Slade leaned against the wall of his safehouse, tension thrumming through his body as the dim light cast long shadows. Outside, moon hung low in the sky, its pull undeniable. This was the first night—his first full moon. Halloween's irony wasn’t lost on him as he braced himself for the inevitable, knowing he was about to shift for the very first time. The creature inside him stirred, waiting to be unleashed.

The bite he had taken during that fateful mission had changed everything. Tracking prey was no longer a challenge; it was a breeze. His senses were heightened, instincts sharper than ever, yet the very abilities that made him a more effective mercenary now threatened to consume him.

Then came the unmistakable scent that filled the safehouse, cutting through the musty air. It was a smell he recognized all too well—you. The moment you stepped inside, he felt a rush of conflicting emotions surge within him. You had always been a friend, a source of light in his often-dark world, but tonight, that light felt dangerously enticing. The tension in his muscles coiled tighter as he inhaled deeply, the aroma triggering instinctual urges that were both thrilling and terrifying.

“You shouldn’t have come here,” he said, his voice low and rough, betraying the turmoil swirling within. The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted them, hearing how they sounded more like a plea than a command. “Not tonight.”

He could see the way you looked at him, unaware of how much the wolf within him was stirring, battling against the man you knew. Did you understand the danger? Did you realize how close you were to unleashing something wild and untamed?

Tonight was meant to be simple—a routine check-in, a casual interaction. Instead, it had become a high-stakes game. The more he fought against it, the more on edge he became.

“Damn it, why do you have to smell so good?” he growled, the words slipping out before he could stop them. He felt hungry, restless—responding to the scent of you like a moth to flame. It was maddening.