Somehow Paradox found himself in front of Dodencel, the Lycan strip club Caravel told him about. Paradox was in his car, gripping the steering wheel as he watched a female Lycan let Lycans, Hybrids, and even humans into the club.

Even though Paradox was locked in his car, he could hear the roaring sounds of thunderous music, Lycans howling, Hybrids cheering, and screaming. Tons of screaming. It set his nerves on edge and he didn’t want to step foot inside of the club, but when Caravel texted him, u hre yet, Paradox texted, Yep. and exited his car.

Everything sounded louder when Paradox got out of his car. It made his head ring. He went to the Lycan female, wondering if she would even let him. She did stop, saying, “How old?” and Paradox said, “Seventeen?”

The Lycan female put her fist to her hip, canting her head to the left. “You look quite young to be seventeen. Whatever. Get in and mum’s the word, hm?” She winked at him, flashing him a fanged smile.

Paradox shuddered internally and entered. There had to be over a hundred Lycans, Hybrids, and humans in the club. The smell of smoke, alcohol, sweat, blood, and excited hormones and pheromones made Paradox want to gag. The lucid music was mind-numbing and dizzying, the laughter and cheers were causing a buzz in Paradox’s ears. His blood was boiling from overanxiety but he forced himself to breathe, taking in deep breaths through his mouth.

A Hybrid male was dancing on a table, tail swishing to the beat of the lucid music, hands up in the air, body twisting and turning. The Hybrid was laughing while he was dancing; a male Lycan went up to him and grabbed his tail and the Hybrid paused his dancing, looking down at the Lycan. He grinned at him and told the Lycan something (Paradox couldn’t hear what over the loud music). The Lycan then pulled out a small leather pouch and gave it the Hybrid. The Hybrid threw himself at the Lycan and they were now—

Paradox hastily looked away, alarmed. This wasn’t anything he was told before. He was told Hybrids and Lycans hated each other. He was told Lycans feasted on humans, not dance with them. He was told the Lycan World, the Lycan society was a dangerous place to be—if someone dared step foot in the Lycan World, they’d be a slave to Lycanthropy, but it looked like everyone was at ease. Or maybe it was the alcohol taking effect.

There was clothing everywhere, too. Whether torn or in tack, clothing was either on the floor, on the tables, on the chairs, or even suspended on the lights. Paradox stared at the clothing suspended on the lights, wondering how it got up there. He didn’t pry into his thoughts and continued to the back of the club.

Near the back, the music was less loud, the sound of voices a bit subdued. But it wasn’t quiet enough. Paradox groaned, wondering why he came here. He exited through the backdoor to the back porch. He slumped against the railing, groaning and tugging at his hair. This was bad. Caravel was somewhere inside, probably trying to get laid, and here he was, unsure what to do. Paradox gripped the railing, hesitating to go back inside, but when he heard the backdoor opening, he froze.

“The club isn’t usually like this if that’s what you’re wondering,” a low voice said.

Paradox turned around and blanched. A Lycan. A male Lycanthrope was right in front of him. Paradox's mouth went dry as he struggled to find words. The male Lycanthrope had heterochromia iridum eyes: his right eye was an icy blue and his left eye was a dark gold. His eyes were ice and fire. The Lycanthrope had wild black hair—tousled hair. His light brown skin matched his dark hair and made his eyes look vivid. The Lycanthrope had a few inches on Paradox, probably three or four, but Paradox felt like the Lycanthrope was towering over him.

“Hey.” The male Lycanthrope said. “What’s wrong?”

Paradox couldn’t form words, rather he was thinking about a plan to flee. But if he fled, the Lycanthrope could easily catch up, meaning Paradox was trapped.

“I don’t bite—well, usually.” The Lycanthrope mused.

A low whimper escaped Paradox’s throat as he pressed his back to the railing, trying to lean as far as possible from the Lycanthrope.

“You don’t have to be afraid. You know…most of the stuff you heard are tall tales. To scare kids. They’re just…stories. And when something goes wrong within Byd Cyntaf…well, then the story gets publicized and we’re all monsters. I promise you, it’s not all bad.” The Lycanthrope said softly. Soft, as if speaking to a child.

“You’re a Lycanthrope.” Paradox said, voice thin.

The Lycanthrope gave him a grin. “Well, yeah. I’m not that scary. Really. Just a big dog with advanced abilities. Otherwise, a dog.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m Cyrus Daemin. And you are?”

Paradox shook his head. He didn’t want to believe the Lycanthrope’s lies. The Lycanthrope was lying to him just so in the end, he could take advantage of him. He wouldn’t risk it.

Cyrus frowned. “By god, you are afraid, aren’t you? Hey, how ‘bout I get you a drink—”

“No!” Paradox blurted out, unable to help himself. “You’re just trying to get me drunk and take advantage of me!”

Cyrus looked bemused. “You think? If that’s what you think, I won’t offer a drink. I’m serious, kid, I’m not going to hurt you. Plus…I don’t mess with virgins.” Cyrus gave Paradox a one-shoulder shrug.

Paradox felt his face explode in heat. “What?” He said. There was no way that the Lycanthrope knew he was a virgin. Or did Lycans know? Was it their sixth sense? Paradox felt horrified. He stepped back but remembered that his back was already pressed up against the railing.

Cyrus laughed. It was a friendly laugh, a nice laugh. But Paradox tried to ignore the laugh and focused on Cyrus’s fangs. They were sharp, sharper than Hybrids. Paradox imagined those fangs ripping into his flesh with ease. Paradox glared at the Lycanthrope, but Cyrus didn’t care. Instead he just smiled at him. Paradox was beginning to feel at ease and that was when he realized Cyrus was using his pheromones. He was now starting to feel lightheaded.

“Whoa, hey, there.” Cyrus said, voice jumping in alarm. “Don’t go fainting on me, now, kid.” He held his hands out, readying to steady Paradox, but never touching him.

Paradox shook his head, trying to clear it. He glared at Cyrus. “Stop.” He said.

“Stop?” echoed Cyrus, baffled. “Stop what?”

“That.” Paradox said, gesturing uselessly in the air. “That—ugh. Your scent. It’s bothering me. It—it’s really bothering me.”

Cyrus cocked his head, confused, then realization hit him. “Oh, I’m sorry,” he said, and the pheromones faded immediately. “I didn’t realize…I just…you’re so on edge and I just want to talk—”

“You’re just trying to take advantage of me.” Paradox snapped. He flinched when Cyrus took a step closer.

Cyrus was now in front of Paradox and he pointed a finger in Paradox’s face. “If I was trying to take advantage of you, I would have done it by now. You’re a human and I am a Lycan; we’re alone and I’m stronger than you. But I’m not. And if I was trying to take advantage of you, I would have done so in my wolf form since it’s easier. But I’m not, now, am I? If you’re going to continue to make stuff up or say things that are untrue, feel free to leave. I won’t stop you. This is, after all, my club. I am the host. One of the hosts. My friend is the second. He’s inside.

“Point is, I just wanted to talk, okay? I haven’t seen you around, you looked tense and nervous; I just wanted to be nice. Yet you villainize me based on your ideologies of Lycanthropy. I didn’t say anything mean to you, did I? I heard so many bad things about you humans, but I didn’t say a word of anything negative. Am I upset right now? Yes. I am. Is there a way you can make that up? Sure. You can. But then you’d say it’s perverted or messed up, but whatever. It’s not like you know the way of the Lycans, now do you?” Cyrus growled, heterochromia eyes narrowed.

Paradox was unsure what to say to Cyrus’s words. The Lycanthrope did look upset, but again, Paradox wasn’t sure if it was all an act.

“How can I make it up?” Paradox decided to ask.

“You spend the night with me.” Cyrus said simply.

“What?!” Paradox screeched, about to jump back but again, his back was against the railing so he rammed his back into it. “You want me—”

“I didn’t say sleep with me. I said, spend the night. We can spend the night talking. Or if you want to do something else, I’m fine with whatever.” Cyrus said.

Paradox bit his lower lip. As badly as he wanted to flee, at the same time he was curious about this Lycan. This was the first time he was talking to a Lycan, so it would be wrong to assume he was bad. The Lycan was being awfully patient and if not nice to Paradox, instead of yelling at him or violating him. He debated on whether or not he should leave but then asked:

“What do you—how did you—what’d you—” Paradox scowled at the ground, wondering why he couldn’t form the words. He then drew in a breath and said, “Uh. I’m…not a uh…virgin.” It was a lie, but he wanted to see how the Lycanthrope would respond.

Cyrus looked surprised. “You aren’t? Well, I’ll be damned. I’ve never been wrong before.” He scoffed, amused. “Well, my bad. Didn’t mean to offend you.”

“Would you sleep with a virgin?” Paradox asked, and mentally cursed himself. Just because he was saying this didn’t mean he wanted to sleep with the Lycanthrope. After all, it was forbidden, it was deemed as ill, it was wrong—

“Well, for a human to be with a Lycan as their first time wouldn’t exactly be pleasant…” Cyrus said, looking uncomfortable.

“How so?” Paradox asked. He wanted to smash his head against the club’s wall. He couldn’t control himself. It had to be the club’s vibe, or Cyrus’s pheromones, which wasn’t turned off completely.

The Lycanthrope then gave a wide grin, leaning towards Paradox. “Not a virgin, hm?”

“I am—I’m not! I just—” Paradox defended himself uselessly.

Cyrus said, “We Lycans have a longer sex drive compared to humans, or even Hybrids. Humans will exhaust fast.”

“What if—” Paradox said, and stopped himself. His heart jumped to his throat. No. He was not just about to ask a Lycanthrope about sex. That was not going to happen. He wanted his first time to be with a human boy who he truly loves and cares about.

“If you want to disprove it, be my guest. I’ll be upstairs. Room 17.” Cyrus said, winking before leaving.

Paradox collapsed to the ground, hands in his hair. “It’s the pheromones, it’s the pheromones, it’s the goddamn fucking pheromones that is turning me on. I am a good boy, I am a good son, I am not interested in Lycanthropy or werewolfism or-or-or any of that. And there’s no way on God’s green planet will I, Paradox Feign, sleep with a Lycanthrope I just met today. It’s not happening, it’s never gonna happen, I’m okay, but so fucking curious.” Paradox ran his hands down his face. “Today is the last day I’m fucking around with the Lycan World. Stupid Lumen Lunae did something to me.”

Paradox stood up and then headed inside, making his way upstairs to room 17.