Fangs and Secrets

Kira’s heart raced as she glanced over her shoulder, the moonlight casting eerie shadows on the forest floor. She clutched her newborn daughter tightly, praying the pack wouldn’t find them. Every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs sent waves of fear coursing through her.

The baby’s white hair glowed in the darkness, a stark reminder of the secret Kira would have to protect at all costs. She tightened her grip on Astrid, whispering soothing words to calm her own nerves as much as the baby’s.

Suddenly, a distant howl pierced the night, freezing her in place. Kira held her breath, waiting for the sounds of pursuit, but only silence followed. She exhaled slowly and continued on, determined to keep moving.

Years later , a howl echoed faintly in Astrid’s dreams, pulling her from sleep. She awoke with a start, staring at her reflection in the mirror opposite her bed.

Her white hair cascaded down her shoulders, shimmering in the early morning light. She sighed, brushing it away from her eyes and reached for the wig on her nightstand.

Pulling the dark wig over her hair, she made sure it was secure before heading downstairs.

“Mom, why do I have to take these pills every day?” Astrid asked, her fingers fidgeting with the small, white bottle.

Kira’s smile faltered for a moment before she regained her composure. “It’s for your health, sweetheart,” she replied, her voice steady but her eyes betraying a flicker of guilt.

Astrid noticed the hesitation. “Are you sure there’s nothing else? You always seem so nervous about it.”

Kira forced a laugh, though it sounded hollow. “I’m just a worried mother, that’s all. Now, finish your breakfast. You don’t want to be late for work.”

Astrid nodded, but the uneasy feeling lingered. She couldn’t shake the sense that there was more to her mother’s words, more to the pills, more to her life than she had ever imagined.

As Astrid stepped outside, the crisp morning air greeted her. She adjusted the wig one last time, making sure it was perfectly in place.

She had worn it for as long as she could remember, a daily reminder of the secret she didn’t fully understand. But today felt different.

The question she had asked her mother nagged at her, and the flicker of guilt she saw in Kira’s eyes was hard to forget.

Suddenly, a commotion broke out down the street. Astrid’s curiosity piqued, and she quickened her pace to see what was happening.

Arriving at the scene, Astrid saw a group of people gathered around a young man lying on the ground, clutching his leg in pain. It looked like he had been attacked by a stray dog.

Without hesitation, Astrid rushed forward to help. She knelt beside the injured man, her instincts taking over. “Are you okay? Can you tell me where it hurts?”

The man winced in pain but managed to nod. “My leg. It feels like it’s on fire.”

Astrid’s heart raced as she assessed the wound. She could see deep claw marks, oozing with blood. It was clear that this was no ordinary dog attack.

As she tried to administer first aid, Astrid noticed something strange. The man’s eyes, once a deep shade of brown, now glowed with an unnatural glowing blue. It was a color she had only seen once before – in the mirror.

“What’s happening to me?” the man gasped, his voice tinged with panic.

Astrid’s mind raced with possibilities. Could it be…?

Just then, another howl echoed in the distance, sending shivers down Astrid’s spine. She glanced around and noticed that the crowd’s attention was momentarily drawn to the source of the sound.

Seizing the opportunity, Astrid placed her hand over the man's wound, her fingers tingling unexpectedly. She closed her eyes, trying to focus on calming the man’s pain.

To her astonishment, a soft golden glow surrounded her hand. She watched in disbelief as the claw marks on his leg began to fade, the skin knitting back together before her eyes.

Slowly, the man’s pained expression softened, replaced by a sense of relief. The wound healed completely, leaving no trace of the attack behind. Astrid withdrew her hand, her heart pounding with exhilaration and confusion.

The man sat up, disbelief written all over his face. “I don’t understand... How did you do that?”

Astrid shook her head, equally bewildered. “I... I don’t know. It just happened.”

Before she could say more, she heard the distant sound of sirens. “You need to get out of here before the authorities arrive,” she urged.

The man nodded, still in shock. “Thank you. I don’t know how to repay you.”

“Just go,” Astrid insisted, helping him to his feet. She watched as he limped away, blending into the bustling morning crowd.

As the crowd dispersed, Astrid quickly made her way to her part-time job at a local bookstore, her mind racing with questions. What had she just done? And why did she feel such a strong connection to that man?

Throughout her shift, Astrid struggled to focus on her tasks, the morning's events replaying in her mind. When her shift ended, she headed straight home, her unease growing with each step.

When she reached home, she found her mother in the kitchen, as usual. Kira looked up, concern etching her features. “Astrid, is everything alright? You look pale.”

Astrid took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. “Mom, something weird happened today. I... I helped someone, and I think I did something impossible.”

Kira’s face paled. “What do you mean?”

Astrid hesitated, not sure how much to reveal. “A man was hurt, really badly, and when I touched him, he got better. Like, completely healed. I don’t know how to explain it.”

Kira’s eyes widened with fear and recognition, but she quickly masked her expression. “That sounds incredible, sweetheart. Maybe he wasn’t as hurt as you thought?”

Astrid frowned, sensing her mother was hiding something. “No, Mom. It was real. I felt something... inside me. Like a power I’ve never felt before.”Kira forced a smile. “It’s been a long day. Why don’t you rest for now? We can talk more about this later.”

Astrid nodded reluctantly, feeling a mixture of frustration and confusion. She headed to her room, the events of the day swirling in her mind. She knew her mother was hiding something, and she was determined to uncover the truth.

As she lay in bed that night, Astrid couldn’t shake the feeling that her life was about to change in ways she couldn’t yet comprehend. And deep down, she felt an undeniable connection to the world she had only just begun to glimpse.

Just as she began to drift off, her phone buzzed on the nightstand. Groggily, she reached for it and saw an unknown number. Hesitating for a moment, she answered.

“Astrid?” The voice on the other end was barely a whisper, but she recognized it immediately. It was the man she had healed earlier that day –Kellan.

“I don’t know who you are or what you did to me, but we need to talk. Now.”

Astrid's heart pounded. “How did you get my number?”

“I followed you,” he said, his voice urgent. “Please. I think we’re in danger.” The line went dead.

Astrid stared at the phone, her mind racing. What had she gotten herself into?