DARE NOT I BREATHE AS I RAN through the forest, though my limbs were sore and the soles of my feet were numb, I did not stop running. I heard it's deafening howl behind me and my tongue grew thick in my mouth. 

"Someone! Someone, please help me!" 

I couldn't scream any longer and goosebumps trickled up my skin, crawling all the way to my neck. I felt the vibration when the creature scraped the earth beneath, right before it made a vault toward me. 

The beast leaped over my short figure, stopped itself with its paws and pounced on me. My slender trembling fingers were barely enough to keep it from crushing my frame. With its hind legs pressing into my stomach I was trapped in position. Its mouth snapped open to an inhumane extent and its canines were like needles , ready to inject holes into my skin.

"Mom?!" I cried.

But though tears were clouding my eyes I did not release my grip. My palms slid up its body and went to hold its neck. There was more hair below there and I took a fistful of the creature's black beard and used my grip to keep it from tearing my face apart.

Those creatures are called wolves. But not ordinary wolves, they are bigger, stronger, faster and deadlier.

I opened my eyes, my forehead wet with sweat and reached my hand over my face, grasping nothing in particular but trying to picture that wolf's fur between my fingers. My eyes then fell onto the imprinted bite mark on my wrist and lowered my hand again, brushing it with my thumb, "They're dangerous."

Father never went specific when it came to my childhood but he said a wolf tried killing me that day. At thirteen years old.  It bit me and almost took his eye. 

I've been having that same nightmare repeatedly; my younger self, scared and defenseless. I don't know what it means. I felt a sharp pain in my chest and immediately sat upward. I searched my bed, throwing my pillows to the side but did not find it. I started to worry but then bowed my head under my blanket, grabbing the tiny bottle that was below my feet.

I twisted the lid open and placed two of the circular green tablets in my palms. I threw them into my mouth, crunching it between my teeth before I swallowed. Father said that they would help with the nightmares as well as the aching feeling in my chest. 

I stood out of bed and went to my bedroom's window, parting the curtains. Whistle Wood is a quiet place. Doors were locked most of the time and everyone would have an eye out.

That's how it has been since those creatures started showing up and that was how it stayed. They're hidden in our forest, always lurking, and unless we start taking action, they'll take it first.

Father repeated those same exact words until they were engraved in my mind.

I tied my long curls into a ponytail and pulled a shirt over my head. In my drawer under my clothes I took out my pistol, hiding it in my waistband. I sat on the edge of the bed to fit into my boots, lastly taking my sunglasses before I walked downstairs.

I saw Dad once I was down but he was already on his way out with a staple of files under his arm. 

"I have business at the department to take care of. Do not wander far." He said curtly and I leaned against the handrail.

I pursed my lips and nodded, "Yeah sure when do you don't." I whispered. My father is the town's sheriff, which I understood but sometimes I just want him to care about me, more than he obsesses over the wolves.

I walked into the kitchen and saw the mess it was in. Father always left it in such a condition  when he was angered. Sighing, I started cleaning, firstly starting with washing the dirty dishes along the house. I finished cleaning and with my hip against the sink, I stared up at the clock on the wooden wall. I needed a drink. I left the house, making sure all the doors were locked before I stepped out into the roads of Whistle Wood. 

Whistle Wood is a small town, cocooned by the forest which made it seem even more lonely. The houses were also so close together which made us a canned feeding ground for the wolves. There was a thick gloomy morning fog in the air and much like the fog, so were the people passing by me. They looked saddened which meant that dead victims were found from last night's attack. 

I made a turn down the street and spotted my usual visited liquor store. Liquaint. I always found myself chuckling at the silly name he gave the place. The wooden bar was painted dark, and though the roof would probably not survive for much longer, it was still standing. Liquaint had been in Whistle Wood for quite a time, passed down to Bill from his great grandfather.

I pushed open the door, the bell ringing once I did, and then dragged out a stool. 

I spun in the direction of the counter, a smirk taking my face. "You know what to do." 

Bill chuckled and patted my head, "One large glass of Bill's best beer, coming up." He dropped the toothpick that was to the corner of his mouth and turned to prepare my drink.

"How are you, Lydia?" He slid the mug of frothing cold beer toward me and put his elbows against the counter, his face in his palms as he awaited my answer. 

I took a sip of the beer and gave him a thumbs up of approval. I took another sip before I answered and he shook his head. "I'm fine, Bill, I'm doing fine. You?" 

He raised a suspicious brow at me and I sighed, knowing what he was about to ask. 

"You alright?" 

"I said that, didn't I?" I lowered the mug so that he could see the brow I raised in return, "What's with the questions, Bill?" 

"I dunno," He shrugged, "How's the old man?" 

I tried my hardest to conceal the frown casting my face, "You know, he's how he's always been, I guess." My voice grew quiet as I twirled the ice in the mug , keeping my tone neutral but he knew right away.

"How's he's always been, huh? An asshole?" He placed his hand over mine that rested on the counter, "Lydia I can see it on your face, is he still—"

I removed my hand from under his, "No." I said sharply, "No, he doesn't anymore. Don't worry about it." I folded my lip between my teeth. 

"Alright,"  He knocked the counter  with his knuckle and stepped away from the counter with a nod, "I won't question you further." He smiled and I returned it.

"Thanks for understanding." 

"When you're involved, how can I not?" He smiled and crossed his arms over his chest as he stared at me, a questionable look on his handsome face. There's an awkward  silence between us and my eyes stayed trained on his muscles which seemed to be growing bulker each day. 

Bill had charming light brown eyes, a defined jawline and shoulder dark brown hair which he ties into a man bun. Bill and I have known each other for about four years, and officially bonded over our love for coffee and beer under Liquaint. Since I rarely leave the house or wander beyond Whistle Wood, Bill is pretty much the only friend that I've got. His uncle and my father are close friends as well. 

I cleared my throat and broke eye contact, staring down at the beer. "Are you done staring at me?" 

He smiled, "Nah, one more minute." 

"You're too cocky. Just say whatever it is you're going to say." 

He stepped closer and continued to stare at me. "Be careful, okay."

I examined all the details of his face, "When am I not." I finished the remaining beer in a gulp and set it on the counter. "I'll see you. Don't overwork yourself." I hopped off the stool and waved at him before I exited.

************

[Hoorray, you have came to end of this chapter!!!!]

A FEW THINGS TO NOTE BEFORE CONTINUING.

1.) I am aware that you all know werewolf stories but you will notice this isn't simply a werewolf story. The story I created will be different in a lot of aspects but at the first time there's still some similarities as this is only my version of werewolves.

I can only hope that you allow the story to play out. 

2.) If you are clueless as to what happens, it would be answered but to makes things less confusing. Basically Lydia was hidden from the outside by her father who is sheriff of Whistle Wood. She has met wolves before but only at full moon, the time her father carries her to hunt, so she only sees werewolves in their wolf form. The same with the shifters—in the forest, her father never meant for her to follow him,, and there she gets to see a shifter as the wolf she killed shifted to a human boy. Lydia is yet to know why her father had hid such information from her but the truth will be revealed soon. 

You will also soon know the truth as to why Lydia hardly has memories of her past.

3.) I would also like to apologize in advance for any grammatical errors. Feel free to point them out and I will edit them  immediately. Thank you. 

4.) This book is partly slow paced. [Not too slow but will be  slow burn.]

5 .) The ML in this book is dominant and can be aggressive and cold to Fl due to past experiences but that will slowly change.

6.) For longer chapters, they will split into smaller parts so that there aren't too many words to read. 

With that, I hope you enjoy reading!!!