Chronicles of Rohan: The Birth of the True Alpha

Chapter 2: The Bite

"Lucas!" Dylan shouted.

Before he could react, something big slammed into Lucas.

"What the hell is that?!" Dan yelled, backing up.

The impact sent Lucas crashing to the ground, the wind knocked out of him.

Lucas groaned, coughing. "I can't breathe..."

He gasped for air, struggling to push himself up. But before he could react, something heavy slammed into his side, knocking him back down..

"Aaaaaah!" Lucas screamed, his body going rigid as pain exploded through him. The creature's claws raked across his chest, dragging him into the dirt. He tried to push it off, but his arms were too weak.

"Please" His voice barely came out, a desperate plea.

The creature snarled, leaving Lucas in a pool of his own blood and vanished into the darkness.

As Lucas lay motionless, Dan and Dylan crouched in the shadows, peering out from behind a thick tree.

“Do you think he’s dead?” Dan started, voice trembling with fear.

“No,” Dylan replied sharply, his eyes scanning the darkness. "Not yet. But if we don’t move now, we might not get another chance."

Dan swallowed hard, eyes wide. “But we can't just leave him out there!”

Dylan pulled him back into the shadows. “We have to. That thing... it’s too dangerous. We wouldn’t be able to help him anyway, not yet. It’ll track us if we stay too long.”

Dan clenched his fists, frustration boiling inside him. “So we just let him die?”

“I said no,” Dylan snapped, his voice low but firm. “But we have to make sure we’re not next. You don't get it. He's not the only one the creature’s after. There are others, and it's not just him it's hunting now. It’s all of us.”

Dan hesitated, staring in the direction of the attack. “Then why does it feel like we’re already too late?”

Dylan’s eyes hardened as he took one last look before dragging Dan away. “Because we’re already too far gone.”

“Dan!” Lucas called out with his last strength, his voice weak. “Dylan?”

No answer.

He looked around. There were No sign of Dan. No sign of Dylan.

He struggled and pushed himself to his feet, leaning against a tree. Every part of him hurt, and his legs felt like jelly. Something was wrong, though. He is infected with the beast's venom.

His hearing was sharper. He could hear leaves rustling from far away. The faint sound of water dripping somewhere.

“What’s going on?” he whispered.

Then he noticed his was healing.

Not just clotting or scabbing like a normal cut.

The torn flesh was closing rapidly, the skin pulling itself together with unnatural precision.

“What... the hell?” Lucas muttered, eyes wide in disbelief. His breath came out in sharp, unsteady bursts. His heart thundered. He stumbled forward, grabbing onto a tree for balance. The bark felt too real, too sharp. His fingers trembled as the pain in his shoulder melted into a strange, burning warmth.

He could hear everything. The chirp of a single cricket a hundred feet away. The flutter of wings from a bird perched far above. The dripping of water echoing like it was right next to his ear.

His vision sharpened. The moonlight no longer cast shadows; it carved details. Every blade of grass. Every moving leaf. A squirrel darted past, but its heartbeat boomed in his ears like a drum.

Lucas spun around, panting. His breathing was no longer just breath, it was growling.

The trees blurred around him as he stumbled through them, fear and confusion driving his every step. He didn’t know where he was going. He didn’t have a phone. No flashlight. Only this change.

His limbs moved faster than he thought possible, like something else was guiding them.

He ran all the way home. His lungs didn’t burn. His legs didn’t ache. He felt invincible.

He burst through the back door. His mom was sitting on the couch, reading a book. She stood up fast, dropping it.

“Lucas?” she gasped. “What happened to you?”

He tried to speak, but all that came out was a low growl.

Her eyes widened. “What was that sound?”

“I don’t know,” he said, his voice shaky. “I think I got attacked by something in the woods.”

She rushed to him, inspecting his shoulder. “Oh my God. That’s deep, how are you still not bleeding?”

He didn’t answer. He couldn’t. He didn’t understand it either.

“I’m calling the doctor,” she said, grabbing her phone.

“No! No doctors,” he said quickly, panic rising in his chest.

She stopped, confused. “Why?”

“I just don’t want them to know,” he stammered.

The next morning, Lucas barely made it through breakfast.

“Lucas, are you feeling okay?” his mom asked, setting her coffee mug down and narrowing her eyes at him.

“Yeah. Totally fine,” Lucas said, forcing a yawn. “Just... didn’t sleep great.”

“You look like you haven’t slept in days.”

“Well, I’m not exactly a beauty queen to begin with,” he said, trying to grin.

She folded her arms. “Don’t try to joke your way out of this. What really happened last night? You came in looking like you fought a bear and refused to go to the hospital.”

Lucas took a big bite of toast. “You know... wild raccoon maybe. Definitely not a bear. Could’ve been a shadow. Might’ve just tripped.”

“Lucas.”

He avoided her gaze. “It’s not a big deal, Mom. I mean, look at me. I’m fine now.”

She leaned closer, eyes narrowing. “You were bleeding. Now you're not. You don’t even have a scar.”

“Vitamin C?” he offered, shrugging.

“Don’t get smart with me.”

“I’m just saying... you raised a fast healer.”

“Mm-hmm.” She sighed, watching him carefully. “You better not be involved in something stupid, Lucas. If you’re in trouble”

“I’m not,” he interrupted gently. “Really. I swear. Today’s just a fresh start.”

She tilted her head. “You’re acting weird.”

“I’m always weird,” he said, slinging his bag over his shoulder. “That’s part of my charm.”

She gave a reluctant smile. “Well, don’t get into any fights. And stay away from the woods.”

Lucas paused by the door. “Yeah. The woods are overrated anyway.”

“Lucas?”

He looked back.

“I love you. Be careful.”

He hesitated. “Love you too, Mom.”

Then he stepped out the door.

The school football field was alive with energy during practice. Lucas stood on the sidelines, unnoticed as usual. He was the quiet backup’s backup, never chosen for the main lineup.

“Tallman! You’re in!” Coach Rourke called out, clipboard in hand.

Lucas blinked. “Me?”

“Yes, you! Let’s see what you can do. Take Travis’s spot at wide receiver.”

Lucas jogged onto the field, trying to steady his breathing. His heart thumped hard in his chest.

The quarterback called the play and Lucas ran.

And everything slowed down.

Lucas moved with unbelievable speed and precision, weaving past defenders effortlessly.

He spun around a linebacker and leapt to catch the ball mid-air.

Before he realized it, he had landed in the end zone, stunned by his own speed.

“Holy hell!” one of the players shouted. “Was that Lucas?”

Coach Rourke’s whistle shrieked. “That’s what I’m talking about! Where’s that been hiding, Tallman?”

Another player ran up, slapping him on the back. “Bro, that was insane! You got jets under those legs?”

Lucas said nothing. He was stunned too. He felt like he was flying. Like the field was part of him.

“Lucas the Flash!” someone joked from the sideline. Laughter and cheers followed.

Coach blew the whistle and walked over. “Kid, if you play like that Friday night, you might just win us the game.”

Lucas nodded slowly, still trying to process what was happening.

“Are You okay, man?” asked Josh, the starting running back, eyeing him with raised eyebrows. “You look... different.”

Lucas smiled faintly, trying to play it off. “Just... had a good night’s sleep.”

“Whatever it was, keep doing it,” Josh muttered, shaking his head. “You’re moving like a damn animal out there.”

Lucas felt like a real man for the first time in his life as he made his way across the street heading home.

“You were bitten,” Dylan said quietly emerging from the alley.

Lucas froze. “What?”

“You were bitten,” Dylan repeated. “Last night. In the woods.”

His mouth went dry. “How do you know that?”

Dylan stepped closer. “Because it’s already started. The change. I can smell it on you.”

“You’re not human anymore, Lucas,” Dylan said, his voice low. “And if you don’t learn how to control it... you’re going to hurt someone.”

Lucas’s heart pounded. His hands shook.

“What are you talking about?”

Dylan glanced over his shoulder, like he was checking for something. Then he looked back at Lucas.

“There are others,” he said. “Others like us. And not all of them are friendly.”

He leaned in closer. “You need to come with me. Now. Before they find you.”

“Who’s they?” Lucas asked, desperate.

Dylan didn’t answer. Instead, he turned his head and his face went pale.

“Run,” he whispered.