The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. The clearing glowed softly. The bonfire crackled in the center, sending sparks spiraling into the cool night air.
The smell of grilled meat and sweet cider lingered as laughter and music filled the woods. Evelyn sat on a log near the edge of the fire, nursing a soda and trying her best to blend into the lively energy of the party.
"Come on, birthday girl! Smile for once!" Riley nudged her playfully, shoving a paper plate loaded with roasted marshmallows into her lap.
Evelyn forced a laugh, accepting the plate. "I'm smiling, aren't I?"
Riley arched a brow, giving her a look. "Barely. This party was your idea, Ev. You're supposed to be the life of it."
Evelyn glanced at the flickering flames, the weight of unease pressing on her chest. She'd been looking forward to this night— escaping the monotony of life, celebrating with her best friend— but Liam's absence cast a shadow over everything.
"You're thinking about him again, aren't you?" Riley asked, her tone softening.
Evelyn hesitated, then nodded. "He promised he'd come. I've called him like five times, and he hasn't answered. It's just... I don't know."
Riley sighed, pulling Evelyn into a side hug. "Look, Liam's probably just caught up in something dumb. Don't let him ruin your night. You deserve to have fun for once."
Evelyn smiled faintly, grateful for Riley's attempt to cheer her up, but the knot in her stomach didn't loosen. Riley tilted her head slightly, studying Evelyn for a moment before shifting the conversation.
"Hey," she said, her tone light but curious, "you're not still having those dreams, are you?"
Evelyn's smile faltered, her expression tightening. "What makes you ask that?"
Riley shrugged, poking at the fire with a stick. "You just seem... off lately. Like, more than usual. I figured maybe they were back."
Evelyn hesitated. Unlike those past years, it had haunted her for weeks now— looking back. Nightmares of running through endless forests, her senses sharper than seemed humanly possible, her body weightless but powerful.
She never told Riley the full extent of them, not the parts where her reflection in rivers showed glowing eyes or where the scent of blood lingered in the air.
"They're just dreams," Evelyn said finally, though the words felt hollow.
Riley gave her a skeptical look but didn't press. "Well, if they get too freaky, you know you can talk to me, right? Weird as you are, you're still my best friend." She grinned, elbowing Evelyn playfully.
She smiled faintly. "Thanks, Riley. I mean it."
"Good. Now come on," Riley said, nodding toward the group around the fire. "Let's eat, drink, and act like idiots for the rest of the night."
Evelyn laughed softly but shook her head. "You go ahead." she said, setting the plate aside. "I'll be right back—I just need some air."
"Evelyn..." Riley started, but her friend was already stepping away, phone in hand. "Don't wander off too far!"
"I won't," Evelyn called over her shoulder.
Riley watched her disappear into the woods, a flicker of concern crossing her fce but she didn't go after her.
---
Evelyn had just said she won't go far but didn't even realized as she wandered away from the laughter and music, the cool night air wrapping around her. She dialed Liam's number again, her thumb trembling slightly as she pressed the call button.
The phone rang and rang, each tone sharp against the stillness of the woods. Anxiety twisted in her chest as she paced.
"Come on, Liam," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
The call went to voicemail, and Evelyn lowered the phone, her shoulders sagging. She didn't want to admit it, but the nagging silence felt like a rejection she wasn't ready to face.
A faint snap of a branch echoed behind her, making her freeze. She turned slowly, scanning the shadowy trees.
"Hello?" she called out, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Riley? Is that you?" she asked, trying to sound casual, but there was a quiver in her voice. "Come on, this isn't funny. You should stop now."
The forest was silent, unnervingly so. The air felt heavy, charged with something she couldn't name.
And then it came— the low, guttural growl that sent ice down her spine.
From the darkness, a massive wolf emerged, its eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. Its matted fur bristled as it crouched low, lips curled back in a snarl.
Evelyn stumbled back, her phone slipping from her hand. Her mind screamed at her to run, but her legs felt rooted to the spot. "No... this can't be real," she muttered, but before she could even make the effort of running, the wolf lunged.
Claws slashed at her shoulder, sending a shock of pain through her body as she sprawled to the ground. Pain flared hot and sharp, while Evelyn gasped, clutching at the wound.
Adrenaline flooded her veins. "No... this can't be real," she whispered, trying to push herself to her feet, but the pain was overwhelming.
Her instincts screamed at her to run, and with everything in her, she pushed off the ground, her legs shaky beneath her. She staggered forward, each step frantic as she darted into the woods. Branches and underbrush scraped at her arms, but she didn't slow down. The sounds of the wolf's growls echoed behind her, louder now, each step it took in pursuit making the ground tremble beneath her.
Her breath came in ragged gasps as she forced herself to run faster, heart pounding in her ears. But she wasn't fast enough. Her foot caught on something— roots tangled in the underbrush— and she went down hard, the earth rushing up to meet her with a sickening thud. Pain exploded in her leg as she spiraled into the dirt, the sharp sting of roots twisting around her ankle.
"Come on, get up!" she cried, her voice a desperate whisper. She scrambled to push herself upright, but she was trapped. The wolf was nearly upon her, its massive form closing in. There was no escape now.
The wolf bared its teeth, its eyes gleaming with hunger as it stepped closer. Evelyn's mind screamed in panic, her breath shallow and fast. There was no way out.
The wolf lunged, its claws catching her shoulder and sending her sprawling to the ground. Pain flared hot and sharp, but even as Evelyn clutched at the wound, something inside her shifted.
Her blood felt like fire in her veins, her heart pounding with a ferocity she didn't recognize. Her vision blurred, and she gasped as a raw, unfamiliar power surged through her body.
The rogue wolf came at her again, but this time Evelyn was ready. With a snarl that didn't feel human, she rose on four legs— legs covered in sleek white fur. Her body had shifted, powerful and primal, every nerve alive with instinct.
Evelyn rose onto four legs, the ground feeling different beneath her, more alive. Her vision sharpened, her senses clearer than they had ever been. She could hear the wolf's every breath, see the way its body tensed interested preparation to strike. But she wasn't afraid anymore.
With a feral snarl, she met the wolf's charge head-on, her teeth sinking deep into its shoulder. The rogue wolf yelped, stumbling back, but Evelyn was relentless. She pushed forward, her strength and speed overwhelming the creature. The wolf snarled, baring its fangs, but Evelyn was too fast. With one last lunge, she forced it back, driving it into the darkness of the forest.
She met the wolf head-on, her teeth sinking into its shoulder. The rogue yelped, stumbling back, but Evelyn pressed forward, driving it away with a ferocity that felt both alien and natural.
Finally, the rogue turned and fled into the shadows, leaving her alone in the silence of the woods. Evelyn stood trembling, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She glanced down at herself—at the pristine white fur covering her body, at the paws where her hands should have been.
"What... what's happening to me?" she thought, her mind spinning as she stared into the dark forest.