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.

The sight before her, made her eyes widen. Crouched on the narrow pavement outside her window, was the same grey wolf from earlier.

It was just there, silent and still, its thick fur shifting slightly in the breeze. Its massive frame looked almost too big for the ledge it was on.

Kaliyah yelped, stumbling back in pure terror.

Her eyes couldn’t tear away from it as her heart was hammering again.

She staggered, bumping into the side of her desk, and the bat slipped right from her grip and clattered to the floor.

Her hands fumbled as she reached for the window, she had to shut it!

But just as she began to pull the window closed, the wolf moved.

It surged forward, pushing its weight through the opening.

Kaliyah almost screamed but for some reason she didn't.

She stumbled back, but she didn't fall as the wolf didn't use force. This massive creature slipped inside like it was nothing. And now, it was in her room!

Its paws silently landed on the wooden floor. Moonlight framed its body through the open window.

Kaliyah's eyes were wide with fear, locked on the massive creature now inside her tiny room.

Her back hit the wall as she kept moving away, inch by inch, but the wolf took a step forward… then another. Its heavy paws padded softly against the floor, its blue eyes never leaving hers.

It was huge, too huge for a room this small.

Without thinking, Kaliyah reached out and grabbed the nearest thing her hand could find, which was a ceramic vase sitting on top of her dresser. Her fingers wrapped around it tightly, and she held it above her head like a weapon.

“D..Don’t come any closer!” she said, her voice cracking with panic.

The wolf halted and then… it tilted its slightly like it was confused, or amused.

And then it sat!

Right there, on the wooden floor. Calm and composed, like a well-trained dog awaiting instruction.

Kaliyah froze, the vase still raised in her trembling hand.

“What the hell…” she whispered.

Her arm slowly lowered. The vase dipped halfway to her side.

The wolf just stared at her, watching her.

What was this?

Why wasn’t it attacking her?

Her heart thudded wildly in her chest, so loud, it felt like it echoed in her ears. Her hand remained close to the vase, her fingers twitching around it, just in case.

Just in case something went wrong.

Then, the wolf rose to its feet and she immediately grabbed the vase again, raising it slightly.

But what happened next made her jaws drop.

Its legs bent… then twisted in ways that weren’t natural. The sound of bones cracking and twisting filled her ears.

Right before her eyes, the massive creature transformed.

His fur retracted, his limbs elongated, reshaped… until in the place of the wolf now stood a man…a tall man.

With dark hair that shimmered under the faint light.

He wasn’t wearing anything.

Kaliyah gasped and immediately spun around, her cheeks burning. The room was dark, but still she could see enough. She kept her back turned to him, trying to slow the panic spiraling in her chest.

What… What did she just witness?

Behind her, the man let out a low chuckle, clearly amused by her reaction.

“Do you… have something I can wear?” he asked, voice deep and smooth. “So you can at least look at me?”

Kaliyah didn’t answer at first. Her mind was still racing.

The wolf just shifted into a man. Yes, she knew about werewolves and they could shift, but she never imagined that their human form could look so godly.

Still keeping her gaze to the side, she moved stiffly toward her wardrobe, pulled it open, and grabbed the biggest clothes she could find, which was an oversized grey shirt and a pair of joggers someone had once gifted her back in college.

The pants were way too big for her… but maybe they’d fit him.

She tossed them onto the bed without looking.

“There…” she murmured.

She stood facing the wall, hand still on the wardrobe handle, her heart still pounding.

Behind her, she heard the soft rustle of fabric.

Kaliyah didn't turn around to face him, her mind was a mess at the moment.

She heard him take slow..deliberate steps towards her.

Each step he took echoed inside her head, syncing perfectly with the erratic beat of her heart.

Then she felt his warm hands slipping around her waist from behind, pulling her gently but firmly back until her body met his.

Kaliyah gasped, her lips parting slightly, she still couldn’t breathe.

Her eyes widened, staring at nothing as her back pressed against his chest. Her whole body tensed and frozen in shock. Her heartbeat thudded even harder, like it was trying to escape her chest.

Like that wasn't enough, she felt his breath on her neck, it was hot yet her body shivered.

He leaned in close, his nose lightly grazing her skin. And then he slowly breathed in her scent. Like he needed it, like her scent was the only thing keeping him grounded.

“Your heartbeat” he murmured, his voice low and husky. “It’s so loud.”

Kaliyah’s lips slightly parted as he slowly turned her to face him.

The room was dark, but the dark light of the moon streamed through the window, casting a soft glow on him. That was when she saw him clearly.

His dark hair shimmered in the moonlight, almost glowing. His skin was so smooth and his eyes… they were locked onto her.

He looked godly and ethereal.

“You’re… so beautiful,” he whispered, his voice full of awe, like he couldn’t believe she was standing in front of him.

“What is your name?” He asked softly, his voice husky.

“...Kaliyah” her breath caught somewhere in her throat as he gently reached forward.

His fingers brushed against her hair, running through the strands slowly, letting each lock fall like silk between his fingers.

It felt like something she didn’t know she needed.

“Kaliyah..” he breathed, enjoying how her name sounded.

Her voice was barely more than a breath when she finally asked, “Who are you… and why are you here?”

He pulled her close again, one hand wrapping around her waist as he whispered near her ear, “I’m your mate. And I’ve come to get you.”

Her heart thudded again in her chest.

But just as his other hand moved to hold hers, he accidentally brushed against her injured wrist.

“Ah!” she winced sharply, pulling her hand back on instinct, her expression tightening in pain.

He immediately froze, concern flashing across his face. “Did I hurt you?”

She held her wrist, shaking her head even as she bit down her pain. “It’s nothing…”

But his eyes had already gone darker, his jaw clenching as he gently reached out to touch her hand again, this time more carefully, cradling it as if it might break.

His voice dropped, quiet but full of displeasure. “Who did this to you?”

She stayed silent and then he leaned in, his eyes locked on hers. “Tell me…”

Before she could say anything, a knock echoed sharply from the door.