Under the Cursed Moon - CH - 36 (Patreon)

The tension between Harry and the vampires thickened as they locked eyes, each side recognizing the other as something far from ordinary. The vampires inhaled deeply, catching the scent of his blood. But it wasn’t the warm, tempting aroma of a mere human. There was an earthy, animalistic undertone to it—a wildness that spoke of power and strength. The scent was reminiscent of the shapeshifters from the Quileute tribe, those who could turn into wolves. Yet Harry didn’t resemble any shifter they had encountered; he stood calmly, seemingly human, but exuding an energy that set him apart.

One of the vampires, a tall figure with sharp features and a calculating gaze, took a step forward, narrowing its eyes as if trying to read Harry’s nature. The others spread out slightly, their predatory instincts now tinged with caution. Harry saw the uncertainty flicker in their eyes, the way they adjusted their stance as they tried to make sense of this unexpected opponent. They had approached him as if he were prey, only to realize they might have stumbled upon a predator of equal, if not greater, power.

"You don’t smell like anything I’ve encountered before," the lead vampire finally spoke, voice low and skeptical. "Not wolf, not human. What are you?"

Harry didn’t answer right away. Instead, he allowed a hint of a smile to cross his face, a dangerous gleam flashing in his eyes. "What I am is someone you’d be wise not to cross," he replied coolly, his voice steady, calm. "But it’s a bit too late for that, isn’t it?"

The vampires exchanged glances, momentarily unsettled. They were accustomed to terrorizing their prey, but this man stood unyielding, with a presence that felt ancient and relentless. One of the younger vampires scoffed, trying to mask their own apprehension with bravado. "Big words for someone all alone on this road. There are seven of us, and only one of you."

Harry’s eyes narrowed, his senses now fully attuned to every movement, every shift in the vampires’ postures. His Lycan instincts surged beneath his skin, itching to unleash the power he kept restrained. But he was calm, centered, and very much in control.

"Seven of you," he repeated, his tone almost mocking, "and you think that’s enough?"

The vampires bristled at his arrogance, and the lead vampire’s patience snapped. "Enough of this," he hissed, baring his fangs. "Let’s see if you’re still so confident when we’ve drained you dry."

One moment, Harry was standing meters away, eyes fixed on the vampires, and in the next instant, he was right in front of one of them. His movement was so swift, so precise, that the vampire barely had time to react. Before it could register the shift, Harry's hand was around its neck, gripping with a force that defied anything the vampire had experienced.

The vampire’s eyes widened in shock and fear, but before it could even raise a hand to defend itself, Harry’s grip tightened, and with a brutal twist, he crushed the vampire’s neck. The sound was sharp, like shattering stone, as the vampire’s skin and bones, hard as marble, crumbled under his strength. In seconds, its head and neck broke apart, scattering into a fine, powdery dust.

The other vampires stumbled back, their previous bravado replaced by raw terror. They had never seen strength like this—not even from other vampires. This stranger was not only fast; his power was something far beyond their understanding, almost primal in its intensity.

One of them, a tall vampire with dark hair and a sneering expression, managed to find his voice, though it wavered with fear. “W-what are you?” he stammered.

As the last vestiges of the vampires' confidence crumbled into dust, Harry's transformation began. It was a sight both mesmerizing and terrifying. In an instant, his body contorted and shifted, bones cracking and rearranging in a display that would have made a lesser being scream in agony. But Harry was beyond pain; he embraced it as a catalyst for change.

His skin began to peel away, revealing the sinewy muscles and dark fur that lay beneath. The air around him seemed to pulse with energy as he grew, expanding into a towering figure. Where there had been a man now stood a creature of myth, primal and powerful. His hind legs bent and shifted, allowing him to stand on all fours, but as he stood, he continued to rise until he towered over the remains of the vampires.

His hands elongated into massive claws, sharp enough to rend flesh from bone. The transformation was swift, a flawless execution of his nature as a Lycan. A low growl emanated from deep within his throat, reverberating through the air, sending shivers down the spines of the remaining vampires.

Then, with a wild, soul-piercing howl, Harry announced his presence as a true predator. The sound echoed through the trees, a haunting call that resonated with the primal instincts of the forest. The vampires, once so confident in their strength and superiority, now found themselves paralyzed with fear, their eyes wide as they looked up at the beast before them. They had heard the tales, whispered legends of creatures that could shift between man and wolf, but they had never believed them to be true.

Now, faced with this living embodiment of their nightmares, they understood the truth. This was not mere shapeshifting; this was something far more formidable. This was a werewolf—a creature of legend, thought to be nothing more than stories spun by fearful tongues.

The towering figure before them was both majestic and terrifying, a testament to the untamed power of nature. Harry, in his Lycan form, was a force of raw instinct and strength, his golden eyes glowing with a fierce intelligence. The vampires stumbled back, their bravado shattered, realizing that they were now the prey, and he the hunter.



The fight was over almost before it began. Harry, in his Lycan form, moved with a speed and ferocity that rendered the vampires powerless. He struck like a bolt of lightning, his claws ripping through the undead flesh with ease, shattering marble-like bones and turning them to dust in a matter of seconds. The vampires, once confident in their strength, now lay scattered across the forest floor, nothing more than remnants of their hubris.

Once the silence settled, Harry felt a strange calm wash over him. The thrill of the hunt and the rush of power coursed through his veins, but practicality soon took over. He needed to get back to Forks, and there was no time to waste. With a flick of his wrist, he conjured a portkey from the remnants of his crashed car, sending it directly to his repair shop.

Next, he summoned one of his vintage cars, a sleek, powerful model that had always brought him joy. With the roar of the engine, he took off, navigating the winding roads back to Forks. As he drove, he felt the exhilaration of the night air rushing through the open windows, the world around him a blur as he returned to the safety of home.

After a quick wave of his hand, a fresh set of clothes appeared, perfectly tailored to fit him once more. His transformation had healed all the wounds from the earlier encounter, leaving him as good as new. The car's headlights pierced the darkness, illuminating the familiar trees lining the road as he approached the Black mansion.

When he finally arrived at Forks, the house loomed welcomingly in the soft glow of the porch light. Harry parked the car and stepped inside, the warmth of home enveloping him. He could hear the soft sounds of breathing; Leah, Teddy, and Hermione were all safe within.

Harry found Hermione sitting up in the living room, her expression a mixture of relief and concern. "You're back! I was starting to worry," she said, her eyes searching his for any sign of trouble.

"Nothing to worry about. Just a little detour," he replied, offering a reassuring smile.

She sighed, visibly relaxing as she took in his unscathed appearance. "I don't like it when you go off alone like that. You never know what you might run into."

"Trust me, I'm capable of handling myself," he assured her, though he understood her concerns. The weight of responsibility always seemed to hang heavy in the air.

He walked over to the couch where she sat, the shadows of the room flickering with the light from the nearby fireplace. Harry settled beside her, allowing the warmth of her presence to wash over him. “Teddy and Leah are sleeping?” he asked, a smile tugging at his lips at the thought of his family.

"Yeah, they were exhausted from playing all day," Hermione said, her eyes softening at the mention of their son. "Leah had him running around the beach. They were having a blast."

“Good. I’ll check on them in a bit,” he replied, knowing that he had to be present for the both of them after the unexpected chaos of the night.

For now, he would cherish this moment of peace, knowing that whatever challenges awaited them outside their sanctuary, they would face them together as a family. The night had been wild, but it only reinforced his determination to protect those he loved. And as Harry settled deeper into the couch, he felt a sense of belonging wash over him—this was home, and he was ready for whatever came next.

The sun was barely peeking through the trees as Harry gathered the shapeshifters and the Cullen family in the spacious living room of the Black mansion. The atmosphere was tense, with everyone aware that the peace they had enjoyed could be shattered at any moment. Harry knew they needed to act swiftly and decisively.

As they settled in, Harry took a deep breath and began, “Thank you all for coming on such short notice. I encountered five vampires last night while driving back from Seattle. They were hunting in near Forks, and I believe they’re planning to cause trouble in the town soon.” His words hung in the air, drawing concerned glances among the group.

Alice was the first to speak, her voice steady but fierce. “We can’t let them get a foothold here. If they’re connected to the Volturi, this could escalate quickly.”

Carlisle Cullen, who had been quietly listening, furrowed his brow as he considered the implications. “If you’re saying they were members of the Volturi, that’s serious. I recognize one of them—his name is Felix. He was one of the guards, known for his brutality. After he left the Volturi, I’d heard whispers that he was wandering, but I didn’t expect him to come this close to our territory.”

The group exchanged uneasy looks, the weight of Carlisle’s recognition settling heavily over them. Harry leaned forward, meeting Carlisle’s gaze. “Do you think he could be trying to rally other rogue vampires? We need to get ahead of this before it spirals out of control.”

“I agree,” said Jasper, his expression resolute. “If Felix is here, it’s likely he’s not alone. We’ve seen what happens when rogue vampires gather—chaos and bloodshed. We must devise a strategy to confront them.”

“We can set up patrols around the border,” Leah suggested. “If they’re lurking near Forks, we need to be ready to act. The pack can coordinate with the Cullens to keep a watchful eye.”

Harry nodded. “That sounds like a solid plan. But we also need to gather intelligence. If we can find out more about their numbers and intentions, we’ll be better prepared for a confrontation.”

“Perhaps I could reach out to some contacts in Seattle,” Alice offered, her eyes shimmering with determination. “I can sense movements and feelings; it might help us anticipate their next move.”

“Good idea, Alice,” Harry replied, appreciating her proactive approach. “The sooner we know what we’re dealing with, the better. And we should also consider talking to the local supernatural community. If Felix is trying to recruit more vampires, they might have information we can use.”

The meeting continued, everyone contributing ideas and strategies. They mapped out patrol routes, discussed contingency plans, and brainstormed ways to approach the rogue vampires diplomatically, if possible. Harry felt a sense of camaraderie and purpose building among them—a reminder that they were not alone in this fight.

As the discussion wrapped up, Harry glanced around the room, taking in the determined faces of his friends and allies. “We’ll face this together. I won’t let dangerous vampires threaten our home or our families. Let’s get to work.”

With renewed energy, the group broke up, each member eager to fulfill their roles. Harry felt a deep sense of responsibility, knowing that every decision made could mean the difference between safety and chaos. But he also felt a surge of hope; together, they were strong, and they would protect what mattered most to them.