Blood and forest

As the night stretched on, the meeting for the final preparations finally came to an end. George handed me some baked goods from his wife's bakery to snack on later.

I opened the door of my sports car, the metal handle chilled from the sudden drop in temperature. " The wind is weird today!" I whispered, staring at the black cloud gathering in the center of the city.

Wrapping my scarf tighter around my neck, I prepared to get inside when I heard the slow, uneven sound of a cane tapping against the pavement.

Edward came from behind.

He leaned slightly on his cane, pausing as if he needed a moment to steady himself before speaking. The yellow lights of the parking lot reflected faintly on the surface of his car, casting long shadows behind us.

"Professor Matt called me yesterday!" he said suddenly.

I turned toward him. My eyes narrowed instinctively, curiosity and mild suspicion crossing my face.

"What did he say?"

Edward shifted his weight, adjusting his grip on the cane. His expression carried that familiar amused look he often wore whenever the topic involved my career choices.

"He wanted you to become a surgeon instead of a specialist in modern and traditional werewolf medicine. Apparently it is becoming rare to find a good surgeon these days."

My lips curved slightly as I finally gave him my full attention. The night wind brushed past us, tugging lightly at my hair.

"What did you say?" I asked calmly.

"I told him you know everything about human anatomy, so you don't have to worry about being a good surgeon."

"You know that Surgery and medicine are two different things."

"I know!" he chuckled, beginning to walk toward his car. Each step was slow but steady. His bodyguard quickly stepped forward to support him before helping him toward the passenger seat.

"But I know that you can do both," Edward continued casually. "But..."

"I am interested in poison, Boss. Until I can find the strongest poison in this world, I am not going to give up on medicines and herbs."

He laughed softly, clearly entertained by my answer.

"And I believe in you. Also, I don't want to lose my favorite hunter to the title of surgeon. I am pretty sure you are already bored of doing surgeries."

I could not help but scoff lightly.

"That is right. Anyway, I need to start my preparations as well. Life is going to become a bit hectic."

"Best of luck, Pufferfish. Make sure they know how venomous you can be." He waved his hand casually before entering the car.

I nodded once before getting into my own car.

The engine purred to life beneath my hands as I pulled out of the parking area. My thoughts drifted elsewhere as the road lights slid across the windshield in long golden streaks.

I wanted to move out of my parents' Packhouse soon. Living there had started to feel suffocating. But I also knew my parents would start questioning my finances the moment I brought up the idea of moving out.

All the luxury clothes I wore and every car I drove had been bought with my own money.

Yet my parents were convinced that I was recklessly spending my grandparents' inheritance.

The fact that the money was actually mine did nothing to stop their lectures.

By the time I reached the highway leading toward the southern estates, the radio suddenly crackled with an urgent broadcast warning about strong winds approaching the area.

I glanced at the road ahead.

The storm clouds were already gathering in the distance, dark and heavy against the horizon.

It would be troublesome if I stayed on this route.

Knowing almost every road in this pack territory, I made a smooth U-turn and redirected the car toward a shortcut.

There was a small forest located on the outskirts of the city. It was barely two kilometers long, but it cut the distance between the main road and the southern estates significantly.

Most elite families, including my parents, lived in the southern estate district. This narrow forest road was often the quickest path home.

The headlights sliced through the darkness as I drove along the winding path, keeping the speed steady but cautious.

Then something changed. The wind shifted.

My attention snapped instantly to the open window as a scent rode along the breeze.

I froze. My eyes shot toward the left side of the road.

The smell was sharp and unmistakable, It was

metallic...Copper.

"It's blood," Moon whispered inside my mind.

I immediately pressed the brakes, pulling the car over to the roadside.

The forest around me had fallen eerily silent except for the distant rustling of branches as the wind grew stronger.

As a hunter, I could tell immediately that the blood was fresh.

And it did not belong to any wild animal but a werewolf. But the scent carried something else with it.

Something that stirred deep inside my chest. Moon reacted first.

She winced slightly within my mindscape, clearly feeling the strange pull of the scent. My wolf was usually quiet, almost painfully introverted compared to other wolves. She preferred silence over unnecessary excitement.

Yet even she could not ignore this.

"I need help, Moon," I said quietly as I stepped out of the car and shut the door.

"Need me to find the person?"

"Yes. You can see through the dark better than I can. If he is just injured, we might still have a chance to save him."

Moon did not reply. Instead, the shift began.

Our bones cracked and rearranged violently beneath the skin. Muscles twisted and expanded as my body dropped toward the ground. My clothes slipped off as fur erupted across my skin.

Within seconds, Moon emerged.

A perfect snow-white omega wolf stood where I had been moments ago. Her fur gleamed faintly beneath the moonlight that filtered through the clouds, and her rare emerald-green eyes glowed sharply in the darkness.

"Ten minutes," I said within our shared mind. "Otherwise the storm will reach us."