STRANGER

One evening, as dusk fell and the sky turned a deep shade of indigo, Elena decided to take a walk along the edge of their territory. The cool air felt refreshing against her skin, and she welcomed the quiet solitude away from the tensions brewing in the pack. She found peace among the trees, a familiar setting that always soothed her restless mind.

But as she walked deeper into the woods, she felt a prickling sensation at the back of her neck, an instinct that warned her she was not alone. She paused, her heart racing as she scanned the darkening surroundings. Shadows danced among the trees, and the distant hoot of an owl echoed through the stillness.

“Hello?” Elena called out, her voice steady despite the unease creeping into her chest. She took a cautious step forward, her senses heightened. “Is anyone there?”

A figure stepped out from behind a tree, emerging into the fading light. He was tall, with tousled dark hair and piercing green eyes that glinted with an otherworldly intensit