Chapter 2 – Human Disguise
940 Words
The city never truly slept. Even as darkness draped itself over skyscrapers and neon lights flickered to life, the streets below buzzed with restless energy. Alia moved through this chaos like a shadow, her footsteps light but purposeful. To the world, she was just another reporter chasing the next big story—someone fearless, relentless, and committed to uncovering the truth. But beneath her composed exterior lay a secret she guarded fiercely.
Years ago, under the blood moon’s cruel glow, Alia’s world shattered. Her mother’s sacrifice had saved her from a brutal pack of rogue wolves, but the trauma silenced the fierce wolf inside her. That part of her—the true self born in agony and fire—had withdrawn, leaving behind a hollow ache that no amount of human distraction could fill.
Tonight, she was just Alia, the human, blending in perfectly among the millions who never suspected what lurked beneath her skin.
She adjusted the strap of her camera bag and checked her phone, scanning the latest assignment from LMS TV station. There was a protest downtown—a volatile gathering that promised newsworthy conflict. Her heart quickened at the thought of the chase, the adrenaline that came with stepping into danger and exposing the truth. It was the only thing that kept the emptiness at bay.
Alia’s reputation at LMS was stellar. Known for her courage in the field, she had made a name for herself as a reporter who wouldn’t back down, no matter how risky the story. She chased leads in the thick of unrest, always first on the scene, always focused. But the colleagues who praised her never knew the nights she spent haunted by silence—by the wolf inside her that refused to speak.
Inside the bustling newsroom, the hum of activity was a comfort. Bright monitors lined the walls, and the buzz of voices mixed with the rapid tapping of keyboards. She weaved through the desks, nodding briefly to familiar faces. A practiced smile hid the turmoil that churned inside.
“Alia, you’re up next for the live feed on the protest,” her producer called, waving a clipboard with the evening’s rundown. “Camera two is ready.”
She nodded, voice steady. “On it.”
The lights and cameras felt almost like armor, a barrier between the world and the hidden part of her that longed to howl in the night. She stepped in front of the lens, adjusting her posture, smoothing her dark hair. The protest unfolded behind her—angry voices, signs waving, tension crackling in the air.
Her words came clear and precise, cutting through the noise. “Good evening. We’re here at the city plaza where thousands have gathered to protest recent government policies. Emotions are running high, and police presence is significant. Stay tuned as we bring you the latest updates.”
As she spoke, Alia scanned the crowd, senses sharpened in a way she couldn’t fully explain. She felt the faintest pull, a tug at her soul from somewhere deep within, but she pushed it aside. That part of her was still locked away, silent as the grave.
After the segment ended, she moved to the side, packing away her equipment. Her colleagues congratulated her on the sharp reporting, but their praise felt distant—like echoes from another life.
Later, in the quiet of her small apartment, Alia let the mask slip. The modest space was a sanctuary filled with books, notes, and a few keepsakes from a life half-remembered. The city lights flickered through the window, casting shifting patterns on the walls.
She sank into a worn armchair and unclasped the pendant hanging around her neck—the only connection left to her mother. The delicate silver charm bore a wolf engraved in intricate detail. Her fingers traced its surface, fingertips tingling with memories she barely understood.
The wolf inside her stirred faintly, a ghostly pulse beneath her skin. It was a whisper from a past she had tried to bury, a presence that called to her in dreams and fleeting moments. But the pain was still raw, the loss too great to face.
Alia closed her eyes and took a slow breath, willing herself to silence the ache. “I don’t know who I am anymore,” she whispered into the empty room. “But I’ll survive. For you. For me.”
The years living among humans had taught her to blend in, to hide the truth beneath layers of normalcy. She never spoke of the wolf, never let anyone glimpse the broken girl beneath the fierce reporter. It was safer that way—safer to live in the shadows.
But the wolf was there, a sleeping giant waiting for the right moment to wake. A moment Alia wasn’t sure she was ready for.
Suddenly, a soft sound pulled her from her thoughts—a distant howl carried on the wind, echoing through the city’s edges. It was faint, but unmistakable. Her skin prickled, her heart raced. The wolf inside stirred again, restless, confused.
She shivered, pulling her sweater tighter around her. “Not yet,” she murmured, “not now.”
But the call lingered in her blood, a promise of things to come.
Alia stood and moved to the window, looking out at the sprawling cityscape. The night was alive with possibilities—and dangers she had long tried to ignore.
She was alone in this human world, but the wolf’s silence would not last forever.
One day, she knew, the fire inside her would blaze again.
And when it did, nothing would ever be the same.
- Writer
