Teen Wolf: Sun Hill Pack

–(Markus)–

"John! You there? This stopped being funny five minutes ago!" I shouted into the woods, my voice echoing off unseen trees.

The air was thick and humid, clinging to my skin like a damp sheet. I swatted at an unseen mosquito, irritation flaring with each step. "Dude, come on! Why the hell would you pick the woods for this? Beginning of summer break, and you think I want to spend my night sweating it out here?"

Silence.

"Seriously? Nothing? Freshman year was bad enough, and you want to kick off break with this crap?" I called again, my patience wearing thin.

Still nothing.

"I know you love getting a rise out of me, but this is too much!" I yelled, turning on my heel.

"John?" My voice cracked slightly, the annoyance tinged with an edge of unease.

When the forest offered no answer, I threw up my hands. "Fine! I'm leaving in a minute if you don't knock this off! You hear me?"

No response.

"Fuck this," I muttered, turning toward the path back to the road. My hand slipped into my pocket, retrieving my headphones. If I had to jog back alone, I might as well have music to drown out the growing weirdness of the woods at dusk.

Then came the rustling.

Before I could react, John exploded from the bushes, arms outstretched, a manic grin on his face.

Instinct took over. My fist connected with his cheek before I realized what I was doing.

"FUCK! Man, that hurts!" he yelped, stumbling back and clutching his face.

"WHAT THE HELL, JOHN!" I snapped, shaking my aching hand.

John's face twisted in a mix of pain and disbelief. "When did you learn to throw a punch like that?"

"Right now, when I saw some jackass jumping at me," I said through gritted teeth.

His grin returned despite the swelling on his cheek. "I didn't see a donkey out here."

"Look in the mirror, asshole," I shot back, my irritation boiling over.

He laughed, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "Okay, okay! Maybe I deserved that. But come on, it was just a joke!"

"Did you seriously drag me out here just to scare me?" I asked, exasperation evident in my tone.

"Not just that, no," he said, still rubbing his cheek. "But, y'know, I couldn't resist when you started freaking out."

"John," I warned, my voice sharp, "you've hit your bullshit limit for the week. What the hell do you want?"

His grin faltered, replaced by a rare moment of seriousness. "Okay, okay. I actually wanted to ask if you wanted to join me and my dad on a camping trip next week. It's at a cabin—not exactly roughing it."

I blinked, momentarily stunned. "Seriously? Did you drag me out here for that? Ever heard of texting?"

"I figured this was a more personal way to ask," he said with a shrug.

I gave him a flat look. "I saw you yesterday."

"Details, details," he said with a grin. "You're like the brother I never had, man."

"I'm telling Gavin you said that," I deadpanned.

"JOKING! Sheesh, tough crowd tonight."

I sighed, shaking my head. "Tell your dad I'm in. I'll clear it with my parents—not that they'll notice. If they somehow say no, I'll bribe Noah into tagging along. That'll guilt them into caving."

John hesitated, his tone softening. "Hey, about your—"

"Stop," I cut him off, my voice sharp.

He paused but nodded.

"I'm gonna walk for a bit," I said, turning away. "You should head home before your mom flips about curfew."

"Alright," he said, his voice quieter. "But you know you're breaking curfew too, right?"

"Not that they'll even notice," I muttered.

As John's footsteps faded, the woods grew quieter, the air heavier. Guilt gnawed at me. John was the only person I could really talk to—the only one who saw me and not the "perfect son" my parents expected. But I'd cut him off again.

By the time I checked my phone, what felt like minutes had stretched into an hour. The sun had dipped below the horizon, shadows swallowing the forest. I took a deep breath and turned back toward the trail. The forest was eerily silent—no crickets, no rustling leaves. My steps quickened as unease prickled the back of my neck.

The snap of a branch shattered the stillness.

Panic surged as I broke into a sprint, the sense of being chased overwhelming me. Whatever it was, it was fast—its footsteps thundered behind me, growing closer with each stride.

A burning slash tore through my calf, sending me sprawling to the ground. I screamed as claws raked across my back, the searing pain blinding me.

I rolled over, gasping for air. It stood there—a seven-foot-tall beast on its hind legs, its snout dripping with saliva, eyes glowing with hunger.

It was a fucking werewolf.

Its claws were covered in my blood.

I froze in fear as it sniffed the air, then brought its claws back up, slashing at my torso. Pain exploded across my chest, but I realized something—it wasn't trying to kill me outright. It was toying with me, testing me.

Then it spoke, a guttural growl that rumbled straight out of hell: "Beg."

Its claws struck again, carving deeper into my torso. Agony erupted, every nerve screaming. Before I could process the pain, it grabbed me, lifting me off the ground as if I weighed nothing, and hurled me aside.

I hit the dirt hard, the air forced from my lungs. I tried to crawl, but I couldn't feel my legs they just wouldn't respond. My vision blurred as it loomed closer, teeth bared and heading straight for my neck.

This is it, I thought.

But just before its jaws closed in, something massive barreled into it, the force shaking the earth beneath me. Another werewolf.

This one was enormous—easily nine feet tall, its frame rippling with muscle. It dwarfed the first creature, making it look almost scrawny in comparison. The two collided in a whirlwind of claws and fangs, their battle too fast for my eyes to follow.

The sounds were horrifying—snarls, growls, and the sickening crunch of flesh and bone. My head swam as I watched, unable to move.

The larger werewolf had the upper hand. Its strikes were calculated, and devastating. The smaller one grew slower, weaker, its attacks turning frantic and desperate. Finally, with one brutal swipe, the larger werewolf dragged its claws across the smaller one's neck.

The smaller werewolf dropped like a puppet with its strings cut, convulsing for a few seconds before going completely still.

The victor stood over the body, breathing heavily. Blood matted its fur, but it seemed unbothered. Then, slowly, it turned to me.

Its glowing red eyes locked onto mine, freezing me in place. Every instinct screamed at me to run, but my lower body was paralyzed. At this point it might have been more of a physical condition then a mental one.

It took a step toward me. The earth seemed to quake beneath its weight.

"Survive or die," it growled.

I couldn't answer. My throat was dry, and my mind raced. What did it mean? Was it giving me a choice?

Its claws moved toward my neck, deciding for me.

Images of Noah flashed in my mind. My little brother. The thought of leaving him alone in this world, with parents who barely noticed we existed, made something inside me break.

"Live," I whispered, barely audible.

The werewolf tilted its head, as if considering my answer. A flicker of pity—or was it disdain?—passed through its glowing eyes.

"Stupid," it growled. Then, without hesitation, it sank its teeth into my shoulder.

The pain was indescribable, white-hot and all-consuming. It felt like fire coursing through my veins, tearing me apart from the inside.

My vision faded, the world around me swallowed by darkness.

[A/N check the aux for an announcement. See ya next week friday]