HOWLING HEARTS

FIVE: UNRAVELING THREADS

The moon hung low in the sky as Isla lay awake in her room at Mrs. Braxton’s inn, her mind racing. She replayed the events of the evening over and over again, trying to understand what had just happened between her and Luca. There had been something in his eyes, something raw and conflicted, that had both scared and thrilled her.

But why had he pushed her away? And what was he hiding?

Isla sat up in bed, pulling the blanket around her shoulders. She could hear the faint murmur of voices downstairs—Mrs. Braxton talking with someone at the front door, but she couldn’t make out the words. The inn was quiet otherwise, the creaks of the old building settling into the silence of the night. Outside, the wind whispered through the trees, carrying with it the distant sound of howling.

It was becoming a constant presence in her life now, the eerie, mournful howls that echoed through the forest. She had tried asking Mrs. Braxton about it earlier in the day, but the old woman had simply brushed her off with a wave of her hand, muttering something about “wild dogs” and “superstitions.”

Isla wasn’t convinced. There was something far more sinister at play, and it was all tied to Luca. She knew it.

But getting him to open up was proving to be a challenge.

With a sigh, she threw off the blankets and got out of bed. There was no point in lying awake when her mind was so restless. She dressed quickly, slipping on her boots and jacket, before quietly making her way downstairs. Mrs. Braxton’s door was closed now, the conversation over, and the inn was quiet once again.

Isla stepped outside into the cool night air, her breath misting in the dim light. The streets were empty, the town blanketed in an almost eerie stillness. She knew she should probably head back inside, lock her door, and forget about it all.

But something—perhaps foolish curiosity, or the undeniable pull she felt toward Luca—pushed her forward.

---

Silver Hollow was even more unsettling at night, the shadows stretching long across the cobblestone streets. The wind carried strange sounds, rustling leaves, faint whispers that could have been anything from the wind to the spirits that the townsfolk seemed to fear.

Isla headed toward the edge of town, toward the forest. Luca had told her to stay away, to leave everything alone, but she couldn’t do that—not when her every instinct screamed that something was wrong.

As she approached the blacksmith’s shop, she saw the faint glow of firelight flickering through the windows. Luca was still there, working late, just as she had expected. Isla hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should disturb him after what had happened earlier. But the pull was too strong. She had to know what was going on.

She knocked lightly on the door.

There was a pause, then the heavy sound of footsteps approaching. The door opened, and Luca stood there, his expression unreadable in the flickering light of the forge.

“You again,” he muttered, though there was no real surprise in his voice.

Isla crossed her arms, meeting his gaze with a determined look. “I need answers, Luca. You can’t keep telling me to leave it alone. I’m already involved, whether you like it or not.”

Luca sighed, stepping aside to let her in. “You don’t know what you’re asking for.”

“I’m not scared,” Isla said as she entered the shop, though her heart raced with anticipation. The space felt different tonight—heavier, more charged with energy, as if something was waiting to happen.

Luca closed the door behind her, turning to face her with a frown. “You should be.”

Isla could feel the tension rolling off him in waves, but there was something else there too—a vulnerability he was trying to hide. She took a step closer, her voice softening. “You don’t have to protect me. I can handle whatever this is.”

Luca’s jaw clenched, his hands curling into fists at his sides. “It’s not about whether you can handle it, Isla. It’s about what happens if you get too close.”

“Too close to what?” she pressed, her heart beating faster as she closed the distance between them. “To you?”

Luca’s eyes flickered with something—fear, perhaps, or longing. It was hard to tell in the dim light. But instead of answering, he turned away, his hands gripping the edge of the workbench as if he needed to steady himself.

“I’m cursed,” he said quietly, the words barely a whisper.

Isla’s breath caught in her throat. She had suspected something like this, but hearing him say it aloud made it real. “What kind of curse?”

Luca didn’t turn to face her. “The kind that can’t be broken. The kind that destroys everything it touches.”

Isla took a step closer, her voice gentle. “Tell me.”

For a long moment, Luca didn’t say anything. His shoulders were tense, his fists clenched, and Isla could see the struggle in him—the war between wanting to keep her safe and wanting to let her in. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke.

“I turn into something… dangerous,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “When the moon is full, when the howling starts, I become something else. Something that can’t be controlled.”

Isla’s heart pounded in her chest. “A wolf?”

Luca nodded, his back still to her. “It’s why I told you to stay away. I can’t control it. I can’t control what I do when I change. I’ve hurt people before. People I care about.”

Isla’s throat tightened at the pain in his voice. She stepped forward, her hand hovering just inches from his back. “But you haven’t hurt me.”

“Yet,” he said bitterly. “I haven’t hurt you yet.”

Isla ignored the warning in his tone and gently placed her hand on his shoulder. His body tensed beneath her touch, but he didn’t pull away. Slowly, he turned to face her, his eyes filled with torment.

“You should be scared of me, Isla. I’m not someone you should get close to.”

But Isla didn’t move away. Instead, she met his gaze with steady determination. “I’m not scared of you, Luca. I’m scared for you.”

His expression softened for a moment, and Isla could see the cracks in the wall he had built around himself. She stepped even closer, the warmth of his body radiating toward her in the cool night air.

“You’re not a monster,” she whispered. “Whatever this curse is, it doesn’t change who you are.”

Luca’s breath hitched, his eyes searching hers for something—understanding, forgiveness, hope. “You don’t know what I’ve done. What I’ve had to live with.”

“Then tell me,” Isla said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Let me help you.”

For a long moment, they stood there in the darkened workshop, the air between them thick with unspoken words. Luca’s gaze dropped to her lips, and Isla felt a surge of heat rush through her at the intensity of his stare.

But just as quickly as the moment came, it was gone. Luca pulled back, stepping away from her as if the physical distance would protect her from the danger he believed he posed.

“I can’t,” he said, his voice hoarse. “I can’t let you get involved. It’s too dangerous.”

Isla’s heart ached at the pain in his words, but she didn’t push him. Not yet. She knew Luca was trying to protect her, but she also knew that the connection between them was undeniable. He might be cursed, but that didn’t mean he was beyond saving.

She just had to find a way to prove it to him.