š Chapter 1: The Night of Change ššŗ
The night was too quiet.
Anika hugged herself as she walked down the lonely road. The wind was cold, and the moon shone brighter than ever. Something felt wrongā¦ but she couldn't explain it.
"Why does it feel like someone is watching meā¦?" she whispered.
Suddenly, the sound of leaves crunching echoed behind her
Stepā¦ stepā¦ stepā¦
Her heart started racing.
She turned backābut saw nothing.
"Maybe I'm just imagining," she said, trying to calm herself.
But thenā¦ a low growl broke the silence.
A deep, terrifying sound.
Her body froze.
That was not her imagination.
Without thinking, Anika started running
She ran as fast as she could, her breath getting heavier, her legs trembling. The forest seemed endless, and the darkness grew thicker with every step.
The sound behind her was getting closer
Faster
Stronger.
Whatever it wasā¦ it was not human.
Tears filled her eyes as fear took over.
"I don't want to dieā¦" she cried softly
Suddenly, her foot slipped on a rock
She fell hard onto the ground.
Pain shot through her leg.
"Noā¦ noā¦ get up!" she tried, but her body wouldn't listen.
The footsteps stopped.
Silence.
A deadly silence.
Slowlyā¦ she lifted her head.
And then she saw it.
Two glowing golden eyes staring at her from the darkness.
Her breath stopped.
A huge shadow stepped forward.
A wolf.
Butā¦ not a normal wolf.
It was bigger. Stronger. More dangerous.
Its eyes were locked on her.
Anika couldn't move.
Couldn't scream.
Couldn't breathe.
The wolf came closerā¦ step by step.
Then suddenlyā
It stopped.
Its expression changed.
Not anger.
Not hunger.
Something elseā¦
Recognition.
As if it knew her.
Before Anika could understand anythingā¦
A strange pain spread through her body.
Her heart started beating wildly.
Her vision blurred.
"Whatā¦ is happening to meā¦?" she whispered.
The moonlight fell directly on her face.
And thenā
She screamed.
A sharp, powerful scream that echoed through the forest.
The wolf stepped back in shock.
Anika's eyes slowly openedā¦
But they were no longer the same.
They glowed.
Golden.
Just like the wolf.