Riku's mind reeled. Berk? It's hat's… the guy Eve is treating. But if this woman is looking for him—
He glanced back at the woman. She was calm, concerned—but not panicked. If her fiancé had been attacked by a werewolf, wouldn't she be more frantic?
Something wasn't adding up.
"Uh… yeah," Riku said slowly, rubbing the back of his neck. "He's inside."
The woman nodded, stepping past him.
Riku followed, eyes narrowing as she moved to stand beside the wounded man.
"Berk," she said softly. "I heard you were hurt. Are you alright?"
The man—Berk—looked up at her. For a brief moment, something flashed across his face. Guilt? Fear?
"I'm fine, Elise," he muttered. "Just a scratch."
A scratch? He looked like he'd been mauled.
Eve glanced between them, sensing the tension. "You two know each other?"
Elise smiled. "Of course. He's my fiancé."
Mira grinned. "Oh, that's cute!"
Riku, however, was watching Berk closely. His hands were shaking. His breathing had quickened.
He's hiding something.
Riku shifted, nodding toward Eve. "Hey. What were the reports about the werewolf attacks again?"
Eve frowned. "It always happens at night. The victims are torn apart. But Berk survived, so he's lucky."
"Right…" Riku's gaze never left Berk. "Lucky."
The man stiffened.
Eve sighed, standing up. "Look, we need to get moving before nightfall. Berk, if you can remember anything about the attack—where it happened, where the beast went—it'll help us track it down."
Berk hesitated. His fingers twitched against his knee.
Then—
"It was on the bridge," he said quickly. "The thing came from the forest. That's where you should look."
Riku narrowed his eyes.
That was too fast. Too prepared.
His gut screamed at him—he's lying.
But why?
Riku glanced at Elise. She wasn't looking at Berk—she was looking at them.
Watching them.
Testing them.
Something was wrong.
Mira cracked her knuckles. "Well, that settles it! We go to the forest, we find the beast, and we break its face!"
Eve nodded. "Agreed. Riku, you're the tracker. Lead the way."
Riku hesitated. His instincts screamed at him to stay. To keep digging.
But Eve was already moving toward the door.
Berk exhaled, shoulders relaxing ever so slightly.
That's when Riku realized—he wanted them to leave.
He forced a lazy grin. "Yeah, yeah. Let's go play detective."
But as they stepped outside, Riku shot one last glance over his shoulder.
Berk wouldn't meet his eyes.
And Elise?
She was smiling.
To Be Continued…