wolves that came before

there's more to me

As Lena opened the door, a wave of relief washed over me. "Hey, Em," she greeted me with a warm smile, her eyes full of concern. "Come in, what's wrong?"

I stepped into Lena's cozy living room, the familiar surroundings offering a sense of comfort amidst the chaos of my emotions. "It's my mom," I began, my voice shaky with emotion. "She just doesn't understand. She's so blind to what Jack is doing to her."

Lena listened attentively as I poured out my frustrations, her presence a soothing balm to my troubled soul. "I tried to tell her, Lena," I continued, tears welling up in my eyes. "But she just won't listen. She's so wrapped up in her own world, she can't see how much she's hurting herself."

Lena reached out and took my hand, her touch grounding me in the present moment. "I'm so sorry, Em," she said softly, her eyes reflecting my pain. "But you can't force her to see the truth if she's not ready to accept it. All you can do is be there for her and support her, no matter what."

I nodded, grateful for Lena's words of wisdom. "I know," I replied, wiping away the tears that threatened to spill over. "But it's just so hard, Lena. I feel like I'm losing her, and I don't know how to stop it."

Lena squeezed my hand reassuringly, a silent reminder that I wasn't alone in this struggle. "You're not alone, Em," she said firmly. "I'm here for you, and we'll get through this together."

With Lena by my side, I felt a glimmer of hope flicker to life within me. Though the road ahead would be difficult, I knew that as long as I had her support, I could face whatever challenges lay ahead. And with that thought in mind, I took a deep breath and prepared to confront the uncertainties of the future, one step at a time.

As Lena glanced at me with a playful grin, her words sliced through the tension like a well-timed joke. "And what happened to your face, Em? You look like you've been fighting with your nightmares." I hesitated, unsure if I wanted to divulge the truth. Lena was my best friend, but some things were easier kept hidden.

Her snap brought me back to reality, her voice laced with curiosity. "Hey buddy, what's up? Are you already in wonderland?" she teased, her eyes searching mine for answers.

I mustered a giggle, attempting to deflect her concern. "I'm fine, trust me," I replied, but she persisted, her gaze unwavering.

Finally, I relented, my smile faltering slightly. "My face, um... I fell off my dad's bike yesterday, but it's nothing serious. Everything's alright," I explained, hoping to reassure her.

"okay okay , enough of the sadness in the room pretty Emily. As Lena's excitement bubbled over, her eyes sparkled with a contagious energy that swept through the room like a gust of wind. I couldn't help but be drawn into her infectious enthusiasm, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips despite the heaviness in my heart.

"Guess what, Em?" Lena leaned in closer, her voice tinged with excitement. "I've got some juicy n

ews to share."

My curiosity piqued, I leaned forward, eager to hear what Lena had to say. "Spill it," I urged, a playful grin dancing across my face.

Lena's cheeks flushed with excitement as she whispered, "I met someone." Her words hung in the air, heavy with anticipation.

My eyebrows shot up in surprise. "No way!" I exclaimed, unable to contain my excitement. "Tell me everything!"

And so Lena launched into a whirlwind tale of romance and intrigue, her words painting vivid pictures of candlelit dinners, moonlit strolls, and stolen kisses beneath the stars. With each detail she shared, I could practically feel the warmth of the sun on my skin and the gentle breeze ruffling my hair.

As Lena's story unfolded, the weight of my own troubles seemed to melt away, replaced by a sense of excitement and adventure. For a moment, it was as if we were living in our own little fairytale, where anything was possible and love conquered all.

But amidst the laughter and excitement, Lena brought up the subject of an upcoming party her boyfriend was planning. "You have to come, Em," she insisted, her eyes shining with anticipation. "It'll be a blast, I promise."

I hesitated, my mind flashing back to past parties filled with loud music, crowded rooms, and awkward small talk. Parties had never been my thing, and the thought of stepping out of my comfort zone filled me with a sense of unease.

But Lena wouldn't take no for an answer, her determination to include me in her happiness unwavering. With a gentle squeeze of my hand and a reassuring smile, she promised me that this party would be different.

And so, with a mixture of excitement and trepidation, I agreed to attend. Deep down, I knew that spending time with Lena and embracing new experiences was exactly what I needed to lift my spirits and escape from the troubles that weighed heavily on my mind.

As Lena and I laughed and chatted about the upcoming party, a strange sensation washed over me, like a ripple in the fabric of reality. My senses heightened, and I felt a tingling sensation coursing through my veins, as if an invisible force was stirring deep within me.

Suddenly, I reached out to touch Lena's silver necklace, a gift from her boyfriend, and a searing pain shot through my fingertips. I recoiled in shock, staring at the necklace in disbelief as wisps of smoke curled from the spot where my skin had made contact with the silver.

Lena gasped in horror, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Emily, what happened?" she exclaimed, reaching out to examine my hand.

I could only stare at her, my mind reeling with confusion and fear. What had just happened? Why had the silver burned me?

As the realization began to sink in, a sense of unease settled over me. Something strange was happening, something beyond my understanding. And as I gazed down at the burned imprint on my skin, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of a journey into the unknown.