Kara
My legs pumped as I ran through the dark woods, branches scratching my arms as growls echoed behind me. I didn't dare look back.
The sound of paws hitting the ground grew closer. Too close.
I turned my head for a second, and my foot slammed into a rock. My body crashed hard against the ground.
Pain shot through me as the growls surrounded me, two wolves stepped out of the darkness.
Both were massive, white fur, with glowing eyes. Their fangs snapped as drool dripped from their jaws.
My heart hammered wildly. The larger one lunged.
I screamed—
And jolted awake, sweat soaked my body as I gasped for air, the dream felt too real.
My eyes scanned the room quickly, trying to understand where I was.
The last thing I remembered was collapsing on the highway. Had I been captured again?
My hands moved instantly, checking my wrists, I wasn't bound.
The room around me looked… expensive. White curtains hung beside large windows, and a golden chandelier glowed softly from the ceiling.
This didn't look like a prison. I sat up slowly and noticed my clothes had been changed into shorts and a T-shirt.
My hand moved to my ankle. The bite wound was carefully wrapped in a clean bandage.
Strangely, it barely hurt anymore, before I could think further, the door suddenly opened.
A girl walked in confidently, followed by a chef pushing a cart full of food. The smell hit me instantly.
My stomach growled embarrassingly loud.
The girl smiled. "Good to see you awake, Kara."
My eyes narrowed.
"How do you know my name?"
She pushed her glasses up her nose casually. "Let's just say I know more than that."
I didn't like the sound of that.
"Eat first," she said, nodding toward the food. "Then we'll explain everything."
"Who are you.. And where am I?" I asked sharply. She grinned. "Gigi."
The chef finished placing the food down and they both left the room. I didn't trust any of this.
But hunger won, so I devoured the meal quickly before changing into a pair of black pants and a red shirt from the closet.
Not long after, Gigi returned and motioned for me to follow. We walked through a massive house with expensive décor before stepping outside near a large pool.
Three people were sitting there. A girl and two boys.
"Everyone, this is Kara," Gigi said.
The girl waved warmly. "Hi! I'm Malia. These are my twin brothers, Zayn and Zurich."
I gave a short nod. My patience was already running out.
"You said you would explain what's going on," I said.
Gigi kept typing on her tablet. "He'll be here soon."
"Look," I said, my voice tightening. "I don't how long I've been unconscious, or even know where I am. I need answers."
Before she could reply, Malia suddenly jumped up.
"He's here!"
Everyone's attention shifted toward the house. I followed their gaze.
A man dressed completely in black walked toward us slowly. The sun blocked his face at first.
But as he stepped closer, my heart nearly stopped.
No way.
When he reached the table, our eyes locked, and a smirk spread across his lips.
"Welcome back, boss," Gigi said casually.
The man sat down across from me. "How are you feeling, sweet Kara?"
My voice barely came out.
"Rodrigo…?"
"In the flesh."
Shock flooded my body. Rodrigo Aragon. The same person I confronted at the club, during Kelly's party.
How was I sitting in his territory?
"How did I get here?" I demanded. He leaned back casually.
"By car. I didn't think you walked."
"I'm serious," I snapped.
His expression turned serious. "I found you unconscious on the highway three nights ago. I recognized you and brought you here. My doctor treated your injuries."
His eyes dropped to my ankle. For a second, his hazel eyes darkened.
"Why would you help me?" I asked. He studied me for a moment.
"Because you're one of us now." My stomach twisted at his words.
"What are you talking about?"
Rodrigo gestured toward Gigi. "Explain to her."
Gigi adjusted her glasses.
"When a werewolf bites a human, the venom usually kills them," she said. "But sometimes… they survive."
A cold feeling crept through my chest.
"And when they survive," she continued carefully, "they turn into one."
Silence fell over the table. My heart pounded.
"I…I don't understand…," I whispered.
Rodrigo leaned forward slightly.
"What she means is that a human who survives the bite turns into a Werewolf. And that injury on your ankle shows you were bitten by a shifter. Which could only mean one thing, since you are alive." his gaze on my bitten ankle.
"No, no, that is not possible, there is no way I am turning into a beast!" I yelled, immediately, standing on my feet, my breath harsh with each intake of air.
"Sweet Kara, you were at the wrong place at the wrong time. Be glad you survived the first stage."
"You were bitten. And you're still alive."
"That's impossible!"
"You already feel the changes," he said calmly. "Your senses are sharper. Your body healed faster."
Tears ran down my cheek, startling me, I was crying. Standing among unfamiliar people in an unknown place, I imagined how my perfect life changed to this. Me a werewolf?
"How do you know this? You know too much." I asked,
"I smell you as a werewolf, one's scent changes a few hours after being bitten, and when I rescued you, I doubted if you would make it, and you did. Kara, I know you're scared and confused, you have to understand that from the moment you got bitten your life changed."
"Yes, you all are scaring me," I say sincerely.
"How do you even smell me as one of them?" I asked, curious to know why Rodrigo was involved.
"Just like you, I was bitten and as luck may have it, I survived; however, I turned to a Neotide."
"What is a Neotide."
"A bitten werewolf. We are called Neotides because we are born humans and are turned from a wolf's bite."
More tears rolled down my cheeks. "This can't be happening…"
Rodrigo stood slowly. "If you need proof…"
Before I could react, his body shifted. His fingers stretched into claws.
Sharp fangs appeared as his eyes darkened, I stared in pure horror.
Memories of that night slammed into my mind.
The wolf. The bite.
A scream ripped from my throat as I stumbled back.
"Please don't hurt me—"
My vision spun violently, and everything went black.