Lily turned eighteen beneath the full moon's silver glow, her heart pounding with excitement. No party, no cake—just the vast, whispering woods around her grandmother's cabin. But that was enough.
She stepped barefoot onto the damp earth, the cold air kissing her skin. A thrill ran through her. No rules. No hiding. Just her and the wild.
Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply. The night crackled with something strange, something alive. As if the moon itself was watching.
Grandma Miriam's warning echoed in her mind: Don't wander in the woods, especially on a full moon. It's dangerous.
Lily ignored it. The thrill was too tempting. Laughing, she ran through the forest, twirling, arms outstretched. The wind whispered against her skin.
Then—silence.
No crickets. No rustling leaves. Just an unnatural stillness.
A chill crawled up her spine.
Snap.
Her breath hitched.
Lily turned. Shadows stretched between the trees. Something was there.
A low, guttural growl rumbled. Heavy, laboured breathing followed. The scent of blood curled in the air.
Her pulse hammered.
Then she saw it.
Half-man, half-beast, sprawled on the moonlit ground.
Torn clothes. Matted fur. Elongated claws. The creature writhed, chest heaving, a deep gash on its arm oozing fresh blood.
Lily's instincts screamed: Run. But something held her.
She stepped closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "Are you okay?"
No response. Just ragged breathing.
"You're bleeding," she murmured. "You need help."
The creature's eyes snapped open—glowing amber, burning with something primal.
"Don't come any closer!" it roared. "Run!"
The force of its voice jolted her into action.
Lily spun and bolted. Branches tore at her skin. Her heart slammed against her ribs.
She didn't dare look back.
She pressed a hand to her chest, trying to steady her breath. What was that? It looked like the werewolves from her grandmother's bedtime stories, but those were just tales… weren't they?
She should have let it go. She should have gone inside, locked the doors, and pretended she never saw anything.
But she couldn't.
Something inside her refused to let it be. Curiosity—or maybe something dangerously close to compassion—pushed her back toward the woods.
The spot where the creature had been was empty. Only dark smears of blood on the dirt remained. Disappointment and dread twisted in her stomach. Where did it go?
Then, she saw them—footprints. But not of a beast. Human prints, faint and unsteady, trailing deeper into the forest.
Heart hammering, Lily followed them.
She moved cautiously, clutching her hands together to still their shaking.
The trail led her beneath an ancient oak tree, its enormous roots sprawling across the earth.
There, half-hidden in the shadows, crouched a man.
Lily's breath caught. He was shirtless, his toned body marred with wounds, sweat glistening under the moonlight. Dark hair clung to his forehead. His hands were pressed against his sides as if he were trying to hold himself together.
He looked up.
Golden eyes locked onto hers—wild, desperate, familiar.
She moved cautiously, clutching her hands.
The same eyes as the beast.
Lily stumbled back, her mind reeling. Impossible.
The man opened his mouth as if to speak but swayed, his strength giving out. He collapsed forward, landing mere inches from her feet.
Lily stared at him, her pulse erratic. The world spun. She had two choices: run and pretend this night never happened…
Or help him.
She took a deep breath, stepped closer, and made her choice.
Lily took another cautious step closer, her breath steady despite the rapid thumping in her chest. The man was lean but powerful, his bare body revealing deep wounds that still oozed blood. She could see the remnants of his transformation—clawed hands slowly reshaping, golden eyes flickering between beast and human.
"I'm a healer," she said, her voice firm but gentle. "Let me help you."
His sharp gaze flicked toward her, conflicted.
"Human girl, you don't understand. I—" He winced, his body trembling, barely holding itself together. "I don't want to hurt you."
"Lily…my name is Lily. You won't." She extended her hand, unwavering. "Please."
He hesitated. Then, with a resigned sigh, he grasped her hand and pulled himself up.
"What's your name?" She asked, grabbing his strong hands with determination.
"Elis."
A sudden rustle in the trees made them both freeze.
Lily's heart leaped into her throat.
Elis stiffened, his entire demeanour shifting in an instant. His golden eyes darkened, his jaw tightening as his nostrils flared.
Something was watching them.
The air grew heavy with a strange presence. A deep, throaty growl rumbled through the trees, low and menacing.
Lily's pulse pounded as she whipped her head toward the sound. The shadows shifted. Something—no, someone—was there.
Then, just beyond the tree line, a pair of glowing red eyes emerged from the darkness.
"Elis…" she whispered.
He yanked her behind him. His breathing more ragged, his muscles tensed.
"We need to run," he murmured.
Before Lily could react, a deafening snarl shattered the silence, followed by the sound of something massive charging toward them.
And then—
The night exploded into chaos.