Savage Desire

Chapter 1

Luke

The taste of blood lingers on my tongue, a bitter reminder of the insatiable hunger clawing within. My muscles ripple beneath my golden skin, coiled and ready to strike. The feral rage driving me forward feels like a wildfire threatening to consume me entirely.

"Get it together," I mutter, my voice strained with the effort of keeping the beast at bay.

I've hunted before, but this is different. This hunger gnaws at me, demanding more than just sustenance. It craves the satisfaction that comes only from the hunt itself, the thrill of the kill. And as much as I need it, I feel the weight of shame bearing down upon me like a curse.

"Fuck," I hiss. "This isn't me."

My nails dig into my palms, the sensation bringing me back to reality for a moment. I steady my breath, each inhalation a battle against the relentless storm raging inside me.

"Control," I whisper, the word a lifeline I cling to. "I can control this."

But even as I speak, I feel the beast within me snarl and snap, its presence a constant reminder of the conflict between man and monster. Each step I take through the forest sends shivers up my spine, the shadows casting doubts on my resolve.

"Who am I?" I ask, the question echoing through the night. "Who do I want to be?"

My thoughts turn to Logan, the brother. I can almost hear his gruff voice, urging me to find the strength to resist the darkness consuming me.

"Luke," he'd say, "you're better than this. Don't let it win."

But he must not have really thought that, or else I’d be back home with my clan.

The scent of blood hangs heavy in the air, a siren call that I can't ignore. My muscles tense beneath my skin, coiled and ready to strike at any moment. The rage within me threatens to consume everything in its path, including the last vestiges of my humanity.

As the hunger intensifies, clawing at my insides like some monstrous parasite, I find it harder to maintain control. A coyote darts out from the underbrush, its eyes wide with terror as it senses the predator in me. For a brief moment, I consider giving in – allowing the feral instincts to take over so I can revel in the kill.

"Damn it, no!" I snarl, balling my fists and gritting my teeth as I force myself to turn away. The coyote flees, its yips and howls fading into the night as I stumble through the forest, torn between the man I once was and the creature I've become.

My thoughts drift back to Logan, who chose to exile me rather than put me down like a rabid dog. Memories of our shared childhood flash before my eyes – laughter, camaraderie, and fierce sibling rivalry. But beneath it all, there's love: a bond that should have been unbreakable.

"Logan," I choke out, my voice barely audible above the rustling leaves and creaking branches. "Why'd you abandon me?"

Because he had to.

In my more lucid moments, which are growing increasingly sparse, I know he was right.

I’m going feral.

With each shaky step deeper into the forest, I fight to keep the beast at bay. The hunger gnaws at me, a relentless tormentor that I refuse to give in to. In this battle for my soul, there is no room for compromise: it's either victory or death, and I'm not ready to die just yet.

The air turns thick with the scent of prey, a tantalizing aroma that coils around my senses and ignites the primal hunger within. An involuntary growl rumbles in my chest as I struggle to contain the beast clawing at my insides, desperate to break free.

"Fuck," I mutter under my breath, clenching my fists in an attempt to hold onto some semblance of control. "You can't have me."

But it's becoming increasingly difficult to remember who I am, what I've become – a predator, a monster in human skin. My body craves the thrill of the hunt, the satisfaction of sinking my teeth into warm flesh and feeling the life seep from between my fingers.

I stalk through the underbrush, muscles coiled and ready to strike, every ounce of my being focused on the hunt. The soft rustle of leaves beneath my feet is barely audible, my movements fluid and graceful like the predator I am. I feel my amber eyes narrow, glowing with untamed fire, betraying the turmoil within.

"Fight it, Luke," I hiss, the words like jagged shards against my throat. "Stay human."

For a fleeting moment, I dare to believe it might be possible. But then the wind shifts, carrying with it the intoxicating scent of my quarry, and all thoughts of humanity are lost in the storm of predatory instincts that sweeps through me.

Luke, the voice pleads, growing fainter with each beat of my racing heart. Don't give in.

"Can't help it," I growl in response, knowing deep down that I'm losing this battle, that the tiger is winning. "The hunger...it's too strong."

Then you must be stronger, it insists, a final desperate attempt to pull me back from the brink.

I grit my teeth and force myself to take a step back, away from the invisible line that separates man from beast. But even as I do so, I can't shake the feeling that it's only a matter of time before I cross it for good – and there will be no coming back.