The Stolen Alpha
planned a small surprise party at their house. Hi
n!" they chorused, as h
prise, and a smile spread acr
"Dude, I got you a new gaming control
his eyes lighting up. "Tha
proached him shyly. "Happy birthday
yes crinkling at the corners
box. "It's a watch. I t
ng a sleek silver watch. "Wow,
dropping to the floor.
but notice Emily's gaze on him. She seemed to be c
u for a minute?" Emily asked, h
llowing her to the
id, her eyes shining. "I hope yo
Thanks, Emily. That means a lot coming from you.
, Tristan's friends beg
Tristan said, smiling. "Thi
Alex replied. "We
ristan's. "Happy birthday again," sh
a strange sense of connection, w
sweetie?" Laura asked
till on Emily. "Yeah, Mom.
parkling. "Somewhere spe
for hours, the scenery changing f
ristan asked, gazing o
cial place I once came to when I was y
se of wonder. The trees towered above, the river fl
edible. This is what I
'm glad you like it, sweetie. Let u
an to strum a soft melody. Tristan recognized the tune
Serenade'," Tristan said, a wa
he strings. "I used to sing this to you all th
arching for memories. "I don't know, I
weetie. You were very young when...when we left. Bu
ed. "What do you mean, 'when
re responding. "We will talk about it later,
acing with questions. What had happened in
d Laura sat in comfortable silence,
s senses began to intensify, his hearing sharpening, his vision expanding. And then, he fel
g to me?" Tristan aske
, her face pale. "Tristan, oh
aching, his bones reforming. His senses gre
fixed on Tristan in horror. "Trist
s they transformed into paws. His skin itched, his bod
tan screamed, his vo
ove a whisper. "Tristan, I do not know what is happ
ented. He felt himself losing control, hi
ation accelerated. He fell to the ground, his bo
e forest, her voice hoarse from t
eams grew louder, her voice echoing through the fore
howl, his eyes glowing yellow in the moonlight. H
from what she had just witnessed. She stumbled
apsed to the ground, her body shaking with
unk in, Laura's world went dark. She
more, the only sound the