CHAPTER 2

LYRA’S POV

Welcome to Howling Hills Central Park! The signage read as Dad pulled into the parking lot.

He parked the car and stretched, his grin as broad as ever. "Ready to enjoy your big day, Tinkerbell?"

I scoffed at his nickname. "I am 18, Dad. Perhaps it's time for an upgrade?

"Never," he answered, patting my hair with a kind smile. “You'd always be my tinkerbell”.

As I stepped out of the car, the warm wind brushed over my skin and hair, delivering the pleasant aroma of the blossoming flowers right into my nostrils. 

The park was brimming with activities. Joggers ran along meandering routes, and street entertainers entertained a small throng with cheerful melodies. 

As we stepped in, my nostrils were filled with the smell of cotton candy- I had always loved them. The park wasn't a bad idea after all, I thought.

“Look who we have here! The birthday girl”. Emily exclaimed. Her blond curls bouncing in her shoulders as she rushed over to hug me. 

“Happy birthday Lyra”, Greg added before handing a small wrapped present.

“Thank you so much, guys!”. My chest warmed, and I fought the urge to tear up.

“Come on Lyra, you've got to see something!”... Emily exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she dragged me into the crowd.

I heard my dad's voice echo through the park as we made our way through the cluster of people in the park.

“Hey, bunny…No boys, no alcohol!”. He yelled making sure I heard him.

My face, flushed with embarrassment, I turned back and sort of whispered inaudibly…“Dad, I'm 18!”.

Emily giggled..” Daddy’s pet! Ain't you two so cute”... “I want you to meet someone”, Emily continued. Her voice was barely above a whisper as she tugged me towards the ice cream booth.

Before I could respond, a charming smile froze me in front of the ice cream booth. His messy brown hair and sharp gray eyes caught me off guard. He smiled—a kind of smile that felt like it could knock the air out of your lungs.

“Meet my friend Jayden,” Emily continued, "Jayden, my best friend.. Lyra!”.

Jayden’s smile widened as he extended his hand to shake me. “Hey Lyra, Happy birthday!”Jayden said. His voice, smooth and deep, sent shivers down my spine. His messy brown hair made my heart skip a bit.

“Thanks,” I managed, trying not to blush as I shook his hand. His touch was warm, grounding me in the moment.

“Guys, I'd be back in a sec”. Emily grinned mischievously as she stepped away from us.

“What flavor?” Jayden asked, pointing to the ice cream machine.

“I'll have strawberries, please”. I replied, feeling a flutter in my belly.

As Jayden turned to get the ice cream, I scanned through the crowd, there was a live music concert, people dancing and cheering. 

My eyes caught that of a young man; He was tall, dressed in jeans,a shirt and a pair of fancy sneakers.

He raised his hand and waved at me with an uncanny smile. Fear gripped me and I immediately looked away, focusing my gaze at the music stage. 

“Here you go..” Jayden said as he turned around.

I was startled.

“Are you okay?”. Jayden asked with so much concern. “You look like you just saw a ghost”. He continued.

“Argh ..yeah I'm fine. Just thought I saw something”. I mumbled, trying to shake it off as I took the ice cream and we both strolled down to the park.

"So, do you come here often?" he inquired.

I shook my head. "Not really." Today is simply... exceptional, I suppose. I replied by tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. 

Before he could react, a shrill, mocking voice broke through the air. 

“Jayden!” Alice, the school’s queen bee, appeared out of nowhere, draping herself over him like a trophy. Her eyes scanned me, and her lips curled into a condescending smirk.

“Oh, hey, Alice…uuhhm..Jayden glanced back at me, an apologetic look in his eyes. "I was just—"

Alice didn’t wait for him to finish. "I’m sure Lyra can entertain herself," she said, yanking him away from me without a second thought.

Alice gave me a condescending look and smirked..”Nice outfit, Lyra, I guess you had to raid your grandma's closet for them”. 

 me”

“Come on,” she purred, pulling him away.

I stood there, humiliated, as they disappeared into the crowd. Her friends shot me looks of mockery as they walked passed.

I quickly turned away, needing to escape. The air was thick with unease as I walked deeper into the park, trying to clear my head. The park, once lively, now felt too quiet—eerily so. The sounds of chatter faded, replaced by a heavy, oppressive silence.

“Lyra…..”

A soft, haunting whisper brushed against my ear. My heart raced, and I spun around. “Emily?” I called, but she was far off, laughing with Greg, completely unaware.

.

"Lyra..." The voice came again, closer this time. My pulse quickened.

I stumbled back, my instincts screaming at me to run. My wolf stirred inside, restless and on edge. I hadn't felt my wolf in years until this moment. 

“Who’s there?” My voice trembled as I turned in circles, scanning the shadows.

The only response was a sharp surge of wind that seemed to carry my name on its wings. I hurriedly moved into the Crowd.

“Lyra? Where are you going?” Emily’s voice stopped me in my tracks. She caught up to me, her brows furrowed with concern. “And what about Jayden? You just left him back there.”

“Emily, I'd explain later..I need to find my parents,” I said hurriedly, my eyes scanning the crowd, darting from face to face, but my parents were nowhere in sight.

The air grew heavy, oppressive. Then chaos erupted.

“Monsters..!!!!!” someone screamed in hysteria as chaos erupted in the crowd followed by the blaring security alarm in the park with people scrambling for safety. 

I hurriedly reached for my phone, my fingers trembling as I dialed my mom. 

“Please..please pick up mum!” I muttered under my breath waiting for a response. It went straight to voicemail. I quickly dialed dad hoping it'd connect.

“Bunny..he..hello! Can you he…ar me?” His voice crackled behind the phone.

“Dad!..Where are you? I can't hear you!”. The call abruptly ended leaving me with nothing but the rising tide of fear.. “No, no no!.. please come on!”. I frantically scrambled to redial, my fingers shaking as I tried to reconnect with my dad.

Before I could even lift the phone to my ear, a panicked stranger slammed into me, sending my phone flying out of my hand and the fleeing crowd trampling the phone beneath their feet.

The voice grew louder and more sinister.I spun around, trying to make sense of the chaos, when I caught a glimpse of the strange man I’d noticed earlier. This time, his smile was gone, replaced by a snarl. His teeth were sharp, his eyes wild.

My stomach dropped “a werewolf !”.

 I hadn't seen any since the night my pack was attacked. “What does he want from me?”. Series of questions ran through my terrified mind.

Before I could react, he lunged. My instincts took over, and I bolted into the woods. The branches tore at my skin, the sound of his growls growing closer but I wasn't fast enough. 

He slammed me into a tree with a brutal force and pain exploded at the back of my head. My vision blurred as blood trickled from my nose.

“Get up,” Tara, my wolf urged, but my body wouldn’t respond.

I could hear his snarl as he approached me but I couldn't move; my body was screaming in pain. 

Then, out of nowhere, a tall figure with inhuman speed appeared, grabbing the rogue and driving him heart-first into a spiky branch. His growl was silenced as blood spilled down his chest.

 “Stay with me!” The figure said, slowly raising my head. “You're safe now”. His deep voice was low and soothing.

“Who…who are you?” I struggled to focus on his face, but my eyes rolled behind my head and my llids shutting me into darkness.