Chapter 4: Nocturnal Encounters
The cool night air whipped against my face as I ran through the forest. My bare feet pounded the earth, dodging roots and rocks with inhuman precision. This was my ritual—every night I wasn't working, I'd run until exhaustion threatened to overtake me. It was the only way to quiet the beast within.
Tonight was different, though. The air felt charged, alive with a tension I couldn't quite place. My senses, already heightened in the days leading up to the full moon, were on high alert. Every snapping twig, every rustle of leaves sent a jolt through my system.
I pushed myself harder, willing my legs to carry me faster, deeper into the woods. The further I got from town, the safer everyone would be. From me. From what I could become.
A twig snapped behind me, too loud to be a small animal. I skidded to a halt, my heart pounding in my chest. Slowly, I turned, scanning the darkness. Nothing moved, but the hair on the back of my neck stood up. I wasn't alone.
"Who's there?" I called out, my voice rough from exertion and disuse.
Silence answered me, but I knew better than to trust it. I closed my eyes, focusing on my other senses. The forest around me came alive—the scurrying of small creatures, the hoot of a distant owl, the whisper of wind through leaves. And there, almost imperceptible, the sound of controlled breathing.
My eyes snapped open. "I know you're there. Show yourself!"
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, a figure stepped out from behind a large oak tree. The moonlight filtering through the canopy revealed a man, tall and broad-shouldered, dressed in dark clothing. A glint of metal at his hip caught my eye—a gun.
Hunter.
Every muscle in my body tensed, ready to flee or fight. The man held up his hands, palms out, in a gesture of peace. But I knew better. There was no peace between our kinds.
"Easy there," he said, his voice low and calm. "I'm not here to cause trouble."
I snorted. "Right. You're just out for a midnight stroll in the woods, armed?"
He shrugged, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Can't be too careful these days. Lots of animal attacks in the area."
"So I've heard," I replied, my voice tight. "Though I haven't seen anything unusual."
"No?" He took a step closer, and I fought the urge to back away. "That's interesting. A big guy like you, out here alone at night... I'd think you'd have seen something."
I forced a laugh. "Sorry to disappoint. It's just me and the owls out here."
The hunter nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. "Mind if I ask your name?"
"Mind if I ask why you want to know?" I countered.
He chuckled, but there was no warmth in it. "Just being friendly. Name's Marcus. I'm new in town, doing some... wildlife research."
Every instinct screamed at me to run, to shift, to do something. But I knew that any sudden movement would only confirm his suspicions. Instead, I forced myself to relax, to appear as nonthreatening as possible.
"Damien," I said finally. "I work construction in town. Not much of a wildlife expert, I'm afraid."
Marcus nodded again, taking another step closer. I could smell him now—gun oil, leather, and something else. Something that made my nose burn and my skin crawl.
Wolfsbane.
"Well, Damien," he said, "if you do see anything... unusual out here, I hope you'll let the authorities know. We're all just trying to keep the town safe, after all."
I managed a tight smile. "Of course. Will do."
For a long moment, we stood there, locked in a silent battle of wills. Then, mercifully, Marcus stepped back. "You have a good night, Damien. Be safe out here."
"You too," I replied, watching as he melted back into the shadows of the forest.
I waited until I could no longer hear his heartbeat before I allowed myself to move. My run forgotten, I turned back toward town, my mind racing. Hunters. Here. It was worse than I'd feared.
I was so lost in thought that I almost missed the scent. Almost. But there was no mistaking it—floral with a hint of spice, and something else. Something that called to the wolf inside me in a way I'd never experienced before.
I froze, my eyes scanning the path ahead. And there she was, standing in a small clearing bathed in moonlight. The new girl in town. Isabella.
She hadn't noticed me yet, her attention focused on something in her hands. A phone, I realized, as she turned slightly. The glow of the screen illuminated her face, casting shadows that accentuated her delicate features.
I knew I should leave. It wasn't safe for her to be out here, especially not with hunters around. But I couldn't make myself move. There was something about her, something that drew me in despite every instinct telling me to stay away.
As if sensing my presence, Isabella suddenly looked up. Our eyes met across the clearing, and I felt a jolt of... something. Recognition? Connection? I couldn't be sure.
"Hello?" she called out, her voice a mix of curiosity and apprehension. "Is someone there?"
I opened my mouth to respond, to warn her about the dangers lurking in these woods. But before I could, a howl pierced the night—long, mournful, and far too close.
Isabella's eyes widened in fear, her gaze darting around the clearing. I tensed, ready to rush to her aid if needed. But as the howl faded, something strange happened. Isabella closed her eyes, her brow furrowing in concentration. And then, to my utter shock, she turned and looked directly at me, despite the darkness that should have hidden me from view.
"I know you're there," she said softly. "Please... who are you?"
As I stood there, caught between the urge to run and the inexplicable pull I felt toward her, another howl split the air. Closer this time. Too close.
And it wasn't alone.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone