The infinite growlers

Chapter 4

Thrain was a well-seasoned player, known for his speed, strength, and cunning on the rugby field ever since middle school. He'd been holding back ever since he discovered he was a werewolf.

Thrain felt the familiar excitement of anticipation as he sat in the locker room before the rugby match. He looked at himself in the mirror, checking his rugby gear and making sure everything was in place. A teammate of his, Mark, approached him.

"Hey Thrain, you're looking pretty pumped for the game. Are you ready to do this?" Mark asked.

Thrain nodded eagerly, "Yeah, man! I've been waiting for this match for weeks. I really think we can take this team down."

Mark smiled, "That's the spirit! But listen, I wanted to talk to you about something. I noticed that you seem to be holding back on the field lately. Isn't it time for you to give it your all?"

LAST NIGHT

Thrain stared blankly. "How the fuck did we get here?" he said as he could see his house from afar.

"Were you not the one claiming to want to save Ethan, and besides, your house was the closest," Mark said.

They got closer and entered the house. Fortunately, Thrain's mother wasn't home yet. Thrain ran up the stairs as he could feel Ethan's body weighing down on him. Mark followed closely behind.

"How could a skinny guy be this heavy?" he said, dumping Ethan on his bed.

Mark ignored Thrain's action and began to rummage through Thrain's drawer. "Where is the first aid? Do you want him to bleed out in your house?"

"Bleed out? Fuck! Check the other side of the drawer," he replied as he began to pull off Ethan's blood-soaked clothes. "I've gotten myself stained."

While cleaning Ethan's body with a towel, Mark observed that Ethan's face had been pale when they first spotted him in the woods, indicating significant blood loss. But now, he seemed to be recovering rapidly.

He reached the location of the wounds. "He was bitten? This bite... it's..."

Mark immediately brought out his journal. "I knew it! That's the bite mark of a wolf."

"Hey man! Take... this is the bandage and painkiller I could get from my mom's room."

Mark dressed Ethan's wound and bandaged it well. He sat at the edge of the bed and stared blankly at the roof, slowly using his eyes to follow the movement of the fan.

He let out a sigh. "Thrain!" he called out.

"Yes," Thrain answered as he shifted his gaze towards Mark.

"Do you want to know what it means to be marked?" Mark asked.

Thrain kept silent for a while. He had been eager to know what it meant ever since Mark mentioned it, but now that Mark was willing to tell him, his thoughts began to swirl. "Argh man! Is it a bad thing?" he finally asked.

"Have you ever heard of an infection called lycanthropy?" Mark asked.

"Obviously, I don't read weird stuff like you," Thrain said in his lowest voice.

"You are a werewolf, right? And you don't need to lie to me. I just want to hear an honest reply from you."

At first, Thrain could not process his thoughts because Mark's question hit him hard. But for the first time, he was willing to tell someone.

"Why do you need a reason when you already know?" Thrain, with his face pressed against the ground, asked. "You know, all my supernatural knowledge is probably speculative fiction... but your answer would mean I've most likely been wasting my time reading and researching things that are..."

"Yes, I am," he said, cutting Mark's words short.

Mark felt an unquenchable light ignite within him upon hearing Thrain's response. He was filled with unspeakable joy.

Mark stared at Thrain. "You're an omega."

"Omega... What's that? And I thought you'd be surprised or angry, but your expression says neither of the two."

"About that, there is nothing to be surprised about. I've read plenty of supernatural facts," he said, looking at Thrain. "It's a werewolf without a pack, and a pack would only make you stronger," he replied.

"Hmm, a pack," he thought.

"The figure you said who was stalling you was probably an alpha that wants you in his pack."

"You said a pack would make me stronger, right?" Thrain asked.

"Yes! At least according to the books I've read. And not only that, a pack gives you a sense of purpose as a werewolf."

"Good! Are there beautiful, sexy females in a pack?... he-he?"

Mark scoffed, expressing contempt through his looks. "Perv!" he muttered under his breath.

"Hey, man! I'm not a pervert. I'm just a young teenage boy looking forward to having a beautiful girlfriend by my side," Alex replied with a soft smile.

Mark's face twisted in disbelief. "Your mom, does she know about this?"

"I can't tell her yet, but when the time is right, she will find out," Alex responded calmly.

"Good, it's probably best to keep it from her for now. Things could get complicated," Mark said, seeming somewhat appeased. "Hey, if you see me trying to melt all the silver I can find, it's because Friday is a full moon."

___

Back in the present, it was a highly anticipated match between Sunnydale High School and Mystic Falls High School. The cheerleaders prepared for their performance while the rugby teams made their entrance onto the field. The cheerleaders began waving their pom-poms and showcasing their routine, energizing the crowd.

Thrain had a special group of visitors joining him for the game. As soon as the whistle blew, they all started chanting their team's name.

"Go Sunnydale, go! Go Sunnydale, go!" their voices echoed across the field, and the crowd roared in agreement.

Thrain knew he had an unfair advantage over the other players, being a werewolf. He wanted to use his abilities secretly during the rugby match, without anyone suspecting his true nature. He moved cautiously and skillfully throughout the game, blending in with the rest of his team.

As the match progressed, Thrain seamlessly integrated himself into the team's strategy, making quick passes and running with the ball like any other player. When he needed to utilize his werewolf strength, he did so strategically, always ensuring it was out of sight from the other players and the referees.

At one point, Thrain found himself surrounded by several opposing players with no clear way out. But then, a subtle shift in his facial features was followed by his eyes glowing gold with an intense fierceness.

"Hmm, isn't this getting interesting?" Thrain thought.

He let out a low growl, causing the other players to back off, unsure of what they were up against. Seizing the opportunity, Thrain charged forward, utilizing his werewolf speed to outrun the other players and score a point. The cheerleaders jumped up and down, chanting, "We are the champions!"

Their enthusiasm was contagious, and soon the entire crowd joined in, all cheering for the team's success.

"Nice one, Thrain," the coach congratulated, feeling a sense of triumph.

After scoring the point, Thrain swiftly transformed back into his human form, blending back in with the rest of the team as if nothing had happened.

Throughout the game, Thrain continued to use his werewolf abilities sparingly, always being discreet about it. He scored several more points for his team, each time secretly shifting into his wolf form before swiftly transforming back to his human form.

When the match came to an end, Thrain felt a mix of exhilaration and relief. He had successfully used his special werewolf abilities to help his team win without anyone suspecting a thing.

Thrain glanced at Mark, recognizing him as an exception who knew his secret.

As the post-match commotion settled, the cheerleaders and the audience began rooting for the team, despite the defeat experienced by Mystic Falls High School. The opposing team displayed no remorse, vowing to improve and win their next match.

"Alright, guys, gather in a circle," the coach called out. "Heads up, everyone! That was a fantastic match. You all did great out there, and I expect even more from you in the future. Mark, excellent work. And Thrain, that was exceptional." He patted them on the back in approval.

The team dispersed, heading towards their lockers to change and wind down after the intense game.

"I've always known that werewolf abilities are among the best among all supernatural abilities," Mark said, smiling at Thrain.

"Yes, I agree," a voice chimed in from behind.

Thrain and Mark turned around, startled by the voice.

"Hello, I'm Alexander, Alex for short," he introduced himself with a cool, soft voice.

Mark found himself captivated by Alex's stunning appearance, from his jet black hair to his towering stature and well-defined muscles. His captivating gaze and alluring lips exuded a charming aura.

"Aren't you the one who's been stalking me?" Thrain asked, surprised.