Elliot.
I made it back to my cabin, breathless, every nerve in my body buzzing. My legs felt weak as I slammed the door shut behind me, leaning heavily against it. My hands were trembling, and my heart refused to slow its rapid pace. What the hell had I just seen? The growl, the marks, and that..thing that was more than just an animal. The way it stood, the way its eyes gleamed with an unnatural intelligence, was something far worse. I stumbled over to the kitchen table and collapsed into a chair, my body finally catching up to my brain. My pulse hammered in my ears, a drumming rhythm that drowned out everything else. The cool air coming from the window did nothing to touch the heat seeping through my skin, every muscle wound up tight like a coiled spring. Ready to snap. That thing could have killed me. I could have still been there, torn to shreds, if it wasn’t for what had scared it off. What was that howl? Like something out of a nightmare, both terrifying and oddly protective? It was strange, but when I heard it, I felt a sliver of hope, like I wasn’t alone out there. No, that didn’t make sense. This wasn’t some fairytale where a mysterious stranger comes to rescue some lost idiot in the woods. I had just been lucky, plain, and simple. But to write that article, I needed to figure out what that creature was… and fast. I just had to call Frank first. My hands shook as I dialled Frank's number, a jolt of adrenaline coursing through me each time the phone rang. When he picked up, it was like hearing the calm before a storm. “Harper?” Frank’s voice was sharp, more serious than usual. “Please tell me you didn't try to investigate this evening.” “I’m back home,” I said, my voice shaky despite my efforts to sound calm. “There's some kind of creature there. What the hell is going on, Frank?” There was a long pause on the other end of the line, the kind of silence that tells you the other person is trying to figure out what to say without giving too much away. “Listen, I don’t have all the details yet,” Frank finally said, his tone low. “But I’ve been hearing things from a few sources. Weird sightings in the woods, tracks that don’t belong to any animal we know of, and then there’s the claw marks. People are scared, Harper. This is more than just some wild animal wandering into town. It’s something else.” My stomach twisted at his words. “What do you mean ‘something else’? Like… supernatural?” Frank hesitated, and that pause was enough to confirm my worst fears. “I’m not saying it is. But I’m not saying it isn’t either. Whatever it is, it’s not normal. And it’s dangerous.” I ran a hand through my hair, trying to process this. “So, what now? Do I keep digging, or do I let this go?” “You need to be careful, Elliot,” Frank said, his voice firm. “I know this is your kind of story, but don’t get yourself killed over it. Look into it, but don’t do anything reckless. I need you alive to write the damn article.” “Gee, thanks for the concern,” I muttered, but I couldn’t deny the excitement bubbling beneath my fear. This was the first real story I’d had in years, something that wasn’t just roadwork or town meetings. A mystery. It was a real mystery, and I was in the middle of it. But that excitement was quickly tempered by the memory of the creature’s glowing eyes and the sheer terror I’d felt in its presence. Whatever that was, it was no joke. “I’ll be careful,” I said, though I wasn't even sure how much I meant it. “I’ll call you if I find anything.” “Good. Keep me posted.” Frank’s voice softened a little. “And Harper… seriously, watch yourself. I’ve got a bad feeling about this.” The line went dead, leaving me alone with my thoughts. The sun was already starting to set, casting long shadows across the yard. The woods loomed like a dark barrier, hiding whatever secrets they held. For the first time in years, I felt alive, my blood pumping with adrenaline instead of numbness. Why couldn’t I shake the dread that clung to me like a second skin, then? I needed more information. I needed to talk to someone who might know more about what was happening in those woods, and I knew the perfect candidate to talk to. If anyone knew anything, it would be her. Grabbing my jacket, I headed out the door, my breath fogging in the cold air. The walk to the diner was short, and when I arrived, the place was still quiet, the lunch crowd long gone. Mrs. Pritchard stood behind the counter, wiping down the tables with a dishcloth. She looked up when I walked in, her eyes widening slightly in surprise. “Elliot? Twice in one day? You must really like my coffee.” I managed a weak smile as I approached the counter. “It’s not the coffee, Mrs. Pritchard. I need to ask you something about those claw marks you mentioned earlier.” Her expression darkened immediately, and she set the cloth down, folding her arms across her chest. “I figured you’d be curious about that. It’s not the first time we’ve seen marks like those around here, you know.” I raised an eyebrow. “It’s not?” She shook her head. “Nope. About twenty years ago, we had a similar situation. Deep claw marks on trees, strange animal sightings, and pets disappearing. Folks were spooked back then, too. But it all stopped after a while, like whatever it was just… left.” My mind raced. This wasn’t a new phenomenon. It had happened before. “Do you remember what people thought it was? Did anyone ever figure it out?” Mrs. Pritchard hesitated, her eyes darting around the empty diner as if she was afraid someone might overhear. “There were rumours. People talked about wolves, but not the kind you see on those nature documentaries. These were bigger, smarter. Some folks said it was a curs. Others thought it was a government experiment gone wrong. But no one ever found any real proof.” I frowned. “And now it’s happening again?” She nodded. “Looks that way. But this time, it feels different. People are more on edge, and the animals… Well, they’re acting stranger than usual.” “What do you mean?” “Just last week, someone found a deer carcass near the ridge.The thing was torn apart like it had been attacked by something big. But no bear or mountain lion does that kind of damage, at least not around here.” I swallowed hard, my mind flashing back to the creature I’d seen in the woods. “Did anyone see anything?” I wouldn’t be surprised if it was responsible for that. Mrs. Pritchard leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “There’s been talk of something… large, moving through the woods at night. Some say it walks on two legs, and others say it’s a giant wolf. But whatever it is, it’s fast. And it doesn’t leave any tracks.” A chill ran down my spine. “Do you believe it?” She studied me for a long moment, her eyes hard and unreadable. “I’ve lived here long enough to know when something’s off. I don’t know what’s out there, but I do know one thing… it’s not natural. And it’s dangerous.” I nodded slowly, the weight of her words sinking in. This wasn’t just some local legend or overactive imaginations. Something real was out there, and it was big. “I’ll be careful,” I said again, though this time, I wasn’t sure how careful I could be when the pull to uncover the truth was so strong. Mrs. Pritchard gave me a tight-lipped smile. “You do that, Elliot. And if you find yourself out in those woods again, keep your eyes open and your head on straight.” I thanked her and made my way out of the diner, the evening air biting at my skin. The sun had set, and the sky was a deep, inky blue, the first stars just beginning to twinkle. The woods loomed even darker now, an ominous presence on the horizon. I tried to convince myself that it was just a story... just a wild animal gone wrong on the prowl, nothing more. But as I walked back toward my house, with the woods behind me, the hairs on the back of my neck prickled, and I swore I heard a low growl, distant but unmistakable. No, it wasn't finished. And neither was I.Elliot.The early morning fog clung to the forest like a secret, the sun barely breaking through the thick canopy of trees.I stood at the edge of the woods, my breath misting in the cool air.It was now or never.Every fibre of my being screamed at me to turn back, to leave thus cursed place, and never look back. But something deeper... some kind of pull I couldn't explain drew me in.It wasn't just curiosity anymore.My boots crunched against the dried leaves and twigs as I took my first steps into the woods, the sound echoing unnaturally loud in the otherwise silent morning.The trail was faint, barely recognizable from the surrounding undergrowth, but I remembered the direction I had run the previous night. The glowing eyes, the sharp claws, and that howl... it seemed to plague my dreams now.If that creature was out there, I had nothing but an axe I had found in the garage of my house. It wouldn't kill him, but I had to know more.Figure out what was in these woods, not just for
Elliot.I had to keep moving, forcing my legs forward, even with each step heavier than the last.The man I was dragging through the woods felt like dead weight now, his body limp, bleeding, and barely conscious.I glanced over my shoulder, heart pounding in my chest. It was hard to see anything behind me, but I knew something was out there.Lurking."Come on, man. Stay with me," I muttered through clenched teeth. His weight dragged me down, each step slower than the last. "Just hold on a little longer."He groaned, his head rolling to the side in his barely conscious state. Blood seeped through his torn shirt, and I could feel the wetness of it on my hands as I tried to support him.It was everywhere.I glanced down at him, shaking him lightly. "Hey! Hey, can you hear me?"His eyelids fluttered, and a weak gasp escaped his lips. "Run," he managed to say, though the words were barely audible."I'm not leaving you," I said firmly, trying to ignore the panic clawing at the edges of my m
Elliot. The fire in the living room crackled softly as I knelt beside the unconscious man, cleaning the gashes on his chest with as much care as I could muster. My mind still raced as I tried to piece together what had happened in the woods. The creature behind us. How it suddenly disappeared the moment we were out of the woods. What was it? I glanced up at the man's face, pale and slick with sweat, as I worked on bandaging a particularly nasty cut on his side. Only something as horrible as what was in those woods could have done something like this. I was sure of it. As I finished wrapping the last bandage, his body stirred. His eyes fluttered open, bleary, and unfocused. “Hey, take it easy,” I murmured, placing a hand on his shoulder to keep him from moving too quickly. “You’re safe. Just… try to relax.” His gaze darted around the room, panic flashing in his eyes before they landed on me. He flinched, trying to sit up, but I gently pushed him back down. “Where am I?” he
Damien. The air in the woods had been heavy, thick with the scent of my blood and the howl of something I wished I'd never heard. My wolf stirred restlessly inside me, urging me to go back, to get to him. To the nameless stranger that had rescued me. I never should have let my guard down. Should have kept running. That was what rogues do. We did not get involved. We did not stay. We survived. But him... I clenched my fists, the human side of me fighting the wolf, torn between instinct and reason. My legs were aching from the miles I'd covered since I'd heard the howl, but something kept pulling me back. Him. How on earth had that puny human run with an unconscious me through this woods? My wolf growled low in my chest. "He's our mate." He didn't understand why I was hesitating. It never did. Wolves weren't wired like humans, they didn't care about logic or consequences. And it knew the man was ours. Ours to protect. Ours to stay with. But we couldn’t stay. Not with what w
Elliot. It was hard to think yesterday had actually happened. But after giving him a room to use as his and watching him eat cereal from a bowl this morning, I couldn't deny it. Damien. His name echoed in my mind, an unwanted anchor tied to my thoughts. I'd spent the night pacing, replaying every moment from yesterday, every word spoken. But right now, I didn't need this. This tension which seemed to simmer under my skin. Not when the mayor had sent someone to track whatever was happening in these woods. And that person was Frank. By the time I walked into the newspaper office, I was already on edge, barely holding it together. The tiny bell above the door jingled, and I braced myself. But Frank was already there, leaning against my desk, a smug grin stretching across his face. His eyes scanned me, searching for something to arouse his suspicion again. "Rough night, Elliot?" He asked with a pointed tone. I forced a smile, dropping my bag onto my desk. "Nothing a little coff
Elliot. It took a few days for me to get used to seeing Damien in my cabin. To get used to his… presence. The crackling of the fireplace filled the quiet cabin as I glanced over at Damien, who lounged on the old leather armchair across from me. He had been staying with me for almost a week now, and we had settled into an unspoken truce, an odd but comfortable rhythm of shared meals, stolen glances, and late night conversations that never strayed close to the truth. Or the questions I wanted to ask. There was something comforting about him being here. The way he was always watching, always on edge, as if he were guarding something precious. "So," I started, breaking the silence. "When would you tell me about how your wounds disappeared within a day." Damien's lips rose in a half-smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I have really good genes." “Good genes,” I repeated, leaning forward. “First time I'm hearing of such a thing. Good genes don't usually lead to fast wound h
Elliot. Before I could ask again, my front door slammed open with a bang, yanking both Damien and me from the silence that had settled between us. I barely had time to react before Frank burst into the cabin, looking like he'd just unearthed a buried treasure... or worse, set a deadly trap. "Harper!" He practically shouted, his voice brimming with urgency. "You won't believe what I found!" Damien's sort of relaxed posture changed instantly, vanishing as he reclined deeper into the chair. His hazel eyes watched us, cold and calculating. "Frank," I snapped, struggling to keep my irritation in check. "What the hell are you doing barging in here?" Frank’s gaze darted to Damien, his frown deepening before snapping back to me. "I need to talk to you. Now." "About what?" I asked, glancing nervously at Damien, who just watched us, unnervingly still, his eyes locked on Frank. I wondered what was going through that mind of his. Frank hesitated, his tension evident when he finally spoke.
Elliot. "If you're so interested in dying, then be my guest. Go into the woods." Damien's words lingered like smoke in the air, poisonous and suffocating. I should have let it go. Any sane person would have. My body still ached from the last time I set foot in those cursed woods, and every nerve screamed at me to stay far away. Yet here I was, perched on the cabin steps as twilight deepened, my curiosity a dangerous vice. Damien had been restless for days, vanishing into the night without a word. Ever since that night, he had avoided me like I was the plague, leaving only the faintest hint of his presence... muddy boots by the door, or the lingering scent of pine and earth. Reports of claw marks spreading through town had reached fever pitch. Everyone was afraid. I should have been too. But fear was nothing compared to the pull for answers. The cabin door slammed shut behind me as Damien stalked past, his jaw clenched, his hazel eyes glinting under the fading light. "Are yo
Elliot.The first thing I became aware of was pain.Not the sharp, searing kind I was used to from cuts or wounds to my person, but a dull bone deep ache that throbbed with every breath. It was like I was torn apart and stitched back together with a blunt needle and thread.Fucking hell.The second thing was warmth. A steady, grounding presence wrapped around me, holding me tightly but gently, like the world might shatter if it let go."Elliot," a voice murmured. It was low and raw with worry. "Come on, baby. Open your eyes. Please." Damien. That was Damien.He had come into the room the moment I woke up before everything went hazy.I tried to focus, to fight against the cloud covering my mind. My eyelids felt heavy, like they'd been glued shut, but with effort, I managed to pry them open. The faint glow of the room greeted me... okay, I was still in the same room, just with a muted light that still felt sharp against my pounding head."Damien?" My voice cracked, barely more than
Damien."Would using the crystal help neutralize the effect of whatever happened to him?"Celeste’s sharp intake of breath brought me back to the moment. Her hands froze mid-motion, a jar of dried lavender she held slipping from her grasp and shattering against the counter. The sharp scent filled the room instantly, but her wild eyes were locked on mine.The same crystal I had been against using a day ago."You can't be serious." Her voice was barely a whisper, like saying it too loudly might summon something worse.“I am,” I said, my tone firm. “Answer the question.”Her hesitation spoke volumes. The crystal was powerful. It held enough properties to kill a town filled with humans. It would have been enough to dispel a storm killing supernaturals. It wasn't a power used lightly. "You don't fully understand the power from the crystal, Damien," Celeste said with a trembling voice. "It's not meant for this kind of magic. If anything goes wrong...""Things are already wrong!" I barked
Damien.I laid still, Elliot’s warm body pressing against mine in the faint light of the room we shared now.The weight of his arm across my chest was grounding, a reminder of the bond we shared despite the chaos that had unfolded. His fur–covered arm, the claws that had replaced his human nails, and the faint twitch of werewolf instincts betrayed the very thing Elliot had fought against for so long.Monster."You're a monster, Damien."And now, he was one too.How messed up was that?I tilted my head to look at Elliot's face, now softened in slumber. The fur stretched up to his jawline, the transformation incomplete yet painfully evident.The sharp claws occasionally flexed even in sleep, as though his body still wasn't sure if it belonged to a man or beast.But all that didn't matter to me.Whether Elliot... my saviour was human, wolf, or something in between, he was still mine. What ate at me wasn't the fur or claws but the ache in his eyes, the weight of my mate's unspoken fears.
Damien.I heard the front door click shut as Ethan and Celeste ran away like their ass was on fire.Celeste’s probably was.She was lucky Elliot stopped me the moment he did because I would have choked her to death. For even attempting to put me to sleep so she could go along with her twisted plan to use my mate...Even after everything I told her.Selfish bitch. The good thing was that he stood before me now, a shadow of the man I knew, his body covered in fur, his claws flexing at his sides. Yet, all I could see was him.The strength in his stance, the fire in his eyes that refused to be snuffed out. He was beautiful. Even now.Especially now.He looked up at me, his expression a mix of uncertainty and shame. “Damien, I...” "Shh," I murmured, stepping closer. My hands found their way to his face, cupping it gently. His fur was softer than I expected, warm beneath my touch. "You're beautiful, Elliot. Always."He let out a shaky breath, his eyes searching mine. “I’m not. Look at me
Elliot.The storm was gone, but the weight of everything wasn't.My body trembled, the remnants of the wolf’s power still coursing through me like an untamed fire. I could feel its presence coiled in the back of my mind, quieter now, but still there.Watching.Waiting.Celeste and Ryan stood at the cabin door, their expressions a mixture of relief and caution. I ignored them, unable to focus on anything but the lingering sensation of the wolf’s energy in my veins.My claws flexed involuntarily. My fur... God, my fur... was still damp from the rain, clinging to my body in an uncomfortable reminder that I wasn't human anymore.That Celeste had stopped the process of whatever was going on so I could stop a storm that was killing people, apparently.Ruined me."Elliot..." Celeste started. Hesitant.I raised a hand, silencing her. "Not now," I muttered. I didn't want her excuses or explanations.Not after what she had done.My movements were slow and deliberate when I turned and stepped ba
Elliot."Wake Damien up then fix this, or I swear to whatever gods you worship... I'll rip your throat off with my bare hands."Celeste paled, her fingers tightening around the edges of her book as if it could shield her from the weight of my words. Ryan stepped between us again, trying his best to hide the fear from his face.Had something else changed? Apart from the fur and claws?"That's enough," he said, his voice edged with a warning. Like he could do anything to me. "This isn't helping anyone, Elliot."I barked out a bitter laugh, a sound that came out more like a guttural growl. "Not helping? You think this is me being unhelpful? What would you call turning someone into... whatever the hell this is?" I gestured at myself, my claws slicing through the air.Celeste's lips trembled. "I... I thought I could contain the spell. The wolf within you... it's ancient, Elliot. It's more powerful than anything I've ever encountered. It pushed back when I tried to control it. "Control it?
Elliot.I floated in darkness, weightless and untethered.The world around me was silent now, save for the faint hum that seemed to pulse with my heartbeat. How long had I been in this state?Minutes, hours, days? Time didn't seem like it existed in this place. It was just me, the endless void, and the strange warmth that cradled me like a cocoon.“Elliot.” The voice was soft, feminine, and achingly familiar. It echoed in the distance, threading through the dark like a silver thread. “Elliot.” It was different this time. Louder, more insistent. My body stirred, a faint prickle of awareness rippling through me.Darkness had been all I saw after leaving Damien's past.“Wake up.” A jolt shot through me, the warmth vanishing as cold air slammed into my senses. I gasped, my lungs straining for breath, but my body didn't respond. I couldn't move, couldn't see, couldn't do anything but exist in this strange, dreamlike state.The scent hit me next... sharp and earthy, laced with somet
Damien.Thinking about the past was a strange thing. The emotions. The scares. The scar.The storm outside roared even louder now, shaking the windows like they might shatter at any point. Lightning split the dark sky into jagged streaks of white, illuminating the tense expressions in the room. The air felt charged with electricity... a mix of fear, anger, and desperation.Not the kind that would make me change my mind, though. Ryan let out a sharp laugh, bitter and devoid of humour. "Another way? Do you think we'd be here, begging for your help, if there was another way? The storm is hungry, and every second you waste, more people... more of our people are dying."Ethan stepped between us again, his arms outstretched like a referee in a losing game. “Okay, everyone, calm down. Screaming at each other isn’t going to help anyone.”Ryan jabbed a finger toward me, his voice rising. "Do you understand what you did?"Before I could argue, the door burst open, and Celeste swept in, her fac
Damien. The thing about memories is that they don't fade the way people tell you they will. They don't blur at the edges or become easier to ignore. If anything, they sharpen with time, like broken glass waiting to slice through your defenses when you least expect it. I had tried to forget that night a thousand times save from coming to Celeste and demanding she removed the memory. The cave, the elders, the weight of that damn crystal in my hands. The things it showed me.But forgetting isn’t an option when the past refuses to let you go. I was seventeen, full of fire and rage, still believing the world could be fair if I fought hard enough. Back then, I thought blood ties and loyalty meant something. That power could be wielded responsibly. I was wrong. The scent of the forest was thicker that night than I remembered... pine and earth, damp with the promise of rain. The pack house loomed ahead, its timbered frame lit from within by flickering lanterns. Every window burned b