Chapter 4

The Wolf's Call

Evelyn stepped farther into the center of Blackpine Forest, where the darkness closed in around her. Every step felt more difficult, as if the earth itself were attempting to keep her stationary and prevent her from getting to whatever was waiting for her. The trees towered over her like silent sentinels, their branches swaying with an eerie rhythm, as if they too were alive, watching her every move.

She could feel it now the pulse of the forest. It wasn't just the moon that called to her, there was something ancient here, something older than her family's curse, older than the very soil beneath her boots.

It was as if the land itself knew her, knew what she was running from, what she was running toward. She could feel the weight of the forest's gaze, and the deeper she ventured, the more oppressive it became.

It came suddenly sharp, guttural, and so close it seemed to echo through the marrow of her bones. A howl.

A scream of the wild, untamed, and savage. It was a sound that sent ice spiraling down her spine, sending her heart racing. It was more than a cry of an animal; it was a declaration. A warning. The wolves were near.

The howl reverberated through her chest like a drumbeat, and Evelyn stopped dead in her tracks, frozen in the midst of the forest's unnerving stillness.

Too close, she thought, swallowing hard. The sound had come from just beyond the trees, and her breath caught in her throat. Was it a wolf? Or was it something more? She couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't a simple animal sound, but something someone calling to her. The pull was magnetic, primal, like an invisible force wrapping itself around her chest, tightening with each passing second.

Her hand instinctively reached for the silver dagger by her side, her fingers grazing the icy metal. Never in her life has she felt so exposed. Her feet stayed stuck to the ground even though her mind begged her to run and turn around. Something deep inside her had been sparked by the howling sound.

A dark, primordial, and scary voice inside of her begged her to follow, but she was unable to explain it. to get closer to the call's origin.

Evelyn started to move again slowly, her steps cautious, her breath weak. She tried to ignore the tingling sensation that was creeping up her skin while keeping her gaze fixed on the ground.

Now it seemed as though the trees were leaning in to listen with her, their shadows darker and longer.

At that moment, she saw the first indication of something strange: a set of tracks that were partially obscured by the dense undergrowth. The claws made deep impressions in the ground, and they were enormous too big for a wolf. As she knelt down and reached out to touch the prints out of reflex, her heart skipped a beat.

The air around her thickened. The tracks weren't human, not by any stretch of the imagination. The claws were sharp, curved, but the size... they were far too large, the distance between the impressions too wide. No animal she knew could have made them.

But they were fresh. So fresh, in fact, that the scent still lingered in the air, a heavy musk that reeked of danger. The unmistakable scent of wolves but something more. Something... wrong.

Her fingers trembled as she followed the tracks, her mind racing with possibilities. Were they her kind? Was she being followed by other cursed souls, like herself? Or was it something worse? Something older, more twisted? She could almost hear the soft whisper of the forest around her, the trees creaking with ancient secrets, but she didn't dare stop to listen.

Now her senses were sharpened, too keenly. She was overcome by the smells of the forest, the moisture in the ground, and the musty stench of ancient decay. Her skin was pricked by the night air's coolness, making every breath nearly unbearable. But below it all, the distinct smell of wolves persisted, subtle but unmistakable, and it stuck to the back of her throat. They are near. The sudden notion made her chest tighten with terror.

However, a rustling noise arose from behind her before she could regain her balance. Underfoot, the branches and dried leaves cracked softly but clearly.

With her heart pounding in her ears, Evelyn whirled around. In her grasp, the dagger felt too tiny and unimportant. It was as though the shadows moved closer to her. No longer was she alone. As the rustling increased in volume and sped through the undergrowth, it circled her until her breath seized in her throat. From somewhere in the dark came a low growl, so deep and guttural that it seemed to resonate in her bones.

No! she thought as panic rose in her throat like bile. The animals were approaching. They were pursuing her.

She drew in a sharp breath, trying to steady her hands, to force herself to think, to plan. She had no idea how many wolves were out there. Could she fight them off? Was she even strong enough yet? The curse was still inside her, fighting for control. The wolf inside her was pushing, clawing at her soul, urging her to give in, to let the beast take over.

A flash of movement a dark shape darted between the trees, too fast for her to catch. Evelyn's pulse spiked. She wasn't imagining it. They were out there, circling her like a pack of predators.

Without warning, something leaped from the shadows, landing with a heavy thud.

Before Evelyn could respond, a huge figure materialized in front of her. It was a beast rather than a human, and its eyes gleamed in the moonlight like molten gold. Although it was a wolf-a werewolf it was unlike any wolf she had ever encountered. Its massive bulk was covered in blood and grime, and its teeth were bared in a savage sneer. It seemed unnaturally tall, standing on two legs, its claws reaching out dangerously over her.

A beat skipped across her heart. It was among them. Among the cursed. However, this was different. It had a ferocious, wild, and untamed quality. This was more than the tightly restrained anger she had experienced herself.

It lunged at her with lightning speed, and she barely had time to bring the dagger up to defend herself. The creature's claws scraped against the silver blade, sending a shock of pain up her arm, but it was enough to stagger it back.

Evelyn's breath came in ragged gasps, her heart racing as the creature growled, stepping back, circling her. It was waiting for her to make the next move, like it knew exactly how much power she still had. Her body shook, not just from fear, but from the raw hunger building inside her. The transformation was closer now she could feel it, the wolf stirring within her.

The growl of the beast faded as it stepped backward, but it didn't leave. Evelyn could feel the weight of its gaze, its presence heavy in the air, like the forest itself was holding its breath.

Then something appeared to shift in the air around her. The wail returned, closer and louder this time. There was more than one beast. The pack was close.

Evelyn's instincts told her to run, but she was unable to move. Her pulse was erratic, her senses spinning. The wolf inside her was demanding release, and she could feel its influence growing stronger.

The creature before her growled again, its eyes never leaving hers. It was as if it knew her struggle, knew what was happening inside her. It was a test. It wasn't attacking not yet. It was waiting for her to choose: fight or flee. Embrace the beast, or fight against it.

The howling went on, intensifying, and reverberated throughout the forest. And when the wolves surrounded her, Evelyn, caught between human and monster, between want and dread, could only stand there, panting.

Her inner voice whispered, You're not alone anymore. The hunt has also started.

Evelyn's thoughts whirled. She could fight strive to defeat this thing, put herself in danger to do so. But suddenly there were too many of the group, too near. She could also run in the hopes of escaping the curse and finding a method to outrun the inevitable.

The air became unbearably tense, and Evelyn realized that she was running out of time before the full moon's impact fully took hold. There was no going back.

The wolves were waiting. And Evelyn she had no choice but to choose.