Chapter Text
Dark clouds hung in the night sky. Behind them the pale moon shone dimly, barely illuminating the pavement and the deserted street beyond. On the empty sidewalk a lone figure was walking hurriedly, casting nervous glances over their shoulder. The figure, a young man with dark hair, dressed in a black leather jacket, blue jeans and cowboy boots, picked up his pace as he came upon an intersection. It was late, coming upon eleven o’clock and there was nobody around this part of town at this hour. The young man –Reggie– cursed himself for still being outside so late. He didn’t feel very comfortable at night. But it had been a busy day at the diner and since his colleague Marcus had called in sick again (the lazy bastard) the responsibility to clean and close up shop had fallen entirely on him. He hurried onwards and turned left at the crosswalk. Reggie hated that his tiny flat was so far from his workplace, but it was really all he could afford at present.
Suddenly he heard a scraping noise from out of a dark alley that opened up to his right. Was he imagining it or was there movement in the shadows? Probably just a raccoon, he tried to calm his nerves. Nothing to worry about. Just get a move on. But Reggie couldn’t really help it. Ever since that fateful night about a year ago –the animal attack that had nearly left him for dead– he just couldn’t handle being alone in the dark. Well animal was probably not the right term, he thought miserably. Monster was certainly much more fitting.
There was the noise again, and this time it was unmistakable. The sound of something sharp scratching over stone. Suddenly a voice rang out.
“Oi wolf boy! What are you doing out so late at night? All by your lonesome?”
Reggie froze on the spot, then slowly turned and faced his opponent. Or rather opponents as he realized, once his eyes had adjusted to the dimm light in the alley.
Three guys stood within a few meters from the alley’s entrance. They were still partially obscured by shadows but Reggie was able to make out the details. Sometimes his heightened senses were an advantage. They were all dressed in black biker jackets. And something was off about the way they smelled. The odour of rotten eggs, fresh blood and damp mouldy earth hung in the air and it was making his stomach turn.
The guy who had addressed him, clearly the leader of their little posse, slowly advanced, his goons following right behind him. Reggie noticed now that he was carrying something in his hand. A big chain. Belatedly his fight or flight instinct kicked in. Unfortunately said instinct seemed to be unable to come to a decision as to which was the appropriate response so he remained glued to the spot, petrified.
“Going to make it easy for us, are you wolfie? Very well, stay right there.” The guy to the leader’s right spoke up. He grinned at Reggie, revealing a set of yellowed teeth. Reggie couldn’t help but notice the elongated pointy fangs. At least that’s what they looked like. But that was impossible, right? What is this fresh hell?, he thought desperately. He had heard about people filing their teeth for dramatic effect, so that’s probably what this was. It had to be. And really, these guys were scary enough as regular people. He didn’t need his brain to conjure up added nonsense to make these apparitions even more terrifying. Another thought crossed Reggie’s mind. They had called him wolf, twice now. How could they possibly know?
“Nice of you to oblige,” the guy on the left now chimed in as well. “We promise to make it quick. Well, maybe..”
Suddenly realization hit him like a bucket of ice water. This wasn’t just a dangerous situation. It was deadly. These guys weren’t here to mug him. They wanted to kill him. As comprehension dawned Reggie finally regained his ability to move. He turned on the spot and ran. Behind him the group erupted into laughter.
“That’s what I’m talking about, boys.” Reggie heard the leader’s voice echoing behind him. “Let’s hunt this doggie down.”
Reggie didn’t dare to look back to see how fast they were advancing. Just kept running at full speed, summoning up any strength he could muster. Pure Adrenaline was propelling him forward. He didn’t care where he was going. Had lost any sense of orientation and was consumed by only one thought: Escape!
Unfortunately Reggie’s luck was about to run out. As he turned a corner into another alley, he came upon a large chain-link fence blocking his way. The top of the fence was covered with barbed wire. But even if he would have somehow found the strength to mount the fence at the risk of impaling himself, a quick glance back showed that it was already too late. His three pursuers had entered the alley, blocking any path to escape. He was trapped. He was dead. As the guys were slowly advancing, taking their sweet time by the looks of it, Reggie stepped backwards until his back hit the fence. So this was it? He’d survived the wolf attack and even come to terms with what came after. And this was how it would end?
Maybe, a small part in his brain tried to reason, maybe it’s for the best, really. His life had been turned upside down, all his prospects dashed, once he had realized what that attack had turned him into. What chance at normalcy would he ever have had given his condition? But the thing was, he didn’t want to die. Not like this. Not here and not now. Reggie looked around desperately for a means of escape, or at least a weapon to defend himself with. But there was nothing.
“Why?” His whisper was barely audible but his attackers seemed to have heard him well enough as they halted and looked at each other, grinning.
“You see,” the leader said. “Your kind and ours, we just don’t get along. Nothing personal wolfie. But we can’t just let you go.”
Our kind, Reggie‘s mind was reeling. So he had been right. Fuck, this might as well happen, he thought savagely. Reggie was resigned to his fate now and a sense of calm washed over him. There was no escape but he would give these assholes a hell of a fight. He wouldn’t go down that easily. Full moon or not they messed with the wrong guy.
His bravado lasted all of five seconds. Then the group moved as one and advanced on him again. And he realized that he was hopelessly outmatched. He didn’t know the first thing about their kind, vampires. (It still sounded insane, but then so did werewolf). But if any of the stories were even remotely true he didn’t stand a chance. Not against one, let alone three.
“Well, I hate to intrude but this seems kind of unfair. How about we even the odds?”
A new voice had spoken up behind the three guys that were still coming towards him. A dark figure stood at the end of the street, clad in a long leather coat. A street lamp, directly overhead, illuminated the stranger’s pale face. The newcomer had short brown hair, bright eyes and a mischievous smile. The biker crew stopped in their tracks.
Their leader turned around and faced the new arrival.
“This is none of your business Lukas!” he hissed, gripping his chain tighter.
“Oh,” the one called Lukas replied. “I think I’d very much like to make it my business. Or you could just grow a brain and scram. Whichever you prefer.” He sounded amused and was studying his fingertips as if this whole situation really didn’t need his full attention. It was an epic power move and Reggie was really impressed and a little turned on. And it seemed to have left quite an impression on Reggie’s would-be attackers as well. They stood frozen in the middle of the alley, radiating uncertainty.
But Reggie wasn’t that concerned with them at the moment. He was transfixed by the stranger’s appearance. Lukas was mesmerizing and Reggie couldn’t quite deal with how his body was responding to his presence. What exactly was wrong with him? Here he was in the middle of the night, cornered in an alley about to be sent to his maker (or wherever things like him ended up) and all he could think about was the hot guy that had suddenly appeared out of nowhere to come to his aid. Focus Reggie, he chided himself. You’re about to be murdered. Now is really not the time to develop a crush.
He noticed that Lukas stance had shifted, almost imperceptibly, as if he was readying himself for a fight. Apparently that was the last incentive these guys needed. They took one last look at Reggie, baring their fangs and then took off as fast as inhumanly possible. Leaving Reggie to stare at the spot that they had just vacated, his mouth slightly agape.
“Hey Kid, you’re alright?” Reggie noticed with a start that Lukas stood right in front of him. He hadn’t even heard him approaching.
Kid? Reggie didn’t exactly love that moniker. Lukas didn’t look a day older than Reggie himself and he was twenty-five for crying out loud.
“I’m fine,” came his short curt reply but he regretted it instantly. Reggie really didn’t want to sound ungrateful, given that this guy had just saved him from certain death.
“So what’s your name? Or should I just keep calling you Kid?” Lukas was grinning now, clearly not taking any offence at his abrasiveness.
Dear Lord, anything but that. Reggie groaned inwardly.
“My name is Reggie,” he replied, more warmly now. “And you’re Lukas, right? At least that’s what those goons called you?”
“Don’t call me Lukas, please,” his savior chuckled. “My name is Luke!”