Into the woods

Mia stared at the door after Eli and Jace had left the tavern, her heart pounding in her chest. The tension in the air had been suffocating, and now that they were gone, it only left her with more questions. What kind of attack had they been talking about? Why did everyone in this town act like there were secrets lurking in every shadow?

Stay out of the forest, Eli had warned her. It’s not safe.

But the more people told her to stay away, the more her curiosity burned. Something was happening in Silver Hollow—something everyone else seemed to know but refused to share with her. It was maddening, and Mia had never been the type to back down from a mystery, especially one that involved her new home.

With a glance around the empty tavern, she grabbed her jacket from the back of the chair and strode out the door. The streets were as eerily quiet as they’d been earlier, and the autumn breeze tugged at her hair as she made her way toward the forest that bordered the town. If there were answers to be found, they were out there, not hiding behind the cryptic warnings of men like Eli and Jace.

The sun was starting its descent, casting long shadows over the ground. The forest loomed just ahead, dark and dense, its towering trees seemingly pressing in on themselves. Mia paused at the edge of the tree line, her instincts screaming at her to turn back.

This is a bad idea, a voice inside her whispered. But she pushed it aside, taking a deep breath before stepping into the shadows of the trees.

The air changed immediately. The sounds of the town faded, replaced by the rustling of leaves and the distant creaks of tree branches. Mia’s boots crunched over the dirt path, each step deliberate as she ventured deeper into the forest. The scent of pine and damp earth surrounded her, and the further she walked, the more she felt like she was stepping into another world.

Her senses were on high alert, every noise making her pulse quicken. She kept moving, her eyes scanning the dense underbrush and towering trunks for any sign of something out of place. The forest was thicker than she’d expected, and it was easy to see how someone could get lost out here.

Then, a sound—a rustle in the bushes to her left.

Mia froze, her breath catching in her throat. Her heart pounded as she slowly turned her head toward the sound, half-expecting to see some wild animal lurking in the shadows. But the bushes only swayed slightly before stilling again. Nothing appeared.

She exhaled, trying to steady herself. Calm down, it’s just the wind.

But her gut told her otherwise. Something was out here with her. She could feel it.

She continued down the path, her pace quickening as the uneasy feeling grew. Every instinct screamed at her to leave, but she pushed forward, determined to find out what Eli and Jace were so worried about. Maybe it was just wolves. That could explain the howling she’d heard last night. But something about the way they’d spoken, the tension in their voices—it felt like more than that.

After walking for what felt like hours, Mia reached a clearing. The trees opened up to reveal a wide, open space bathed in the dim light of the setting sun. In the center of the clearing, she spotted something unusual—a large, jagged rock formation, standing tall like a monument. It seemed out of place, as if the forest had grown around it rather than the other way around.

She approached it cautiously, her eyes narrowing as she took in the strange markings etched into the stone. They looked old, ancient even, and nothing like anything she’d ever seen before. Symbols, spirals, and lines that seemed to tell a story she couldn’t decipher.

But it wasn’t just the stone that made her heart race. A cold, sinking feeling swept over her as she realized there was something else here. The ground around the stone was disturbed, as though something had been dragged through the dirt. Deep claw marks marred the earth, and the air smelled faintly of copper—blood.

Mia’s stomach twisted. This is bad.

She crouched down, her fingers brushing the edges of the claw marks, her mind racing. Whatever had caused this wasn’t human, and it wasn’t small. Her thoughts flashed back to the attack Jace had mentioned. Was this where it had happened? Had someone been dragged into the woods by… something?

A low growl echoed through the clearing, freezing her in place.

Her heart leapt into her throat as she slowly turned her head toward the sound. Her breath caught as she saw the source of the noise—two glowing eyes staring at her from the shadows between the trees.

Mia stumbled back, her mind racing. It was too big to be a wolf. Too big, too menacing. She could hear its growls rumbling in its chest, the sound vibrating through the air like a threat.

She stood frozen, her eyes locked with the creature’s as it slowly stepped into the clearing. It was massive—muscles rippling beneath dark fur, claws digging into the ground with every step. It wasn’t just a wolf. It was something more—something unnatural.

Lycanthropy, she thought, the word flashing through her mind like lightning. She’d read about it in stories, dismissed it as folklore. But this creature, this thing standing before her—it was real. And it was looking at her like she was prey.

For a split second, Mia considered running, but she knew better. There was no outrunning something like this. Her pulse thundered in her ears as she took a slow step back, her eyes never leaving the creature’s. Maybe, just maybe, if she moved carefully enough, she could slip back into the trees and escape before it decided to attack.

But then, before she could take another step, another figure burst into the clearing. This one was human—at least, mostly human. His movements were fast, fluid, and his presence filled the air with something primal and dangerous.

It was Jace.

Without a word, Jace launched himself at the creature, his body shifting mid-leap. Mia gasped, stumbling backward as she watched his form change in an instant, his human features replaced by something monstrous. His clothes tore away as his muscles expanded, his face elongating into a snout, sharp teeth bared in a vicious snarl. His transformation was terrifying and awe-inspiring all at once.

Within seconds, two werewolves stood before her, locked in a battle of growls, claws, and brute strength. Jace’s larger form slammed into the other wolf with incredible force, knocking it back into the trees with a crash. The sound of teeth snapping and claws raking against fur filled the air, and Mia watched in horror and fascination as they fought with an intensity that left no room for mercy.

The fight didn’t last long. Jace was stronger, faster, and more ruthless. He had the other wolf pinned within moments, his massive jaws closing around its throat. The growling stopped, replaced by a sharp, sickening crack. The body of the other wolf went limp.

Mia’s heart pounded in her chest as she watched Jace release the now-dead wolf, his chest heaving as he stood over it, panting heavily. His fur was matted with blood, both his and the other creature’s. But as he stood there, victorious, his form began to shift back. Fur receded, bones snapped and reformed, and within moments, Jace was human again—mostly.

He stood naked, his skin glistening with sweat and blood, his dark eyes burning with a mix of fury and something else—something wild and untamed.

“Mia,” he said, his voice rough and strained, as if the words were difficult to form. “What are you doing here?”

Mia’s mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out. She was too stunned to speak, too shocked by what she had just witnessed. The only thing her mind could focus on was the fact that Jace had just turned into a werewolf. A real, actual werewolf.

“Go back to town,” Jace growled, his voice still laced with that animalistic edge. “Now.”

Mia shook her head, finally finding her voice. “I—I can’t just leave. What the hell is going on? What are you?”

Jace’s jaw tightened, his expression hardening. “This isn’t your business, Mia. You shouldn’t have come out here.”

Her frustration flared. “You can’t just say that! I’ve been in this town for two days and already there’s been a mysterious attack, people are acting like they’re hiding something, and now you—” She gestured wildly to him, her voice rising. “—you’re a werewolf!”

Jace stepped closer, his dark eyes flashing. “Yes, I am. And you’re in danger because of it.”

Mia’s heart raced, but she stood her ground. “Tell me the truth, Jace. What’s going on in this town? What attacked those people? Was it you?”

Jace’s expression softened for just a moment, and he shook his head. “No, it wasn’t me. It was one of them. A rogue.”

“A rogue?” Mia echoed, her confusion growing.

Jace sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Look, I don’t have time to explain everything right now, but there are werewolves in this town. Not just me. Eli, Luke—hell, most of the people you’ve met? They’re all part of the pack. But there are others, rogues, who don’t follow our rules. They’re dangerous, and they’re attacking people. That’s why you need to stay away from the forest.”

Mia’s mind spun as she processed his words. Werewolves. Packs. Rogues. It sounded insane, but after what she’d just witnessed, how could she deny it?

“Why didn’t you just tell me?” she asked, her voice softer now.

“Because we’re trying to protect you,” Jace said, his tone heavy with frustration. “This isn’t your fight, Mia.”

Mia stared at him, her breath catching as she realized the truth. “But it is now, isn’t it?”

Jace didn’t answer, but the look in his eyes told her everything she needed to know. She was already caught in the middle of something far bigger than she could have imagined. And there was no turning back now.