I Didn’t Lose My Humanity, I Traded It

Aries learned two important things in the past two years.

One: being a werewolf did not come with an instruction manual, a union, or paid sick leave.

Two: people at work definitely noticed when you showed up on a Monday morning with bruises shaped like claw marks and claimed you “fell down the stairs.”

Again.

She stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror at the office, tugging the sleeve of her blazer down over a purple bruise blooming along her forearm. It throbbed faintly, a reminder of last night’s vigilante patrol that went sideways when the vampire had friends.

“Okay,” she muttered to herself. “Smile. And act normal" aries stepped out into the open office floor just in time to catch Kyle’s eyes flicking to her arm.

“That’s a… new one,” Kyle said, pointing with his coffee mug.

Aries didn’t miss a beat. “Yoga.”

“Noah snorted. “That bruise is shaped like regret.”

“CrossFit?” Diana offered.

Aries grinned tightly. “I’m experimenting.”

She pivoted away before anyone could ask follow-ups. Lying had become an art form—like improv, but with higher stakes and fewer applause breaks.

That’s when Ian appeared at her desk.

Ian was new. Too charming. Too symmetrical. The kind of man who looked like he’d been designed by a marketing team to sell watches and questionable life choices.

“Hey,” he said, leaning casually against the cubicle wall. “New Year’s party at my place tonight. You should come.”

Aries blinked. “Oh. Uh. I don’t really—”

“Diana,noah,and Kyle are coming ” Ian added smoothly. “Low pressure. Just drinks, music, celebrating another year for not spontaneously combusting.”

She laughed despite herself. “Bold assumption.”

Kyle perked up. “there's going to be alcohol?”

“Good alcohol,” Ian added

Diana was already grabbing her coat. “We’re going.”

Aries sighed. “fine in the spirit of the new year ill go”

By the time everyone arrived at Ian’s party, the music was already pulsing through the apartment—bass rattling the windows, laughter spilling over itself. Aries’s friends clustered together with red cups in hand, drinking, chatting, already halfway gone and glowing with the careless joy of a new year about to begin. They looked like people who believed tomorrow would be kind.

Aries didn’t feel that way.

The noise pressed in on her, reminding her of everything she hadn’t fixed yet—unfinished plans, wrong turns, the quiet fear that she wasn’t doing enough, that she wasn’t enough. She slipped her phone from her pocket and texted Michael, asking for what she couldn’t seem to give herself: reassurance. His reply came quickly. You’re doing great, he said. All anyone can do is their best. Hope for the best. Have fun—it’s the new year.

Then another message followed, almost as an afterthought. Tonight’s going to be… different.

Aries frowned at the screen. Different how? Before she could ask, Ian appeared beside her, grinning, already holding out a drink. She took it automatically, barely tasting the first sip

She watched as Kyle’s smile went slack, Diana slumped into the couch, and Noah blinked hard like he’d forgotten how eyes worked.

“What the hell—” Aries muttered.

Ian smiling too wide. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah,” she said slowly. “Just—wow. This is… cheap.”

She took a sip anyway. Nothing affected her. Drugs burned out of her system in seconds.

Except this time, the room tilted.

Her stomach dropped.

“Oh,” she said faintly. “That’s new.”

Ian’s face sharpened into something pleased.

Aries swayed. “What the fu—”

Darkness took her mid-syllable.

She woke to chains.

Cold metal wrapped around her wrists, ankles secured to a concrete wall. Her head throbbed. Around her, Kyle, Diana, and Noah were unconscious, breathing steadily.

Ian stood in front of her, hands clasped behind his back.

Aries looked down at the chains, then back up at him.

"You’re a fucking nut case I love how you went with the chains I'm a Kinky person myself

His jaw tightened.

“Who are you?” "all in due time aries i love taking my time to torture"

“Ooo,” Aries purred. “If you’re going to hurt me, promise me you’ll use everything you’ve got. And I do mean everything.” as Aries raises her leg to his privates

His patience snapped audibly.and backing up a bit

“Keep talking,” he growled, “and I’ll make you regret it.”

“ooo you flirt” Aries jumped, wrapping her legs around Ian’s waist and pulling him in, her mouth crashing into his. The kiss was reckless—hot and desperate—and when she bit his lip, just hard enough to draw blood, he sucked in a sharp breath. The taste of copper lingered between them.

Then reality hit him all at once.

He caught her by the hips and gently—but firmly—pulled her off him, setting her back on her feet. Without a word, he turned away, like he needed something to hold onto. His ears burned red, heat crawling up his neck as he faced the wall, the ceiling, anything that wasn’t her.

He adjusted his stance, forcing distance between them, willing his body to calm down. The timing was wrong. The moment was wrong. And his reaction—unfortunately—was very real. He took a steadying breath, shoulders tense, refusing to turn around until he was sure his face and his body had stopped betraying him.Aries—” he muttered, swallowing.

Oh Ian it's all in due time gorgeous but before I have my way with you

can you give me a scratch my nose is kinda killing me. I would do it myself but my hands are quite occupied at the moment —oh.you can't your Hands are tied. That’s fine. Maybe I can just—”

The chains exploded apart.

Metal clanged to the floor as Aries surged forward, teeth flashing, jaws locking onto Ian’s neck.

It was over in seconds.

She stood over his body, breathing hard.

“you suck at hosting,” she muttered.

Michael, she called telepathically. Cleanup. Memory wipe. Now.

On my way, came the familiar reply.

An hour later, back at headquarters, Michael met Aries with news. As he guided her down a narrow corridor, her thoughts drifted to the text he’d sent earlier: Tonight’s going to be… different. A quiet huff escaped her.

“Oh, don’t worry,” he replied, far too calmly. “There’s more to come.”

She scoffed. “What could possibly be worse?”

Michael stopped and reached for a door, the corner of his mouth twitching as if he knew something she didn’t. He pulled it open.Noah was waiting inside

Aries stopped cold.

“What the..."

Noah leaning against a table “Aries"

He said calmly

"Surprise" Michael said jokely

Aries’s vision went red.

Fangs poping out

Bones cracking

Aries, calm d—” The plea died as her fingers locked around his neck. There was no hesitation, no second motion—just a violent pivot and heave that sent Michael’s body tearing through the wall.

In the ringing aftermath, Noah’s dry observation drifted over the debris. “A bit theatrical, even for you. Do you often redecorate with personnel?”

They collided, claws flashing, snarls echoing. Diana and Kyle rushed in, pulling Noah back—

—and Ian stepped out of the shadows.

Alive.and grabbing aries

Aries froze. “You.”

“Thick neck.” he said

Then they went at each other

Michael finally cut through the chaos by catching Aries mid‑swing, hoisting her clean off the floor, and planting her on her back with firm, force.

“That’s enough, Aries,” he growled.

She immediately kicked him in the ribs. “Ow—seriously?” he snapped. “look little girl, you already launched me through a wall tonight. That shit hurt you will not doing be doing that again.”

He stayed on top of her, pinning her down with his weight, breath still uneven from the fight. Aries glared up at him.

“Michael, get off of me.”

“Are you ready to be calm now?”

“Yes. I’m calm. Now get off.”

He released her and rose to his feet with a long, weary sigh.

What came next was a torrent of explanations, justifications, protocols. Talk of tests, of fragile trust, of necessary protection. It was a language of duty, cold and sterile.

Aries left before she could throw anyone else through drywall.

And wondered into a alley and heard some unusual sounds

“Seriously,” she said into the dark, “you can cut the crap. Noah"

The hit sent her flying into a parked car , twisting her into a shape she was never meant to hold. A married couple strolling around and also friends who recognized her at once—halted, shock flickering across their faces.

Fleur's voice cut through the muffled roar in her skull. "The fireworks aren't for an hour. Are you starting your own show?

Aries leaned into the ruined car, her breath fogging the cold, crumpled steel. There was a wet, decisive pop as her joint slid back into place. She turned her head, spat red onto the pavement, and offered a a shaky, almost-laugh "Just... putting this year's demons to bed."

“Are you okay? You’re bleeding,” Fleur said, already reaching for her.

“I know, Fleur.”

“Then let me look at you—I’m your doctor.”

“I’m fine. Really.”

Tom stepped closer. “Aries, just let her check you.”

“No need, Tom. I’ve been in worse conditions.”

He glanced at the crumpled hood behind her. “You know you completely wrecked this car.”

“I know. I’ll take care of it.”

Aries took a step back, scanning the alley, forcing a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “You guys should go. Seriously.”

Something moved in the dark.

The monster lunged.

Aries shoved herself between it and them. Tom instinctively stepped forward.

“No, Tom—stay back!”

“What the hell is going on?” he shouted. “Aries, what is that thing?”

She turned just enough for them to see—eyes burning, teeth no longer human.

“Run,” she commanded, her voice dropping into something deep and inhuman. “Now.”

Fleur didn’t argue. She grabbed Tom, the stroller rattling as they fled, and Aries turned back to the dark, telepathic scream ripped through the silent channel like shattering glass. Michael! His response was a spike of pure alarm. Aries? What? What's going on he shot back, frantic " trouble those things found me I need you"

Michael arrived seconds later with the rest of the team The fight was a brutal, concentrated thing—it ended with the monstrous entity dissolving into acrid smoke.

As the adrenaline bled away, Aries watched her colleagues—The old, familiar grudge sat in her chest, heavy and useless. She understood, then, that she needed to let it go. The knowing was simple; the doing would be the hard part.

The first distant firework cracked the sky, a bloom of gold. Then another. The clock tower began to chime midnight.

Ian appeared before her, his touch surprisingly gentle against the fresh bruises. And a a long, deep, anchoring kiss followed right after along with a soft, knowing smile on his lips.

“Happy New Year,” he murmured, voice rough at the edges.

"Mmm. No bite this time?” "patience remember it's all in due time" She pulled him in for another searing kiss, fierce and possessive. "And let's not forget its your turn with the chains"