#werewolf!david

The taste of blood and metal was the first thing that invaded David's awareness. The rest of his senses came back to him slowly after that. There was an ache in his neck from holding his head at an odd angle. His back was stiff and painful from being propped up in a wooden chair. His skin was cold and clammy. He exhaled, eyes fluttering open. It was difficult to tell where he was. His vision was obscured by the heavy metal jaws around his face. He groaned and rolled his head back. As his vision cleared, the dingy warehouse came into focus around him. A loud buzz to his side made him jump. The static on the television cleared and the image of a strange puppet emerged.

"Hello David…"

…

A little over a year prior David had been smoking outside the ambulance bay at the hospital. It was cold and he had his leather jacket pulled up tightly over his uniform.

"Those will give you cancer you know." A voice called from behind him.

"Yeah, like every other goddamn thing in this fucking world." David huffed. He glanced behind him and saw the young blonde doctor behind him. "Sorry."

Logan smiled. "Seriously though, you should see what happens to people's lungs from that stuff."

David rolled his eyes. "Yeah I've seen all the articles online. What are you doing out here anyway? If you're not out here to smoke?"

"I needed the fresh air, and a break from the basement."

"The basement?" David drew another breath off his cigarette.

"I'm a pathologist. I do all the autopsies and…"

"I know what a pathologist is." David huffed. "You cut up the stiffs."

"Ouch. That makes it sound terrible"

David shrugged and took another draw off his cigarette. "Better than pushing a mop."

"Not by much. I'm Logan, by the way." The doctor smiled and offered his hand.

"And I'm who-fucking-cares." David huffed, he didn't offer his hand back.

Logan reached forward and pulled at the name tag clipped to David's waistband.

"Well it's nice to meet you David." Logan said. He released the badge and let it snap back to the clip at David's waist.

"But you should seriously put that out." He continued.

David sighed and snuffed the cigarette out on the concrete.

"Happy?"

"Kinda." Logan shrugged. "I have to get back to work but I'll see you around."

David waved him off. "Don't count on it." He muttered when Logan was gone.

After that, Logan seemed to pop up in every corner of the hospital. Then he started dropping off coffee and sitting with David at meals. David never invited him, he just always showed up. Soon the pair started seeing each other outside of work as well. It wasn't long before David saw more of Logan than he did of anyone else. They had their first real date a few months after their first meeting.

Logan was a perfect gentleman in every way. He was gentle and polite. David was awkward. He wasn't used to going on dates and he definitely wasn't used to dates that involved nice dinners at fancy restaurants and strolls around warmly lit street markets. Logan took David home and they slept together for the first time. Logan was attentive but firm. He made his wants clear and had no problem manhandling David in bed. He still left him more satisfied than any partner had previously, but it was a different side of Logan. David had felt like he was getting a peek behind the curtain at something a little darker in Logan and he was excited to see more.

A few months after that they reached another milestone. David was hanging out in the pathology lab late in the evening, taking some gentle teasing from one of the assistants there when Logan broke in.

"Quit harassing my boyfriend, alright? He tolerates enough." He laughed and went straight back to his work as if he had said nothing of importance at all, but the phrasing struck David. Boyfriend? He sheepishly approached Logan about it later.

"Hey…," he started cautiously.

Logan looked up from his desk and smiled. "Hey."

"I uh…I just wanted to ask about something you said earlier…"

Logan cocked his head. "Sure. Something wrong?"

"No, it's just…," David struggled for the words, "it's just you called me your boyfriend. I wasn't sure we were…official."

Logan cracked a nervous laugh. "Well we are dating, aren't we?"

"Yeah, of course."

"So that makes you my boyfriend." Logan insisted.

David nodded slowly. "You've just never said it out loud before."

"Is that a problem?"

"No! No, I like it." David smiled nervously. He was relieved that Logan was willing to claim him as his own. It just seemed unreal. He didn't deserve Logan, was successful and handsome and everything David wasn't. He couldn't understand why Logan would want him.

"Okay, good. That reminds me. I wanted to talk to you about something." Logan pushed aside some papers to give David his full attention.

The smile faded from David's face as quickly as it had come. This was bad. Was Logan breaking up with him? That seemed crazy, but he was insecure. He sat down on the chair in front of Logan. His forehead furrowed in deep concern.

"Okay." David whispered nervously.

"I want you to move in with me."

David stared at Logan for a long time. He wasn't sure he had heard him correctly. He couldn't believe that Logan wanted him to move in.

"Hello?" Logan asked.

"Sorry." David shook his head. "You want me to move in? With you? Like into your apartment? "

"That's what I said."

"Right."

"Well? What do you think?"

"Are you sure?"

Logan shrugged. "I've been thinking about it a lot and I know your lease runs up in a few months and…I don't think you should renew it. I think you should move out and come live with me."

David continued to stare in disbelief.

"I mean you practically live with me now anyway." Logan laughed. "You stay at my place almost five days a week. It would barely be any different."

David nodded slowly, processing.

"You don't have to decide right now. Just think about it."

"I will." David promised.

…

Tears welled in David's eyes as he remembered everything that he had to lose. The television continued, explaining the test. He could barely process what was being said. Hooked into his jaws? 60 seconds? Reverse bear trap? But when the puppet helpfully provided a demonstration of the device, David screamed against the metal in his mouth. It became immediately, painfully clear what he had to do.

When the television shut off, David was left alone in the dimly lit space. He pulled at the duct tape that held his wrists to the chair. Panic was beginning to set in fueling in his struggle against the tape. It finally loosened around his hands and gave way. Without thinking, David leapt up and ran forward towards what he hoped would be escape.

Two things happened next. The first was that a pin was pulled from the back of the metal trap on his head, starting the timer. The second was that large needle stabbed into the back of David's neck. The pain was so intense that it drove him to his knees. He screamed against the metal in his mouth as a burning sensation spread down his spine and consumed his body. He felt paralyzed.

Tick. Tick.

The lease on his apartment ran up in two weeks.

Tick. Tick.

He was going to fucking live. He was going to move in with Logan. He was going to live his life. He had to.

David reached back and grasped the needle and syringe that had impaled him. He tossed it away but didn't have time to look at it. The body was next. He sobbed as he crawled over to his motionless cell mate. The scalpel was placed just beside them. They had provided all the tools he needed to complete his task.

He grasped the scalpel in his shaking hands, the metal felt cold and foreign. He closed his eyes and punched the blade through the abdomen. Initially surprised by how easily it punctured the body, he struggled to make clean cuts with the tool. The blade itself was so small and with no formal training David struggled to apply the right amount of pressure to get the body cavity open efficiently.

Tick. Tick. 

Running out of time! Setting the blade aside, he plunged his hands into the small hole he had made in the body, and grasped either edge of the slick opening. With a strength he was unaware he possessed he ripped the body cavity open with his hands. David frantically dug through the intestines and organs of the person laying in front of him. There was a part of him that knew that this body was too warm to be dead, as Jigsaw had claimed, but that was not for him to worry about now. In the body mess of human offal he found the key.

Tick. Tick. 

David knew he was running out of time. He screamed through the metal of the contraption as he struggled to press the key into its hole. When he finally succeeded he felt the latch at the back of his head drop back. He grabbed the trap with both hands and ripped it out of his mouth. The device went off in his hands.

David screamed for a while. He screamed in agony and his body shook. When he couldn't scream any more he cowered in the corner, staring at the device as if it could crawl across the floor and bite him. As the adrenaline began to wear off he got more brave and began to investigate his surroundings. The other person in the cell was definitely dead now. Their skin was taking on a blue-gray hue as they bled out. There was so much blood. It smelt metallic, and was so strong David could had to cover his nose to block the scent. He never realized blood could smell so strong. How does Logan bear it?He thought.

He wandered back towards the chair and picked up the syringe that had injected him when he triggered the trap. It had a small white label on it.

LYCAN-37-01

He frowned, having no idea what that meant. Obviously, it was the name of whatever had been injected into him but its name was meaningless to him. He looked around but could find no obvious way out. His stomach twisted, he was hungry, starving. How could I possibly be hungry at a time like this? The smell of blood and opened organs wafted over to him. He groaned. He should've been disgusted, not hungry, not desperate for the meat of his cell mate, but found himself moving almost involuntarily over to the other side of the cell. His mouth watered.

About half way across the cell a debilitating pain shot down his spine like a pickax had shattered his spinal column. He collapsed, spine arching backwards until its joints cracked and popped. He screamed in agony and kicked his legs, trying to right himself. His hands clawed at the air in front of him. They felt as though they were on fire. The bones of his fingers finally tore through the flesh and forced his fingernails out. To David's horror sharp claws protruded from the now exposed bones. His body spasmed and threw him involuntarily forward so he writhed on his chest. He tried to push his legs underneath him but the bones of his feet extended to form another small length of leg, stretching and tearing the skin. His toes made the same transformation as his fingers, forcing the nails out and forming sharp claws in their place.

David screamed, he could barely draw in a breath before some new and horrible transformation occurred. As he tried to push and drag himself across the cell his shoulders suddenly snapped forward and out of place. They shifted from the back of ribcage to the sides of his ribcage, allowing him to walk on all fours. The shift stretched and snapped the tendons and muscles that held the shoulders in place. His clavicles shattered and the pieces protruded from the skin of his chest. A distorted scream emanated from his throat as his jaw locked open and elongated through his skin. Through tear-blurred eyes he saw bloody teeth bounce across the ground. His whole body seemed to stretch and grow until he was nearly twice his size. When it was over, he flesh burned as new skin and hair grew, it like a thousand bugs skittering across his naked flesh. But David didn't mind the pain, he was only thinking about meat.

He could smell the opened corpse of his cell mate and it was all he could think about. His sinuses filled with its too sweet stench. Drool poured from the corners of his mouth, forming puddles on the floor as he stalked closer. He tilted his snout upwards to get a better smell and was rewarded. A tail that he had not noticed previously wagged in delight at the scent. Food. The transformation had left him cstarving. He crawled on hands and feet over to where his partner lay. The gait became more and more natural to him as he walked. Healed skin had stretched over his exposed flesh and grew thick tufts of black fur.

He found that his hands were no longer good instruments for pushing food into his mouth. They could scratch and dig but had lost their dexterity. It was best to dip his snout directly into the gore and use his teeth to rip and rend the body. His muzzle became covered in thick clots of blood. He took their intestines into his mouth and shook, loosening them from their connective tissue anchors. The liver was particularly desirable. Its dense flesh crushed between his teeth and blood oozed from the organ like a sponage. David ate until there were only long leg and arm bones which he continued to gnaw on as he rested. A restless energy soon possessed him to pace and sniff, searching for an exit.

His ear twitched in the direction of the door when its hinges creaked as it opened. He growled and the hair on his back bristled. Stalking forward slowly he lead with open jaws and a low growl. A gunshot cracked the air and a sharp pain struck his shoulder. David yelped and threw himself on the ground, trying to dislodge the syringe dangling from his shoulder. He lunged at the door but it had already closed. The room began spinning. He frantically clawed at the door. He barked and barked. Digging more frantically he tore some of his new claws away from his fingers as the room began to dim and shift. He swayed and tried to move away from the door, but his limbs tangled together, tripping him. He collapsed with the world spinning around him. Footsteps approached as his consciousness faded.

…

David's throat felt like it was full of glass when he tried to swallow. He groaned and stretched his body. It felt like he had been hit by a truck, every muscle and tendon fiber ached. There was an annoying, steady beeping sound that seemed to be getting closer all the time. His eyes felt like they were full of sand when he opened them. The world was blurry and painfully bright. The annoying beeping continued. When he tried to bring his hand up to rub his eyes he found that it was bound to a rail at the side of his bed by a metal handcuff. Panic immediately surged through his veins. A high pitched crackling sound that might've been a scream if his lungs had been up for it scraped his throat. There was something over his mouth. His other hand flung up and ripped the oxygen mask off his face. His nostrils were suddenly flooded with the familiar scent of high grade disinfectant chemicals. Another scream tried to erupt from his throat as he tried to leap off the bed. Someone caught him by the shoulders and pushed him down.

"No! No!" David's voice was thin and raspy.

"David. David. Stop. It's okay. It's okay. It's me." A voice said above him.

David stilled. That voice was familiar to him.

"Logan?" He barely rasped out.

"Yes, it's Logan. It's okay. You're safe."

Logan tilted David's head up to look at him. Through his blurry vision David was pretty sure he could see Logan. He started tearing up. The tears burned his eyes. He pushed the back of his hand into his eyelids. Logan grasped his wrist and gently pulled it away.

"I know. I know. Don't rub them. You'll make it worse."

"Logan I…"

"Don't try to talk okay? The police are going to question you."

David made a panicked sound.

"It's okay. You're not in trouble. They have questions about what happened to you."

Me too, lots of questions, David thought.

"Just answer as honestly as you can okay?" Logan smiled.

David nodded.

Logan grabbed a nearby cup and moved to present it to David's lips. David pulled away, trembling.

"It's okay." Logan assured him. "It's just warm water and honey, for your throat."

That did sound nice. David allowed it. The warm solution was soothing on his throat. He was able to relax a little with Logan there. For the next few hours he dozed off and on while Logan quietly talked to a series of nurses and doctors. David didn't worry about it, he was more than happy to let Logan handle all the details.

David was comfortably napping when the police arrived to take his statement. Logan kissed his forehead to wake him.

"Hey." Logan smiled. "The police are here. They need to take your statement."

David sat up, he eyed the police nervously.

"Um…" He croaked.

"It's okay." Logan soothed. "Just answer as best as you can."

David nodded. For the next hour the police questioned him about every possible detail of his kidnapping and torture. He answered to the best of his memory, which was still pretty sharp considering. The adrenaline had seared the events into the fibers of his brain. He wasn't sure he would ever be able to forget, even if he wanted to. Things only got a little fuzzy towards the end of their interview.

"And after you got the device off, what happened? Do you remember where you were being held?" The detective asked.

David hesitated, remembering his violent transformation. That couldn't have really happened, it wasn't physically possible. He must've been hallucinating. Right, that was the only reasonable explanation, whatever they had injected him with must have made him hallucinated. None of that could've really happened. He couldn't tell the police anything about it. They would think he was crazy. He wasn't crazy. He knew he wasn't crazy. It was just the drugs. It was just a hallucination.

"I…I don't remember."

The detective lifted an eyebrow.

"Really?" They asked. "You don't remember anything after that?"

David shook his head. "I don't know what they injected me with. Maybe that made me forget?" He offered.

The detective shrugged. "It's possible that it was some kind of amnesiac. Would you consent to a drug screening? Just for the usual stuff: narcotics, date-rape drugs, sedatives. That might help us figure out what was injected into you."

David nodded. "That's fine."

"Great." The detective smiled. "If you remember anything else, please let us know."

He extended his hand with his card. Logan reached out and took the card from the detective.

"Thank you both." He nodded to Logan.

Logan seemed irritated. "Can you uncuff him now please?"

The detective seemed a little taken aback at the hostility in Logan's voice.

"Of course. Sorry, it's standard protocol."

"He's not a criminal."

"I understand sir, it's just…"

"Just fucking uncuff him." Logan hissed.

The two men glared at each other. David watched, confused. He had never seen Logan like this before. Normally Logan was amenable to even the most annoying or brutish people. That was some of his charm, it's part of what made him so good at his job. Finally, the detective broke and uncuffed David from the bed rail.

"Thank you." David croaked.

The detective didn't say anything to him. He nodded his goodbyes and left. David looked to Logan for an explanation, but Logan didn't offer any. Instead he stuck his head out of the room and flagged down a nurse.

"When can he be discharged?" Logan demanded, impatiently.

"The doctor wants to keep him overnight for observation."

"What? Why? He's stable. There's nothing wrong with him. He had no serious injuries."

"It's just a precaution."

"It's ridiculous."

"Dr. Nelson…"

"Listen, Casey, you know me. I'm a doctor." Logan's tone softened considerably.

"You're a pathologist." They cut in.

"I went to medical school." He huffed, "and I was a combat medic. The point is, I can keep an eye on him. I'll take care of him, I promise. The best thing for him right now is to get home and rest."

The nurse sighed heavily.

"Please."

"Okay." They finally consented. "I'll talk to Dr. Gomez and see what I can do, but I can't make any promises."

"Thank you."

The nurse shook their head and left the room. David watched Logan curiously. Logan's behavior was a mystery to him.

"It's…okay…Loga-"

"Shhhh, try to stay quiet okay? I'll get you out of here so you can get some proper rest."

David nodded slowly. His sinuses felt like they were full of cotton balls. He tried to swallow but his throat was too dry. Sensing this, Logan lifted the warm honeyed water to his lips and helped him drink. David relaxed against the bed and let his eyes slip closed.

"We'll get you home soon." Logan murmured as he squeezed David's hand.

David had almost fallen asleep again when the nurse came back with a treatment cart.

"Okay Mr. Radford, we have a couple of treatments we need to do and then we can get you discharged okay?" They smiled at David warmly so he smiled back.

Logan was watching intensely, impatient. David couldn't understand why he was being this way.

"We'll draw some blood for testing, then give a couple of vaccines." The nurse explained.

David nodded but Logan cut in immediately.

"Vaccines for what?"

"Just hepatitis and tetanus."

Logan nodded and allowed them to come to David's side. They drew a startling amount of blood, filling tube after tube from the needle in his vein, he began to get worried that he would have any blood left. After nearly exsanguinating him, the nurse administered a few vaccines.

"Unfortunately, those will probably have you feeling a bit under the weather for the next couple of days."

"I'm not sure how I could possibly feel any worse." David whispered.

The nurse smiled sympathetically.

"Oh, and please take these." They handed over a cup with a couple small pills.

"What are these?"

"Anti-virals. It's um…it's for HIV."

"Oh."

"It's just… we can't rule out that you could've been exposed."

"No, I understand." David nodded.

The nurse took a breath to say something else but Logan cut them off.

"Is that everything you needed to do?" There was an angry edge to his voice.

The nurse nodded. "Yep. I'll get him a wheelchair and be back to help with his discharge."

The moment the nurse left Logan grasped David's wrist, preventing him from taking the medications.

"Don't take that." He whispered.

"Why?" David was taken aback again at Logan's behavior, it wasn't like him to question medical advice. This change in him was scaring him a little, he had never seen Logan so aggressive. Perhaps he should've been flattered that Logan was acting this way to protect him, but there was something strikingly off-putting about it.

"They can make you feel sick. You don't need to feel any worse than you already do."

"But-"

"They're testing you for all that stuff. If it's an issue you can take it then. Just…give them to me."

Logan thrust his hand out expectantly. That didn't sound quite right to David but he was too weak to argue with him. He timidly placed the small paper cup into Logan's palm. Logan crumpled it in his hand and tucked it into his jacket pocket.

"Good. It'll be okay." Logan smiled. "I'll be right back. I'm going to pull the car around the nurse will bring you down in a wheelchair, okay?"

"Wait-"

"What's wrong?"

"Don't…don't leave." David could feel his throat getting tight with anxiety.

Logan nodded slowly. "Okay. I'll stay until the nurse gets back. I brought some clothes for you. Do you want to get changed?"

David nodded. Logan helped changed him into a set of sweats and slip into a pair of sneakers. David felt like a small child as Logan guided his limbs but he just wanted to be taken care of so he melted into the touch. He let Logan take over, trusting him completely. When the nurse arrived Logan had him cleaned and changed and had his bag packed. He helped the nurse load David into the wheelchair and went with them down the elevator, he only left when they reached the lobby and had to get the car. David waited patiently with the nurse.

"He's awful protective, isn't he?" The nurse huffed.

David shook his head. "He's just worried about me. He's not usually like that."

"Sure." They said sarcastically.

"What's that supposed to mean?" David hissed, irritated.

"I've heard things about Dr. Nelson, and his temper."

"What are you talking about? Logan doesn't have a temper."

The nurse huffed a laugh. "That's what you think. I guess he's been putting on quite the show for you, huh?"

"Hey!" David struggled to stand up. "Don't talk about him like that! He's just really protective, you have no idea what you're talking about!"

"You'll find out sooner or later." They said.

David felt a sudden strength in himself. He lunged forward and grabbed the nurse by the collar, threatening to rip their throat out. The nurse screamed and David was caught around the waist and pulled back.

"What are you doing?!" It was Logan.

David flailed. "They- they-!"

"Stop! Come on. Get in the car." Logan grabbed the back of his sweatshirt and pushed him forward out of the lobby and towards the car.

"What were you thinking?" Logan hissed.

David couldn't hear him, the sound of his blood pulsing in his ears was too loud. His skin felt tight. Oh my god, it's happening again. Panic gripped at his throat. Blood suddenly poured from his nostrils. He whimpered.

"Whoa, are you okay?" Logan asked as he pressed a napkin into David's nose.

"Take a breath, just relax." Logan guided him.

David was trembling. He tried to focus on the slow movement of Logan gently rubbing his back in slow, intentional circles. The trembling stopped, the bleeding slowed, and the tight feeling in his skin ebbed. Relief flowed over him.

"Let's get you home okay? Just try to relax."

David nodded.

He slept most of the way home. When he woke up he realized that Logan had driven them back to his apartment, not David's.

"Where-"

"You're going to stay with me for a while." Logan said. It wasn't a question, it was a statement.

"I don't want you to have to do that."

"Hey, you just went through something horrible. Let me take care of you."

Having Logan take care of him for a while did sound pretty nice. He nodded. Logan led him up to the apartment and let him in. David immediately felt better in the familiar space.

"David? Why don't you lie down for a while? You've been up and about a lot today. I don't want you to do over do it."

David laughed. "I'm not an invalid, Logan. I'm okay."

Logan looked at him with an expression that said he wasn't taking no for an answer.

"Do you want to lie down out here or in the bedroom?"

David sighed. "I'll lay down in the bedroom. It'll be nice to be in a real bed."

Logan nodded and led him down the hall. He changed into another new set of sweats since the others had been soiled with blood from his nose, and tucked himself into the neatly made bed. Logan always made the bed, a left over from when he was a combat medic. A reminder of an earlier life that Logan didn't really talk about and didn't share with David. Sometimes that made David feel distant from him, but right now he just accepted the clean bed.

David woke with a wave of nausea that forced him into sitting straight upright. He gagged, his mouth filled with saliva, he tried to swallow but this made him gag again. He jumped out of bed and rushed to the attached bathroom. He barely made it over the edge of the toilet before purging the contents of his stomach. When he was finished he stared at the contents swirling in the bowl through bleary eyes. He was shocked to see the liquid was dark red, large chunks of meat were settling to the bottom along with a single human vertebrae. He screamed when he saw it. That isn't possible, he thought. That would mean that what he experienced after the trap wasn't a hallucination at all but a real thing that he couldn't explain.

"David?" Logan called from down the hall. "Are you okay? I heard you scream."

"Shit. Shit." David murmured to himself. He rushed to flush the toilet and hide its contents. When not everything disappeared he frantically tried to flush again.

"David?" Logan was getting closer.

David slid across the bathroom floor and locked the door. When Logan got there he tried the knob unsuccessfully, then knocked.

"David? Open the door. Are you okay?"

"I- I'm okay!" David called back as he waiting for the toilet bowl to fill so he could flush again.

Logan tried the door again. "David the door is locked, please open the door!"

"I'm okay! Just give me a minute!"

Finally he was able to flush the toilet again and the rest of the gore disappeared. Relief waved over him again, but now Logan was pounding on the door.

"David! Open the door!" He sounded angry.

David stared at the door for a moment, startled. Why does he sound angry? That's so unlike him. He unlocked the door and slowly opened it. Logan grabbed the edge of the door to keep him from shutting it again.

"Are you alright? What happened?" Logan asked as he pushed his way into the bathroom.

"Nothing. I just threw up." David took a step back.

"Are you okay?" Logan pressed the back of his hand to David's forehead. "Should we bring you back to the hospital? They can take x-rays."

David almost fainted, he couldn't let them take x-rays. If his guts were full of bones people would think that he had murdered and eaten that man. He had, but it wasn't really him. It was…something else. Something he couldn't explain.

"No! No, I don't need to go to the hospital."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure. I'm okay, I promise."

Logan nodded.

"I'd like to lie down on the couch now, close to you."

Logan smiled. "Of course."

David spent the rest of the evening settled on the couch, watching Logan keep himself busy in the kitchen. Logan was apparently making them an elaborate meal.

"You don't have to do all that." David said.

"I know, but I want to. I'm happy that you're home, and I'm happy that you're safe. I just…I don't know what I would've have done if you hadn't survived."

David's eyebrows furrowed. There was something strange about the way Logan had worded that but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. It just felt off. David tried to shake it off. Surely he was just being paranoid. Everything was fine. He was home now. He was with Logan, and Logan was safe.

The dinner Logan prepared was immaculate. David looked over the plates of food, he took a deep inhale of the smell, but it didn't stir his hunger. If anything, it dampened his hunger. It wasn't that it smelt bad, it smelt incredible. It just didn't smell like something he wanted to eat. He couldn't explain it. He let Logan talk as he picked over the food. He could only bring himself to stomach a few bites.

"Something wrong with the food?" Logan asked, concerned.

David shook his head. "Not at all. It's great…I'm just…"

Logan frowned. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done all this. You're still recovering. I'm not surprised you don't have a stomach for all of this right now."

David lifted an eyebrow, he had expected Logan to be angry.

"I'm sorry, David, I should know better. Trauma is a difficult thing. Hell I know I…well…it's okay. I can make you something else if you want."

There it was again, that secret life that Logan had. The Before that David wasn't allowed to know about. Logan never let himself talk about it, and David had never been brave enough to ask. Tonight wasn't the night either. He was too tired, too weak. He just shook his head.

"No. I'm okay. I think I'd just like to go to bed if that's alright."

Logan seemed disappointed, but he nodded. "Yeah of course."

He stood to help David out of his chair but David waved him off.

"I've got it. I'm going to take a shower."

Logan nodded. "Whatever you need. I'll clean up here."

David felt like he was in a fog as he walked down the hallway. He swayed slightly, feeling both too light and too heavy at the same time. When he stumbled into the bathroom he started the hot water of the shower and prayed that it would make him feel better. I just need to relax, he thought. Everything is fine, I just need to relax. The bathroom started to fill with steam. His eyes burned, he rubbed at them in front of the mirror. His sinuses felt like they might explode. I must have some kinda sinus infection, he mused. Great, just what I need. As he dragged his hand across his face he felt his front teeth give slightly in their sockets. He opened his mouth and blood and teeth trickled out. He stared at himself in the mirror, eyes and mouth wide open in a silent scream. His fingers probed the soft gums and found new, larger canid teeth pushing their way in. His jaws felt like they would fall away they ached so badly. He groaned. I'm hallucinating. I'm just hallucinating. I need to clam down. David pulled himself away from the mirror and stumbled into shower. He let the hot water pour over his face and shoulders. He ran his fingers through his hair. This was a mistake.

Large clumps of hair pulled loose from his scalp and landed on his shoulders. He slowly lifted fistfuls of the aberrant hair away from his scalp and held it in his hands.

"What the fuck?" He whimpered.

He threw the clumps of hair against the wall of the shower.

"What the fuck? What the fuck?" He slowly slid down to the floor and curled into a ball. He rocked himself back and forth.

"No." He whimpered. "Please stop."

He pulled more clumps of hair from his scalp. His body shuddered and he growled. His entire head felt like it might implode, everything was so painful. A sharp pain ran through his hands, his fingers. He held his shaking hands out in time to see his nails pressed out by sharp claws. He screeched and clawed at the walls, gouging the tile.

"Fuck! Fuck!"

David shivered in the corner of the shower, slowly pulling what was left of his hair out. His skin burned. When he touched the areas of skin that burned the most he could feel a thick stubbly fur growing. He cried out.

"This can't be happening. Fuck." David whimpered. "This can't be happening."

David was startled by a sudden knock at the bathroom door.

"David?" It was Logan. "Are you okay?"

David froze. "I…I'm okay!" He called from the shower.

"You're sure?"

"Yep!" David's voice was short and clipped.

David heard the door of the bathroom open. At first he made a move to stop Logan, but then remembering the clumps of hair he lost quickly enclosed himself back in the shower.

"Logan!" David panicked. He remembered the teeth he lost. He hadn't cleaned them out of the sink.

"Are you okay?" Logan asked. He grasped the edge of the shower curtain.

"No! No. Don't come in!"

"What's wrong?" Logan sounded panicked.

"I'm just…please…I just need a minute."

"O…okay…"

There was a long silence. David invisioned him finding the teeth in the sink and getting worrried. Logan didn't say anything. It made David nervous.

"Logan?"

"Yes?"

"I…I'll be out in just a minute. I…"

"It's okay David. Take all the time you need. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you, I just worry about you."

David didn't say anything. He prayed Logan wouldn't notice the teeth in the sink.

"I…I'm going to get ready for bed." Logan said.

"Okay." David said trying to gently shut Logan down.

Shortly after, he heard Logan leave the bathroom and heaved a sighed of relief. He leaned back against the wall of the shower and took a deep breath. Breathe. Just breathe. Calm down. He tried to reassure himself and relax against the wall of the shower. A few deep breaths and he nearly fell asleep before his body seized. His jaw locked open in a silent scream as his claws and teeth retracted. He moaned and gasped as the fur fell away and the stinging of his skin began again as new, soft hair began to take its place.

David was trapped in place, twitching and breathless until the transformation was over, until he was himself again. He exited the shower trembling and chattering. When he got to the sink he noticed there were no teeth remaining, just a moderate amount of blood. He stared into the sink for a while trying to understand this. Had he been hallucinating about losing his teeth? He remembered the nose bleed he had suffered at the hospital. It was just a nose bleed, he thought to himself. No teeth, nothing to worry about. When looked into the shower, though, he still saw the large clumps of hair he had lost. Was that a hallucination? He wasn't sure. Logan hadn't said anything about the teeth so they must not have been real. Was the hair real? David carefully scraped it off the walls of the shower. It definitely felt real. He gathered it into clumps and hid it under the sink.

After getting himself together, David shuffled out of the bathroom and into the bedroom where Logan was already in bed. He curled up next to him, soaking up his warmth.

David laid there and waited for sleep to come, sometimes tossing and turning, sometimes forcing himself into stillness and willing sleep to come. He couldn't understand it, he was exhausted and yet sleep eluded him. After a few hours, he finally gave up. He pulled himself out of bed and padded into the living room. It occurred to him then that he was starving. That made sense, he reasoned, he had only had a few bites of the meal that Logan had made for them. He considered heating up some leftovers but the thought of that food wasn't particularly appealing. David sighed as he pulled open the refrigerator.

"I have to eat something." He murmured to himself.

The contents of the refrigerator surprised him. It was packed full of various packaged meats. There were gobs of ground beef tucked in the drawers, stacks of packaged cuts of steak and pork, and every kind of sausage imaginable. David blinked at the contents, confused. Logan was always looking after his health and had a robust and well balanced diet, he ate plenty of fruits and vegetables, and was known to enjoy a good salad. He ate meat, but David had never known him to be particularly carnivorous. Maybe there was a sale, he thought dimly. He realized that he was salivating. The raw meat stirred something in him that Logan's perfectly crafted dinner had not. He pulled out a bag of ground beef and opened it. Sticking his nose deep inside the plastic he took a deep inhale. It smelt incredible. His stomach turned with hunger, aching. He probably won't miss just this little bit right? There's so much of it. It didn't take very much reasoning to convince himself.

David pulled a large chunk of the ground meat out of the plastic with his bare hands. He pushed it into his mouth and swallowed it in thick gobs, not bothering to even attempt to chew. He moaned as he shoveled another handful into his mouth. When that bag was gone David still ached with hunger. He stared at the empty plastic bag in shame, but hunger was a far stronger feeling. He pulled another bag of ground beef from the refrigerator and began swallowing it down. When that was gone he pulled a large packaged steak out and began gnawing on it. Bloody drool dribbled from the corners of his mouth and down over his chin, his teeth gnashed the meat into pulp. A trembling moan emanated from his throat as he swallowed the pieces.

"David?"

David was snapped back into reality at the sound of Logan's voice. He couldn't imagine how he must look - hunched down in the light of the refrigerator. He prayed Logan couldn't see what he was doing because, ultimately, he couldn't explain it. Logan was going to think he was crazy.

"I…I'm okay!" He squeaked out.

David winced at the sound of his own voice. That definitely didn't sound like the voice of someone who was okay.

"Are you sure?" Logan took a step closer.

David frantically waved him away.

"I'm fine! Really! I'm fine!"

Panic was beginning to rise in his chest. David coughed and blood started to drip from his nose.

"Shit!" He cursed, mostly to himself as he brought his sleeve to his face.

"David, I can help you…"

"Logan!" David snapped, the harshness of his voice surprised even himself. "Leave me alone! God, just give me one second alone!"

The echo of his voice filled the apartment. There was only silence in the space where Logan had been. There was a long moment of quiet.

"Logan?" David whimpered, trying to see if Logan was even still there. Was he going crazy? Logan was there, right?

"I'm going back to bed." Logan said stiffly.

David heard the sounds of Logan's footsteps retreating back into the bedroom. He wanted to call after him. He wanted to apologize and beg for forgiveness. Logan was everything he had right now. Wasn't he the very thing that made David fight for his life to begin with? Even before that, he had lived for Logan. Logan was the beginning and the end of his whole world. He couldn't though, he couldn't do any of those things because his nose was bleeding and he had raw meat wedged between his teeth and there was hair stuffed under the bathroom sink and he couldn't explain any of that.

He got himself cleaned up and quietly tucked himself back into bed, next to Logan. Guilt pulled at him. He reached out and rubbed Logan's back and shoulders.

"Are you okay?" Logan asked, not turning to face him.

David knew he couldn't answer honestly. "I'm sorry I snapped at you."

"You're under a lot of stress right now. I understand."

David teared up. This was his Logan, always so understanding and kind.

"Thank you." His voice broke slightly.

Logan finally rolled over and took David in his arms.

"It's really okay. I promise."

David nuzzled into Logan's neck. He smelt incredible. He kissed his neck and moaned. He pulled Logan closer, wrapping his legs around his waist.

"Easy." Logan cooed. "Are you okay?"

"Please." He pulled Logan closer, encouraging him.

"I don't know David." Logan hesitated. "You've been through a lot, you need to rest."

"Please stop thinking about what is best for me, and just fuck me." David hissed.

He felt Logan chuckle in the darkness. David pulled Logan up over top of him, impatient. He flipped over and pressed his ass against Logan's hardening cock.

"Now." David hissed.

Logan grabbed his waist and pulled his underwear down around his knees. "Ah, since when did you get so demanding?"

"Stop fucking around Logan." David hissed.

"You think you're in charge now?" Logan whispered against his ear.

A deep growl came from David's chest as he took a hold of Logan's hair. "I know that I am."

Logan trembled behind him. "Fuck." He whispered, he pushed David's shoulders down and wasted no more time in sliding himself into David's ass.

David shuddered, he moaned, and finally relaxed as he let Logan take over. Logan gripped his hips and pulled him down hard over his cock. David cried out and tossed his head back. Logan caught his hair in his fist and held his back in a deep arch. He kissed David's back as sweat pooled along his spine.

"You're a good boy." Logan purred against David's skin.

David nodded. "Harder. Fuck me harder."

"I don't want to hurt you."

"Harder." David demanded.

"Alright, alright." Logan met his demands with ease.

David let himself relax into the sensation of it, all the brutal physicality of it. He's not quite there when Logan comes inside him. Logan collapses down, crushing David underneath him, and panting. David rolls him over and pushes his legs up. Logan lifts an eyebrow.

"What's this?"

"I'm not done yet." David huffs.

"Oh? Is that s—" Further comment is silenced by David pressing his hard cock into Logan. "Oh. God."

David put Logan's legs up over his shoulders and thrusts into him. He wraps a hand around Logan's neck and pins him down against the bed. David closed his eyes and let his body takes over. Logan was worried about him, but he had never felt better. He dragged his free hand down Logan's chest.

"Ow!" Logan flinched underneath him. "Shit baby, your nails are sharp."

"Hmm?" David opened his eyes and saw Logan was bleeding, he had ripped a gouge into his chest.

David held his hand out and saw that sharp claws had emerged from his fingers. He trembled. This is bad, he thought, but it feels incredible. David can't bring himself to stop. He grips a pillow nearby to keep from clawing into Logan. He thrusts a little harder and pulls himself over the edge, coming into Logan and shuddering. He collapses on the bed beside Logan, panting and sweating. Logan leans over and kisses him.

"Thank you." David whispers.

Logan chuckles. "Anytime. Although I might think differently when I start to feel it tomorrow."

"Sorry."

"Don't be."

Logan pecks his cheek again. Finally feeling sated and fed, David was able to pass into sleep easily now.

The next day, David is startled to find the sheets stained with blood. The pillow he had grasped had been fully punctured through, freeing the feathers that stuffed the inside. He found a few of his fingernails in the bedsheets from when his claws emerged. Logan didn't mention any of this. He made breakfast as usual and remained cheerful and supportive. If he noticed the missing meat from the refrigerator, he didn't say anything. David was partially relieved, but partially concerned. Was he going completely crazy? Surely Logan could see what was happening. Why didn't he say anything? He tried to push it out of his mind and just enjoy Logan's support.

The next few weeks passed by in much the same way. David found most foods uninteresting, and they became increasingly more difficult to eat as time went on. He gorged himself on the raw meat in Logan's fridge at night. It was always restocked. Logan never mentioned the meat going missing, but he always replaced it. David felt bad about this, he felt like he was keeping a deep secret from Logan, but if Logan never asked…how much did he really want to know? Most nights he was restless, he spent them in the living room watching the moon slowly inch into full bloom. He couldn't explain it but the moonlight felt incredible. It made him feel strong and whole, like he didn't have to be scared, like he was an apex predator. His subtle transformations were becoming more and more difficult to control and hide. He feared that he would hurt Logan. He wouldn't be able to forgive himself if that happened.

David frequently tried to get Logan to fuck him in the living room in the large pool of moonlight that poured in between the open curtains of the window. Logan always seemed somewhat hesitant about this idea, which was odd. David had never known Logan to back down from a sexual challenge. Usually he was the one pushing David to do something a little riskier or a little more physically demanding. David didn't think it was much to ask him to fuck on the floor, but Logan seemed unusually reluctant. He wanted to feel it in the moonlight. That sweet moonlight that pricked his skin, and pulled out the strongest part of him, he needed to know what it felt like.

After a couple weeks Logan had started going back to work in the evenings. He was working part time hours so he could continue to take care of David, despite David's insistence that he would be just fine. Logan would usually arrive home in the early hours of the morning. Sometimes David was sleeping, sometimes he was only pretending to be sleeping, but tonight he was doing neither. The moon was nearly full, and it was driving him crazy. That was the only explanation. He was restless and hungry. He devoured most of the meat they had in the refrigerator, but couldn't seem to release his restless energy. His legs were getting tired, his body ached from pacing. Not wanting to slide into their bed, David pushed into Logan's office.

He had never been in Logan's office before. It wasn't that Logan specifically banned it, it was just that Logan always kept the door closed and David had never had a specific reason to wander in there. Now his restless energy was pushing him to explore and expand his boundaries.

He collapsed into the office chair and spun around to face the desk. Logan had tons of papers and charts spread out over the desk. David had always known Logan to be extremely organized, so it surprised him to learn that this habit didn't extend to his desk. He absentmindedly sifted through the papers, mostly just boring medical stuff. When his restlessness got the better of him, he stood to leave.

"Ow!" He hissed. He had slammed his hip into the desk and sent a large stack of files and notebooks sliding to the ground.

"Shit." David mumbled as he knelt down to pick up the papers.

He quickly shuffled everything back together, until his eyes scanned a notebook he was shoving into the pile and stopped. The front of the notebook was labeled.

LYCAN 01

David froze. "Lycan?" He said to himself.

Surely it wasn't the same LYCAN that was referenced on the syringe in his trap. Or maybe it was, and the perpetrator was trying to target Logan too. Should he have told Logan about that detail? David flipped the book open and scanned through Logan's notes.

Viral integration of the DNA seems most effective…

Modified canary pox…

Via intramuscular injection…

Activation via sympathetic nervous system activation…

High stress, fight or flight response is necessary, the subject must feel as if they will die.

…the perfect candidate…

…makes them such an easy target…

David…

David quickly closed the notebook and ran into the bathroom with it. He vomited several times into the toilet overcome with nausea. He couldn't accept this. This couldn't be true. Gasping, he opened the notebook again.

Transformation appeared unpleasant but was uncomplicated…

…combination of sedatives is effective even on the Higher Form…

…substantial appetite for meat. 

Unexpected partial transformations…

…stabilization with first lunar transformation is expected. 

…increased libido and general energy leading to restlessness and highly demanding sexual appetites. 

David recoiled at the thought of being described as "highly demanding" but more devastating was the strictly clinical way Logan described all of their sexual encounters. David was shocked to find logs of everything: how many hours he slept each night, what kinds of partial transformations he had, how many pounds of meat he ate each day, how much sex and what kinds of sex they had, how long he had spent pacing on any particular day. Logan had tracked everything and correlated it with the phase of the moon. He was counting down to the full moon. David could only guess at what Logan meant by a "lunar transformation".

David let himself slowly melt onto the floor. He let his head rest on the cool tile. After a few moments of aching emptiness he finally broke down and started sobbing. How had this happened? Had Logan ever actually loved him or had this all been for the benefit of some experiment? He sobbed until there was nothing left and his body felt hollow and broken. Then his feelings began to turn over into anger.

Rage began to bloom in David's chest. He did this to me, he thought, that bastard fucking did this to me. He slammed his fist down against the tile and it cracked under the force. There was a sudden crack of his back that forced him forward as his spine lengthened slightly. Again, his mouth opened into a silent scream as his rage, and the moon, got the better of him. He felt the skin burn down his spine and knew there would be a thick line of hair there. His spine lengthened again making him slightly taller, his teeth dropped out and new, sharper versions took their place. He felt the skin of his thighs and biceps tighten slightly as the muscle mass increased and shifted to accommodate the balance he would need to walk on all fours if necessary. Finally, his nails dropped out from his finger tips as long claws protruded from the last bones of his fingers.

When this partial transformation was complete David curled into a small ball. The transformations were exquisitely painful, not merely "unpleasant" as Logan had described them. Logan had no idea what he was dealing with, David knew that now. Maybe it's time he learned exactly what he's messing with. 

David was pacing through the dark apartment when Logan arrived home. He was slightly hunched, shirtless, and stalking through their darkened home. The hair along his spine raised like hackles when he saw Logan.

Logan stopped short as soon as he saw him. David's eyes had inexplicably paled to a rich gold color, and developed a blue-green reflection in the light. In the dim lighting of the apartment David's eyes glowed green.

"David?" Logan asked, taking a tentative step forward, as if he might be talking to someone else.

David stepped forward out of the shadows and into the pool of moonlight. Canid fangs poked out from beneath his lips and when he smiled it revealed a full set of large canid teeth.

"Are you okay?" Logan continued.

"Never better." David struggled to push his voice over a growl and into articulate words. He hadn't noticed how much his voice had been affected until now.

"You sound a little groggy. Maybe you should go back to bed." Logan sidestepped into the kitchen, putting the island counter between them.

"I'm not feeling groggy." David stated as he stalked towards the counter. "It fact I'm even feeling energized, must be the moonlight."

He cocked his head as he stared at Logan, daring him to respond.

"When was the last time you really slept? Really, I think you need some sleep. I'm going to make a little snack before I come to bed but I'll be right after you." Logan makes a step towards the knife drawer.

David is over the couch and up to the counter island in two bounds. Logan recoils and slams himself backwards against the stove in the kitchen, almost falling over.

"Shit." Logan hisses. "David…you don't look so good…I think you really need to rest, tomorrow we can get another doctor to—"

"To what?!" David shouted over him in rage. "What are they going to do? Are you going to tell them what the fuck you injected me with?!"

"What are you talking about?"

David threw the notebook that he had found in the office at Logan. Logan stared at it for while, then his face grew cold, taking on a clinical expression.

"I did what was best for you." Logan said simply.

"Excuse me?"

"Think about it David. What did you have before me?" Logan taunted. "Nothing, absolutely nothing. No family, you left all of them behind. No upward momentum in your career, just making ends meet. No friends or romantic partners. A shitty apartment, a bad smoking habit, and a tendency to drink too much on the weekends. What kind of life is that?"

"What the fuck are you saying?" David growled.

"I'm saying that I saved you. I gave you something you never would have gotten on your own. Doesn't it feel good to be powerful?"

David was stunned, Logan really seemed to believe what he was saying.

"You made me a monster!"

"I made you better!"

"Fuck you." David hissed, he took one last step forward and then leaped over the island.

Logan ducked and tried to crawl away when he launched himself over the island to catch him. David overshot and fell onto the counter on the other side. He scrambled off of it and onto the floor. He tried to grab Logan's leg as he was crawling away but Logan was slightly too fast. David ended up sinking his claws into the tile where Logan had been, breaking up the floor in the process. He cursed himself for being too slow, as he watched Logan's feet disappear around the corner. He stood up and looked down the hallway just in time to see Logan sprint down the hall towards his office. David went after him, soaring over the couch and sprinting across the living room. He wasn't just going to let Logan go now. He couldn't. He had to make him pay for this.

Logan had locked himself in the office by the time David got there. David knocked.

"Logan. Open the door."

There was no response from within.

"Logan!" David pounded on the door. "Open the door now!"

Again, no response. David stood back then charged the door, ramming his shoulder into the wood. The door and its frame shuddered. Encouraged, David charged it again, slamming into it with all his strength. The door splintered off the frame, sending David sprawling across the floor in a pile of debris. Logan was standing on the other side of the room, frantically trying to draw up medication into a syringe.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" David snarled as he stood.

"Wait, David, you don't want to do this." A little fear had finally crept into Logan's voice, now confronted with the consequences of his actions.

"You can't tell me what I want anymore." David said as he batted the vial and syringe out of Logan's hands. He heard it shatter on the floor nearby but his eyes were locked on Logan.

Logan was still, he trembled slightly. David took a step forward and Logan suddenly lunged for the door. This time, David was quicker. He caught Logan around the waist first and flung him to the ground. He hit the floor like a limp rag and screamed when David grabbed his ankle.

"Wait! Wait! David!" He screamed. He clawed at the floor and tried to cling onto every passing door frame as David dragged him out into the living room. Logan was right, it did feel good to be powerful.

He dragged Logan into the moonlight, and dropped him there for a moment to push the curtains open, expanding the pale pool of light. Logan was sitting up when he turned back around. David got down onto his knees and Logan knelt up to meet him.

"David." Logan whispered tenderly. He reached out gingerly to touch him and David allowed it.

"I can help you." Logan continued, gently stroking back David's hair. "Let me help you."

In spite of everything, David wanted to trust Logan. He loved him, it was impossible for him to accept that Logan would really do anything to hurt him.

"You can undo this?" David asked.

"No." Logan shook his head. "No, I can't. But I can help you control it. I can keep you safe."

Logan kissed David's jaw. "Let me help you." He murmured into David's skin.

"How are you going to help me?"

"When the moon is full, tomorrow, you're going to fully transform again. It will be like before, after your test, you'll become the beast again."

Tears slipped down David's face.

"It's okay." Logan whispered, he used his thumbs to wipe away David's tears. "It will be okay. I have a place you can go. It's a safe place where you can't hurt anyone, and no one can hurt you. You can stay there while you're not yourself."

Logan kissed his neck again. David took in a shuddering breath.

"I don't want to hurt anyone." He whimpered.

"I know you don't." Logan purred. "So let me help you. I can keep you safe."

David nodded slowly.

"Yeah?" Logan asked.

"Yeah." David confirmed.

"Good." Logan kissed him. "Good."

Logan's fingers traced down David's sides. David unbuttoned Logan's shirt while he worked David's belt off. They slowly stripped each other of their clothes. Logan kissed down David's neck and tried to gently lay him back. David resisted this and shoved Logan back onto his elbows. Logan grinned.

"Okay, so that's how you want—"

David didn't give him an opportunity to finish the thought before grabbing his waist and flipping him over onto his chest. Logan yelped and for a moment tried to crawl away, but David hoisted him up slightly by his hips and brought his mouth to lick at his hole. Logan gasped and moaned, relaxing back against David's mouth. David groaned and tongued him, thick drool oozed from his mouth to coat Logan's ass. Logan shivered beneath his tongue. David straightened and without any further preparation pressed his cock into Logan's ass.

"Ow." Logan hissed beneath him, wincing.

"Shhh." David purred.

He rocked deep into Logan who groaned and dug his nails into the carpet. David reached down and yanked Logan's hair back, pulling his head up and forcing his back into a deep arch. Logan cried out at this. David rocked slowly back then thrust into him harshly. Logan shuddered beneath him, panting.

David bent over Logan as he settled into a moderate pace. He panted into Logan's ear as he fucked him. It was a perfect position to hear all of Logan's small gasps and whimpers, he could feel him wince when something was a little painful. David didn't care, this was for him. If Logan wanted to prove that he wanted to take care of him, they could consider this step one. His thrusts became a little uneven as he neared his orgasm. He brought his mouth down to Logan's shoulder and sunk his teeth into the soft flesh there. Logan cried out, but the second David tasted blood, he came.

David was still angry after they fucked. He had left Logan wanting and made him sleep on the couch, even though they both knew he likely wouldn't sleep that night. Logan didn't sleep either, he just laid there and listened to David pace up and down the hall.

As night approached the next day David became more anxious. His body felt like it was vibrating. There was an energy in him that he couldn't contain that felt dark and threatening. He needed Logan to keep his promise, but they hadn't spoken since the night prior. He stormed into the office and came to stand next to Logan's chair. Logan was making notes in his notebook and doing some calculations that David couldn't make sense of.

"Well?" David demanded.

Logan sighed. "Well what?"

"Aren't we going to go? You said you had a safe place for me. Aren't we leaving?"

Logan checked his watch. "It's a little early, David." He sounded bored. "The moon doesn't pass over the celestial equator for another 3 hours, the place is only 45 minutes away. We have a little more time."

Logan shrugged but David wasn't having it. He gripped Logan's shoulders and spun him in his office chair to face him.

"I want to go, now." He demanded.

Logan tilted his head and he sighed. "David…" his voice was condescending.

"No!" David grabbed Logan by the neck and pulled him a little closer. "Listen to me! I want to go. Right. Now."

"Okay! Okay." Logan surrendered immediately, so David released him.

"Ten minutes." David warned before leaving the office.

David gathered a few things he thought he would want: a change of clothes, a large blanket, and some water. He wasn't sure what else he would need so he would just have to make do with what he had. He took advantage of the long drive to ask some questions.

"So how does it work?" David asked.

"How does what work?"

"The thing…this thing…" he gestured to himself, "and the moon." He gestured vaguely to the sky.

"Oh. I'm not completely sure but it triggers on the celestial equator so I think it has something to do with the magnetism of the full moon triggering the activation of previously epigenetically sealed genes."

David lifted an eyebrow, staring Logan down. Logan sighed heavily.

"Basically the full moon 'turns on' your new…features."

"Why?"

Logan shook his head. "I'm not sure yet. That's part of what I'm trying to figure out. And to see if the stress-induction of those features is permanent or if it will stop happening after your first cycle."

David laughed and shook his head. "My first cycle?"

"Well, yeah, for lack of a better term."

David sighed. "So basically you don't know anything about this stuff."

"In a human? No."

"So I'm a Guinea pig?"

Logan nodded. "Kind of."

"Awesome." David huffed.

They pulled into a farm and parked on the backside of a large barn. Logan opened the locked side door and led David inside.

"Here it is." Logan said gesturing around.

It was basically a large open space. There were no stalls or dividers of any kind. There were a few piles of moldy straw, some abandoned hand tools, and an overturned, broken wheelbarrow. David meandered over to the edge of the metal silo and touched the door.

"Don't go in there." Logan said.

"Why not?"

"Because it's a silo full of rotten feed and it will probably bury you and gas out the whole barn with methane if you do." Logan's voice was snarky and condescending. David glared at him.

David pointed to the other side of the barn where there was a concrete wall with steel plate doors. It looked new. Logan shrugged.

"The front of the barn has recently had some upgrades."

"Do you own this place?"

"No. It's my mentor's place, but he said we could use it tonight."

"What if it gets damaged?"

"It's okay. He's planning on renovating this side anyway."

David nodded. "What did they keep in this place?"

"Pigs, I think."

David tilted his head up to sniff the air. It didn't smell much like animals now, that must've been a long time ago, but he could smell blood.

"Are you going to stay?" He asked.

"I'm going to observe from up there." He pointed to a room with large glass windows above the steel plated doors.

David nodded.

"I can still hear you and talk to you up there."

"How?"

"There's a microphone."

It crossed David's mind as unusual but he didn't bother to ask why a rundown barn would need a microphone system. He had a little time so he made a spot for himself. He piled up some of the cleaner straw and laid his blanket down over top to make a padded area, then he stripped off his clothes and set everything else aside. He sat on his little pad and waited.

When the time came close Logan left, locking the door behind him. He disappeared upstairs then reappeared in the glass windows above. David watched him set up his notebook and get comfortable for making observations. Then Logan turned to look behind him, when he looked forward again he seemed to be talking, he leaned forward to adjust some things on the panels in front of him and then his face was lit up with what appeared like lights from a number of small screens. David stood up, hoping to get a better angle. Logan was talking again, he laughed, then someone came to stand beside him. It was another man, an older man, he was sipping from a small round cup in his hand.

"Hey!" David yelled up at them.

That got their attention. Logan leaned over the screens to peer down at him, the older man tilted his head and assessed David. He made a comment to Logan. Logan nodded and said something back. The older man smiled and nodded, as if impressed.

"Hey!" David yelled again. Who the fuck is that?

"Hey! I'm talking to you! You old ass motherfu—"

David cried out as a sudden spasm in his back forced him to the ground. His back bent backwards as he screamed. The transformation seemed to happen faster this time, his body felt like it was being torn apart in every direction. His body twisted and convulsed as he screamed, foam poured from his mouth. The beast seemed to rip him open from the inside out.

The world seemed sharper now. Everything was a little more intense. He could smell the pigs now, the old scent of their shit. His nostrils flared. He could also smell blood, fresh blood. He looked up and saw the older man peering down at him. The beast growled at him, lips lifting to bear his massive teeth. The man suddenly looked away and so did Logan. What could possibly be more interesting?

The blaring noise of the steel plated door scraping open startled him. As it inched open the smell of fresh blood flooded in. He bent down to sniff at the edge of the door, desperate to get at the source of blood. There was something alive inside of there, and he was starving.

"What the fuck?" There was a soft whimper from beyond the door, a voice David didn't recognize.

"No! Wait, please! I just need a little more time!" They screamed.

The steel plate had lifted enough for David to wedge himself underneath. Then he saw it. Perfect, fresh meat. Their mangled legs kept them from getting away fast but they still tried to drag themselves across the floor.

"Please!" They screamed.

"Game over." It was Logan's voice.

David was able to overtake them easily. They screamed again when he took their neck into his jaws. He shook his head roughly. There was a wet snap, and then the screaming stopped. He was starving, and wasted no time digging into his prey's flesh. From somewhere behind him he heard Logan's voice again.