Chapter 1: The Lamb For This Night

The moon was very bright, Steph noted as she made her way to the stream. The forest was strangely quiet as the wind blew slowly. 

She whistled as she made her way, pushing the branches of the large trees away with her palm. It's been a while since she went swimming in the river. Her wolf growled quietly and she smiled. 

It could smell the waters, Werewolves were known for their strong sense of smell. The town was quiet, everyone was still scared from the killings that had been happening in the land. 

There'd always been the death of a wolf every full moon in the last six months. No one knew the cause of their deaths other than the fact that it had been the work of a wolf. 

It was definitely a wolf from a different pack, wolves didn't kill in their packs, and the killings had stopped for a while since the security had heightened. The Alpha had commanded watches doubled and watchers increased. 

Her wolf growled again and she stifled a shout as she came in front of the river, it looked still, and she was grateful for the increased watch... She could swim and ease the heat her wolf had bottled up. 

She began to undress hurriedly as her wolf started to peep. She could feel her nails growing out into claws as she fumbled with the button on her shirt.

"Calm down, Stephanie," she cooed to her wolf.

She was barely out of her shirt when her wolf came out, ripping her skirts into little pieces. She huffed as she stepped into the river. The cold water washed over her and she went under the water, her fur soaked in the water as she moved in the water. Her wolf was pleased. 

It was a thing for her to go swimming every month, she'd been unable to go for five months due to the fear of the masked wolf that had been killing pack members. 

Her mind link tapped open as her mother connected to her. 

"Where the heck are you?" Her voice thundered in Steph's head and Steph chuckled, imagining her present position. Hands on her hips and chest pushed out.

"At the river," she replied through the link.

She picked a gasp as her mother's heartbeat pace increased.

"It's risky, why are you out there?" 

Her wolf shook violently shaking the water from its fur, Steph beamed in delight, happy her wolf was finally getting what it had always wanted. 

She wasn't scared, she was one of the strongest females in the pack. She was sure she could handle whatever came her way.

"Steph....?" Her mum reached out through the mind link again. 

Realising the action of her wolf had shut the mind link, she tried to stop moving as she replied, "I'm fine, I just needed a wash, ma." 

Her mum said something she didn't quite pick, she was about to ask when she noticed a movement in the bush. Her wolf picked up the scent before she did. It was the presence of another wolf. 

"Steph?" Her mum connected again 

Steph ignored her as she walked out of the river ever so slowly, not taking her eyes off the part where she had sensed the movement, she shook her body as she remained in her wolf form.

If there was going to be a fight, her wolf was a better fighter than she was. She shut off the mind link as her mum kept reaching out. 

The wolf growled as it moved slowly, still hiding itself in the bushes. 

The smell had gotten stronger, the smell got stronger as the movement increased, it was coming towards her. 

She growled softly preparing her wolf who had now gotten scared. Her wolf whimpered and moved backwards. Steph tried to steel it to the front but it stayed fixed backwards as it stared at the spot. 

There was another growl and Steph whimpered suddenly regretting her decision to come swimming. The wolf growled loudly again and jumped out of the bush, revealing itself.

It stood on a stump and howled loudly, facing the moon. 

Steph felt her heart pound in her chest. Her wolf's fear combined with her as she stared at the wolf the size of a horse, very large.

It came down and walked towards her. She gulped as she moved backwards, away from the river. The moon was full so she could make out the wolf's features.

It was a silver-lined wolf with bright red eyes. The eyes shone in the dark, it looked so scary, Steph knew she couldn't win even if she fought. She had to let her mother know who it was.

Opening the mind link... She connected, she was about to communicate when it flung itself at her, pushing her down and pressing its large paw on her neck.

It pressed till she couldn't feel her neck again. 

"The lamb for this night," it growled as it licked her face. She froze as she recognized the voice. Struggling to breathe, she tried to connect to her mum.

"Greet the ones before you on my behalf," the wolf whispered and with one last howl bite into her neck. 

She shouted as the pain shot through her whole body, it sucked on the spot and she lay still as her energy drained from her body. It was her turn tonight, only if she had stayed at home 

The mind link opened again and she tried to focus, she had to tell her mum who it was. 

The wolf raised its head, licking its mouth and plunged at the bite again, this time, tearing that part away. She groaned as she felt parts of her body being torn to food. 

"Steph!!! No!!" Her mother's voice echoed in agony. She was sure her mother was sharing in her pain, and she focused again trying to ignore the noise and pain.

"Mother, it's the..." she shouted in pain as the wolf yanked her thigh bone off with its huge sharp teeth. 

Her eyelids fluttered as her body became numb. She closed her eyes as the mind link disconnected. 

"No... No... No." She cried as her body gave out to the weakness. 

She took one final look at the beast and breathed her last.