Chapter Two

The cool night air whips against my tear-stained face as I run through the deserted park. My lungs burn, and my legs ache, but I can't bring myself to stop. Every step takes me further from Kevin's betrayal, from the suffocating pity of the partygoers, from the life I thought I had.

Kevin's words echo in my mind, each repetition a fresh wound. "A mute? You're a freak." The cruel twist of his lips as he said it, the disgust in his eyes – it all plays on repeat in my head, a torturous loop I can't escape.

I've always known I was different. Being mute in a world of voices is hard enough, but add lycanthropy to the mix, and you've got a recipe for isolation. I thought Kevin had seen past that, had seen me for who I really am. God, how naive I was.

The park stretches out before me, a maze of shadows and moonlight. In the distance, I can hear the faint rush of cars on the highway, a reminder of the normal world I'm running from. Closer, the rustle of leaves in the gentle night breeze and the soft hooting of an owl create a deceptively peaceful atmosphere.

My heightened senses pick up on things a human would miss – the scurrying of a field mouse in the underbrush, the lingering scent of a dog walker who passed through hours ago, the subtle shift in air pressure that suggests rain is on its way. Usually, these sensory details ground me, remind me of the hidden world I'm part of. Tonight, they just emphasize how alone I am.

I don't know how long I've been running when I finally slow to a walk, my breath coming in ragged gasps. The park is eerily quiet at this hour, the ambient sounds seeming to amplify the turmoil in my head. Moonlight filters through the trees, casting long shadows across the path and bathing everything in an ethereal silver glow.

Wrapping my arms around myself, I try to calm the storm of emotions raging inside me. The urge to shift, to lose myself in my wolf form, is almost overwhelming. As a wolf, I wouldn't have to deal with the complexities of human emotions, the pain of betrayal, the constant struggle to communicate in a world that often doesn't have the patience to listen.

But even in my distress, I know it's too risky. The park might be empty now, but there's always a chance someone could stumble upon me. My aunt's warnings ring in my ears – the danger of exposure, the importance of keeping our true nature hidden. It's one of the many rules that have shaped my life, along with her insistence that I never date another werewolf.

I wonder, not for the first time, about the reasoning behind that particular rule. Would another werewolf have understood me better? Would they have had the patience to learn sign language, to truly communicate with me? Or would they have seen me as Kevin did – a curiosity, a freak, something to be discarded when the novelty wore off?

A twig snaps behind me, and I freeze. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up as a low growl cuts through the night air. Slowly, I turn around, my heart pounding in my chest.

Three pairs of glowing eyes stare back at me from the darkness. As they step into the moonlight, I feel the blood drain from my face. Rogues. Wild, feral werewolves who've given themselves over completely to their animal instincts.

I take a step back, my mind racing. I'm no match for one rogue, let alone three. Even if I shift, I won't stand a chance. My eyes dart between them, taking in details I wish I couldn't see.

The largest of the three, a massive gray wolf with a jagged scar across its muzzle, bares its teeth in a snarl. Its fur is matted and dirty, and I can see old wounds that have healed poorly. To its left is a smaller, wiry black wolf, its yellow eyes gleaming with feral intelligence. On the right, a brown wolf with a mangled ear paces back and forth, saliva dripping from its jaws.

For a split second, we're all still, like actors frozen on a stage. Then, chaos erupts.

The rogues lunge at me just as I turn to run. I feel claws raking across my back, tearing through my clothes and into my skin. A scream builds in my throat, but no sound comes out. The irony isn't lost on me – even now, in mortal danger, I'm silenced.

I stumble and fall, the ground rushing up to meet me. Sharp teeth sink into my leg, and I kick out desperately, my foot connecting with something solid. There's a yelp, but it's quickly drowned out by more growls.

Rolling onto my back, I lash out with my fists, catching the black wolf in the eye. It recoils for a moment, giving me a chance to scramble backward. But it's useless. The gray wolf is on me in an instant, its weight pinning me to the ground.

Pain explodes across my body as the rogues attack. I curl into a ball, trying to protect my vital organs, but it's useless. Teeth and claws seem to be everywhere at once. The world spins around me, and I feel myself starting to slip away.

In these moments, suspended between life and death, my life doesn't flash before my eyes like they say it's supposed to. Instead, I see the future I'll never have. I see myself graduating college, finding a job where my differences don't matter. I see a world where I'm understood, where I'm not alone. And for the briefest moment, I see a shadowy figure by my side, someone who completes me in a way I've never experienced before.

This is it, I think hazily. This is how I die. Alone in a park, torn apart by rogues, unable even to scream for help. I wonder if Kevin will feel guilty when he hears about my death. I wonder if my aunt will blame herself for not protecting me better. I wonder if anyone will truly mourn the mute werewolf girl who never quite fit in anywhere.

Just as my vision starts to darken at the edges, there's a deafening roar. The weight on top of me suddenly vanishes, and I hear yelps of pain that aren't my own. Forcing my eyes open, I try to focus on what's happening.

A blur of dark fur moves with lightning speed, tearing through the rogues like they're made of paper. This new wolf is massive, easily twice the size of the largest rogue. Its fur is a deep, rich black that seems to absorb the moonlight. Muscles ripple under its coat as it moves, a testament to its power and strength.

Its movements are a terrifying dance of power and grace, teeth flashing in the moonlight as it rips into my attackers. The rogues, so fierce in their attack on me, seem like puppies in comparison to this new threat. They snap and snarl, but they're outmatched in every way.

The black wolf grabs the wiry rogue by the scruff of its neck and throws it against a tree with a sickening crunch. It doesn't get up again. The brown wolf tries to flee, but a massive paw swipes out, catching it mid-stride and sending it tumbling. Before it can regain its feet, gleaming teeth close around its throat.

The gray wolf, the largest of the rogues, puts up the fiercest fight. It circles the black wolf, looking for an opening. For a moment, they're locked in a standoff, two alphas sizing each other up. Then they clash in a fury of teeth and claws.

But even this battle is short-lived. The black wolf is simply too strong, too fast. With a move almost too quick for me to follow, it gets its jaws around the gray wolf's neck. There's a sharp crack, and then silence falls over the park once more.

In mere moments, it's over. The rogues lie motionless on the ground, and the park is once again silent save for the heavy breathing of my mysterious savior.

As the adrenaline fades, the pain comes rushing back. I feel myself slipping away again, my body giving in to the trauma it's endured. But before I close my eyes, the wolf turns to face me.

Our gazes lock, and the world seems to stop spinning. Something deep inside me stirs, a primal recognition that goes beyond conscious thought. In that moment, I know him. Not his name, not his history, but his soul. It calls to mine, two halves of a whole finally reuniting.

A warmth spreads through me, starting in my chest and radiating outward. It's like nothing I've ever felt before – a sense of completeness, of coming home after a long journey. In this moment, the pain fades away, replaced by an overwhelming feeling of rightness.

Memories and sensations flood my mind. I see flashes of a shared future – runs under the full moon, silent conversations held with just a look, a love so deep it transcends the need for words. I see strength in our differences, beauty in our unique bond.

With the last of my strength, I reach out a trembling hand towards him. In my mind, a single word echoes with crystal clarity.

Mate.

Then darkness claims me, and I know no more.

But even in unconsciousness, I'm aware of him. Strong arms lift me, cradling me against a broad chest. The scent of pine and wild places surrounds me, comforting in its familiarity despite never having smelled it before.

I drift in and out of awareness. At times, I feel the rush of wind against my face, hear the steady rhythm of feet hitting the ground as my savior runs. Other times, there's nothing but the darkness and the fading pain.

Through it all, one thing remains constant – the sense of safety, of belonging. Even hovering on the edge of consciousness, I know that everything has changed. The mute werewolf girl who never fit in anywhere has found her place at last.

As I sink deeper into the darkness, one last thought floats through my mind. Whoever this mysterious werewolf is, whatever challenges we might face, I know one thing for certain.

I am no longer alone.