With so many things happening in his life, Nyx completely forgot about preparing for the big thing in his life, his first full moon. The first couple of months, the full moon is always a difficult time. Thankfully, Alden and Xander has allowed him to use their basement during the full moon. A half-wolf like him, wandering on the streets, with complete bloodlust is a disaster waiting to happen.


    Nyx stared at the basement door, his hand hovering over the latch. The air felt heavy, the stillness of the house wrapping around him like a suffocating blanket. Above him, muffled voices echoed faintly—Alden and Xander making last-minute preparations.


    His heart pounded in his chest, each beat growing louder as the sun dipped below the horizon. The first full moon. He had read about it, heard countless warnings, but nothing could prepare him for the raw, visceral dread that coursed through his veins.


    “Nyx? You good?” Alden’s voice broke through the haze as he descended the stairs, carrying a small box of medical supplies. His expression was a careful mix of concern and reassurance.


    “Yeah, I… I think so,” Nyx replied, though his voice cracked, betraying his attempt at calm. His hands balled into fists to hide their trembling. “Are you sure this is safe? I mean, what if I—”


    “It’s safe,” Alden interrupted firmly, setting the box on a table. “We’ve reinforced the walls and locked the exits. You’re not going anywhere. We have already told Aiden to take it easy tonight. We were able to heal quickly but his body needs time. God knows, how difficult it was to make him stay at his home tonight.''''


    Xander’s footsteps joined them, and his imposing frame filled the doorway. “The first full moon’s always the hardest,” he said, his tone blunt but not unkind. “But you’ve got us here. You won’t hurt anyone.”


    Nyx wanted to believe them, but the knot in his stomach tightened. “What about hurting myself?” he asked quietly.


    Alden and Xander exchanged a look. “That’s why we’re here,” Alden said after a moment. “To make sure you come out of this in one piece.”


    The room felt too small, too suffocating. Nyx shifted uneasily on his feet, the anticipation clawing at him. “What if I can’t handle it? What if I lose control?”


    “You will lose control,” Xander said bluntly. “That’s the point. It’s not about fighting it. It’s about surviving it.”


    Nyx swallowed hard, the words sinking into him like lead. Before he could respond, a sharp pain lanced through his chest, forcing him to double over.


    “It’s starting,” Alden said, his voice tight. “We need to lock him in. Now.”


    Nyx barely registered being guided into the reinforced room. The walls were lined with steel and padded with some kind of heavy insulation. The only light came from a small bulb overhead, casting long shadows that seemed to move on their own. He heard the heavy thud of the door closing behind him, followed by the distinct click of multiple locks.


    Alone now, Nyx’s breaths came in ragged gasps. His skin burned, his muscles twisted and stretched as if something inside him was trying to tear its way out. He collapsed to his knees, clutching his sides.


    The first howl escaped his lips before he even realized he was making the sound. It was raw, guttural, and full of anguish. His vision blurred, the edges of the room swimming as the pain intensified. He clawed at the floor, his nails—no, claws—scraping against the concrete.


    Outside, Alden and Xander listened in grim silence. “He’s strong,” Alden said, though his voice lacked conviction.


    “He’ll need to be,” Xander replied. “This is just the beginning.”


    Inside, Nyx’s world was a whirlwind of sensations. Every sound was amplified, every scent sharper. The scent of blood—his own—filled the air as his claws gouged deep into his palms. His mind fought against the transformation, clinging to the last shreds of his humanity. But the wolf inside him was relentless, a tidal wave of instincts and desires crashing through him.


    Images flashed through his mind—memories of his childhood, faces of people he cared about. He didn’t want to be a monster. But tonight, he had no choice.


    Another howl ripped through him, shaking the walls. His body convulsed, every muscle screaming in protest. Tears streamed down his face as he surrendered to the inevitable. The wolf side trying to take over, but Nyx fought with everything in him to not to become a monster that everyone hate. After a long moment of agonizing pain, there was only darkness.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    <hr>


    When the first rays of dawn filtered through the small window, Nyx lay curled on the cold floor, his body battered and broken. He felt human again, but the weight of the night still pressed down on him. The door creaked open, and Alden’s face appeared, cautious but relieved.


    “You’re alive,” Alden said, kneeling beside him.


    Nyx managed a weak laugh that turned into a cough. “Barely.”


    Xander entered behind Alden, carrying a blanket. He draped it over Nyx’s shoulders. “You survived your first full moon. That’s more than some can say.”


    Nyx tried to sit up, wincing at the sharp pain that shot through his body. “Is it always this bad?” he croaked, his throat raw from howling.


    Alden hesitated before answering. “It gets easier,” he said gently. “Not quickly, but it does.”


    “You did better than most,” Xander added, his tone matter-of-fact. “It’s not just about surviving the night. It’s about finding the strength to keep going.”


    Nyx leaned back against the wall, exhaustion washing over him. “I… I felt like I was losing everything,” he admitted. “Like I wasn’t even me anymore.”


    “That’s the wolf,” Alden said softly. “It’s always there, but so are you. Holding onto that is what matters.”


    For a long moment, Nyx said nothing, his gaze fixed on the pale light creeping into the room. Finally, he nodded. “Thanks. For staying. For… everything.”


    Xander grunted. “Don’t thank us yet. This was the easy part.”


    Alden shot him a look before turning back to Nyx. “One night at a time,” he said gently. “That’s all you need to focus on. And you’re not alone in this.”


    Nyx’s lips twitched in a faint, weary smile. “One night at a time,” he echoed. For the first time, the words felt like a promise he could keep.


    ****


    The morning air was crisp and cool as Nyx slowly made his way upstairs, every step sending jolts of pain through his battered body. Alden and Xander flanked him, their presence steadying but silent, allowing him the space to process the night’s events. The sunlight streaming through the windows felt almost mocking in its warmth, a stark contrast to the darkness he’d battled mere hours ago.


    “Take it easy,” Alden advised as Nyx sank onto the worn couch in the living room. He handed Nyx a mug of steaming tea. “You need to get something in your system.”


    Nyx wrapped his hands around the mug, its warmth grounding him. He took a tentative sip, the herbal bitterness a welcome distraction from the ache in his muscles. “Thanks,” he murmured, his voice still hoarse.


    Xander leaned against the doorway, arms crossed. “You’ll want to rest today. The first full moon takes more out of you than you realize.”


    Nyx nodded, though his mind was elsewhere. The memories of the night were fragmented, flashes of pain and raw emotion intertwined with the overpowering instincts of the wolf. He closed his eyes, trying to steady himself.


    A knock at the door startled him, and he looked up as Alden moved to answer it. The door creaked open to reveal Aiden, his best friend, standing on the porch with a bag slung over his shoulder. His blond hair was disheveled, and dark circles lined his eyes.


    “Aiden,” Alden greeted, stepping aside to let him in. “You should be resting.”


    “I’m fine,” Aiden replied, though his voice lacked conviction. His gaze immediately sought out Nyx, and he crossed the room in a few long strides. “Are you okay?” he asked, concern etched into every word.


    Nyx managed a small smile. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that? You were the one who needed healing last night.”


    Aiden dropped the bag onto the floor and sat beside him. “I’m fine,” he repeated, more firmly this time. “You, on the other hand, look like you got hit by a truck.”


    “Feels like it,” Nyx admitted, his smile fading. He looked down at his hands, the faint traces of claw marks still visible. “Last night was… intense. I don’t even know how to describe it.”


    Aiden nodded, his expression somber. “I can’t imagine what it was like, but I’m glad you made it through. I’d have been here, but Alden and Xander practically barricaded me in my house.”


    “For good reason,” Alden interjected as he returned to the room. “You’re still recovering, and having you here would’ve been too risky. Nyx needed this space to be safe.”


    Aiden’s jaw tightened, but he nodded reluctantly. “I get it. Still…” He turned back to Nyx. “I’m here now. Whatever you need, I’ve got you.”


    The sincerity in his voice struck something deep within Nyx. He’d always known Aiden had his back, but after last night, the weight of their friendship felt even more significant. “Thanks,” Nyx said quietly. “It means a lot.”


    Aiden’s face softened. “Always.”


    Xander cleared his throat, drawing their attention. “This isn’t just about getting through one night,” he said, his tone as blunt as ever. “You’ve taken the first step, but you’ve got a long road ahead. The wolf isn’t going away. You need to learn to live with it.”


    “And control it,” Alden added. “That’s where the hard work begins. You’ll need to train, both physically and mentally. We’ll help you, but you have to want it.”


    Nyx’s gaze shifted between the two men. The weight of their words settled heavily on him, but alongside the fear was a spark of determination. He’d survived the first full moon, and though it had nearly broken him, he was still here. Still fighting.


    “I’ll do whatever it takes,” he said, his voice steady despite the lingering exhaustion. “I don’t want to lose myself to this.”


    Alden nodded approvingly. “Good. We’ll start slow. But for now, rest. You’ve earned it.”


    Aiden gave Nyx a lopsided grin. “And I’ll be here to make sure they don’t push you too hard. Someone has to keep them in check.”


    “You?” Xander snorted, though there was a faint trace of amusement in his voice. “Good luck with that.”


    Nyx chuckled weakly, the sound foreign but welcome. For the first time since the transformation began, he felt a glimmer of hope. He wasn’t alone in this. He had Alden and Xander’s guidance, and Aiden’s unwavering support. Together, they’d face whatever came next.


    As the morning wore on, Nyx allowed himself to lean back into the couch, the sunlight warming his skin. Aiden stayed beside him, occasionally cracking jokes to lighten the mood, while Alden and Xander discussed training schedules in the background. The world outside felt distant, the memories of the night slowly fading into the periphery.


    But Nyx knew this was only the beginning. The wolf inside him was still there, lurking beneath the surface. He’d survived one night, but the fight was far from over.