Chapter 4: Digging for Trouble

(Chloe’s POV)

The door to the diner closed behind Lucian with a soft jingle, but it felt more like he’d slammed a hundred-pound weight onto my chest and walked out with a final warning that still lingered in the air. I stared at my half-finished coffee, trying to process what just happened. My mind was racing, but my body? Yeah, my body was doing that thing where it totally ignored logic and decided to respond to Lucian’s smoldering eyes, low voice, and annoyingly magnetic aura with reckless enthusiasm.

"Get it together, Chloe," I muttered under my breath, picking up my coffee cup just to give my hands something to do. "You can’t be drooling over a guy who walks into diners and starts talking about 'danger' like it’s some sexy game of truth or dare."

But was it sexy?

Ugh, yes. Of course, it was. The man had the kind of brooding intensity that would make a nun rethink her vows. And that voice—like whiskey over gravel—was doing things to my brain that made logical thought almost impossible.

I took a long sip of my now lukewarm coffee, trying to force my mind back on track. What was it he’d said? This town isn’t what you think it is. No shit, Sherlock. Between the creepy vibes, the weirdly silent locals, and the graffiti on the welcome sign, I could’ve guessed that much.

But there was more to it. Something he wasn’t saying. Wolves. He’d mentioned wolves—among other things. I tapped my pen against the edge of my notebook, my mind buzzing with questions. What did he mean by that? Was it just some cryptic small-town nonsense meant to scare off curious journalists, or was there something real lurking in these woods?

I glanced out the window at the dark, misty street. The town looked different now, more shadowy, like it was hiding something just out of sight. Something big. The rational part of my brain—the part that had spent years digging through facts and dismissing urban legends—was already starting to doubt itself. But the part of me that had come here looking for a story? Yeah, she was practically jumping out of her seat, ready to run into the woods yelling, "Come out, come out, wherever you are!"

Smart? No. But was I ever one to back away from a mystery? Also no.

As if on cue, the waitress ambled back over to my booth, refilling my cup with a shrug. She didn’t say anything, just popped her gum, staring at me like I was an alien who’d asked for extra tentacles with my fries. I considered asking her if this kind of thing happened often—a tall, dark, and brooding local swooping in with ominous warnings about wolves—but I doubted she’d be much help.

Instead, I smiled politely. "Busy night?"

She blinked at me, her expression barely shifting as she glanced around the empty diner. “Yep.”

I nodded, doing my best to keep a straight face. "Yeah, I can see that. Must be tough."

She shrugged, clearly not interested in continuing the conversation, and shuffled back to her perch near the counter. I watched her go, shaking my head slightly. The people here were all so... closed off. Like they knew something I didn’t and had all agreed to keep it a secret. Small-town solidarity, I guess. Except, instead of being cute and charming, it felt more like I was being slowly smothered by the world’s creepiest blanket of silence.

Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this than just weird small-town vibes. Lucian’s warning—it hadn’t been vague. He wasn’t just some local telling me to mind my own business. He’d seemed... concerned. Like he actually believed I was in danger.

The problem was, I didn’t know if that made me want to dig deeper or run for the hills.

Spoiler alert: running for the hills wasn’t in my nature.

I flipped open my notebook and jotted down a few thoughts: Lucian Blackwood—knows something. Tied to the animal attacks? Wolves? What’s his deal?

It wasn’t much, but it was a start. And honestly, his deal was at the top of my list of things to figure out. Not just because he was clearly at the center of whatever was going on here, but because, well... I was interested. In more than one way. Unfortunately, when I said interested, I didn’t just mean journalistically.

Focus, Chloe, I scolded myself. This is why you’re single.

I snapped my notebook shut and slid out of the booth, leaving a few bills on the table before heading for the door. The night outside had gotten colder, the mist thickening into something that felt almost solid as I stepped onto the sidewalk. I shivered, pulling my jacket tighter around me as I started walking back toward the inn.

The streets were deserted, save for a few dim lights shining from the windows of the old buildings. The sound of my boots echoed on the cobblestones, loud in the eerie silence. A breeze blew through the streets, carrying with it the scent of wet leaves and something else—something wild, earthy.

I glanced toward the edge of town, where the dark line of the forest loomed just beyond the last row of houses. I couldn’t see much through the mist, but I knew the trees were there, standing tall and silent, like sentinels guarding the secrets that lay beyond.

Why does it always have to be a creepy forest? I thought to myself. Couldn’t this be one of those cases where the town’s mystery revolves around a bakery or a flower shop?

I picked up my pace, my mind racing again. Lucian had said I was in danger. He’d implied there was more going on here than just animal attacks. And now, standing on this empty street with the mist swirling around me, I had the distinct feeling that he wasn’t wrong.

Something was watching me. I couldn’t see it, couldn’t hear it, but I could feel it.

I stopped walking and turned, scanning the dark street behind me. Nothing. Just empty sidewalks and fog. But the feeling didn’t go away. In fact, it only got stronger. My pulse quickened, and I clenched my hands into fists, as if I was going to punch a ghost or something.

“Really, Chloe?” I muttered under my breath. “Punching fog is your plan?”

I took a deep breath, willing my brain to calm down. There was nothing there. Just my overactive imagination working overtime thanks to Lucian’s creepy warning. I mean, sure, the whole situation screamed run, but I wasn’t about to let a little paranoia get the better of me.

At least, that’s what I told myself as I started walking again—this time faster.

By the time I reached the Blackthorn Inn, my nerves had settled, though the lingering sense of being watched hadn’t entirely gone away. I pushed open the door to the inn, and the musty, old-wood smell hit me like a brick wall. The lobby was empty, of course. The woman behind the desk from earlier had probably gone off to her crypt to sleep, or wherever innkeepers in creepy towns went after dark.

I climbed the creaky stairs to my room, thankful for the dim light that barely illuminated the long hallway. Room 4 was at the end, its door old and splintered but sturdy enough. I unlocked it, stepped inside, and locked it behind me, leaning against the door with a heavy sigh.

"Okay, Chloe. You survived the first day in Creepsville," I muttered, tossing my bag onto the bed. "And now, all you have to do is... survive the night."

I walked over to the window, pulling back the heavy curtains to take one last look at the town below. The mist was even thicker now, swirling like a living thing around the base of the trees. The forest beyond was completely hidden, swallowed by the night.

For a moment, I just stood there, staring into the darkness. And then, just for a split second, I thought I saw something. A figure, standing at the edge of the forest, just beyond the line of houses.

It was too far away to see clearly, but I knew—I knew—that someone was watching me.

"Great," I muttered, yanking the curtains closed. "Now I’m seeing things."

I turned away from the window, shaking my head. Tomorrow, I’d go back to the files. I’d dig deeper, talk to more locals, and figure out what the hell was going on in this town. Because whatever it was, it was bigger than I’d originally thought. And Lucian? He was definitely hiding something.

But for tonight, I just needed sleep. And maybe a weapon. Preferably one that worked against werewolves. You know, just in case.