Before opening his eyes, Miles could sense there was something off. Last thing he could remember he was in that cold alley, bleeding heavily, his side searing with such pain he expected to be missing a good chunk of himself. Yet, Miles knew he wasn't in the alley, or the hospital. No, he was clearly back in his room. The sound of the hotel coffee pot laboring a few feet away, and his cologne that clung to the cheap sheets that were scratching at his skin, combining somewhat pleasantly with the neutral air freshener that permeated the room. And his side. He couldn't feel a thing, it was almost like it hadn't even happened. But... that was real, it had to be... it was way too painful to just be a dream...

 

Reluctantly, Miles opened his eyes, having some difficulty due to how extremely exhausted he was, and found he was right. He was back in his room, propped up in his bed, in a loose shirt and pair of sweatpants he thought he had packed away. In the corner sat Shawn, tapping away at something on his phone, but not seeming to really be focused on it. His steel eyes seemed glazed over, more blood-shot than Miles had ever seen them. His leg was bouncing anxiously, his free hand picking at a loose string on his jeans. He looked serious, which, for Shawn, was something scary.

 

“H-hey.” Miles managed to croak, feeling like he hadn't spoken in decades. Shawn jumped, dropping his phone, and Miles froze.

 

He heard a thump, almost like a heartbeat, but it didn't match his own. Now that he was paying attention to it, it matched the rabbiting vein showing on Shawn's throat. Was he... was he hearing Shawn's heartbeat?

 

“Miles, oh thank god.” Shawn practically dove at him, and Miles' senses were overloaded. He could smell so much from his friend; salt from sweat and tears, overheating electronics, the coffee grounds that he'd brushed off his fingertips, the dried blood he couldn't wash all the way off of his hands... Shawn's heartbeat throbbed through Miles' head, making the latter squeeze his eyes closed in an attempt to stop all the sensations assaulting him, and shoved Shawn away.

 

“What...” He swallowed, still having difficulty speaking, his throat now clogged with an uncomfortable sort of fear. “What the hell is wrong with me...?”

 

Shawn seemed to panic, drawing back almost instantly at his words. “Um. It's... hard to explain. I-”

 

He heard a click from outside, the hotel door opening, much louder than it should be, and a second later he was enveloped with a calming, herbal scent mixed with a variety of things he couldn’t quite pick out. The main thing that made him relaxed was what smelled almost like… bruised mint, maybe with a little spice of pepper…

 

From the door came a young girl, who couldn't be older than eighteen, carrying in a grocery bag, eying him carefully. She gave him a tight smile. “You're awake.”

 

That was all the warning he got before the girl was heading over, poking and prodding at him, attempting to lift his shirt up before he stopped her with a yelp. She gave him a dull look. He gulped, feeling like he was being incredibly stupid for making eye contact with her. “Who... who are you?” He managed to choke out.

 

The girl stared at him for a little longer, before she let out a huff and settled back onto her heels, having knelt beside the bed. “Fair enough. I suppose you should get some answers before I just start diving into the nitty gritty of it.” She shifted slightly, then held her hand out to shake, nodding her head in his direction. “I'm Naomi. Naomi Chae.” She waited until he took her hand, then twisted her hand in his, leaving her fingertips up. In the blink of an eye, her chewed and bitten nails had been replaced by lethal looking claws, looking wholly unnatural on human fingers. He jumped, dropping her hand and looking up to see a rather mischievous grin on her young face.

 

“Sorry.” She muttered, not sounding the least bit so. “You wouldn't believe me otherwise.” She straightened up, drawing her hand – now with plain, human fingernails again – back into her lap as she went on. “You see, that creature you were being chased by last night, what I am, and what you now are... We're all the same.”

 

Miles blinked when the girl paused, then glanced at Shawn, who seemed to be listening intently, but had no idea what she was going on about. “Which is...?”

 

She simply shrugged, like it was obvious. “Werewolves. Granted, you're not fully one, not yet.” She shifted, this time not allowing Miles to process the improbability she just gave him and plowing on ahead. “When that other one bit you, he sealed your fate. There’s not much to do after you receive a bite from an Alpha other than transferring the claim, which is what I did, placing a claiming bite on you after he'd left. That Alpha who had been chasing you... he's not entirely there. It's a... well, issue that we have with the community. Most of these Alphas are taken care of rather quickly, but this one has been managing to go on, dragging unfortunate people like you into the fray by turning them.”

 

“I have some questions.” Shawn interrupted, his tone dull, more than likely from shock, or even more likely disbelief. Then again, he was awake a little longer than Miles. He couldn't remember much past the pain of the first bite... “What does switching the claim do? And... if he's an Alpha what are you? What's Miles? What do you mean by 'taken care of'? Is there like a werewolf law enforcement?”

 

Miles stared at Shawn. Dear god he actually sounded like he was asking genuine questions. He turned back to Naomi as she started answering. “By me taking claim on Miles I stop that other Alpha, the crazed Alpha, from having any control over him.” She bit her lip for a bit, then continued, keeping her eyes to the floor. “An Alpha has... a certain measure of control over whoever they claim as part of a pack, with some variables. If whoever they claim is relatively weak-willed, the Alpha will be able to make that person do anything. It's a matter of trust, as well. At first, any bond with an Alpha will be strong. You can think of it as... your wolf and yourself are two separate entities. As time goes on, you'll meld together as one being. At first, your wolf will answer to its Alpha for almost anything, unquestioning. If, as time goes on and you become more cohesive as a werewolf, you have no trust for that Alpha? The bond will grow weak and you could even break away to become an Omega.

 

“I am also an Alpha, which is the only reason I was able to place a claiming bite that would take. Alpha's are the only ones who can turn people. If you receive a bite from any other type, the bite is usually fatal. Miles, for right now, is a Beta. Only because I had bitten him. A beta is sort of... a right-hand man to the Alpha. As you're my only pack.” She shifted her gaze to Miles. “I plan on just helping out with control and making sure you're settled and then I'll leave you alone, I promise.” She smiled, a sad sort of relief there. “I'm not looking for any pack-mates.”

 

Miles furrowed his brow. She kept saying 'pack'... “What do you mean when you say that? Is it like actual wolf packs?”

 

She seemed to think on it for a bit then nodded, her face scrunching up. “Sorta. A pack is supposed to be like a family. A pack looks out for each other, builds each other up, and comforts one another. Being around pack you're at your strongest, both with control and your physical strength.” She shrugged. “An actual functioning pack is something that takes time to achieve, though. So, you don't have to worry about getting into anything you're not prepared for with me.”

 

Miles frowned. She seemed really adamant on not having a pack. It seemed great, from what he was hearing. “You don't want that?”

 

Naomi's heart rate picked up, just for a couple beats, and she huffed, giving a tight smile. “It's personal.” She bit out, her tone almost acidic, and Miles quickly dropped the subject.

 

“What about werewolf cops?” Shawn butt in, breaking the tension with his ridiculous question that sounded completely serious. Miles dropped his head in his hands as Naomi laughed and answered.

 

“There's sort of 'werewolf cops'. There's no specific title, but there are werewolves, most of the time Alpha's, who are sent out by the Council to take down any threat to reveal us.”

 

Shawn's eyes just about popped out of his head. “Wait, Council?! Werewolves have a government?”

 

Naomi nodded. “Not just us. There's a volunteer picked by each race to sit on the Council from every magical being out there.”

 

The younger man sat back, looking like his entire world had been turned upside-down. “Wow.” He breathed, somewhat stupidly.

 

Naomi, having decided the questions were done, turned her attention on Miles. “Now, can I check you out? I have to make sure everything's going along properly.”

 

Oh, right. Miles shifted up in the bed, strangely not feeling any pain at all, and allowed Naomi to lift his shirt away. Well, he definitely hadn't dreamed up any of that pain, because on his stomach, taking up about half of his midsection, there was a thick, silvery-skinned scar, matching perfectly to the massive head of the Alpha that attacked. In the center was a considerably smaller scar, healed up cleaner than the other, and seeming to show better on his skin than the giant one.

 

He heard Naomi's warning of “This may hurt,” just before he felt an odd, tugging sensation from his chest. Not... painful, exactly, but odd. Like he'd imagine it'd feel to have your soul pulled from your body. He felt a deep ache from his fingertips and in his jaw, and heard Shawn yelping in surprise, then he was back, feeling like he'd been flipped inside out and back, Naomi smiling at him and Shawn halfway across the room, hand on his chest as he stared. Miles wondered what exactly he'd seen, and what Naomi had done.

 

“You're coming along just fine. A few more hours and the turning process will be finished.” She stood up, checking the time and then pondering for a moment before picking up the hotel stationary that had been left on the nightstand. “I have something I have to run off for but I can give you my number to call, just in case you have any issues. There shouldn't be anything but... just in case.” She finished scribbling the number down and then looked between the two of them, settling her eyes on Miles again finally. “Just... no losing your temper or trying to shift or anything. I'll be back later to help you with that. Your senses are going to take some getting used to so... venture outside at your own discretion.” She paused then winced. “And... no revealing any of this to anyone else. It ends badly...”

 

With those comforting words, the Alpha was gone, rushing out the door, dialing a number as she went. Miles tried to focus, curious as to what would have her leaving someone who had just turned and had known about all of this supernatural crap for all of five minutes, but she was already out of range of what he could hear. He wondered if that would improve. Maybe his senses were just acting weird still...

 

“That was... Really weird.” Shawn panted, and Miles glanced over to his friend. He still looked shaken up, and it took him another few seconds before he crashed into Miles again, his breathing shaky and reedy as he squeezed his friend into a hug. They sat there in silence for a while, Shawn eventually shifting up onto the bed. Miles closed his eyes, taking a moment to take in what his senses were picking up. It was better than last time, maybe more expected. He could tell Shawn was nervous, upset... the salty scent of tears and the trembling in his skinny limbs. The smell of blood was still overwhelming, along with sweat. Miles wondered if Shawn had cleaned up, or if he'd been too worried to.

 

“I was afraid you were dead, man...” Shawn whispered, enough of an answer to Miles' question. Shawn drew in a trembling breath. “You were so pale... and you lost so much blood...” Shawn shuddered, and Miles instinctively drew his friend closer. Shawn couldn't take it, making a small, broken sound before he started sobbing.

 

Miles, as selfish as it was, was glad he was the one bitten. He couldn't imagine how hard it had to be for Shawn. Not knowing if he was dead or alive, and not knowing how he'd be afterward. The combating emotions of fear, grief and anxiety he had to have felt, especially after they'd been chased by that monster for what felt like hours.

 

He could still see it, the monster lunging for Shawn, giant maw full of teeth going straight for him. It took him a second, maybe not even that, to react and shove him out of the way. He was hoping, if the monster attacked him, maybe it'd give Shawn enough time to run away. Then, everything else went away, every other feeling and all his surroundings melting away and every sense and nerve homing in on the intense, searing pain that burned through every inch of his body. Just as quick as the pain came, the Alpha was being pulled away from him. He'd only been able to catch a glance of the smaller creature, mostly humanoid with long claws and sharp fangs and glowing, bright red eyes. The two were gone before he could comprehend it, and he was slumping to the ground, feeling cold and damp, Shawn yelling something he couldn't hear.

 

Miles blew out a shuddering breath, feeling a chill run up his spine. He was going to have nightmares from that for weeks... He pulled Shawn closer, feeling a little bit of reassurance from having his friend living and breathing and all in one piece.

 

He tried closing his eyes, to get some rest and regain his strength, or avoid whatever this... transformation was going to feel like. He didn't know, he just... figured he'd need his rest. He listened to Shawn's even breathing, the younger man already out like a light. Probably stressed and exhausted from the past... however long it'd been. Miles sighed, glancing over to Shawn.

 

He looked peaceful in sleep, so much different than he had awake just now. The worry completely erased from his features, any sign of weariness or anxiety taken over by much needed tranquility. Miles brushed back some of Shawn's colored hair from his eyes, his lips quirking into a semi-smile when Shawn's nose wrinkled at the disturbance.

 

He paused, only now realizing how odd this seemed. He was basically cuddling his friend, brushing his face, watching him sleep... To anyone looking in, it'd look like they were...

 

Miles shook his head, squeezing his eyes shut and turning away, drawing his arms back into his chest. He was tired. He was just acting out-of-the-ordinary because he needed to go to freaking sleep.

 

That was... all. Really. Honestly.

 

Still, there was an odd feeling in his chest, something raw and wild, that was elated by the proximity, rumbling and sprawling warmth through his limbs. He huffed, tucking himself as close into a ball as possible, attempting to shut out his thoughts and whatever else was trying to tickle its way into his brain. He was just being ridiculous, because he was tired.

 

And now he was going to sleep.

 

And not thinking about anything else.

 

At all.