarled, his eyes filled with fury, but he didn't say anything in response. Kael stood up, his gaze still locked on the other werewolf, who finally crawled away, retreating into the shadows.

Noah swallowed, his throat dry. The tension in the air was thick, and he couldn't move, couldn't speak. Everything had happened so quickly. His body still buzzed with adrenaline, and his heart pounded in his chest.

Kael turned to face Noah, his expression softening, though there was still an edge to his eyes. "You're safe. But you need to understand something, Noah. Not everyone will respect the rules I've set. Some of them think they can take what they want, but I won't allow it. Not to you."

Noah nodded, his voice barely above a whisper. "What was that? What's going on?"

Kael studied him for a moment before answering. "That was a member of my pack. A rogue. He doesn't understand the way things work. I told you, you're not ready for this world yet. But it's not something you can just ignore either. The wolves in this city… they're watching you. They're waiting for you to make your choice."

Noah felt a chill run down his spine. He had no idea what he was getting into. But he knew one thing for sure—this was only the beginning.

Kael's eyes softened as he looked at Noah. "I've given you a break tonight, but this is your last warning. You're part of something bigger now, and you need to decide what side you're on."

Noah didn't know what to say. All he could do was nod, still trying to process everything that had just happened.

Kael gave him one last, long look before disappearing into the night, leaving Noah alone with his thoughts. The woods were silent now, but the weight of what had just occurred pressed heavily on Noah's shoulders. He had been given a taste of the power that lay within this world. But the cost of stepping into it was steep.

And the choice, he knew, would be his.