The stranger in the moonlight

The silence after the mysterious woman disappeared was deafening. Mia’s heart pounded in her chest, adrenaline still rushing through her veins. She glanced over at Eli and Luke, both of them as stunned as she was. Her mind raced with questions: Who was that woman? What had she done to the rogue? And what did she mean when she said Mia was in more danger than she knew?

Eli broke the silence first, his voice thick with disbelief. “I’ve never seen anything like that. Not in all my years.”

Luke was still staring at the spot where the woman had stood, his expression dark. “She wasn’t just some random witch or supernatural passing through. That kind of power… it’s ancient.”

Mia swallowed hard, her pulse slowing but not by much. “Who do you think she is?”

Eli shook his head, his brows furrowed in thought. “I don’t know, but whoever she is, she just saved your life.”

Luke crossed his arms, his green eyes filled with suspicion. “We can’t trust her, though. She might have her own agenda. The fact that she appeared right when the rogue attacked isn’t a coincidence.”

Mia wanted to protest, but deep down, she knew Luke had a point. Trusting strangers in this world wasn’t exactly safe, even if they did save your life. But the woman’s words echoed in her mind. You’re in more danger than you know.

“What if she’s right?” Mia asked softly. “What if I’m in more danger than even we realize?”

Eli’s expression grew more serious. “We need to figure out what’s really going on here. If the rogues are after you for a reason, we need to find out why. And now, we have to add this mysterious woman into the mix. We’re fighting a battle on multiple fronts.”

Mia took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She was exhausted from the fight, physically and emotionally, but she couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something even worse was coming. The rogue attack, the cryptic woman—it felt like the calm before a storm.

“I’m not going to hide from this anymore,” she said quietly, surprising even herself. “Whatever this is, whatever they want from me, I need to know.”

Luke’s gaze softened as he walked over to her. “You’re braver than most people I’ve met, you know that?”

Mia smiled faintly, though the weight of everything still pressed heavily on her chest. “Bravery or stupidity—hard to tell the difference sometimes.”

Eli chuckled, but the laughter faded quickly. “We’ll get to the bottom of this. I promise.”

The following morning, the town of Silver Hollow felt eerily quiet. Mia couldn’t shake the sense that the town was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen. The diner was almost empty, the usual morning buzz of conversation replaced by a low, nervous murmur. People glanced out the windows more often, as if expecting to see something lurking in the trees.

Mia sat in her usual booth, nursing a cup of coffee, her mind still racing. Luke had stayed behind to guard the garage, while Eli was out trying to gather more information from the other packs. They’d agreed it was best for Mia to stay in town where it was busier, hoping the public space might deter any rogue attacks.

But as Mia stared out the window, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the town wasn’t as safe as it seemed.

Her phone buzzed, pulling her out of her thoughts. It was a text from Eli.

Got some intel. Meet me at the edge of the forest near the old quarry in an hour. Be careful.

Mia’s stomach twisted with nerves. Meeting at the edge of the forest was far from comforting, especially after last night’s attack, but she trusted Eli. He wouldn’t call her out there unless it was important.

She paid for her coffee and slipped out of the diner, glancing around as she walked through the streets. The quiet still lingered, and it felt like everyone was watching her, though no one was paying her any real attention. It was just paranoia, she told herself. The rogue attack had shaken her up, that was all.

The closer she got to the edge of town, the more her anxiety spiked. The trees loomed ahead, casting long shadows in the late morning light. She hadn’t realized just how ominous the forest could look until now. The dark canopy swallowed the sky, and every rustle of leaves made her jump.

As she reached the old quarry, she spotted Eli leaning against a tree, his face grim. He looked up when he saw her, his eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger before he spoke.

“We’ve got a problem,” he said, his voice low.

Mia’s heart sank. “What kind of problem?”

Eli gestured for her to follow him as they moved deeper into the woods. “I’ve been in contact with other packs, trying to figure out if they’ve had any run-ins with these rogues. Turns out, the rogues aren’t just attacking here. They’re targeting specific towns, and every one of those towns has something in common.”

Mia’s stomach churned as she followed him. “What’s that?”

Eli stopped in a small clearing, turning to face her. His expression was grim. “They all had a human girl in town—one with an unknown lineage. And in every case, that girl was targeted for something… special.”

Mia’s breath caught in her throat. “Are you saying I’m like those other girls?”

Eli nodded, his face tight with concern. “It’s more than just a theory now. Whatever these rogues are after, it has to do with your bloodline. The other girls—they were descendants of something ancient, something powerful. The rogues think you are, too.”

Mia’s mind raced, trying to process what Eli was saying. “But I don’t know anything about my bloodline. My parents were normal people, nothing special.”

Eli’s jaw clenched. “Maybe they didn’t know. Maybe it’s something that’s been buried for generations. But these rogues—they’re not just guessing. They know something, and they’re after you because of it.”

Mia felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. This was too much, too fast. First, she was dealing with werewolves and rogues, and now she was being told she had some kind of ancient power running through her veins?

“I don’t even know what to say,” she whispered, shaking her head. “This can’t be real.”

Eli stepped closer, his eyes softening. “I know it’s overwhelming. But we’re going to figure this out. We’ll find out what they want from you, and we’ll protect you.”

Mia nodded, though her mind was still spinning. She wanted to believe Eli, but how could she? She was being hunted, and she didn’t even know why.

As they stood in the clearing, a soft breeze rustled the leaves, and Mia felt a strange, tingling sensation on the back of her neck. She turned slowly, her eyes scanning the trees. Something felt off, like they were being watched.

“Eli,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Eli’s eyes narrowed as he sensed it too. He reached for her arm, pulling her behind him as his body tensed, ready to shift.

A figure stepped out from the shadows, and Mia’s heart skipped a beat.

It was the woman from the night before.

Her long white hair flowed like silk, and her eyes gleamed with that same ethereal light. But this time, there was no mistaking the power radiating off her.

“You’re not safe here,” the woman said, her voice calm but urgent. “They’re closer than you think.”

Eli growled, his posture defensive. “Who are you? What do you want with her?”

The woman’s gaze softened as she looked at Mia. “I’m not your enemy. But if you don’t leave now, you won’t make it out of this forest alive.”

Before Mia could ask what she meant, a deafening howl echoed through the trees, sending a chill down her spine. The air grew thick with tension, and Mia could sense the danger closing in around them.

Eli shifted in an instant, his massive wolf form standing between Mia and the threat. The mysterious woman didn’t flinch, her glowing eyes locked on Mia.

“You need to come with me,” she said, her voice cutting through the chaos. “I can help you, but only if you trust me.”

Mia hesitated, torn between staying with Eli and following the woman. The rogue’s howl grew louder, and the sound of snarling wolves filled the air.

“We don’t have time!” the woman urged.

Eli let out a deep growl, his eyes locking with Mia’s, and in that moment, she knew he was telling her to go.

With her heart pounding in her chest, Mia made her choice. She stepped toward the woman, fear and uncertainty swirling inside her.

The woman’s eyes softened, and she reached out her hand. “Come with me, Mia. I’ll keep you safe.”

Mia took the woman’s hand, and as soon as their skin touched, a rush of warmth spread through her. The world around them blurred, and before Mia could comprehend what was happening, they vanished from the forest, leaving Eli behind to face the approaching rogues alone.

Something crazy had just begun.