Under the Full Moon's Gaze

The forest was bathed in an eerie silver glow as the full moon hung low in the sky, its light filtering through the dense canopy. Owen Thomas leaned against the old oak tree, his hands casually tucked into his jacket pockets. "Come on, Emma," he said, his voice smooth and inviting. "It's just a walk. What's the worst that could happen?"

Emma Brown hesitated, her fingers nervously twisting the strap of her bag. She glanced at the shadowy path leading into the woods. "I don't know, Owen. It's kind of late, and the forest at night… it's different."

Owen smirked, stepping closer. "Different, huh? Sounds like an adventure. Besides, aren't you the one who always says life's too short to play it safe?"

Emma rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile. "Fine. But if we get eaten by wolves, I'm blaming you."

Just as they were about to step onto the path, a voice cut through the night like a blade. "Stop." James Lee emerged from the shadows, his tall figure silhouetted against the moonlight. His eyes were sharp, his tone colder than the night air. "You don't want to go in there. Not tonight."

Owen raised an eyebrow, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, great. The guardian of the forest has spoken. Care to elaborate, or are we just supposed to take your word for it?"

James stepped forward, his jaw tight. "The forest isn't safe during the full moon. Things happen—things you wouldn't understand."

Emma frowned, her curiosity piqued. "What kind of things?"

James hesitated, his eyes flickering to the trees behind them. "Just trust me. Turn around and go home."

Owen laughed, a short, dismissive sound. "Yeah, no. I'm not letting you ruin our night. Come on, Emma." He grabbed her hand and tried to move past James, but James stepped in front of them, his stance unyielding.

"Don't be an idiot, Emma," James snapped, his voice rising. "This isn't a game."

The tension between them was palpable, the air thick with unspoken threats. Emma's heart raced as she glanced between the two. "Maybe we should listen to him, Owen. He seems serious."

Owen's grip on her hand tightened. "Seriously paranoid, maybe. We're going."

Before James could respond, a sudden movement caught their attention. A figure emerged from the darkness—Professor Carter, his usually calm demeanor replaced with a look of urgency. He didn't waste time with words. With a swift, calculated motion, he lunged at James, catching him off guard and forcing him to step back.

"What the hell ?" James growled, recovering quickly and squaring up.

Professor Carter's eyes were sharp, his voice low but commanding. "You're in over your head, Lee. Let them go."

The forest seemed to hold its breath as the two men faced off, the moonlight casting long shadows that danced around them. Emma felt Owen's grip loosen as he stared at the scene, his bravado faltering for the first time. "What's going on?" he whispered, more to himself than anyone else.

Professor Carter's gaze shifted to Owen and Emma. "Get out of here. Now."

The urgency in his voice was enough to spur Owen into action. He tugged on Emma's arm. "Come on, Emma. Let's go."

Emma hesitated, her eyes flickering between James and Professor Carter, but finally, she nodded.

As they turned and hurried back toward the edge of the forest, Emma couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The shadows seemed to close in around them, and the once-mysterious silver light now felt oppressive.

Behind them, the sound of a scuffle echoed through the trees, followed by a low, guttural growl that didn't sound human. Emma's breath hitched, and she gripped Owen's arm tighter. "What was that?"

"Doesn't matter," Owen said, his voice strained. "We're not sticking around to find out."

As they reached the safety of the open field, Emma glanced back at the forest. The moonlight still bathed the trees, but now it felt more like a warning than an invitation. Something was out there—something dangerous. And whatever it was, it wasn't finished with them.

The forest was a blur of shadows and moonlight as Emma stumbled forward, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Owen's grip on her wrist was firm, almost bruising, as he yanked her deeper into the woods. Behind them, the sound of Professor Carter's shouts grew faint, but the memory of James' transformation into a monstrous black wolf still burned in her mind.

"Owen, what the hell is going on?" Emma demanded, her voice trembling. "James—he just—he turned into a wolf!"

Owen didn't stop. "Not now, Emma. We need to keep moving."

"Not now?!" She yanked her hand free, forcing him to halt. "You're telling me not now? The man just turned into a freaking werewolf, and you're acting like this is some kind of jog in the park!"

Owen's jaw tightened, his eyes darting back the way they'd come. "Emma, I swear I'll explain everything, but we're not safe here. Professor Carter's not just some professor—he's hunting us."

"Hunting us? Why? And what do you mean *us*?" Her voice rose, panic clawing at her chest. "Owen, what aren't you telling me?"

Before he could answer, a low growl rumbled from the shadows. Owen's body stiffened, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the darkness. "Damn it," he muttered under his breath. "They're closer than I thought."

"Who's closer?!" Emma backed away, her heart pounding. "Owen, you're scaring me."

He turned to her, his expression softening for a split second. "I'm sorry, Emma. I didn't want it to be like this."

And then it happened—his body began to shift. His bones cracked and reshaped, his skin sprouted thick white fur, and within seconds, Owen was no longer a man but a towering white wolf. Emma's scream tore through the night as she stumbled backward, her legs giving out beneath her. The last thing she saw before darkness claimed her was Owen—no, the wolf—lunging toward her, his massive form blotting out the moon.