《My Boyfriend is a Werewolf》 Prolouge The night was cold. Much colder than it should have been for a late spring night. Alexander shivered through is expensive wool coat.The beautiful city lights of Silverpoint sparkled below the balcony that Alexander stood on. He checked his watch. 11:58 PM. Two minutes till his nineteenth birthday. Two minutes until he became an adult in his parents eyes. Two minutes before he was to live the life his parents laid out for him. "Alex, it''s late." His mother said from inside as she worked on getting his birthday presents set up nicely. "Come inside." "I want to watch the fireworks that are tonight." Alexander said as he smiled over his shoulder. "It''ll be midnight soon." Alexander''s mother shook her head as she sighed, her silver earrings reflecting the light coming from the overhead lights. Her hair was a dark shade of brown, put back in an elegant twist. Beside his mother, Alexander''s father stood there with an imposing presence. And in his right hand, his favorite pocket watch. Something he carried with him everywhere he went. Something, always present and always meticulously polished. The hands on Alexanders watch struck midnight. Fireworks flooded the sky. How lucky Alexander was to have been born on the same day that the city of Silverpoint was opened.The vibrant bursts of red and gold reflected off the glass building. Alexanders heart fluttered with anticipation.This is it. The beginning of everything. Then came a horrifying scream. Sharp, raw and unnaturally loud, it cut through the celebration like a jagged knife. Alexander froze in hear. The joy he felt only moments ago now replaced with cold ice. He spun, frantically looking around the inside of the building. The glass door.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. It was shattered. Slivers of the glass still hung on the frame of the door, glittering with dangerous intent. Just beyond the shards a shape loomed - a blur of muscle fur and glinting bloodshot eyes.A werewolf. Time slowed. The creatures breath fogged in the night''s air. It''s lips curled back revealing yellow stained fangs. The NCS chip on the back of its neck sparked with malfunctions. It''s eyes, wild, unfocused and desperate. "Run Alex!" His father shouted, pushing his mother behind him. But the werewolf lunged. Alexander''s father hit the ground with a sickening thud and the crack of breaking bones. Blood splattered on the marble floor around his now motionless body. The pocket watch that his father held on to so dearly skidded across the floor, covered in blood and ticking uselessly. "Dad!" Alexander screamed, his voice cracking with fear and grief. His mothers sobs mixed in with the creatures growl as she tried to run. She slipped trying to run on the blood soaked floor with her heels. The werewolf easily caught her. Its claws easily cutting through the silk and skin of her mother. I''m sorry,her eyes seemed to say. Alexander''s legs refused to moved. His throat burned. He wanted to run, to scream, to fight - but was trapped in place by terror. The werewolf''s gaze finally landed on him, it''s eyes glassy and confused. It was panting, blood smeared across its muzzle and claws. It took a step towards Alexander, and a low whine escaped the creatures throat, as if it didn''t understand what it had done. As if it hadn''t meant to kill anyone. Alexander''s fear shaped into something sharper, something colder. The creature tensed, and just before it jumped trying to escape, a sharpcrack split the air. The werewolf''s body jerked and fell, a tranquilizer dart buried deep into it''s neck. It hit the floor with a thud and splash of the blood still lying on the ground, its chest rising and falling as the sedative took hold. Security guards flooded into the room, too late. Their shouts and flashing weapons blurred around Alexander. He didn''t hear them. His eyes were fixed on his parents'' still bodies, on the blood staining his white laced shoes. The smell of copper and burnt ozone filled his lungs. He clenched his fists. The world had given werewolves a chance-a chance to be controlled, a chance to exist-and this was the result. Chaos. Death. Destruction. As the guards hauled the unconscious creature away, Alexander''s numbness hardened into resolve. Control wasn''t necessary. It was the only way to survive. Chapter 1 The air in the classroom was heavy with the scent pf antiseptic and rusting metal-a constant reminder of the technology and conditions that kept our world safe. Levi shifted in his seat, anxiously drumming his fingers against his desk that was scratched and worn from the years of use it received. The weight of impending graduation pressed down on his mind, an anchor of both anticipation and dread. "Alright class, settle down." Mr. Zachary called from his podium on the stage at the front of the room, his voice as raspy as sandpaper rubbing against itself. He wore a threadbare tweed jacket, the cuffs fraying on the edges, and his hair, thinning, barely covered the top of his head. He clutched on to his tablet and pulled it close to his chest, as though he was keeping the secrets of the world on the syllabus that it held. Levi sat up straighter, ears ringing slightly due to the silence that had just previously hushed the room. The quiet murmuring and shifting of his classmates left a quiet hum of nervous energy settling over the entire room. "This is your final practical assessment," He continued. "if you pass this, you''ll graduate with full certification in Werewolf handling. You''ll be ready for whatever the world-or the system-throws at you. Mr. Zachary''s eyes scanned the room carefully, landing on Levi for a brief moment longer than the rest of the class. Levi understood that look. Stay in line. Do the work. Don''t make trouble. Don''t try to stand out. Levi glanced at his computer which sat carefully in front of him. His file was open, displaying his assigned werewolf''s information. Deg. Such an unoriginal name for something as precious as this. The profile picture showed a young man with wild black hair, two pointy wolf ears sticking out, dark eyes, and a scowl that seemed to be etched into their very. being. The word "CONTROLLED" which sat above their profile picture, flashed in green. The NCS chip embedded in the back of Deg''s neck ensured that. Levi swallowed hard. He hadn''t met Deg in person yet. No one was able to meet their own werewolf until they passed the final course of "Werewolf Handling 101." Mr. Zachary tapped a button on his tablet making the lights dim to a faint glow. A holographic projection started up in the center of the stage, flickering to life. A massive werewolf, jaws dripping with saliva, teeth like quartz lined daggers. Its eyes seemed to glow with feral light, and for a moment, the room seemed smaller, more dangerous. The projection snarled, causing several students to flinch. "This, students," Mr. Zachary said, his voice icy and unflinching, "is what. happens when you fail to control your werewolf properly." The image that was on the stage shifted. The same werewolf, now with a malfunctioning NCS chip flickering in the back of it''s neck, stood in the middle of the room. The creature was wild and unstoppable. Blood splattered on its claws and stained its fur pelt. Levi''s stomach tied itself into a knot. He didn''t need the reminder of what happened when werewolves'' NCS chips malfunctioned. Everyone knew the stories from the Cross Complex. Everyone feared the chaos that would ensue. The image disappeared, and the lights returned to normal. Mr. Zachary''s eyes were like two boulders blocking a wave of water like a natural dam. "Control keeps our society functioning. Without it, we''d all be living in chaos. Your job, once you all graduate, is to ensure that never happens." Before Mr. Zachary could continue, a sharp knock at the door interrupted him. His gaze flicked quickly to the doors and he nodded. "Come in." The doors opened, two security guards walked in, flanking a figure in chains. The metal links clinked softly with. each of the figures steps. Levi''s breath caught in his throat. It was Deg. He seemed taller than Levi expected, lean but powerful. His wrists were shackled, and the collar around his neck glowed faintly, but just enough for Levi to see it from where he sat-the failsafe of the NCS chip. Deg''s dark hair hung over his eyes, but even with his gaze lowered, Levi could feel the tension rolling off him. A subdued storm. The guards led Deg to Levi''s desk. Mr. Zachary''s eyes pinned Levi in place. "Mr. Brooks, meet your assigned werewolf. For your final, you''ll demonstrate control in a series of tasks, or commands. Remember, you''re responsible for him. If he fails your commands, you fail this class." Levi nodded, his throat parched. He tried to find his voice. "Y-Yes sir." One of the guards unlocked Deg''s shackles. The chains fell away from his wrists and ankles. As the chains fell away, Deg''s arms fell to his side, limp. He didn''t look up at Levi. He simply stood there, perfectly still, like a statue, waiting for a command. "Deg?" Levi''s voice soft, almost trying to be empathetic. The werewolf which stood in front of him lifted his head just enough for their eyes to meet. Levi''s chest tightened. Deg''s eyes were dark and filled with. a quiet resignation that twisted something deep inside Levi. "Awaiting orders," Deg murmured. The words were mechanical, as if they were ''programed'' to say that, they were hollow. Levi felt a rush of anger. His face becoming a flush red, but only enough for Deg to see. He wasn''t mad at Deg. Instead he was infuriated at the system that was essentially controlling him, reducing someone with thoughts and opinions to this selfless being that could only follow orders. Levi''s fingered curled around the tablet that was set on his desk. He knew what he was supposed to do. Issue a command to Deg. Prove to his professor that he was in control. Show the system that he was ready to join the ranks of society. But his voice stuck in his throat. He took a breath and whispered to Deg, "You don''t have to obey me." Deg blinked, his eyes widening a little, confusion flickering across them. His shoulders tensed for a moment, as though he were waiting to be reprimanded. Waiting to be punished with physical violence. Mr. Zachary voice cut through the moment like a whip, almost impatient. "Mr. Brooks, if you can''t issue a basic command, you may as well leave the class now." Levi''s jaw tightened. He looked at Deg, guilt warring with the weight of expectation. His mind screamed at him to follow the script laid out right now, to keep his head down and pass the class. Deep down, however, somewhere in his guts, he knew that this was a test. Not just for him, but also for Deg. "Deg," Levi said, his voice steadying quickly. "Look at me." Deg''s gaze lifted slowly, uncertainty darkening his already deep colored eyes. "Good." Levi said forcing himself to follow the script for now. He hesitated before continuing, "I don''t want to call you that name anymore." Deg frowned slightly. "It''s just a name" He whispered. "No," Levi''s voice was firm and unrelenting. "It''s a name they gave you. I want to give you one of your own." He took a deep pause before adding, "How about... Damien?"If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. "Damien..." he repeated, the words barely above a whisper. Levi nodded. "Yeah. Damien." For the first time, Levi saw a flicker of something behind Damien''s eyes. Something that wasn''t resignation. Hope. The sound of Mr. Zachary clearing his throat snapped Levi out of the moment. "Congratulations Mr. Brooks," he said, his tone clipped. "You''ve successfully issued your first command. Now, lets see if you can keep that control. You''ll report to the practical assessment area after this class for your first task." Levi swallowed and nodded. His hand hovered near Damien''s shoulder for a split moment before he let it drop, The werewolf''s eyes followed the motion, still wary, but that hint of hope remained. "We'''' figure this out," Levi whispered. Damien didn''t respond, although his hand twitched. The smallest sign of acknowledgement. It was all that was necessary. As the class continued, Levi couldn''t shake the feeling that everything just changed. Not just for him-but for Damien too. The hum of the classroom seemed to fade as Levi processed everything that had just happened. His fingers still tingled from the nervous energy that coiled in his body. Damien stood beside Levi as the class continued. His hands loosely beside him, the NCS in his neck pulsating green. A faint reminder of who held the power here. Or who should. Mr Zachary paced around the stage as his eyes swept over each of the students. "You all have fifteen minutes to review your werewolf''s profiles and prepare for the practical exam. Study. the strengths and weaknesses of your assigned werewolf. Their behavior patterns, compliance history, and potential triggers. There will be excuses for failure." The stern warning settled like led in the students guts. Especially Levi''s. He glanced at the tablet that. was left on his desk, scanning over a more detailed version of Damien''s profile.