Percy's POV

I told my mom that I loved her before hanging up the phone. I went to sleep that night with a small smile remaining stubbornly on my face.

I easily left the Lotus Hotel and Casino that morning, pleased to see that only a few hours had passed since I entered. The doorman had given me a funny look as I walked towards the front doors. I caught sight of his finger resting on a small button that would no doubt signal several security guards. In response, I flashed my canines at him, briefly allowing my eyes to take on an unearthly glow. The doorman paled, his finger retreating, as I slipped through the front doors of the cursed hotel.

After leaving the Lotus behind, hopefully for the last time (as I would only ever be able to safely return if I was still a werewolf and I don't want that), I transformed back into the wolf. The sun had risen a fair distance, and I figured it was around nine-thirty in the morning. I still had a few more days to go before the curse would be permanent, but already I could feel the pull of Lycaon.

At least that would be some help with the goal of finding the pack. If I was cursed any longer though, I worried if it might get too unbearable. How would I be able to gather the ingredients needed for my cure if I was busy fighting myself against the desire to give in?

Lycaon is a tricky opponent; you never quite know what he has planned up his sleeve.

Through the connection i had with the werewolf King, I felt myself being pulled in a certain direction. It was as if there was a string tied around my heart and the person at the other end was reeling me in.

I only had to keep running for about fifteen minutes before I saw my first sign welcoming me to California. The feeling in my chest didn't lighten up. If anything, it increased in strength. It got so intense that I feared what it would be like when I was finally in the presence on the creature that cursed my life.

I felt like Forrest Gump, running across the country. He ran and ran and ran, never stopping. Some believed he did it to raise awareness for something, or maybe for money. But he ran for himself.

I was running for Annabeth, who was an extension of myself. Unless, of course, my mom was wrong and she already cut me out of her life.

If if I was able to return to Camp Half Blood, would it be to a crowd of enraged campers, their anger pointed at me? Would there be a scattering of photos on the floor of my cabin, all the photos of Annabeth and I, except with my head cut off?

This is what scary ex's do, right? I can't say I've ever had one, but Annabeth was scary even while we were dating. It's one of the reasons I love her so much.

As I followed the string around my heart, I noticed reoccurring signs for the same attraction. Glass Mountain, California.

Was that where the infamous werewolf held his headquarters now that Lupa had regained control of the Wolf House? I had no doubt that he would eventually try to return and overthrow the she-wolf, but maybe Lycaon was smart enough to know that he had to wait until he was stronger.

With a sickening lurch in my stomach, my mind supplied the thought that if I failed this mission and had to join the wolf pack, Lycaon would be stronger.

As I began the hike up Glass Mountain, knowing my fate would depend on my actions in the next few hours, I took a moment to look at my surroundings. Glass Mountain looked to be made entirely out of chunks of obsidian that gleamed in the sun. It was a beautiful sight, but as my eyes fell upon a chunk of rock that was a lighter shade of gray compared to the customary black, my mind couldn't help but think of two gray eyes that held an even greater beauty.

Annabeth. The uncertainty was enough to make me want to lose my breakfast, but I had to keep soldiering on. I had to do this for her. I had to get back to her.

After a little while, I began to feel the string around my heart tighten. It was as if whoever was on the other end had managed to stick their hand into my chest and squeeze it.

I was almost there.

The string led me off to my right, away from the peak of the mountain and into an area that appeared even more treacherous and scary. The piles of obsidian rose, blocking out the sun as I trotted underneath them. In front of me was an ominous-looking crack in the rock.

Unfortunately, the tugging at my heart was leading me into the crypt. But I bet we all already knew that would happen, huh?

A smart person would, at this point, attempt to stake out the area and create the best plan of action. A sane person wouldn't even be in this situation in the first place. Luckily for me, I was neither smart nor sane.

Mustering all the swagger I could, I strut into the cave, trying to look calm and collected while on the inside, I was having a heart attack.

As soon as I entered the cave, wolves materialized all around me. They snarled and growled, most baring their teeth as they snapped at me. As I ventured deeper into the obsidian cave, the wolves began to slowly move aside to reveal a monster that sneered at me from the back.

He was tall, a mix between a wolf and a human. Shaggy hair covered his head in dirty, greasy strands, almost hiding his sadistic eyes from my view. He bared his teeth, his canines winking at me in the dim light from some unearthly light source at the top of the cave.

"We've been expecting you, Perseus Jackson," he sneered, his lips curling into a grin. He had no idea what I was there to do yet, and I wanted to keep it as that until I couldn't anymore.

Shifting from wolf to human in a blink of an eye, I swept some of my dark hair out of my face before giving my retort. "Now, that's no way to begin introductions with a guest. One might think you were a creep of some sort. Wouldn't want to give the wrong impression," I said, smirking.

He growled at me, the other wolves echoing him until I was surrounded by a sea of growling monsters. "Perseus Jackson, I am Lycaon!" He roared. "You will show me respect!"

I crossed my arms. "My bad. I have to say, though, you did the least cool thing, Lycaon. You interrupted my date and then made me chase you across the country."

The werewolf king laughed. "I am glad to have inconvenienced you!"

Briefly, I narrowed my eyes at the monster. He stopped laughing, eyeing me in return, as if wondering what on earth I would do next. My face broke out in a grin. "However, Lycaon, I must say that I am glad this as occurred. You don't know how excited I am to become a part of the mightiest pack of creatures that has ever walked this earth."

Lycaon smiled, looking relieved. "We are all very excited for you to join our family as we continue to take this world by storm. With your assistance, we will be able to finally claim the Wolf House as our own."

"Very good!" I agreed. "I look forward to offering you my assistance." I looked around the room. "Before I become an official member of the pack, however, I have one last request that I hope you will grant me."

Lycaon eyed me carefully, examining my poker face. After a moment, he said, "State your request and I will see if it is worthy of granting."

"I simply wish to know who the wolf is that has turned me, so I can express my utmost gratitude for him."

Lifting his chin with pride, Lycaon looked to his left. I followed his gaze to that of a brown wolf. As I watched, the wolf stood on his hind legs and gave me a small bow before returning to all fours. "This is the wolf that has turned the famed Perseus Jackson. Samuel, we thank you for your service in bringing this powerful half breed to our pack."

"I thank you as well, Samuel. You have opened my eyes to the world and have shown me the errors of my monster-killing ways," I stated, the words tasting sour in my mouth. I hated having to pretend that I was so easily swayed, but this was the only was I would be able to get what I wanted. The tooth of Lycaon and the blood of Samuel.

Lycaon clapped his hands together, looking gleeful. Instantly, I felt a sick feeling in my stomach. What had he planned?

"Perseus, as we were unsure as to what role you would adopt when you arrived, that of friend or foe, we had to gather means to stop you. However, I think these means will also appeal to you now that you have given up your past life as Hero of Olympus."

The werewolf king waved an arm at two wolves to his right. As I watched, a feeling of nausea beginning to overtake me, the two wolves stepped aside to reveal two people I knew well.

Lycaon looked back at me and smiled. I had to force my face to remain blank as I gazed at the bruises decorating the faces of their two prisoners. "We hoped you would join us in the taking of the daughter of Athena. My boys have waited long to have their way with her."

I said nothing for a moment, trying to compose myself. It would do no good to decapitate Lycaon now and face his army alone. "And what of the satyr?"

Lycaon bared his teeth in a smirk. "We'll eat them both when we're done."

Notes