"My name is Alex Welch. I was born Alexandra Anne Welch to a typical middle American family. I was raised female but I always felt more like one of the boys. Needless to say this displeased my mother greatly, who always dressed me in pink outfits and insisted I wear a dress to church. The older I got the more I wanted to play baseball and dig around in the mud and things like that. Though my mother kept insisting that I was just acting out a phase, I started to keep male clothes in a box in my closet. I saved up to buy a pair of boots that I could slip on when my mother wasn't home and feel like myself. My mother never let me get a haircut like my brother, but when I'd have some 'guy time' I'd tie my hair up and pretend it was short.

When I was a teenager and starting having my period, my mother bought me a package of tampons and took me to the lingerie section to buy some training bras. I always thought that was stupid. Who says breasts need training? I played along but when I was alone I wrapped my chest up tight so that no one would know I was a girl. I joined the boys softball team and for a good long while everyone thought I was a boy named Alex. Imagine how well that went over when my mom caught me coming home in the uniform. She sent me to a counselor and told him to fix me. Ha. Good luck.

When I was old enough to go to college I went away and stayed in the dorms. I finally started going by Alex full time and could finally cut that girly hair off. I dressed male and other than the issue of my anatomy I was a guy. I made a lot of male friends in college, even had my first girlfriend. She was pretty cool about the transgender thing, even helped me with fashion advice. It didn't last, though. We broke up after six months.

I went to culinary school in the city and learned a lot about how to prepare and plate dishes, thought maybe someday I might have a lady to cook for. Maybe it's silly, or a little bit of the girl I used to be, but I've always wanted to have a girlfriend to hold doors for and pull out her chair when I prepare a meal.

I was walking late at night when I saw what I thought was some sort of wild dog. I was expecting some guy trying to steal my wallet but I fell right on my ass when it howled. I ran for a few city blocks before he caught up with me. I think he was really just toying with me. Considering how fast he caught me I know I couldn't have outrun him if he hadn't let me. He bit me on the calf, and I kicked him in the mouth. I grabbed something and ran, I thought it was a collar.

I turned around and he was gone, I don't know, maybe he lost interest. When I looked down I saw it was a gold watch, and a nice one too. It was engraved with some initials. I went to the library to find out how it belonged to and found the name of some guy named Cassidy Pierce. I was about to head out to meet him when I looked up to see the moon. It was full and bright, and I saw it like I'd never seen it before. I felt this strange feeling rise inside me, and before I knew it I fell to my knees. The first change was jarring. I clutched my stomach and ripped open my shirt in time to see my chest flatten out and fur grow all over my midsection.

After a few minutes it was over, and I got a good look at myself in a car mirror. I wasn't so surprised by the fact that I was a werewolf, but more the fact that I was a male. You never expect when someone tells you to grow a pair that you'll actually do it. Other than the rather handsome fuzzy exterior I finally felt like me. The tail took some getting used to, especially when I closed the door to my apartment for the first time (YIKES). I think I got home without being spotted, but thank heavens I turned back when I woke up. I'd have had a hard time explaining that to my instructors. I never thought I'd be so relieved to be female again. At least I could blend in again.

The next chance I got, I went to the apartment belonging to the man that owned the watch. He was leaving to go somewhere. I followed him to the next place he went, another swanky apartment building. He went to talk to some woman, but when I heard a scream I hid down the hall and when the cleaning man opened the door I saw it. A woman with her throat ripped out. I knew that the man that had changed me into a werewolf was a killer, and that wasn't who I wanted to be. I ran before the cops showed up.

I don't know what to do. There's another two nights of full moons, and for all I know I'll keep changing. I guess I should get some bigger clothes for the 'male' me. I've got a transgender support group in a few days. Is there one for werewolves?"

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