22Wolf's Dawn Version 2
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters and shows that I am about to mangle around for my own amusement, sadly Buffy: The Vampire Slayer and Teen Wolf remain the property of Mutant Enemy Productions and MTV respectively, I am merely borrowing them and make absolutely no profit from their use. As a result, please keep the legal attack dogs, also known as lawyers, firmly muzzled and on a leash as I have no money to give anyone.
Authors Note: From here is where I will really start changing how events transpire in comparison to the original version of this story. For example, I will not be doing the battle on the spirit plane that happened in the original as it no longer fits in with my plan for how Xander ends up becoming an alpha werewolf. As a result, he will remain a beta werewolf for a little bit longer than in the original version of the story.
Chapter Four
Library
Sunnydale High School
Three Days Later
"Are you sure this is going to work, Giles?"
Buffy's question hung pregnant in the air of the quiet library, most of the students and faculty having long since headed for their homes for the evening. Or in the case of most of the student's home then the Bronze since tomorrow is Saturday, she thought knowing it's what she would have been doing, though in her case she would have been watching for the vampires who would inevitably show up looking for meals at the Bronze, had the circumstances been different. As it was the source of her question was right in front of her.
The book cage had been emptied of its contents the books themselves piled neatly on the tables nearby, so they would be easily put back ready for Monday. Surrounding it - aside from a gap near the door – Giles had placed a thin line of some greyish brown powder and had a small pot off to one side that he could use to completely the line once Xander entered the impromptu cage. The reason he had to go in there was obvious as tonight was a full moon and he… well… he was soon going to transform into a werewolf.
Buffy inwardly grimaced slightly at the reminder that, despite appearances, her best male friend wasn't technically speaking human anymore. Most of the time it was easy to ignore the fact that he was a werewolf but there were times when it was undeniable that he was. Like during gym class three days ago. She and Willow had ended up watching the boys play dodge ball and while normally she'd be more interested in watching the hunkier guys get all sweaty – after all she was a teenage girl – she'd kept her eyes on Xander the entire time.
For the most part the game had gone well. Well aside from Xander seemingly dodging every ball that was thrown his way by the opposing team with an easy athleticism that he'd never been shown to possess before. At least till Larry and Percy decided that they'd had enough of him showing them up and decided to double team him. She clearly remembered what happened next as it had clearly communicated to both her and Willow the reality that Xander wasn't entirely human.
She felt like cheering as she watched Xander evade yet more balls thrown at him by the opposing dodge ball team, which consisted of some of the biggest guys in the school amongst them Larry, with an effortless ease that she could only admire. Though at the same time it was kind of freaking her out as he'd never displayed anywhere near that level of athletic ability before now, which meant it was something that he now had because of Doctor Fredrickson's bite. Gah I wish Giles would let me slay him for that, she thought, entertaining herself with thoughts of slaying the Alpha werewolf slowly and painfully for his actions.
Willow poking her in the ribs brought her out of those fantasies and she gave the redhead a thankful look and turned her attention back to the game and Xander. Just in time to see him dodge another ball only to be hit hard in the face and chest by two balls thrown by Larry and Percy who'd obviously decided they'd had enough of him showing them up and double teamed him. The impacts knocked Xander onto his back with a yelp of pain, surprise and more a little anger at the obvious double teaming.
"Harris off," the coach shouted.
Buffy stood up as Xander got back to his feet, glared at the two smugly smirking jocks for a moment before moving to the bench and sitting down. Whereupon he promptly looked down and seemed to her to be trying to push something away with breathing exercises. Concerned that he might have been hurt, those balls had been thrown quite hard after all, she moved down to him with Willow beside her.
"Xander are you alright," she asked as she stood in front of him. He didn't answer. "Xander."
"What!" Xander answered at last but his voice didn't sound quite right. She and Willow exchanged a concerned look as there was a distinct hit of a wolf's angry growl in his voice.
"Are you alright?" Buffy queried again reaching out and gently making him look up at her. She couldn't help but draw in a sharp breath as she saw his eyes, instead of their normal warm hazel brown they were glowing a brilliant gold. As Xander was taking in breaths through his nose and slowly breathing out through his mouth she also got a distinct glint of distinctly canine fangs being present in place of his normal incisors.
But they were only there for a moment. As she watched the fangs seemed to melt away and turn back into normal looking teeth, simultaneously the golden glow in her friend's eyes faded back into the normal brown. Though it had only been for a moment the sight of at least part of the wolf now inside and part of him had been something of a shock.
Damn you Marcus for doing this to him, she thought, one day, as soon as we're sure doing it won't hurt Xander, I will make you pay for it.
"It will work, Buffy," Giles replied jolt her out of the flashback. "Just in case the book cage isn't strong enough I've placed an incomplete line of powdered mountain ash wood around the perimeter. Once Xander goes inside the cage I'll complete the ring."
"What good will that do," Willow asked.
"It will form a kind of magical barrier, kind of like a mystical force field," Giles explained, "no supernatural being like Xander will be able to penetrate it… unfortunately it will also work on you, Buffy. Since you're the Slayer you are also technically a supernatural being." He didn't add that Buffy would be able to overpower a mountain ash fuelled barrier with only a relatively small amount of effort as she didn't really need to know that. After all it was not like vampires would be able to use one against her as they'd be affected by it too and there were very few vampires in the world strong enough to breach such a barrier. Only the oldest of master vampires would have the strength to do that and even then, it would leave them seriously weakened afterwards.
"So, I won't be able to get out," Xander questioned.
"Exactly you'll remain trapped inside until someone breaks the line of mountain ash," Giles explained. "You won't be in danger of hurting anyone."
Xander smiled back in relief. He started to open his mouth to say something but before he could form any words he stumbled as a wave of vertigo rippled through him accompanied by a momentary wave of intense itching in his hands and face. He felt a familiar pair of dainty hands steady him to stop him falling over at least till the sensation passed.
"Xander," Buffy asked concerned.
"I think its time," Xander answered somewhat breathless. He glanced up to see the bright silver-white disc of the full moon appearing from behind the few lingering clouds left over from a vicious thunderstorm earlier in the day. He winced as another wave of vertigo and itching, this time accompanied by a brief stab of pain rippled through him.
"Indeed, enter the cage," Giles instructed looking at the young werewolf sympathetically knowing from his research that the first shift was always the roughest on a new beta as it was the one shift that was always painful. Another thing his research had revealed was how little, if any, control the younger man would have after his metamorphosis as apparently it took time for a new werewolf to learn how to keep control during and after a shift especially on the full moon. Xander nodded back and resolutely entered the cage, Buffy followed a little way behind him coming just close enough to close and lock the door. As soon as his Slayer withdrew Giles moved forward and carefully completed the line of mountain ash.
"So, what do we do now," Willow asked a half a second before Xander abruptly screamed in pain.
Turning her full attention to her best friend she could only watch helplessly as he staggered back, then forward before collapsing to his knees hands resting on the thick mesh, head down as his chest heaved with rapid pained gulps of air. Oh Xander, she thought sympathetically. She couldn't help but both flinch and jump as he abruptly threw his head back and opened his mouth to scream again… only the sound that emerged from his mouth wasn't a scream of pain but a deep animalistic roar that made the blood in her veins turn to ice. It was all she could do not to run away screaming in fear.
"It's hurting him so much," Buffy said softly, sadly as she watched Xander continue to convulse in pain for a second before he just… changed.
As she watched his finger nails lengthened and sharped turning instantly into inch long, razor sharp claws. Simultaneously large fangs erupted into existence in his mouth and thick silky black fur seemed to burst through the skin on his cheeks making him look like he suddenly had mutton chops. From here she could see his ears shift, lengthen and becoming pointed like the ears of a wolf.
Then he looked straight at them and she couldn't help but take a startled step back at how his face had changed. It was still Xander's face but there was a distinct, inhuman distortion to it that for a second reminded her quite strongly of a vampire's game-face. The biggest similarity being the pronounced brow ridge though even that was different, smoother and much more natural looking. Unlike a vampire he still had some eyebrows though they now had the same silky black fur look as the hairs running down the sides of his face towards his jaw. His nose appeared flatter and broader, which coupled with his glowing golden eyes – which were looking straight at them with both raw primal power and a hint of hunger, there was no sign of Xander in those glowing eyes – gave his face a very distinct lupine appearance while still maintaining a lot of human overtones.
For a few moments the werewolf that Xander had changed into looked at them, then stepped forward and cautiously pressed a clawed hand, a hand that she noticed had a thin film of the same black fur growing on the back that disappeared up his arm and under his shirt, against the metal mesh of the cage. It pushed hard, and the metal flexed slightly but didn't break, the interlock of the steel mesh resisting the wolf's strength. Obviously not something to be deterred the werewolf pushed again this time with both hands and the mesh flexed slightly harder and further out a microsecond before there was a bright blue flash that momentarily blinded her. Even as her eyes adjusted she heard the distinctive thud of a body hitting the floor and heard a very canine whine of a mixture of pain and surprise.
As her vision cleared she saw the werewolf – somehow it was easier to think of it as just the werewolf than Xander now – lying flat on his/its back halfway to the other side of the cage. The werewolf looked up and she couldn't help but giggle at the look of absolute befuddlement on its hybrid features as the supernatural creature tried to work out exactly what had just happened. Shaking off its confusion the werewolf stood back up, growled angrily and charged the cage with the same blue flash/repulsion effect that knocked it on its ass again.
"Well at least we know the mountain ash works," Buffy said turning to look at Willow and Giles and saw Willow crying softly her eyes focused on the werewolf. Giles followed her gaze and saw the same. He quickly moved over to her and pulled her into a hug, knowing that seeing this – seeing her best friend since childhood painfully transform into a werewolf – had been very hard for her. After a moment he became aware of Buffy joining the hug from the other side.
"It hurt him so much," Willow sobbed into Giles jacket.
"My research indicates the first transformation always does even for a type one werewolf," Giles replied, "I'm sorry I shouldn't have let you be here to see this."
"We needed to be here, Giles," Buffy answered a second before the sound of breaking glass caught all their attention. Breaking the hug Buffy whirled back to look at the cage…
… to see the werewolf had broken one of the high windows on the wall and was now climbing out through it. Giles eyes widened, and he mentally kicked himself as he realised he'd forgotten to put mountain ash on the window ledges making it possible for the werewolf to reach the windows.
"Buffy go out the fire escape get after him," he said. "Disable him then bring him back here. Willow get me the mountain ash we're going to seal the hole in the cage."
"On it," Buffy replied and ran for the library's fire exit knowing it came out on the same grassy courtyard as the book cage windows.
In mere seconds she was outside and moving to the broken window. Whereupon she found something that momentarily shocked her as she saw in a pile and looking like they'd been torn off were Xander's clothes. Squatting down she carefully examined them and noted that they'd been torn apart from within and that here and there were bits of black fur. Something had obviously happened; the werewolf had obviously changed form more once out in the unfiltered moonlight and in the process ripped apart Xander's clothes. Looking around she spotted tracks in the damp grass, tracks that looked nothing at all like footprints but paw prints, very large paw prints.
Okay he may have turned fully into a wolf though why would that happen now? Surely if he was going to transform to that level he would have done so inside, she thought as she carefully began to follow the tracks while mentally making a note to talk to Giles about it later. She followed them carefully around the perimeter of the school grounds until she came to behind the cafeteria where the rubbish bins were located. When she got there, she found one of the dumpsters not just open but over on its side and inside, rummaging through the bags of waste food was a wolf.
But it was not a normal wolf it was too tall, being roughly the same size as a St Bernard. It was also, like a St Bernard – which she was very familiar with as her late maternal grandmother had had one – much more muscular than a normal wolf was. Knowing she had to somehow get the beasts attention – as the food scraps in the dumpsters were certainly not going to satisfy it for long – she looked around and spotted a crumpled-up soda can. This will do, she thought picking up the can before with impeccable aim throwing it at the werewolf. The can striking it hard on the rear haunches making it yelp more in indignant surprise than pain as she hadn't thrown it that hard. Forgetting its meal, the werewolf turned to her glowing golden eyes locking onto her in anger. Then it snarled and started to charge to meet her intent on killing the one who had attacked it…
... only to abruptly stumble and fall over.
Now what? Buffy thought only for her eyes to widen as the prone werewolf began convulsing and she got the distinct impression of battle being fought. After a few seconds the convulsions stopped, and the wolf got back upright before looking at her. Only for her to see that its golden eyes, while still glowing brightly, had undergone a very real but at the same time indescribable transformation. Intelligence had reappeared and with a slight jolt of surprise she realized exactly what had happened, Xander had someone been able to regain control at least somewhat over the werewolf.
"Xander?"
A Few Moments Earlier
Xander was only faintly aware of what the werewolf he'd become was doing. When the transformation had taken place, he'd felt himself be pushed back into the deepest corners of his mind. He'd almost been sent over the edge into the darkness but somehow, instinctively knowing if he went in there he would never be able to learn to control the wolf, he'd stopped himself falling over that mental precipice. Though it had left him somewhat exhausted.
Thus, he barely noticed when wolf-him escaped from his impromptu cage through a window that Giles hadn't thought to block up with mountain ash. He certainly couldn't do anything about it now though when he turned back he would be so having words with the Watcher about that oversight, especially if wolf-him ended up hurting someone – or worse – now that he/it was free to roam the streets of Sunnydale. As soon as the wolf was out in the bright unfiltered light he sensed more than felt – in this mental prison of sorts he could barely feel anything – a wave of energy come from somewhere deep within. He immediately sensed/felt his wolf self changing morphing into another, completely different form. Seemingly from a great distance away he heard his clothes ripping apart as his body transformed.
Then he was looking down a long muzzle like what you would find on a wolf or a dog and got the distinct impression that he was now on all fours. With a mental jolt he released he'd transformed into an actual wolf, albeit one that – going on the level of his new eyeline – seemed to be taller than any currently existing wolf species. Huh weird none of the books I've read over the last few days said beta wolves like me could assume a wolf form, he thought even as he was aware that wolf-him was moving and seemed to be heading across the manicured lawns surrounding the school towards the back of the wing that housed the canteen.
In moments he was there, and he became aware that the wolf was sniffing around the bins. In mere seconds it had one over and was ripping open a rubbish bag to get at the remains of a chicken within. Suppose eating scraps from the bin is better than the alternative, he thought a moment before he heard the wolf abruptly emit a yelp of indignant surprise and pain. Now what?
Horror gripped him as he sensed the wolf turning then saw Buffy nearby. He both felt and heard the wolf's growl of anger. No, I can't allow this to happen, he thought and struck out at the mental barrier around him with everything he had. For a second the barrier resisted then gave way allowing him to mentally pounce on the controlling primal power and instincts of the werewolf. Immediately he felt the instincts and impulses clawing at him, biting at him as the wolf tried to push him off so to speak, to throw him away allowing it to keep control.
But he refused to give ground this time. Fuelled by a desperate desire to prevent the werewolf hurting his friend – and honestly his love interest – he refused to give into it, refused to let it win this time. After what seemed like an eternity he felt the instincts and primal power stop clawing at his mind instead he felt it merge becoming the part of him that it truly was.
Sensation returned with breath-taking suddenness. He could feel the concrete – still slightly damp from the water sprays that kept the grass around the high school a lush shade of green – beneath the paws that earlier had been his hands and feet. He could feel the gentle breeze blowing in from the Pacific as it rustled through his fur and hear the evening crickets as well as the sound of cars driving on the freeway through the middle of town on their way to Los Angeles.
"Xander." The sound of Buffy's voice caught his attention and he looked up to see the Slayer looking back at him in a mixture of weariness, concern and a bit of hope. "Xander is that you now?"
Somehow knowing he wouldn't be able to talk in his form and having no idea how to shift back into his human form, not that he would now even if he knew how as he would be kind of naked, he settled for simply nodding back. Then he felt the most curious sensation that made his butt move from side to side. Curious he glanced down his side, noting his very wolf-like form though he was bigger and more muscular than a natural wolf, to see what the sensation was. Oh, I have a tail, he thought incredulous.
A scent abruptly caught his attention. He looked up and sniffed more deeply. It was an irony smell mixed with a faint hint of the characteristic smell of a dead body. And it seemed to be coming from somewhere just beyond the trees. I wonder what that can be, he thought a second before a feminine scream followed by the distinctive growling snarl of a vampire reached his ears. Growling he instantly realized what the smell was and ran to deal with the vampire that both his fledgling vampire hunters instincts and his new werewolf instincts told him to kill.
"Xander wait," Buffy exclaimed as Xander – who she had to admit made a very handsome wolf, though the look on his wolf face when he realised he had a tail had been quite amusing, it had been all she could do not to laugh as she doubted that Xander would have appreciated that – took off in the direction that scream had just come from. She immediately began running after him, bursting through the trees and bushes that lined the edges of the school grounds just as the familiar sound of a vampire growl came from somewhere up ahead followed by a loud yelp of pain.
"Get off me you mutt," a male voice yelled as Buffy came upon the scene. To see a teenage-looking male vampire attempting to shake off Xander who'd grabbed onto his leg, allowing a young woman – who'd obviously been the vamps intended victim – to run away. Nice one Xander, she thought as she retrieved her stake and charged in to attack. The fang face obviously heard her coming for he looked up and his sickly yellow eyes widened in horror as he beheld her stake and instantly realized who she was.
"Slayer," he snarled as he attempted, yet again, to shake off this bloody big mutt that had come out of nowhere to grab him. And incidentally cost him a meal, something that it would pay with its life for if he could get the blasted things jaws to release. Of course, he'd have to defeat the Slayer first.
"Slayee," Buffy replied as she dove in, easily evading a desperate, clumsy attempt by the vamp to bat her away with his arm and slammed the stake hard into its cold unbeating heart. A microsecond later two sounds filled the air, one being the familiar eerie scream of demonic anguish as the vampire turned to dust. The second was the sound of canine coughing as Xander got a mouth and nose full of the grey dust.
Sheesh this stuff tastes foul, Xander thought as he spat out the dust and coughed several times to clear his lungs. Note to self, release the vampire as its dusted next time. He looked up at Buffy, glowing eyes holding a question about what to do now. He was quite prepared to go patrolling as he was though somehow, he doubted that Buffy was going to go for it. And he was proven right moments later.
"Come on Xander," Buffy said. "We need to go back into the library, Willow and Giles are waiting to put you back in the cage."
Wishing he could talk in this form, so he could tell the Slayer that there was no way he was going back in the book cage, he expressed his displeasure at the thought of that in the only way he could. By emitting a plaintive whine. "Oh, don't worry I'll tell them its not necessary," Buffy said soothingly. "But we should still go back now. Come on."
With that the blonde Slayer turned and began walking back to the school. Xander gave a wolfy sigh and experienced the odd sensation of his tail – which it was so going to take ages to get used to having, but then so was the whole being able to turn into a giant wolf thing – suddenly being between his legs before he followed along behind her. Mentally he resigned himself to whatever fate was waiting for him.
Moments after the Slayer and werewolf were out of sight, and earshot, then a man who looked like he'd just stepped out of the nineteen seventies appeared seemingly from nowhere. For a moment he just stood there and looked in the direction that the supernatural duo had just vanished in. Then he smiled slightly.
"Well this is interesting," Whistler said.
Authors Notes: Well another chapter bites the dust and from here things are really going to go differently to the original version of the story. As you may have noticed there are some subtle differences between Xander's werewolf form – both the hybrid beta form and the full-blown wolf form – in comparison to what is depicted in Teen Wolf canon. This is because he was turned on a Hellmouth and thus his wolf-side is slightly more primal than the norm for his type of werewolf though still fully controllable by Xander himself once he figured out how. I hope nobody minds.
