Axel scanned the grounds, taking in the few security guards and staff. There were obviously werewolves planted amongst them, but it was hard to tell without getting close. His brother hadn't been kind enough to tell him more than necessary.
"Let's move." Axel slipped out of the car, making his way towards the building.
Bruno and Reese flanked him, their movements synchronized as Sammy nervously trailed behind.
The music grew louder, the air heavy with alcohol and sweat. Inside were senators and donors, filthy rich men and women who poured money and resources into trying to eliminate all werewolves.
It was disgusting.
Axel pushed open the door, allowing himself to be engulfed by the heat, noise and smells. There were at least two hundred people seated around the dining room, gorging themselves on expensive food and wine. All living like their precious money could keep them safe from what was coming.
With a nod of his head, Bruno and Reese shed their clothes and transformed, their large wolf forms stalking into the crowd.
Axel took a deep breath and followed, pulling off his clothes and allowing the transformation to wash over him.
It was as natural as breathing.
His vision shifted, his body elongating, his nails turning into claws.
Chaos erupted instantly. Screams filled the room as everyone ran to the doors, only to find them blocked off or closed. Several of the staff and security also transformed, rushing forward to attack.
Axel lunged forward, his jaws clamping around a security guard's throat as the human tried to pull out a gun.
Blood dripped down Axel's fur, his pulse racing, basking in the thrill of battle.
The screams intensified. The humans' frantic footsteps echoed around him, the stench of their fear filling his nostrils.
It was intoxicating.
A gun fired, narrowly missing Reese.
Axel's gaze locked on the shooter, a large woman, her face streaked with tears and smudged make up. Her hands trembled as she tried to aim her gun again.
Axel didn't hesitate.
He lunged forward, his fangs sinking into her neck, tearing into the flesh. Blood spurted out, her body twitching and convulsing as it fell to the floor.
It was a bloodbath.
After ten minutes of slaughter, they got the remaining crowd under control, tying them to chairs as they wept and begged for their lives.
Axel returned to his human form, wiping the blood from his hands with a tablecloth.
The others remained in their wolf forms, circling the hostages with low growls.
"You are the lucky ones!" Axel boomed as he paced back and forth. "We've decided to give you a choice. You can either join us, or die in an Infection Control cell. It's entirely up to you."
"Please," a woman sobbed, shaking with fear. "I don't want to turn into a monster!"
"We're not monsters," Axel grinned. "We're the true rulers of this planet."
With a nod of his head, the wolves pounced, sinking their teeth into the hostages one by one.
Men and women sobbed and screamed as the infection began to take hold, consuming their minds and forcing them to change.
Their bodies contorted, bones snapping, muscles tearing, as their human forms gave way to the primal beast that now lived inside them.
Axel had seen it plenty of times before. The strong ones would learn to change back, but others wouldn't, living out the rest of their lives as savage wolves unless Infection Control tracked them down.
