Chapter 2 : Ethan Blackwood 

Lila’s POV 

Sunlight poured through the window of my clinic, giving a soft aura to it all. I sat bolt upright, the memories of last night slamming through my mind. It was like a half-remembered dream, the wolf and the mysterious sickness, Ethan appearing out of nowhere– but my tired bones ached and the unconscious wolf in the next room were proof that it was all real. 

I stretched , feeling the weight of the day ahead, and headed to the examination room. The wolf was asleep and resting comfortably. I was glad to see that its injury was not swollen up and had remained quiet through the night. But as much as I wanted to believe everything was fine. I couldn't shake the unease feeling that settled in my gut. 

Sarah was already up, drinking coffee over a bunch of files as she reviewed them. “Um, morning,” she said with a tired smile. "Our patient is stable. I checked up on him a couple of time at midnight"

"Thank you, Sarah." I replied, appreciating her effort. "I'll take over from here. Go grab some breakfast."

Sarah nodded as she put down her coffee. "Sounds like a plan. Holler, if you need anything."

Now that Sarah was gone, I focus my attention to the wolf. Something wasn't right about this wolf, it was different. There was something about this wolf that didn't seem right, it wasn't just its size or the intelligence in its eyes - I felt like there were more to the wolf than met the eye.

I began my examination and drew a blood sample. The wolf lay still as I began to work, quietly about my business. The clinic door creaked open while I was preparing the sample for analysis. I looked up, thinking it was Sarah, only to be met with the guy from last night.

Ethan.

He strolled in as the same quiet confidence as before, his dark hair a little tousled and piercing blue eyes taking every detail around him in. There was a air of command about him that had me somewhere between guarded and intrigued.

"Morning" he greeted, his voice smooth as he approached “How’s our patient?”

I frowned a little— I did not recognise him, even though he had been the one to aid me with that wolf.

“Ethan Blackwood?" This was the part that got me as i tried to remember who he was caused i have heard about the name before "As in the Blackwood family, who owned land around Silverwood?" I asked to be sure if he was the one. 

He chuckled as he nodded , a small smile at the corners of his lips. “That’s right. I am in charge of the land, and hence, the wildlife. After watching the aggressiveness of this wolf last night. And I figured maybe I could be of assistance" 

I had an unease feeling about him; yet, he could provide necessary assistance. “Alright, Mr. Blackwood. The poor wolf is in a bad shape. I have done my best, but I still need to find out what caused its injuries and why it was acting so aggressively."

“Please, Call me Ethan,” he said, moving closer. His eyes turn to the wolf, he had a look of worry in the crinkle of his eyes when he glanced at the wolf. "I had handled wolves before. They are usually reclusive. This one must have been driven by something powerful to come so close to town"

“I agree,” I said, watching him carefully. There was something about the way he moved and the way he look at the wolf, that seemed almost..... familiar. “Do you have any ideas?”

He looked at me, his blue eyes intense. "Things have been happening in the woods lately. Noises at night, shadows that move on their own. I am working on getting to the bottom of it, but so far, I am yet to find any concrete answers.

 “Do you think it is tied to the animal mysterious illness?" I asked 

"It could be," he said meditatively. "One way or another, this is something unnatural. I can feel it.”

What he said kind of made my skin crawl. Ethan Blackwood was holding back more than he knew. My gut had always been a good judge of character, and it was screaming that Ethan Blackwood knew more than he was letting on. 

“Okay, Ethan,” I said in a sigh “Let us see what we can do for this wolf.”

Together, we silently went to work inspecting the wolf wound and checking its vitals signs. Ethan was clearly used to wolves, as he handled it with a gentleness and confident touch. Despite my initial reservations, I found myself grateful for his assistance. 

As we were closing down the examination room, I saw something odd. Ethan's eyes glowed faintly golden, though not the almost ghastly appearance of those from earlier. I blinked, figuring I had seen wrong, but when i look again, they were back to their regular blue.

“Did you see that?” I barely whispered the question to him.

Ethan looked at me, his expression unreadable. “See what?”

 “Your eyes,” I said, my stomach hardening into a knot. “They… they changed color.”

He smiled a little, but it did not have any warmth. “You must be tired, Lila. It’s been a long night.”

Something in his tone caused me to pause; I wanted to argue, and tell him that he was wrong and i knew what i saw …but perhaps not... instead, I just nodded slowly, curious and fearful. “Maybe you’re right.”

And, as we both stood there, the wolf between us, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Ethan Blackwood was hiding something, deeper than the strange sickness and what happened in those woods. I was determined to find out what it was. 

Just as I was about to say something, the wolf stirred, letting out a growled. Ethan and I broke our focus on one another simultaneously, remembering the injured creature. Then it blinked its eyes opened, and for a moment, i saw the same golden glow that had flashed in Ethan’s eyes. 

“What the…?” I whispered, my heart pounding. 

Ethan moved faster, touching the wolf's head as he whispered to it. And to my surprise the wolf appeared to relax, its snarl diminishing into a gentle moan.

“What did you just do?” I asked, my voice shaking.

“Calming it down” He said smiling, hand still on the wolves head. "Be sure to let it rest and relax while it heals"

My mind raced through so many questions. Who was Ethan Blackwood really? And what was his connection to this mysterious wolf. 

I was about to ask when the clinic door went flying on open and Sarah ran in, her face pale with fear. 

"Lila, Please Hurry. There's Something something outside.... something in the woods" 

Ethan and I gave each other a look, and I saw his eyes flicker with concern in his eyes. "Lila, stay with the wolf," he said firmly. “I’ll go check it out.”

“Like hell,” I said, sliding on my jacket. "If there is something out there I want to see it for myself"

Ethan Didn't Say Anything, But He Eventually Nodded. “Alright. Stay close to me.”

We followed Sarah outside, it was cold outside. Sarah Pointed, her finger trembling towards the edge of the forest. “There. Do you see it?”

I squinted, trying to make out what she was pointing at. Then I noticed it — shadows darting between the trees, too big and moving too fast for any normal animal.

“What the hell is that?” I whispered, my fear growing with each passing second. 

Ethan's jaw tensed, and for a brief moment there was that odd golden light flickering across his eyes once more. “Stay close, Lila. Because whatever it is, we are not facing it alone" 

As I stood there the fear slowly giving way to resolve, I knew one thing for sure: the danger was far from over, and I was right in the middle of it.