Chapter 4 : Parking Garage Transformation

Service elevator descending.

Henry Wolf smiled. "Missed me?"

Alan''s body tensed. Old enemy. Old threat. Henry—once trainee under "Godfather." Now Robert Lee''s experiment.

Michael shifted. Ready. Jennifer pressed against elevator wall.

"Henry." Alan''s voice low. Warning.

"Still remember my name." Henry''s smile widened. Teeth too sharp. Eyes too bright. Experiments changed him. Enhanced. Twisted. "Robert wants you alive. Your blood. ''Godfather''s'' perfect specimen."

"Not happening."

"Think you have choice?" Henry moved. Fast. Enhanced speed.

Alan reacted. Faster.

Hands met. Clashed. Strength against strength.

Henry grunted. Surprised. "Stronger. Moon close."

Alan pushed. Henry slammed into wall. Metal dented.

Michael moved. Gun out. "Stay down."

Henry laughed. "Guns? Really?" Then he moved again. Toward Jennifer.

Alan intercepted. Took the hit. Henry''s fist to ribs. Crack. Pain. He ignored.

Grabbed Henry. Slammed again. "Leave her."

"Or what?" Henry spat blood. "You''ll kill me? Like old times?"

Ding. Parking garage.

Doors opened.

Three more men waited outside. Armed. Enhanced.

Trapped.

"Now," Henry said. "Choice. Come quietly. Or they kill your friends."

Alan looked. Michael. Jennifer. Then the men. Weapons raised.

Moon closer now. He felt it. Blood heating. Senses screaming.

Control slipping.

"Alan." Michael''s voice. Calm. "Do what you need."

Jennifer''s eyes wide. Scared. But she nodded. Trusting.

Alan breathed. In. Out.

Made choice.

Let go.

---

First change—bones. Shifting. Growing. Pain white-hot. He gasped.

Henry''s smile vanished. "No. Not yet. Moon''s not—"

"Close enough." Alan''s voice changed. Deeper. Rougher.

Second change—muscles. Ripping. Reforming. Clothes tearing.

Men outside raised guns. Fired.

Bullets hit. Burned. But not deep. Not enough.

Third change—skin. Hair sprouting. Gray. Silver. Wolf pelt.

Michael watched. Eyes wide. But not scared. Understanding.

Fourth change—face. Jaw lengthening. Teeth sharpening. Canines extending.

Henry backed up. "Stop him!"

More bullets. Alan roared. Sound not human. Not animal. Both.

Then he moved.

Fast. Blur.

First man—gone. Thrown across garage. Slammed car. Metal crumpled.

Second man—gun ripped away. Arm broken. Scream cut short.

Third man—frozen. Then running.

Alan let him go. Focus on Henry.

Henry tried to fight. Enhanced strength against... this.

Not enough.

Alan''s hand—paw now—closed around Henry''s throat. Lifted.

"Tell Robert." Voice growl. Beast and man. "My blood not for sale."

Henry choked. "He''ll... keep coming..."

"I know."

Slammed Henry down. Concrete cracked. Unconscious.

Then turned.

Looked at Michael.

First time. Michael seeing. Really seeing.

What he was. What moon made him.

Half-man. Half-wolf. Standing there. Blood on fur. Breath steaming.

Silence.

Then Michael stepped forward. One step. Two.

Hand out. Not weapon. Empty.

"Alan."

Voice calm. Steady.

Alan''s breath hitched. Beast confused. Man terrified.

Michael kept coming. Close now. Hand reaching.

Touched fur. Shoulder. Warm.

"Okay," Michael said. Simple. "You''re okay."

Alan shuddered. Control returning. Slowly. Painfully.

Change reversing. Bones shifting back. Muscles reforming. Fur receding.

Minutes. Long minutes.

Then man again. Naked. Bleeding. Shaking.

Michael stripped his jacket. Wrapped around Alan. "Here."

Alan took it. Hands trembling. "You saw."

"I saw."

"Still... okay?"

Michael''s hand on his arm. Firm. "Still okay."

Jennifer approached. Slow. Careful. "We should go. Before more come."

Alan nodded. Stood. Weak. But standing.

Looked at Henry. Unconscious. Men down.

"Car," he said. Voice rough. "Frank''s place."

Michael helped him walk. Jennifer found keys in fallen man''s pocket.

Car started. They drove.

In backseat, Alan leaned against Michael. Shaking. Cold.

Michael''s arm around him. Warm. Solid.

"First time?" Michael asked quiet.

"First time... someone saw. And stayed."

Michael''s grip tightened. "Not leaving."

Car through streets. Night falling.

Moon rising.

Closer now.

Much closer.

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