CHAPTER 3: SHADOWS IN THE DARK

The woods seemed to have a way of making you feel small. The trees stretched very high; their twisted branches reached the clouds like long skeletal fingers. The wind whistled through the shade, carrying scents of damp earth, decaying leaves, and something else that I couldn't quite understand but sent a shiver through my spine.

Ronan led the way, and just like a predator stalking its prey, his movement was smooth and quiet. I tried to keep up as best as I could, but he was always a step ahead of me no matter how hard I tried. It was frustrating.

"Try to Keep up," he said over his shoulder.

"I'm trying hard," I answered.

We had been running for what felt like an eternity. My muscles were burning, but I refused to let my weakness out. The scent of something absurd hung in the air, it was something that wasn't supposed to be in these woods, it was something dangerous. Fear gripped me as I tried to concentrate. Our eyes met, and he nodded. He smelled it too. He didn't seem scared, but I saw his eyes light up instantly like an animal who has spotted danger.

I heard a rustling sound in the bushes. It was low, a growl that set every nerve in my body on high alert.

"Get down," Ronan whispered.

And I did so, lowering myself onto the damp forest ground. I heard my heartbeat pounding in my ears.

A shadow-like figure moved through the trees. It was large and unfamiliar, it looked dangerous and determined to kill. Its claws were long and dirty, jaws hard and modified for killing. I could smell it from where I lay, it had the stench of dried blood. It wasn't human, and neither was it fully wolf. I lost my breath as I realized what I was seeing.

A rogue shifter.

Its hulky form prowled through the woods, searching and sniffing the air. I felt a twist in my stomach and for a moment I froze in fear. It was searching for something or someone. It was searching for me.

Beside me, Ronan shifted so swiftly that I barely witnessed his transition. One moment, he was crouched at my side and the next, he was on all fours, his fur was thick and dark and it blended effortlessly with the darkness. And unlike the rogue demon in front of us, his demeanor didn't depict murder, just survival. He let out a low warning growl and his silver eyes flashed dangerously.

The rogue turned its head toward us, snarling. Its distorted eyes were an unnatural shade of red, and its body was twisted and malformed. It had no control of its humanity. This wasn't just any rogue, it was a feral.

"Stay back," Ronan ordered. His voice was coarse and distorted by his wolf form.

But it was impossible for me to just lay there and do nothing. I felt the beast within me awakening, restless and eager. My blood burned as my vision sharpened, and before I could control myself, I shifted.

It was smoother this time, without much aches and hesitation. My body stretched and transformed until I was standing on four legs, and my senses became heightened. Everything was clearer now and more vivid. Every sound and scent crashed into me all at once. It was so much to handle but I had to concentrate if I ever wanted to be able to control them.

The feral attacked instantly with a great roar.

Ronan faced it head-on, the ground beneath me was shaken by the force of their collision. The clashing of teeth, the slashing of claws, and snarls filled the air. I didn't think before I acted.

I pounced at the feral and sunk my sharp teeth into its hind leg. It let out a painful howl and tried to throw me off by whipping around. But I was faster and I had a strong grip. My instincts guided me, my movements were natural, swift, and effortless.

Ronan capitalized on the distraction; he sank his fangs into the throat of the rogue. Instantly he let out a wet gurgle that echoed through the woods and then, it went still.

I moved back as my heart raced. The scent of blood in the air was thick. My fur bristled as I caught Ronan's gaze.

Ronan shifted back to his human form and rolled his shoulders as he exhaled. "That wasn't bad."

I also shifted and my body returned to its human form with a swiftness that was surprising to me. Dirt and sweat covered me, and my hands trembled. I wasn't certain if it was from exhaustion or fear.

"That thing was a feral," I said in a hoarse voice.

Ronan nodded in agreement. "And it won't be the last."

I swallowed hard. I had felt the hunger, the wild pull, the urge to devour, to hunt and I liked it. But it terrified me above anything else.

We arrived back at the cabin right before dawn. My limbs were heavy and my body felt so sore in ways I have never experienced before. I dropped onto the couch and my mind raced as I stared blankly at the ceiling.

"What could happen if I lost control, will become like that thing? "I asked quietly.

Ronan watched me carefully, leaning against the door frame. "You won't lose control."

I scoffed. "You don't know that, how can you be so sure?".

He walked toward me. "No, I don't. But I do know that you are different from that thing in the woods."

I said "Not yet " and I looked away.

The silence stretched for a while and then he finally spoke with a softer voice. "I will never let that happen."

Surprised by the sincerity of his tone, I turned to face him. There was something calm about Ronan, despite his rough edges and cold demeanor, it was something solid. And suddenly for the first time since the beginning of this nightmare, I felt safe. But safety was a fairy tale. At least I knew that now, because something was out there in the dark, still hunting me.

And it will never stop until it finds me.