Chapter 1: A huge gray creature 

“And where in the world do you think you're going?” Ashley barked from the couch.

She was only twelve, yet she spoke like she owned the house.

Kaliyah paused at the door and glanced back at her. “I'll be back soon,” she said quietly. “I just need some air.”

Ashley shrugged, kicking her feet onto the couch. “You better be home before Mom gets back or she'll have your neck.”

A shiver ran down Kaliyah's spine. That wasn't an ordinary threat.

The night air was cold, enveloping Kaliyah's body as she walked slowly down the dimly lit street.

The moon was crescent and it cast a pale glow on the sidewalks. Her breath came out in soft puffs. She wrapped her arms tight around her body to fight off the chill.

She didn’t know why she was out so late, just that she needed to get away, to escape the house, the silence, the lies that clung to the walls like dirt.

And to top it all, that feeling was here again. Her body felt hot, somewhat painful. For the past year she's dealt with this strange feeling.

Every now and then, her body would hurt and burn and she didn't know why. She would soak herself in water to deal with the pain.

Kate never even allowed her go to the hospital, she just kept giving her some medicine, which had never made her feel better.

She felt so lost, so confused, like she didn't even know who she was. Kate, her foster mom, made her life miserable.

Kate had a son, Don. The two of them were devils. With Don always trying to force himself on her, Kaliyah lost the will to live sometimes.

One time, Kate put chili in Kaliyah's face wash just because she complained about Don's behavior.

And now, this feeling was here again. This time it felt worse. It spread through her body like piercing needles laced with acid. It felt like her skin was going to explode.

She had rushed out of the house. Maybe a walk in the cool breeze would make her feel better.

Being alone on the streets at night wasn’t smart, but right now, it was better than being home.

And she wasn't entirely wrong. She did feel a bit relieved. She thought to walk for a while, then take a turn back home.

Her body ached again, a fresh surge of heat racing down her spine. She stumbled back, gripping a lamppost for support.

That was when she heard a noise.

People shouting.

Growling.

Her steps slowed as her ears caught the sharp edge of panic in the voices up ahead.

The further she walked, the louder the noise became... screams, gasps, and then the dull thud of something heavy hitting the ground. She turned a corner, and that’s when she saw them.

Dozens of people gathered in a half-circle near the town square. Some held sticks, others hurled rocks, and many shouted over one another.

And in the center of it all, a beast.

Kaliyah froze.

It was enormous, easily towering over any man, with thick gray fur that shimmered under the moonlight. Its limbs were long, powerful, tipped with claws that scraped against the pavement.

A low, scary growl rumbled from its throat, its fangs bared as it tried to back away from the growing crowd.

It wasn't attacking them, but it wasn't docile either.

“Bring the silver!” someone shouted.

“Kill it before it escapes!”

“Look at its eyes... it’s one of them!”

Kaliyah’s heart raced in her chest. What the hell is that? A werewolf. A real, living, snarling werewolf.

She couldn’t move, couldn’t think. She’d heard the stories, everyone had. Creatures that lived in the shadows, beasts with bloodlust and no mercy.

To think that many years ago, werewolves lived among humans like it was a normal thing was crazy.

The werewolf twisted, snarling at someone who’d gotten too close, its paw bleeding where someone must’ve struck it. And then it looked at her.

Its icy, piercing blue eyes locked on hers across the crowd. For a moment, everything else fell away. The shouting, the chaos, the fear, all faded. All she could see were those eyes.

She stumbled back a step. The werewolf took one forward. No no no way.

As if some primal instinct kicked in, Kaliyah turned and ran.

She didn’t stop to think. Her legs moved on their own, carrying her away from the square, away from the beast with the eyes that stared intensely at her.

She ran toward the forest. It was dense, dark, and dangerous. But it was the only place she could go. That forest led to the werewolf territory.

Branches whipped at her face as she pushed through the trees, the scent of earth and moss thick in the air.

She could hear it behind her, heavy paws crashing against the ground, leaves and twigs snapping under its weight. It was following her.

But not at full speed.

It could’ve caught up to her already, she knew it. Something that massive should have closed the distance within seconds. But it didn’t, its pace was steady and deliberate. Like it was chasing her, but not really trying to hunt her.

Why?

Her mind raced with questions she didn’t have the breath to ask. Why her? Why now?

She tripped on a twig, causing her balance to falter, but she didn't fall down. The adrenaline was at its peak, she was being chased by something triple her size.

Something that could crush her effortlessly. Her heartbeat was the only thing she could hear at the moment. They were festive drums.

She didn’t dare look back. The town lights faded, swallowed by the forest’s looming darkness. And somewhere behind her, the shouting stopped.

The forest was a border between the human and werewolf territory, and since the wolf was in there now, the crowd gave up. No one followed, no one crossed into the forest.

No one even noticed the girl who was being chased by the beast. And now, she was practically in its territory.

Alone, with the werewolf, a huge gray creature.