Chapter 9: World of Werewolves
Meredith's POV
As Meredith lay trembling, the pain pulsing through her body in waves, she could barely focus on anything else. Her breaths were shallow, as if each one fought to break free from her tightening chest. Yet, when she felt Damien's steady hand on her forehead, something inside her shifted.
“We're here,” he whispered. Xavier moved closer, gently pulling her into his arms, the warmth of his chest against her back. The heat of his skin was comforting, easing the unbearable ache she felt.
“Let us take care of you,” he murmured softly. Meredith's breathing hitched, not from pain this time, but from the unfamiliar sensation blooming in her chest. Magnus knelt beside her, his strong hands resting on her knees as he gazed into her eyes. His usual playful demeanor had softened, replaced with a tenderness that made her heart skip.
“We're going to make this easier for you,” he said gently, his thumb tracing circles along her skin. The tight coil inside Meredith was loosening with every touch. The fear that had gripped her so tightly began to fall away. It was replaced by a strange, comforting warmth. She closed her eyes, trying to focus on their hands, their touches. Damien leaned in closer, his lips brushing against her temple.
“Let go, Meredith. Let us in.” As if sensing her hesitation, Xavier's arms tightened around her waist, holding her firmly yet tenderly. Magnus's hands slid up her thighs, slow and deliberate, his touch igniting a different kind of warmth within her. He leaned forward, his lips traveling over her knee as he whispered, “We'll ease every ache, every fear. Your pain is ours as well, Little Wolf, remember that.”
The pain, still there, now seemed distant, overshadowed by the growing heat in her core. Meredith's breath quickened, her body responding to the care and desire surrounding her. Damien's fingers threaded through her hair, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. His lips lingered, and she found herself leaning into him, craving the closeness, the safety he offered.
Xavier's hand traveled down her side, his fingers tracing delicate patterns along her waist, sending ripples of pleasure through her body. “Just breathe.” Meredith followed his command, her breath growing deeper, more controlled as she surrendered to the moment.
Magnus shifted, moving closer until his lips were at her other ear. “How does this feel? Hmm? More?” His words melted the last of her resistance. Each kiss, each caress, was a promise. To ease her suffering and replace it with something far sweeter.
As Magnus's lips found the curve of her neck, Meredith let out a soft gasp. Damien's hand slid down her arm, his fingers lacing with hers as he brought her hand to his lips. Xavier, still holding her close, pressed his lips to her shoulder, his breath hot against her skin. Meredith's chest tightened, but this time it wasn't from pain. She let out a shaky breath, her eyes fluttering open to meet theirs.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
The three men exchanged soft smiles.
"We've only just begun."
Meredith's body grew heavier with each passing second. The warmth from their touch, the soothing whispers in her ear, had dulled the pain for a moment, but now something deeper seemed to be happening. Her vision blurred, and her breath came in short gasps. Suddenly, her legs gave way beneath her. Damien caught her instantly. Meredith's body crumpled into his arms, and the last thing she heard was Xavier's frantic voice...
When Meredith awoke, her head throbbed, and her body felt strangely light. Her eyes fluttered open. She was on a bed, surrounded by the familiar faces of Damien, Xavier, and Magnus. They sat on the edge, concern written in their eyes.
“You're awake,” Damien said softly as he leaned closer. His hand brushed her hair away from her face. “You scared us.”
Meredith blinked, trying to shake off the confusion clouding her thoughts. “What… what happened?”
Xavier's hand rested on her arm, his thumb drawing soft circles against her skin. “The transformation is starting to take hold faster than we anticipated.”
“Transformation?” Meredith's mind struggled to grasp his words. “What are you talking about?”
“The marks, Little Wolf,” Magnus said. “They're changing you. You're becoming one of us.”
The room seemed to spin. She sat up quickly. “What? No… no, that can't be. I'm human. I've always been human. My parents were human.”
Xavier, ever the calm one, placed a hand on her shoulder. “Normally, the transformation is slow, but with three marks… it's happening much faster.”
Meredith's pulse quickened. She stared at each of them, searching their faces for some sign that this was a mistake. “No, this can't be happening. I'm human—I can't just… turn into a wolf.” The idea of becoming a creature she had feared and only heard of in stories...
“I don't want this. I never asked for this.”
Damien's jaw tightened as he exchanged a look with Magnus and Xavier. “Once it begins, it can't be stopped.”
She shook her head, refusing to accept what they were saying. “But… I could be your Luna. I could accept that role. But I can't—” Her voice broke as she spoke. “I can't be a werewolf. I don't want to be one.”
Damien's eyes softened. “Xavier's mother was human too, Meredith. She went through the same process. She accepted it, just like you will in time.”
Meredith looked toward Xavier, her eyes pleading for something that made sense. “She… she was human?”
Xavier nodded. “Yes. My father found her during a hunt, just like we found you. It wasn't easy for her either, but she came to accept it.” He paused for a moment before adding, “In fact, she never liked being human. She found more freedom, more power, in our world.”
“But I'm not her,” she insisted. “I had a life—a human life. I can't just leave that behind. I want to go back to how things were.”
Magnus finally spoke. “And what exactly is waiting for you back in that human life?”
Meredith opened her mouth to answer, but nothing came out. She didn't know what to say, because the truth was painful and impossible to deny. What did she have to go back to? Her old life had been filled with struggle, with loneliness and survival. She had no family, no future that she could see clearly.
Damien's gaze softened. “You've been through so much, Meredith. We know this isn't what you wanted, but…”
Meredith's throat tightened, tears threatening to spill as she looked between the three men. “What if I hurt someone?” she asked quietly. “What if I'm not… strong enough?”
Damien leaned closer. “You're stronger than you think, Meredith. You survived the Purge.”
Magnus nodded in agreement, his hand resting on her leg. “We believe in you.”
The room was silent for a moment. “I'll try,” she whispered.
The three men, though hesitant, exchanged glances, unsure of how to ask more. But it was Damien who broke the silence.
“What happened to your family?” he asked. He knew the weight of the question but needed to ask anyway.
Meredith took a slow breath, staring down at the blanket. “They're gone. My parents…” She closed her eyes as the memories flooded back. “They died when I was young. And my sister… she disappeared. Five years ago. During the Purge.”
Damien's brow furrowed, and Magnus shifted slightly beside her, his hand resting lightly on her knee. Xavier remained quiet.
“I'm sorry,” Damien said.
Meredith shrugged, though her heart ached at the mention of her sister. “It's just… how things are, I guess. Life has never been easy. But…” She hesitated, the question she had been meaning to ask for so long suddenly pushing its way to the surface. “The other women… during the Purge. Do they… do they all die?”
The trio exchanged another glance, and Meredith's stomach churned at their silence.
“No,” Xavier said firmly.
Meredith asked, “Then why… why hunt them? What's the point?”
Magnus spoke next. “It's to trigger the dormant instincts in us, to sense who's right for us. The hunt isn't meant to harm the women. It's a way to detect who our mates are.”
“But…” Meredith's voice wavered. “Then why do humans believe they die? Why don't they ever come back?”
The men looked at her as though they didn't have an answer. Xavier spoke again. “That… we don't know. Perhaps it's because they leave their old lives behind once they're claimed. Many don't return to their human families, especially after they've bonded with their mates.”
Meredith's hands trembled as she tried to make sense of their words. “But their families never hear from them. It's like they just vanish.” She paused. “It's always felt like a reminder of how weak we are compared to your kind. That we don't matter.”
“No,” Damien said quickly. “That's not what it is.”
“My sister…” Meredith let out a shaky breath, her eyes staring blankly at the wall. “She was lost in one of the hunts. We weren't close. But I still wonder… if she's out there. Somewhere. Still alive.”
The room fell silent once more. Magnus cleared his throat. “What was her name?”
“Her name was Sarah. But… she could have changed it by now.”
Damien cautiously reached for her hand. “I'll check,” he said softly. “I'll see if she's among the women now, living with a mate. She might have pups by now, living her life.”
It was a comforting thought, the idea that her sister could be out there, living a new life, perhaps even happy. But she couldn't bring herself to fully believe it. Too much time had passed. Too many unanswered questions.
“I've always told myself she's probably dead,” Meredith whispered. “It was easier that way. But… I still hope. I still wonder.”
The men didn't speak, giving her the space to process her thoughts.
“I just want to know,” she said softly. “If she's alive… or if she's gone. Either way, I need to know.”
“We'll find out,” Damien assured her. “And if she's out there, we'll let you know.”
Meredith nodded. She didn't know if she would ever get the answers she needed, but for now, she allowed herself the hope that maybe, just maybe, her sister was out there, somewhere in the vast world of werewolves.