I was just an ordinary woman.

Like the ones you could find on any street corner? Maybe. But is that still the case?

Can I still be called an ordinary person?

This question lingered in my mind as I looked at myself in the mirror of a shabby hotel room. Every morning, when I managed to sleep without being gripped by an oppressive anxiety, I woke up wondering: is this really me? Did this really happen to me?

In the mirror, it wasn't me reflecting back. No, what I mean is, it wasn't my original appearance.

I had become a man.

Yes, I had changed. And the mere thought of remembering how it happened stirred up so many complex emotions that I felt sick.

Even though I checked constantly, I couldn't stand looking at my own face. This face. Every time, disgust took hold of me. Yet every day, I couldn't stop checking.

Maybe, by some chance, my body would return to its original state. But every time I checked, the result was the same. And my mental state worsened. I was aware of it.

As I vomited, crouched slightly, a strange sensation pulled me back to reality. A movement in my lower belly. The shiver snapped me back, and I slowly stood up, careful not to look at the mirror, and headed for the bathroom.

"Damn… I forgot…"

As I thought about it, a strange intuition crossed my mind.

Since that bizarre experience, my sixth sense had sharpened. Some of my hunches had proven to be true, and they had saved me from situations so complex that I couldn't afford to doubt my instincts anymore.

"Ha… Ha…"

Something was off. I didn't know what, but I felt bad. I had to do something.

I quickly left the bathroom, a towel wrapped around my torso.

"Damn, what's going on?"

I could never get used to this feeling. Of course, I was anxious. Of course, I couldn't control everything in this state. My hands were shaking slightly as I searched the room for my bag, gathering my essential things.

"My wallet… my wallet…"

I ran back and forth across the hotel room, checking frantically to make sure I had everything I needed. Once I was sure, I grabbed my bag.

I opened the door slowly. Very slowly. As if I was about to face a nightmare.

But no.

It was just a couple walking past my door.

"Phew…"

The relief was short-lived. The look they gave me left a bitter taste in my mouth. They were just looking at me, but I felt like a freak show.

It's true, I was a handsome man in this cursed form. But why were they staring at me like that?

Their gaze slowly dropped. Mine followed.

"Damn…"

Blushing with embarrassment, I rushed back into the room and slammed the door. I had been so rushed that I hadn't dressed properly.

This time, I took my time to choose full-covering clothes: a hoodie, a cap… I was ready.

I left the room and quickly headed to the reception.

While I was paying for my stay, I noticed the couple in the distance, chatting with other people.

They were talking about me.

I lowered my head.

"What a mistake… That weird feeling this morning… maybe it was for this reason…" I muttered.

"Pardon?" asked the receptionist, blushing slightly.

Oh, damn.

"No, it's nothing!"

After settling everything, I left the hotel.

The night had fallen over the city, the cold air biting my bare arms despite my warm outfit.

I was walking down a deserted alley, the echo of my footsteps reverberating against the dirty walls. I felt like everything was fleeing from me, even the light.

As I was deep in thought about what to do next, a cold gust of wind suddenly blew, making me shiver.

It was a strange feeling, like a warning, and before I could react, a dull sound caught my attention. Like something huge moving in the darkness.

I froze, my heart racing as I scanned the shadows.

It was a moonless night, and the city seemed frozen, but something was happening. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw him. A man, tall, dressed in a dark leather jacket. He was almost invisible in the night, except for his eyes, which shone with a strange glow. That gaze… it was… animalistic.

I took a step back instinctively, my hands gripping the handle of my bag. My instincts screamed at me to run, but my legs were like lead.

"You feel that, don't you?" he said in a hoarse voice, barely a whisper.

I didn't answer, my breath shallow, but I could feel it. Something wasn't right. He took a slow step forward, his silhouette becoming clearer in the dark. He wasn't just a man.

Before I could react, he leapt, a flash of movement in the night. I found myself thrown against a wall, the musky scent of the wolf overwhelming my senses. I didn't even have time to understand what was happening.

But he didn't harm me. His gaze was piercing, like he was looking for something inside of me, and he stood there, close enough for me to feel his warmth, but far enough so I wouldn't feel in danger.

"I'm sorry," he murmured, his voice softening, almost human. "I shouldn't have… I was looking for you."

I still didn't move, feeling both drawn to him and terrified at the same time. I'd seen strange things in my life, and it seemed like this wasn't going to stop—something so… unreal. I searched for words, but my throat was dry.

"Who… who are you?" I asked finally, my voice trembling.

He hesitated for a moment, then lowered his eyes, as if ashamed of his own existence. "I'm what they'd call… a werewolf? But for someone who's been one of their victims."

I didn't understand. But before I could ask any more questions, he leaned a little closer to me, and a shiver ran down my spine when he whispered, almost breathless: "I knew I'd find you here. I've always known where to find you, but you're so good at disappearing that it feels supernatural."

He stood there for a few seconds, too close to be just a man, before suddenly stepping back, as if realizing the proximity between us. He gave me a deep look, an intense fire in his eyes.

"You don't know me yet, but… everything changes from now on... Go back to the hotel, they're coming." He walked away slowly, but his gaze stayed locked on mine, like an invisible thread pulling us together.

As he disappeared into the shadows, I stood there, my chest tight, caught in a whirlwind of emotions. Who was he really? And why had he said everything was going to change?