The night air was extremely cold, enveloping Kaliyah's body as she walked slowly down the dimly lit street.

The moon was crescent and it cast a pale glow on the sidewalks.

Her breath came out in soft puffs. She wrapped her arms tight around her body to fight off the chill.

She didn’t know why she was out so late, just that she needed to get away, to escape the house, the silence, the lies that clung to the walls like dirt.

And to top it all, that feeling was here again. Her body felt hot, somewhat painful. For the past year she's dealt with this strange feeling.

Every now and then, her body would hurt and burn and she didn't know why. She would soak herself in water to deal with the pain.

Kate never even allowed her go to the hospital, she just kept giving her some medicine, which had never made her feel better.

She felt so lost, so confused, like she didn't even know who she was. Kate, her foster mom, made her life miserable.

Kate had a son, Don. The two of them were devils. With Don always trying to force himself on her, Kaliyah lost the will to live sometimes.

One time, Kate put chili in Kaliyah's face wash just because she complained about Don's behavior.

And now, this feeling was here again. This time it felt worse. It spread through her body like piercing needles laced with acid. It felt like her skin was going to explode.

She had rushed out of the house. Maybe a walk in the cool breeze would make her feel better.

Being alone on the streets at night wasn’t smart, but right now, it was better than being home.

And she wasn't entirely wrong. She did feel a bit relieved. She thought to walk for a while, then take a turn back home.

But before she could turn back, she found herself standing in front of a small, old flower shop.

It was long abandoned with wooden boards nailed over shattered windows, the sign above faded and chipped, read: Fauna's Blooms.

Kaliyah used to sneak all the way here as a kid because Kate would never allow her.

She remembered the lady who used to give her free petals to press into her notebooks.

She stepped closer, her fingers brushing over the dusty glass. Inside, shadows and spiderwebs clung to the shelves.

For a moment, it felt like the town itself was grieving and mourning a version of her that never got to grow.

Her body ached again, a fresh surge of heat racing down her spine. She stumbled back from the window, gripping a lamppost for support.

That was when she heard a noise.

Shouting.

Growling.

Her steps slowed as her ears caught the loud panic in the voices up ahead.

The further she walked, the louder the noise became... screams, gasps, the dull thud of something heavy hitting the ground. She turned a corner, and that’s when she saw them people.

Dozens of them gathered in a half-circle near the town square. Some held sticks, others hurled rocks, and many shouted over one another.

And in the center of it all, a beast.

Kaliyah froze.

It was enormous, easily towering over any man, with thick gray fur that shimmered under the moonlight. Its limbs were long, powerful, tipped with claws that scraped against the pavement.

A low, scary growl rumbled from its throat, its fangs bared as it tried to back away from the growing crowd.

It wasn't attacking them, but it wasn't docile either.

“Bring the silver!” someone shouted.

“Kill it before it escapes!”

“Look at its eyes... it’s one of them!”

Kaliyah’s heart slammed in her chest. What the hell is that?

A werewolf. A real, living, snarling werewolf.

She couldn’t move, couldn’t think. She’d heard the stories... everyone had. Creatures that lived in the shadows, beasts with bloodlust and no mercy.

Until now.

To think that many years ago, werewolves lived among humans like it was a normal thing was crazy.

The werewolf twisted, snarling at someone who’d gotten too close, its paw bleeding where someone must’ve struck it. And then it happened.

It looked at her.

Its eyes... icy, piercing blue... locked onto hers across the crowd. For a moment, everything else fell away. The shouting, the chaos, the fear... it all faded. All she could see were those eyes.

She stumbled back a step.

The werewolf took one forward.

No no no way.

As if some primal instinct kicked in, Kaliyah turned and ran.

She didn’t stop to think. Her legs moved on their own, carrying her away from the square, away from the beast with the eyes that stared intensely at her.

She ran toward the forest. It was dense, dark, and dangerous. But it was the only place she could go. That forest led to the werewolf territory.

Branches whipped at her face as she pushed through the trees, the scent of earth and moss thick in the air.

She could hear it behind her, heavy paws crashing against the ground, leaves and twigs snapping under its weight. It was following her.

But not at full speed.

It could’ve caught up to her already, she knew it. Something that massive should have closed the distance within seconds. But it didn’t, its pace was steady and deliberate. Like it was chasing her, but not really trying to hunt her.

Why?

Her mind raced with questions she didn’t have the breath to ask. Why her? Why now?

She tripped on a twig, causing her balance to falter, but she didn't fall down. The adrenaline was at its peak, she was being chased by something triple her size.

Something that could crush her effortlessly. Her heartbeat was the only thing she could hear at the moment. They were festive drums.

She didn’t dare look back!

The town lights faded, swallowed by the forest’s looming darkness. And somewhere behind her, the shouting stopped.

The forest was a border between the human and werewolf territory, and since the wolf was in there now, the crowd gave up. No one followed, no one crossed into the forest.

No one even noticed the girl who was being chased by the beast. And now, she was practically in its territory.

Alone, with the werewolf, a huge gray creature.

Kaliyah's green eyes were wide with terror, glinting with moonlight as her mouth trembled.

Her chest rose and fell in rapid, shallow gasps. Every part of her body was shaking as she slowly backed away from the massive beast in front of her.

The wolf didn’t move at first. It just stood there, tall and imposing, watching her. Its eyes glowed with something unreadable. Hunger? Curiosity? Recognition?

She took another slow, trembling step backward.

The wolf stepped forward.

She moved again, desperate to put some distance between them, but her foot caught on a crooked twig.

She let out a small cry as her body pitched backward and she fell hard to the ground, landing on her butt with a thud.

Before she could scramble up, the wolf padded forward, slow and deliberate. It hovered over her now, so close she could feel its hot breath on her face. Her heart pounded so loudly it echoed in her ears.

“Please,” she whispered, barely able to speak past her fear.

“Please don’t… please don’t… don’t kill me…”

Meanwhile, back near the edge of the forest, the group that had been chasing the creature stood just beyond the trees, breathless and shaken.

“I…I think I saw a girl,” one woman said, eyes darting nervously toward the dense shadows. “The wolf… it was following a girl. I swear I saw her run in there.”

A tall man frowned, gripping the hilt of his blade. “Are you sure about that?”

“Yes,” she insisted. “I’m not mistaken, she was barefoot, and her hair was dark and long and she ran right in. She’s still in there.”

Another man scoffed. “I didn’t see any girl, just the wolf. You really want us to go in there. Where that thing ran off to?” He gestured sharply toward the forest. “Come on. That place is the border, you know what that means.”

The group exchanged uncertain glances.

“Let’s go,” the scoffing man said. “Even if there was someone, she’s probably long gone or worse. We can’t risk it.”

One by one, they turned back, their footsteps fading.

Back in the forest, Kaliyah's lips trembled as she tried to speak again, but no words came out. The wolf didn’t move, didn’t growl. It just stared, inches from her face.

Then slowly, it lowered its head. Not to bite, not to snarl, but to press its massive snout lightly against her trembling hand.

Her breath caught in her throat.

What… what is this?

Her breath hitched.

Her heart was pounding so loudly it felt like it might shatter her ribcage. She didn’t dare move, didn’t even breathe too loud. Her entire body was locked in fear and confusion.

What was this? What was happening?

The creature, a beast three times her size, with fangs long enough to shred bones wasn’t acting like a predator at all. It was... affectionate and calm. As if it had no intention of hurting her.

It nuzzled the crook of her neck softly.

She flinched slightly but didn’t push it away. She didn’t even know if she could. Her fingers curled into the soil beneath her, trying to ground herself. She had never experienced anything like this, a mix of terror, awe, and surreal stillness.

The wolf lifted its head slightly and looked into her eyes.

Her breathing was ragged. She couldn’t think straight. The trees were too quiet. The forest felt like it had paused just for them.

Then…

Ringg! Ringg!

Her phone rang loudly in her pocket. She gasped, her heart lurching as the sound tore through the silence like a gunshot.

Shakily, she slipped her hand into her pocket and pulled out the phone. Her fingers were trembling so badly she nearly dropped it.

When she saw the caller ID glowing on the screen, her chest tightened. It was a name she didn’t expect, or maybe she did.

A name that dragged her back to reality like a slap to the face.

It was as if a fog had cleared, and she suddenly remembered where she was and what she was with.

Her breath caught in her throat.

The wolf took a slow step back, eyes still locked on hers.

And she shakily rose to her feet, barely able to steady herself as her legs wobbled beneath.

Now that she had somehow managed to rise to her feet, her knees still shook violently. The phone continued ringing in her trembling hand, the sound blaring into the quiet night like a scream.

She stared at the caller ID again, and her fingers curled tighter around the device.

Just seeing that name made her tremble even more.

Her green eyes darted around the shadowed forest. It was dark, dense, and deathly silent, except for the sound of her own heartbeat hammering wildly in her ears. The giant wolf stood only a few feet away, its glowing blue eyes still locked on her.

She had never felt so scared in her entire life.

Her heartbeat was louder than the wind, louder than the trees, louder than anything. It was the only sound she could hear.

Then, as though the adrenaline surged through her like lightning.

Before she even realized it, her legs were moving and they were moving fast.

She bolted, running as far and fast as she could

She didn’t look back to see if the wolf was chasing her. She didn’t want to know. She didn’t care, she just ran through the twisting trees, over roots and rocks, branches slashing at her arms and face as she pushed her body forward.

Run! Just run!

Her breathing was sharp and ragged, and the pounding in her chest hurt now, but she didn’t stop, she couldn’t.

The moment she burst out of the forest line and into the open, she kept running. The forest behind her still felt like it was breathing down her neck.

Then, her foot hit a rock. She gasped as she crashed to the ground.

Pain shot through her body as she landed hard on her knees and hands, then tipped forward onto her side. A soft groan escaped her lips.

But when she looked up, she froze.

She had fallen at someone’s feet.

Her gaze slowly climbed upward, taking in the outline of the figure standing before her.

When her eyes met their face, her blood ran cold, her lips quivered and she couldn't speak.

Kaliyah's lips trembled as she looked up at the person.

Kate’s blonde hair was pulled back into a neat, tight bun, and her sharp brown eyes bore down on Kaliyah with a disgust so strong it made Kaliyah flinch.

There was nothing soft or concerned in her expression, only cold fury and contempt.

“What the hell are you doing out here?” Kate asked flatly, her voice laced with venom. “Why did you leave the house and why didn't you take my phone call?”

Kaliyah stuttered, her voice small and cracking. “I... I just wanted to go for a walk. I was feeling uncomfortable. I…”

That pain earlier the way it had surged through her like fire.

“It was… the pain, it was…”

“I told you,” Kate snapped, cutting her off. “You are not allowed to do that. Whatever pain it is, you deal with it at home.”

Kaliyah’s eyes stung with shame.

Kate’s voice rose. “Get up. On your feet, now.”

Her body ached as she pushed herself up. Her scraped knees throbbed and her palms stung from the fall. Her limbs trembled with the effort, but she didn’t dare disobey.

She bent to pick up her phone, which had slipped from her hand during the fall. The screen was cracked but still lit.

It wasn’t too damaged.

Kate turned on her heel. “Now, we’re going home. And when we get there, I’m going to deal with you.”

Kaliyah bit her lip to keep it from trembling as she followed behind. Each step hurt, but she didn’t say a word.

At the edge of the trees, she paused for a moment.

She glanced back.

The forest loomed behind her, dark and watchful. Her heartbeat thumped in her ears.

They didn’t exchange a single word on the way back.

The walk felt longer than usual. Kaliyah trailed behind Kate, her phone clutched in her scraped palm, her heartbeat still irregular from the forest, from the wolf, and now from the woman in front of her.

When they arrived at the house, Kaliyah hesitated on the steps. The place wasn’t a mansion, but it wasn’t small either.

It was big enough to house a comfortable family. The exterior looked warm and ordinary, with clean windows, flower pots by the porch, freshly painted walls.

But the inside was a different story.

The moment the door shut behind them, the warmth died.

Before Kaliyahh could brace herself, Kate’s hand snapped forward, grabbing a fistful of her hair.

“Ahh!” Kaliyah cried.

She was yanked off her feet and tossed across the living room like a rag doll.

Her body slammed against the edge of the table. A loud thud cracked through the room as her wrist hit the hardwood.

Pain shot through her like lightning, and her phone slipped from her grasp, hitting the tiled floor with a loud crack. The screen shattered further, the last glow of light flickering out.

Kaliyah clutched her wrist tightly, her face twisting from the pain. Her knees folded beneath her as she crouched there, trembling.

Kate stood at a corner of the room, her arms folded and expression hard as stone.

“Listen to me, Kaliyah,” she said coldly. “You only leave this house when I send you on an errand, nothing more. You don’t leave, you don’t roam and you don’t walk around when you feel like it.”

Kaliyah looked up through strands of hair falling over her eyes, lips quivering.

Kate's voice sharpened. “If you're feeling that pain again, deal with it. If you're feeling that uncomfortable feeling again, deal with it. At home. Do you hear me?”

Kaliyahh didn’t speak, as she couldn't form any words.

She just nodded faintly, her other hand still pressing against her wrist, trying to steady the searing ache.

Her eyes brimmed with silent tears, threatening to spill, but she fought them back.

This wasn’t new.

This wasn’t even the worst.

This was how Kate had raised her. How she had always treated her like a burden.

If she added too much salt to dinner…punished.

If she added too much pepper…punished.

If she overslept by even a single minute past 5am…punished.

Every mistake felt like a crime.

Every emotion felt like a weakness.

Kaliyah had long since learned to stay quiet, to take the pain and to survive.

But something about tonight felt… different and she didn't know why.

Kate said nothing for a moment. She only stared.

Then, without warning, she walked over to the shelf and picked up a small pen knife.

She turned it slowly in her hand, letting the blade catch the dim light. Her fingers ran across the handle as if contemplating something.

Kaliyah stiffened.

Kate’s cold eyes flicked to her..

“Get out of my face,” she spat “Before I do something worse.”

Kaliyah didn’t need to be told twice.

Fighting against the pain, she pushed herself off the floor with trembling limbs. Her knees wobbled.

Her wrist screamed in pain. But she held herself together just enough to turn away.

She walked quickly towards her room.

The smallest one in the house.

Once inside, she shut the door gently without any sound.

She stepped into the bathroom and ran cold water over her scraped hands. The sting made her wince, but she didn’t cry. She was too used to that kind of pain.

She patted her skin dry and reached for a small ointment jar on the shelf. The same one she used for bruises, her quiet companion for years.

Sitting on the edge of her narrow bed, she began massaging the balm into her wrist. The pain throbbed, hot and sharp. But if she didn’t do it now, the swelling would worsen.

Her breath was shaky.

Her heartbeat had just begun to slow down and then she heard a noise, like someone landing on the ground after jumping.

She paused.

The noise was faint… but definitely there.

Her head snapped up. Her eyes darted around the room.

And then her gaze whipped to the window.

It sounded like… someone was trying to open it.

“W-who's there?” she called, her voice barely above a whisper. Her throat was dry.

No response…

She glanced at the small wooden bat she kept by her desk.

Without thinking, she grabbed it, and with careful steps, made her way toward the window.

She heard another noise, causing her heartbeat to quicken.

Slowly… slowly… she unlatched the window.

But nothing.

Only darkness, the wind and the rustling of trees.

She blinked, confused, heart still racing.

And then, just as she was about to close it she gasped with with widened eyes.