SECRETS IN THE WOODS

Elora followed Joel, her mind a whirlwind of confusion and fear. His revelation replayed in her head like a broken record. I’m one of them. She wanted to demand answers, to make him explain everything, but the urgency in his movements kept her silent.

They reached an old cabin hidden deep within the woods, its wooden frame weathered and leaning slightly to one side. Joel pushed the door open and ushered her inside. The room smelled of damp wood and earth, the faint glow of moonlight streaming through a crack in the roof.

“Stay here,” Joel said, his tone leaving no room for argument. He disappeared into another room, leaving Elora standing in the dimly lit space, her arms wrapped tightly around herself.

Her thoughts raced. What had she gotten herself into? One moment, she was out for a midnight walk, and the next, she was running for her life with a guy who claimed to be part of some supernatural world she didn’t even know existed.

Joel returned moments later with a first aid kit. He sat on the edge of a tattered couch and began tending to his wound.

“Are you just going to ignore what you said out there?” Elora asked, breaking the silence.

Joel didn’t look up. “I told you, you’re not ready for the truth.”

Elora stepped closer, her fear giving way to frustration. “You don’t get to decide what I’m ready for! You dragged me into this—whatever this is—so start talking.”

Joel glanced at her, his piercing blue eyes shadowed with something she couldn’t quite place. “Fine,” he said after a moment, his voice quiet. “But you’re not going to like it.”

He gestured for her to sit, and she reluctantly perched on the edge of a wooden chair. Joel leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees.

“You’ve heard the stories about werewolves, right?” he began.

Elora nodded. “You mean the ones where people turn into wolves during a full moon and eat villagers? Yeah, I’ve seen the movies.”

Joel gave a faint smile. “It’s not quite like that. The movies get some things right, but most of it is wrong. Werewolves don’t need a full moon to shift, and we don’t lose control—not completely, anyway.”

“We?” Elora echoed, her stomach twisting.

Joel nodded. “I wasn’t lying when I said I’m one of them. I was born this way. My family’s bloodline has always been tied to the wolves.”

Elora stared at him, searching for any hint of deception, but his expression was calm and steady.

“So, what does that mean?” she asked cautiously.

“It means I live in two worlds,” Joel said. “The human world and the wolf world. And right now, those worlds are colliding in ways they shouldn’t be.”

Elora frowned. “The thing we saw in the woods—was it like you?”

Joel shook his head. “No. That was a rogue. A wolf who’s lost their way. Rogues are dangerous, unpredictable. They don’t follow any rules.”

“Rules?” Elora repeated. “There are rules for this?”

Joel sighed. “It’s complicated. But yes, there are rules. Most of us live in packs, with a hierarchy to keep order. Rogues are outcasts, wolves who reject the packs—or are cast out for breaking the rules. They’re a threat to everyone.”

Elora tried to wrap her head around what he was saying. It sounded like something out of a fantasy novel, but the memory of the beast in the woods was all too real.

“Why was it after me?” she asked, her voice trembling.

Joel hesitated. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “But it’s not a coincidence that it showed up tonight, right where you were.”

A chill ran through Elora. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying there’s something about you, Elora,” Joel said, his gaze steady. “Something that drew it to you. And until we figure out what that is, you’re not safe.”

Elora’s breath caught. She wanted to deny it, to say he was wrong, but deep down, she knew there was something different about her. The dreams, the pull toward the forest—none of it was normal.

“What do we do now?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Joel stood, his movements deliberate despite his injury. “We stay hidden for now. I’ll keep watch tonight. Tomorrow, we start looking for answers.”

Elora nodded, though fear gnawed at her. She had no idea what was coming, but one thing was certain—her life was no longer her own.