Her steps started slow, then quicken, the sound of her bare feet light against the gravel path.

As she started to get near the gate, her adrenaline surged through her veins, propelling her forward.

She broke into a full sprint, her nightgown billowing behind her.

She didn’t stop until she was well beyond the perimeter.

The world outside the estate was darker,

Her pulse was still racing as she glanced back at the estate, its grand silhouette now distant.

The pull of the moon was even stronger now,

Whatever was lying ahead in the forest, would certainly be an interesting enough to behold.

Certainly enough to keep her entertained and cure her distraction for maybe some minutes or at most an hour.

Lily knew she was about to uncover what had been hidden from her and the thought both terrified and thrilled her.

Lily darted through the pack house grounds, her bare feet barely making a sound against the cool earth.

Her heart hammered in her ears, a mix of fear and exhilaration driving her faster with every step.

The glow of the security lights faded behind her as she crossed the final stretch plunging into the dark embrace of the woods.

Finally, when the pack house was far enough behind her and the night seemed to settle around her like a heavy cloak, she slowed down.

She bent over, her hands braced on her knees, she tried to steady her breathing

After a few moments, she stood upright again, brushing her hair back from her flushed face.

The full moon hung low in the sky.

It wasn’t far…just a few steps through the dense undergrowth.

She moved carefully now, her earlier haste replaced with quiet reverence.

As she stepped into the clearing, the moon’s light enveloped her, more vibrant than she had ever seen it

. Lily tilted her head back, her eyes widening in awe.

The moon seemed larger here, .

“This… this is beautiful,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her wolf Dora stirred, a familiar warmth unfurling in her chest.

. “Do you feel it, Lily? The power. The freedom.”

Lily smiled faintly, her fingers brushing the bark of a nearby tree as she gazed at the moon.

It really is something else, she thought.

So much more vivid than anything back home. No wonder people revere it so much.

She couldn’t help but wonder again about Alistair’s warning.

Why would he fear this? she thought with a hint of amusement. He’s not that old to be paranoid, is he?

Her lips curled into a wry smile at the thought, but it faded instantly as a low, malevolent groan right behind her that made her jump.

The sound was guttural and unnatural, sending a shiver down her spine.

Lily stiffened, her body rigid as her heart . Slowly, she turned her head, her pulse thrumming in her ears.

“Who’s there?” she called out,

The woods behind her seemed darker now, the shadows shifting unnaturally as if something were lurking just beyond the edges of her sight. Her breath quickened, her mind racing as her wolf stirred uneasily.

“Lily… we’re not alone,” Dora whispered.

The groan came again, closer this time, and she took a hesitant step back, her bare foot pressing into the soft earth.

“Show yourself!” she demanded, though her voice wavered.

The night held its breath, and for a moment, there was only silence.

But deep down, Lily knew she had crossed into something forbidden and whatever it was, it wasn’t friendly.

Lily’s heart pounded wildly in her chest as she spun around, the sound of the growl still echoing in her ears,

her body trembling with fear and adrenaline

. The night air seemed to grow heavier, the shadows pressing in around her, as she instinctively took a few unsteady steps toward the source of the noise.

Her eyes were wide, her breath shallow, as she tried to make sense of the threatening growl.

Another, more aggressive growl pierced the silence, sending a bolt of panic straight to her gut.

The growl was much closer now, her feet suddenly feeling like a bed of nails, but she couldn’t stop now. She had to keep moving.

As her feet carried her forward, her eyes darted left and right, searching desperately for any sign of what was lurking in the shadows.

It was then that she saw it a massive, beastly figure slowly emerging from the darkness. A rogue wolf.

Her breath hitched as she froze in place, eyes wide as she took in the creature’s features.

The rogue wolf’s fur was matted and dirty, its eyes glowing with an unsettling, predatory gleam.

The beast was huge easily twice her size its fur a patchwork of deep blacks and grays.

Its snout was elongated, teeth bared in a snarl as its heavy breaths caused the air to ripple around them.

The rogue’s eyes never left her, and Lily could feel the malice radiating off of it.

Lily’s body trembled uncontrollably as the rogue wolf took a step forward, its claws digging into the earth.

.

Her heart thudded painfully in her chest, and before she could stop herself, a shrill scream ripped from her throat.

But the sound of her voice didn’t seem to faze the creature.

Instead, it let out a low, growl that sent a wave of terror crashing over her.

“Lily… do not run,” her wolf’s voice was calm, but urgent, its presence inside her growing stronger. .

“Stay still. You cannot outrun this.”

Lily’s body trembled uncontrollably as the rogue wolf took a step forward, its claws digging into the earth.

Her heart thudded painfully in her chest, and before she could stop herself, a shrill scream ripped from her throat.

She screamed

But the sound of her voice didn’t seem to faze the creature.

Instead, it let out a low, rumbling growl that sent a wave of terror crashing over her.

“Lily… do not run,” .

.

her wolf’s voice was calm, but urgent, its presence inside her growing stronger. “Stay still. You cannot outrun this.”