Chapter 1: The Bite of Fate
Elena Carter never thought that an ordinary evening could change her entire life.
She lived in the small town of Woodpine, surrounded by endless forests, quiet and somewhat dull. A place where people were born, grew up, and tied themselves to simple jobs—selling goods, farming, or serving in the local diner. Elena was no exception. At nineteen, she was still struggling to find her place in that small world.
That night, after her late shift at the café, Elena decided to take the shortcut through the woods to get home faster. It wasn’t recommended to go there at night, but she had known that path since childhood. Nothing about it had ever scared her. Moonlight filtered through the branches, casting cold, silvery lines onto the leaf-covered trail.
The wind blew, making the treetops whisper, and for a moment Elena felt as though someone was murmuring all around her. She clutched her backpack tightly and quickened her pace.
Suddenly, a growl rumbled from deep within the forest. It was unlike the sound of any dog or wild animal she knew. It was deeper, heavier, shaking the very air. Elena froze, her heart hammering in her chest.
“Maybe… it’s just a bear,” she whispered, though she didn’t believe it herself.
And then, out of the darkness, two golden eyes appeared. Before she could react, a massive creature lunged at her. Black fur, sharp fangs glinting in the moonlight. A wolf—but no ordinary wolf. It was larger, more feral than anything she could imagine.
Elena screamed and tried to run, but within seconds she was knocked down. The beast’s weight pressed her to the ground, stealing her breath. Then pain—searing, unbearable—when its teeth sank deep into her left shoulder.
She thought that was the end. Blood gushed hot and metallic, and fire coursed through her veins, consuming every nerve.
But strangely, the wolf suddenly stopped. Its golden eyes flickered with something else—almost fear. With a snarl, it pulled back, then disappeared into the shadows, leaving Elena trembling on the forest floor.
Her body shook violently, sweat soaking her skin. The world around her blurred, fading into darkness.
Elena woke in her own room. Morning light slipped through the curtains. She gasped, bolting upright. Was it all just a dream?
But when she touched her shoulder, she found the wound. Bandages stained with dried blood, and beneath them, deep puncture marks. No—this was real.
Her body burned, every muscle sore as though pierced by thousands of needles. A strange thirst clawed at her throat; no matter how much water she drank, it was never enough.
In the days that followed, Elena noticed more changes. Her hearing sharpened—she could pick up the sound of a pin dropping in the next room. Her eyes saw clearly in the dark. And worst of all, something feral stirred inside her, urging her to snarl at everyone around her.
She dared not tell anyone. Who would believe that a giant wolf had attacked her? Who would believe her body was transforming?
Night after night, she dreamed of those golden eyes, and the growl that echoed endlessly in her mind:
“You are no longer human.”
Elena had no idea where fate was leading her. She only knew that since that fateful bite, her life had entered a new chapter — one bound to darkness, blood, and a world she had never imagined.
