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Elena's POV
The man stood before her, his green eyes piercing through the dim light of the forest. There was something otherworldly about him, something that made Elena's instincts scream to run. But she didn't.
The wolf—her wolf—stood between them, its stance protective.
"Elena," the man said again, his voice low, almost a growl. "You shouldn't be here."
"How do you know my name?" Elena asked, taking a wary step back.
The man didn't answer right away. Instead, he glanced at the wolf, his gaze softening for a split second before hardening again.
"You need to leave this forest," he said.
Elena squared her shoulders, her fear battling with her curiosity. "Not until I get some answers. Who are you? What's going on in Blackwood Hollow?"
The man sighed, his hand running through his dark hair. "You're asking the wrong questions."
"Then tell me the right ones!"
Before he could respond, the wolf let out a low growl, its head snapping toward the shadows. Elena followed its gaze but saw nothing.
The man's expression darkened. "They're coming."
"Who's coming?"
He didn't answer. Instead, he stepped closer, his movements swift and controlled. "Elena, you need to trust me. Go back to your cabin and lock the door. Don't let anyone in."
She shook her head, frustration bubbling to the surface. "I'm not leaving until someone tells me the truth!"
The man growled—a deep, guttural sound that sent shivers down her spine. "There's no time for this."
In one fluid motion, he turned and shifted into a wolf—a massive, dark-furred beast with glowing green eyes.
Elena stumbled back, her mind struggling to process what she'd just seen. What—what is he?
The two wolves—her amber-eyed guide and this new, imposing figure—shared a glance before vanishing into the forest.
---
Elena barely made it back to her cabin before the first crack of thunder echoed through the woods. She locked the door, her hands shaking, and sank into a chair by the window.
The forest outside seemed alive with movement, shadows darting between the trees. Her mind replayed the events of the evening: the clearing, the symbols, the man who'd somehow turned into a wolf.
It's impossible. It can't be real.
But it was real.
She glanced at her notebook, her eyes lingering on the sketch of the symbols. There was a pattern here, a connection she hadn't fully grasped yet.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud thud against the cabin wall.
Elena froze, her heart pounding.
Another thud, this time closer to the door.
She grabbed the nearest object—a heavy lamp—and crept toward the sound. "Who's there?" she called, her voice trembling.
No answer.
She inched closer to the door, every muscle in her body tense. The handle rattled, and then a deep, gravelly voice called out:
"Elena, it's Caleb."
She hesitated. Caleb? The name sounded familiar, but she couldn't place it.
"Please," the voice said again. "Open the door. You're not safe."
Her hand hovered over the lock. Every instinct screamed at her not to open it, but something in the man's voice—his desperation, his urgency—made her pause.
Slowly, she turned the lock and opened the door just a crack.
Standing there was the man from the forest, now fully human but disheveled, his clothes torn and his face streaked with dirt.
"You," Elena said, gripping the lamp tightly.
"Yes, me," he said, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. He shut the door behind him and locked it. "We don't have much time."
"Much time for what?" Elena demanded, her fear giving way to anger. "Who are you? What's going on?"
"My name is Caleb," he said, his green eyes locking onto hers. "And if you don't start listening to me, you're going to get yourself killed."
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Caleb's POV
Caleb had never been this close to losing control. The scent of fear radiating from Elena was almost unbearable, mingling with the faint, sweet aroma that was uniquely hers.
"You need to calm down," he said, his voice gruff.
"Calm down?" she snapped. "You just—what even are you?"
Caleb hesitated. He could feel the weight of the secret pressing down on him, the unspoken code of the pack echoing in his mind.
But she deserved to know.
"You've seen the wolf," he said carefully. "The one that led you to the clearing."
Elena nodded, her grip on the lamp tightening.
"That was me."
Her eyes widened. "You're—you're saying you're the wolf?"
"Yes."
She stared at him, her expression a mix of disbelief and terror. "That's... not possible."
"I know how it sounds," Caleb said, stepping closer. "But it's the truth. I'm not human—not entirely. None of us are."
"Us?"
"The people of Blackwood Hollow," he said. "At least, some of us. We're wolves, Elena. Werewolves."
She let out a shaky laugh, backing away. "This is insane."
"I know it's a lot to take in, but you've already seen too much. The clearing, the symbols—they're connected to my pack. And now, they know you've been poking around."
"Your pack?" Elena repeated, her voice rising. "So what? You're going to hurt me now? Is that it?"
"No!" Caleb said, his voice sharp. "I've been protecting you."
Her laugh was bitter. "Protecting me? From what?"
"From them," Caleb said, his tone darkening. "From the others. Not all of us agree on how to handle... outsiders."
Elena's eyes narrowed. "What does that mean?"
"It means," Caleb said, "that there are wolves in this town who wouldn't hesitate to kill you for what you've seen. And if they find out I've been helping you..."
He didn't finish the sentence, but the weight of his words hung in the air.
---
Elena's POV
Elena sank into a chair, her head spinning. This was too much—too impossible.
But as she looked at Caleb, at the raw sincerity in his expression, a small part of her began to believe him.
"Why me?" she asked softly. "Why are you protecting me?"
Caleb hesitated, his green eyes flickering with something she couldn't quite place.
"Because I care about you," he said finally.
Elena's breath caught in her throat. She didn't know what to say, didn't know how to process the way his words made her feel.
Before she could respond, the sound of howling cut through the night.
Caleb's head snapped toward the door, his body tensing. "They're here."
"Who?"
"My pack," he said grimly. "Stay behind me. No matter what happens, do not open that door."
Elena's heart raced as Caleb moved to block the entrance, his body seeming to grow larger, more imposing. The howls grew louder, closer, until they were right outside.
---
The door rattled as something—or someone—tried to force it open.
"Caleb," a voice called from the other side, low and threatening. "We know you're in there. Step aside."
Elena clutched the lamp, her knuckles white.
"I won't let you hurt her," Caleb growled, his voice barely human.
"She's a threat," the voice said. "You know the rules."
"I don't care about the rules," Caleb said.
The voice laughed, cold and humorless. "Then you've chosen your side."
The door burst open, and chaos erupted.
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