Chapter 02: The Wolf in the Wood.
1135 Words
Ava's pov.
I zipped up my jacket and tightened up my boots as the morning embraced a cold wind.
The forest became very quiet, I became worried and wondered why it was too quiet for my liking.
No birds were singing like they used to, and even the leaves didn't rustle as much. It was like nature holding its breath.
I had work to do, though I came here for some field research—tracking animal movement using trail cameras hidden all over the forest.
I set them up weeks ago, and today, I was watching the footage
I tried focusing on the job but my mind kept drifting.
Rumors were going around. The locals whispered about people disappearing, various animals found tearing apart and storage howls late at night.
Some even said they saw glowing eyes deep in the trees. I didn't want to believe them at first but fear in their voices made it hard to ignore.
I brushed the dirt off one of the camera boxes and took out the memory card, a chill ran down my spine as I sat on a tree stump and loaded the footage onto my table. Something felt….off.
I played clip after clip: I saw a deer walking through, a fox sniffing around, and a raccoon climbing a tree. They were all normal stuff until I got to the last file.
My breath caught in my throat.
A huge wolf stepped into the frame.
It wasn’t just big. It was massive—easily twice the size of any normal wolf. Its fur was dark, almost black, and its amber eyes… stared directly into the lens. Right at me.
But that wasn’t the strangest part.
Its eyes looked almost human.
I couldn't look any further so I dropped the tablet. My hands were shaking, my body shivers.
“What the hell was that?” I whispered, looking around nervously. “Something is wrong somewhere”.
Just then, my phone buzzed.
One new message.
No contact name. No number.
“Stay out of the woods after dark.”
That was it. No explanation. No goodbye.
I looked around again, my heart racing.
Was someone watching me? Or… something else?
I shoved everything into my back pocket and started walking back towards the cabin I was staying in.
The atmosphere became terrifying as I glanced everywhere anticipating what was about to happen next.
A twig snapping, a bird flapping its wings, and the rustle of winds through branches. Every little sound made me jump.
By the time I finally reached the cabin near the clearing things felt so strange I couldn't understand why the sun had already sunk behind the trees.
Then I knew I wasn't alone. Someone is watching.
“Hey! Stop there!” a strange voice called out.
I spun quickly, turning around to see a guy leaning against a tree. He looked my age—maybe twenty-two or twenty-three.
His leather jacket and black jeans were intense even though his dark hair was a mess like he'd been running through the forest.
But it was his eyes that got me frozen.
Amber. Just like the wolf.
“This place isn't safe; I'll advise you to leave immediately,” he said, walking slowly towards me. “It's late, and it could be dangerous for you.”
“Who are you and why are you also here?” I asked backing up.
“My name is Luca”.
“And what are you doing here, Mr. Luca? Don't think I needed any help because I didn't ask for it. As you can see, I'm just doing what I am good at.”
He smiled gazing up at me. “That's not a problem, I know exactly what you're good at,” he said, walking towards me slowly. “Not this late”.
I narrowed down my eyes, “How do you know what I saw?”.
Luca laughed and looked towards the tree. “That's because I saw you too”.
My skin crawled. “I don't understand. Please explain better what you mean?”.
“You're in danger,” he said. “The wolf it's not just any animal. And it's not alone”.
I crossed my arms. “Why should I believe you? I don't think you're telling the truth”.
“You’ve to believe me because I know what it is” He stepped closer. “And I know what you are”.
“How ....As in…” I blinked. “Don’t get things twisted if I may ask how do you know who I am?”
He nodded. “You think you're just an ordinary girl with a camera in the woods. The truth is you're more than that, even better than what you are now, Ava”.
“How do you know my name?”.
He hesitated. “That's because you're part of something….big”.
I interjected. “Something big? How? What are you saying? You're getting me more confused”.
“I've been watching you not in a creepy way. I had to do so because I can see some potential in you”...
My heart pounded. “What exactly are you talking about?”.
“I know you feel the pull of the moon when it's full isn't it?” You enjoyed nature more the way the forest is alive around you?”.
I stepped back. “Now I know your problem I can see you're insane”.
“I wish I was insane; it would be better talking to a sane person,” He whispered. “But with time you will understand soon”.
I turned to leave, but he caught my wrist.
“I'm only trying to protect you”.
“Protect me from what exactly?” I yelled at him.
“The pack,” he said. “They know you’re here. They’ve seen the cameras. And now you’re on their radar.”
I pulled my arm free. “I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, but I’m not interested.”
He looked sad. “You will be. Because once the change starts, you won’t have a choice.”
I rushed back to the cabin, slammed the door, and locked it behind me. My hands were shaking. My head was spinning.
What did he mean by “change”?
I grabbed my phone to call someone—anyone—but there was no signal. Of course.
As I sat by the window, watching the trees, I began contemplating.
What if Luca was right?
What if I wasn’t just some girl in the woods?
What if I was becoming something else?
Something dangerous?
And what could that be?
- Writer
