A Neotide

Time stopped as I stared shocked at the figure seated in front of me with a massive grin on his face. “I never imagined a day would come when I get to see this expression on your face, let alone be responsible for it.” He mumbled lazily, “What, cat cut your tongue, sweet Kara.”

I was at a loss for words. My lips parted, however, nothing came forth. Confusion was apparent in my countenance, undoubtedly, this conversation would be a long one.

“How did I get here?” I questioned, staring into his eyes without fear.

Rodrigo is one of the biggest drug dealers in the country, however, he walks freely because nobody has been able to prove that. Yet, I know who he is, Rodrigo Aragon, an American-born Italian who is twenty-nine years old. I have been pursuing him for two years after he was declared wanted by ASA for a multi-billion drug shipment the Agency detected. However, he was able to buy his way out of the case and since then, I have had eyes on him.

“By Car. Surely, you did not walk here,” he replies with a chuckle,

“I'm not here for jokes, what the fuck is happening?” my voice slightly higher than normal, earning everybody's attention to me.

“Do I look like a joke to you? Listen up, none of us planned this, I would rather stay far away from you, yet here we are.” Rodrigo says in a serious tone this time.

“Please explain everything to me, did you help bring me here?” I mumbled confused because my head was in turmoil, a lot had occurred in the last hours, and I understood that my life was never going to be the same anymore.

He sat back on his chair, head up eyes shining as those dark Hazel orbs pierced into mine, I felt like this man could see my soul as I stared back at him. “You have been unconscious for three days,”

“What?”

“Yes, you're correct. I found you on the highway, outskirts of the city, lying unconscious on the concrete.” I listened carefully to his explanation. “I realized it was you and brought you here to my beach house. I had my personal doctor check on you, and take care of your injury,” he said his last words, glancing at my bitten ankle.

My heart skipped knowing a doctor checked on my injury, he would realize it was a bite wound. I gulped hard as Rodrigo still had his eyes on my leg, almost like the color of his eyes changed from their Hazel color to black in a second before returning to their normal color.

“Why did you help me?”

His brow drew together hearing those words, almost like my question upset him. “I know you do not like me, I have been investigating how to lock you up behind bars, and yet you still helped me. Why?”

“Do not get flattered, sweet Kara,” his demeanor changed to that Rodrigo I have always known. “I only did what I did for a reason.”

“Which is?” I was curious to know why he did not merely drop me at any hospital but chose to bring me to one of his mansions and take proper care of me. This was entirely confusing.

“Because you are now one of my kind, and as the leader of my clan, I will never forsake my own, especially a newbie like you, sweet Kara.”

My brows snapped together as I stared at the man seated in front of me, his words making additional perplexity to my already bewildered mind.

“One of your kind? What are you talking about?”

“I understand that my words confuse you, but be rest assured in a few hours you'll figure out why all of this is happening.”

“Tell me now, I need to understand everything right now,” I was losing my patience with this man, I deserve clarity, or I might as well lose my fucking sanity.

“Gigi, please do the honors of explaining to Kara what happens when a human survives the bite of a shifted Wolf.”

I creased my brow at his words, did he know about the bite?

Rodrigo beckoned Gigi, he's eyes still fixed on mine, I noticed she set her notepad down on the table. All eyes were now on me and tension filled the air, I had a feeling what I was about to hear would stir trouble.

“The venom of a full-blown Wolf is potent enough to eliminate a human, in certain cases, some humans survive when bitten by a wolf. But,”

“But what?” my voice comes out more like a whisper,

“A bitten human who survives the bite of a Wolf turns into one.”

My eyes widened upon hearing these words from Gigi, ”Turns to one? What exactly do you mean.”

“What she means is that a human who survives the bite turns into a Werewolf. And that injury on your ankle shows you were bitten by a shifter. Which could only mean one thing, since you are alive.” Rodrigo says, his gaze on my bitten ankle.

“No, no, that is not possible, there is no way I am turning into a beast!” I yelled, immediately, standing on my feet, my breath harsh with each intake of air.

“Sweet Kara, you were at the wrong place at the wrong time. Be glad you survived the first stage.”

“You are playing games with me, I do not believe a word you say,” I argue.

“You already smell like one, your senses are heightened. All of this and the fact you are still alive clearly proves that you are transforming.”

Tears ran down my cheek, startling me, I was crying. Standing among unfamiliar people in an unknown place, I imagined how my perfect life changed to this. Me a werewolf?

“How do you know this? You know too much.” I asked,

“I smell you as a werewolf, one's scent changes a few hours after being bitten, and when I rescued you, I doubted if you would make it, and you did. Kara, I know you're scared and confused, you have to understand that from the moment you got bitten your life changed.”

“Yes, you all are scaring me,” I say sincerely. “How do you smell me as one of them?” I asked, curious to know why Rodrigo was involved.

“Just like you, I was bitten and as luck may have it, I survived; however, I turned to a Neotide.”

“What is a Neotide.”

“A bitten werewolf. We are called Neotides because we are born humans and are turned from a wolf's bite.”

“Please prove that all you have said is true, I need to see more to believe.” I beckoned.

Rodrigo chuckled at my request, he stood up from his seat and moved toward me, his demeanor changing. Immediately he began to shift in front of me, fangs grew out of his mouth. I watched as his fingers turned to claws.

I stared stupefied as he partially shifted, tears streamed down my eyes. Flashbacks of what happened that night come back, and my lips quiver as I relive that moment.

A piercing scream escapes my lips, as I move back slowly. “Please don't hurt me,” I whisper. My vision begins to turn blur, everything spins in my head and I black out.