The Calm Before the Storm
The New Marcus
In the past 12 days, Marcus had changed. The shy, bullied boy now had a lean, toned, muscular build. Thanks to the constant low thrum of his healing factor and an increasing diet of raw steaks, every workout was like carving marble. His speed had doubled, his endurance felt infinite, and every breath felt charged with an electric hum.
Around him, people noticed.
One morning, Zack Lee watched him walk into the gym, his eyebrows rising.
Zack: "Yo, Marcus, you been hitting the gym hard or what?"
Marcus: (smirking) "Something like that."
Zack: "Shit, man… You've gotten a lot stronger. Might have to spar sometime."
The rare thumbs-up came from Jay Hong, who noticed the change first. He said nothing, just offered a hand to Marcus after a set of pullups, brushing the rings across his fingers.
Marcus: "Thanks, Jay. You're like… always in the right place, huh?"
Jay smiled faintly, brushing a strand of long hair out of his eyes, and patted Marcus's shoulder before strolling away.
Vasco and Jace had watched him train with the Burn Knuckles. To them, strength wasn't about size, it was about heart.
Vasco: "That's the kid who was bullied? He's a different person now."
Jace: "The guy works hard. And he's got that fire. Whatever he's training for, he means it."
Vasco: "Quando o coração é forte, os punhos também."
Meanwhile, Mira Kim smiled shyly when she spotted him one morning.
Mira: "Marcus, you're looking… different."
Marcus: (laughs awkwardly) "Uh, thanks, Mira. Just trying to stay in shape."
Mira: (gently) "I'm proud of you. Stay safe, okay?"
And then came the moment he'd been putting off for far too long. Zoe Park. The girl he had liked from afar. Heart pounding harder than any workout, he pulled her aside after class.
Marcus: "Uh, hey, Zoe."
Zoe: (big smile) "Marcus! Long time no talk."
Marcus: "Yeah… I just. wanted to say hi. See how you're doing."
Zoe: (laughing) "Me? I'm fine! But you… you've changed. You seem stronger. Confident. It suits you."
Marcus: eyes softening "Thanks, Zoe. Means a lot coming from you."
Zoe: (playfully) "Maybe you can walk me home sometime?"
Marcus: (smiling) "I'd like that."
The Quiet Before the Final Battle
As the sun set, one thought weighed heavily on Marcus' mind: One more night till the full moon. It had been days since Logan was last in school. The rumors swirled around, whispers of a beast in the night. The boy he had feared had become a monster, and soon the quiet tension would explode. Standing at his window, shirtless and toned, the faint glow of the risen moon kissed his skin. Marcus: (clenching a fist) "Tomorrow night… it's the end for one of us." He drew a slow breath, the beast stirring deep inside. Not just a boy anymore. Not just a bullied kid. Not just an omega. Marcus: "Time to become an alpha."