Chapter 01 : The Wolf

In a bustling city, Everly Harper, a 25-year-old photographer, prepared for the adventure of a lifetime. With her trusty camera by her side and a bright smile, she was ready to capture nature's unforgettable beauty.

Everly and Jester, her friend and colleague, set out early in the morning toward the deep forest. Fresh air and gentle sunlight greeted them as they shared stories and laughter during their journey, strengthening their friendship bonds.

After hours of driving, they reached the forest entrance. Everly and Jester prepared their photography equipment and began walking along the winding path. Green leaves and dry twigs accompanied their steps.

As the sun began to set, Everly and Jester found the perfect spot to photograph the lunar eclipse. They worked together, carefully setting up the camera and tripod. Everly checked the camera settings to ensure the best possible shots.

"I can't wait to photograph the lunar eclipse from this spot!" Everly scanned the darkening sky, her smile widening as she imagined the shots she would get. "What time do you think the eclipse will start? I might need coffee to stay up late."

Jester watched his friend's enthusiasm with a warm smile. "Let me make you my special coffee."

"Really?" Everly's eyes lit up instantly. "Your coffee is always my favorite!"

"Of course," Jester chuckled. "You know making coffee is one of my undisputed talents."

Everly stood up, dusting off her shorts. "Then I'll head to the river for a bit. Need to wash my face and..." she giggled, "answer nature's call. You won't be scared if I leave you alone, right?"

"I should be the one asking," Jester raised an eyebrow, "are you sure it's safe to go into the forest alone?"

"Oh come on, Jes. This isn't my first time here," Everly rolled her eyes. "I could find that river blindfolded. Trust me, I won't get lost."

Jester just shook his head, amused by his friend's confidence. Everly quickly made her way into the dense trees, following the familiar trail. However, as she approached the river, her steps suddenly halted. By the water's edge, gleaming in the twilight, stood a tall man with an unmistakable presence.

'Who...?' Everly held her breath, instinctively retreating behind a large tree.

The man appeared to be alone, and she wondered what he was doing in such a remote place. When he turned around, Everly nearly gasped. That face... she couldn't be mistaken. Maxim Harrington – the CEO of Rington Corporation who often graced business magazine covers.

Her heart raced. The urge to say hello battled with sudden self-consciousness. What was a billionaire doing in the middle of the forest? And why was he alone?

After Maxim left, Everly finally emerged from her hiding spot. While washing her face in the cool river water, her mind flooded with questions. 'Is he with a group? Where's his tent?'

Her eyes swept the surroundings, searching for signs of other tents or campsites. Finding nothing, she decided to return to her own tent, where a hot cup of coffee and Jester awaited. Yet thoughts of the mysterious CEO continued to haunt her mind.

***

"According to astronomical data, the total lunar eclipse will occur between nine and eleven tonight," Jester yawned widely. "And we've been traveling since eleven this morning without rest, Eve. I think I'll sleep first. You can show me your shots tomorrow, right?"

Everly stared at her friend in disbelief. "You're seriously going to leave me alone?"

"Didn't you just say you're used to being here alone?" Jester smirked. "So it shouldn't be a problem if I rest?"

Everly could only snort softly while checking her camera settings.

"Come on Eve, I need rest. I'm driving again tomorrow morning," Jester reminded her. "While you? You'll probably sleep soundly all the way home, just like you were snoring during our drive here."

A small laugh escaped Everly's lips. "Okay, okay, I get it, Jes. Thanks for being my loyal driver. Now rest well, Mr. Driver, so you can safely take Miss Photographer home tomorrow."

Jester gave her a thumbs up as he headed toward the tent. "I'm heading in then," he said before disappearing behind the tent fabric, while Everly just nodded briefly.

Inside the tent, Jester, who couldn't sleep without music, immediately turned on his MP3 player. He placed his earphones in at medium volume, letting the music lull him to sleep. Meanwhile, Everly faithfully waited outside, her eyes fixed on the gradually darkening sky.

"Hmm, might get a good angle if I shoot from that tree," she mumbled, eyeing the large tree before her. But she quickly dismissed the thought. "No, too risky. I could fall and break my camera."

Her gaze shifted to their car's flat roof. A smile tugged at her lips. "Now this makes more sense. The view should be perfect from up there."

Carefully but skillfully, Everly climbed onto the car. She set up her tripod firmly on the stable surface, ensuring her camera was securely mounted. The night wind began to blow, making the surrounding leaves rustle softly. In that night's silence, she couldn't help but think about the mysterious figure she'd seen by the river earlier.

'Is Maxim Harrington still around here somewhere?' she wondered, her eyes occasionally glancing toward the dark trees. But she quickly shook her head, forcing herself to focus on preparing for the eclipse photography that would soon begin.

At exactly nine o'clock, the lunar eclipse entered its total phase. Everly couldn't suppress her awe as she watched the full moon slowly turn reddish-brown. Her fingers nimbly adjusted the camera settings, ensuring every phase of the eclipse was perfectly captured.

"This is perfect," she whispered to herself, her eyes never leaving the viewfinder.

Suddenly, a long howl pierced the night's silence. Everly startled, nearly dropping her remote shutter. The sound was close—much closer than she would have liked.

"A wolf?" she muttered with a trembling voice. Her heart pounded, but her hands remained steady on the shutter button. As a wildlife photographer, she knew the importance of staying calm in situations like this.

The howl came again, this time followed by movement from the direction of large rocks about fifty meters from her car. Everly pointed her camera toward the sound, her zoom lens able to capture details clearly even in the dim light.

What she saw through the viewfinder made her freeze.

On the largest rock, directly under the reddish light of the eclipsed moon, stood a figure she recognized—Maxim Harrington. But something was wrong. His body shook violently, his hands gripping the rock's edge until his knuckles turned white. Everly couldn't look away, her finger automatically continuing to press the shutter button, taking burst shots.

Through her lens, Everly witnessed the impossible. Maxim's body began to change. His muscles swelled, his bones cracked horrifically, while black fur began sprouting all over his body. His handsome face slowly transformed, his mouth elongating into a snout, his ears becoming pointed.

"Oh God..." Everly whispered in horror, but her hands kept shooting. As a photographer, this was her instinct—documenting what she saw, even if her brain refused to believe it.

In seconds, where Maxim Harrington had stood, now there was a massive wolf with pitch-black fur. The creature raised its head toward the eclipsed moon, letting out a howl that made Everly's hair stand on end.

Her hands trembled violently as she checked her shots. On the camera screen, a series of photos clearly captured the entire transformation process—from handsome CEO to black-furred wolf. Tangible proof that what she had just witnessed wasn't a hallucination.

The wolf—Maxim—suddenly turned toward her. His golden eyes gleamed in the darkness, staring directly at where Everly stood on top of the car. For a moment, time seemed to stop.