Healing, Limits, and Resolve
Back in the alley, Vasco and Zack helped Marcus to his feet, eyes wide with disbelief.
Vasco: "Dude, your wounds… they healed so fast. Like, seconds fast. What the hell?"
Zack: (nodding) "Yeah, I've never seen anything like it. Logan hit you hard, though, huh?"
Marcus forced a tight smile, brushing off his concern.
Marcus: "Yeah… Logan hit me hard, just not hard enough to really hurt me."
Inside, he knew he lied. The blows had rattled him—more than he let on. But revealing his full weakness wasn't an option.
At Home: A Fight for Survival
Later, alone in his room, Marcus paced nervously. His mind replayed the fight back: how he'd slashed Logan, how easily he had done it, how fast Logan had healed, and then the brutal punches that knocked him back.
He sat down, clenching his fists. Testing himself, he focused and tried to trigger a partial transformation — sharp claws, heightened senses, that primal wolf form he'd imagined.
Nothing.
Marcus: (frustrated) "Why…? I could slash Logan so easily before. Why can't I do this now?"
His eyes fell to his hands, calm but inquiring. Then it struck him.
Marcus: "I can only fully transform after my first real turning… the full moon."
The pieces clicked into place. Like the legends said, the transformation was progressive, with the full moon being the key. That meant Logan couldn't transform either—yet.
Marcus: He's strong now, but he's as limited as I am. For now.
He stood tall, his muscles tense.
Marcus: "I'm going to train. Harder than ever. Build my strength, my speed, my control. Until the full moon… I won't lose."
Quiet Resolve
The night stretched long outside his window. Marcus's eyes glinted faintly, reflecting the glow of city lights.
Marcus: (whispering) "Two weeks… fourteen days… I'll be ready." -