Joshua's sword was a blur of motion, flashing silver arcs slicing through the air as he launched a wild flurry of strikes toward Captain Percival. His eyes glowed a fierce green, his aura blazing with raw energy. Awakened. Unchained.
But none of it mattered.
Percival parried every attack with ease, stepping lightly across the sandy training ground like a dancer. He didn't counterattack, he didn't need to. Joshua's slashes came from all angles, high, low, diagonal but Percival saw them all. Blocked them all.
With a final grunt, Joshua's blade slipped from his fingers. His chest heaved as he dropped to his knees, then collapsed onto his back in the hot sand. His glow faded. He had reverted.
Percival sighed, lowering his sword. "You weren't focused today, Joshua. It's like your mind wasn't even here. Disappointing..." The older man turned his back and walked calmly into the noble house, leaving Joshua staring up at the clouds.
Joshua wiped sweat from his brow and exhaled sharply. "He's right," he muttered to the sky. I can't stop thinking about Tiffany...
He lay there for a moment, the heat of the training ground soaking into his skin, before finally pushing himself to his feet and trudging toward the house.
Maybe I'll go see Grandma, he thought. I haven't talked to her in a while.
He knocked gently before entering her room. His grandmother sat peacefully in a rocking chair by the window, knitting a green scarf as she gazed outside.
"Hey, Grandma," Joshua greeted as he walked in.
She jumped up at once, eyes brightening. "Joshua!" She wrapped her arms around him before he could react.
He chuckled and hugged her back, smiling genuinely for the first time all day.
"I thought my grandson had forgotten about me," she said, sinking back into her chair with a teasing smile.
"Sorry. Training's been... intense," he replied, rubbing the back of his neck. "How've you been? Are you enjoying it here?"
"Oh, it's wonderful. The food is delicious, the Queen is surprisingly funny, and the staff respect their elders. But I still miss my little shop... The Witches' Den."
"Then let's visit sometime. We can check on Crystal, see if she hasn't burned it down."
Her face lit up. "A lunch date with my handsome grandson? That sounds perfect."
Joshua laughed awkwardly, then looked away. "Yeah..."
His grandmother narrowed her eyes. "What's wrong?"
He sat on the edge of her bed and sighed. "Is it obvious?"
"Is it women problems?"
Joshua blinked. How the hell...
"I knew it," she said proudly.
"You know I love Blanchette, right? Like... really love her."
"I do. And?"
"It's just... I keep thinking about Tiffany. It's not love, I know that. But when I see her, it's like... something inside me pulls toward her. Like my whole body reacts. What's wrong with me?"
His grandmother smiled knowingly. "It's lust, Joshua. Tiffany's a beautiful girl, and you're not blind. Especially now, you're an Awakened werewolf, and worse, a Mutated one. You're hyper-sensitive, and you awaken almost every day. Your body is screaming at you."
Joshua rubbed his face with both hands. "So I'm not a bad boyfriend?"
"Not at all. You're a boy becoming a man, and that comes with chaos. But," she leaned forward, "giving in to that lust could destroy what you have with Blanchette."
He nodded slowly. "So... what do I do?"
"Well," she said bluntly, "the only thing I've ever known that works for werewolves in your state is sex."
Joshua choked. "Grandma!"
"Oh, stop blushing like a pup. I'm old, not dead. My advice? Make love to the girl you actually care about. That'll quiet the noise."
Joshua leapt to his feet. "Are you insane?! You can't just say that!"
She grinned. "Whoo her, Joshua! Take her to bed!"
"Please stop talking!!" he cried as he fled the room, red-faced and panicked.
What's wrong with that old woman?! Thank the gods no one heard that...
Except someone had.
Behind the corner near Grandma's room, Tiffany stood frozen, her eyes wide. She had heard every word. Slowly, she slid down against the wall and sat on the cold stone floor, arms hugging her knees.
"So that's it," she whispered. "He never loved me..."
Her lips trembled, but then her expression shifted, soft sadness giving way to quiet resolve.
"I still love him. And if I can't have his heart... then I'll take something else. Something precious."
The market square bustled with life. Tiffany weaved through the crowd until she reached a crooked little shop on the edge of town. "The Snake's Tongue – Potions & Charms."
Inside, an older witch with narrow yellow eyes glanced up.
"I'd like a potion," Tiffany said quietly.
"What kind?" the witch asked, without looking up from her scroll.
Tiffany blushed, hesitated, and looked down. "Something that... makes a man... want me."
The witch looked up slowly and smiled like a cat. "Oh, darling. You want to seduce someone who doesn't return your feelings."
Tiffany stiffened. "How did you...?"
"I read hearts like tea leaves. And witches love helping girls like you. Here." She handed over a small purple vial. "It heightens desire. Lowers resistance. Makes him easier to... guide."
Tiffany stared at the vial, fingers trembling slightly, then nodded. She paid, turned, and left.
Later that day, Joshua sat with Blanchette in the royal garden. The sunset bathed the world in gold.
"I thought you forgot about me," Blanchette said, puffing out her cheeks in mock annoyance.
Joshua smiled and slid closer. "Never. Just... been busy."
He wrapped his arm around her waist and leaned his forehead against hers. "I missed you."
She giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck. They kissed softly, then deeper.
From a second-story window, Tiffany watched. Her fingers gripped the curtain. Her jaw clenched.
Below, Joshua's eyes briefly flickered green. His Awakened instincts stirred as he gently pushed Blanchette down onto the bench, kissing her neck. But when he reached to unbutton her dress, Blanchette stopped him.
"I don't think I'm ready," she whispered. "I want our first time to be special."
Joshua froze.
"I... I want you now," he admitted, eyes glowing.
He leaned in again, but she resisted.
"I said no, Joshua."
And suddenly, the glow in his eyes vanished. His whole body pulled back as if struck.
He stepped away from her, stumbling, heart hammering. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to... I wasn't thinking."
Blanchette sat up slowly, eyes filled with confusion and hurt as she adjusted her dress.
Joshua ran.
In the second-floor window, Tiffany watched everything unfold and smiled.
Joshua curled up in bed, buried under his blanket, his face streaked with tears.
"What's wrong with me...?" he whispered. "I almost hurt the woman I love..."
He squeezed his eyes shut.
Outside his door, in the shadowy hallway, the knob slowly began to turn.