The moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale glow over the forest. Aira, in her wolf form, moved silently through the underbrush. Her fur glistened under the moonlight, her senses heightened. She loved the freedom of this form—the way the world smelled richer, the way her muscles felt stronger. But tonight, something felt off. The air was heavy, and the usual symphony of crickets and rustling leaves was eerily absent.
She paused near a clearing, her ears twitching. A faint metallic scent reached her nose. Blood? No, not quite. It was something sharper, colder. Her instincts screamed at her to turn back, but curiosity got the better of her. She stepped forward cautiously, her paws silent against the damp earth.
Suddenly, a loud snap echoed through the forest. Pain shot through her hind leg as a heavy metal trap clamped down on her. Aira let out a sharp yelp, her body twisting in panic. She tried to pull free, but the trap held firm, its jagged teeth biting into her flesh.
From the shadows, voices emerged.
"Got it! I told you there was a wolf around here!" a man’s voice exclaimed, filled with triumph.
"Careful, sir. That thing looks dangerous," another voice warned.
Aira’s heart pounded. She thrashed against the trap, her golden eyes wide with fear. The villagers stepped into the clearing, their faces illuminated by the flickering light of a lantern. There were three of them, all armed with makeshift weapons—sticks, machetes, and a net.
"Look at the size of it," one of them muttered, his voice tinged with awe. "No wonder the livestock’s been disappearing."
"It’s not just the livestock," another added. "Remember what happened to Sir Joko’s son? He swore he saw a wolf like this near the river before he disappeared."
Aira’s mind raced. She wanted to scream, to tell them they were wrong, but all that came out was a low growl. She was trapped, both physically and metaphorically. If they found out the truth—that she wasn’t just a wolf but something far more complicated—it would be over for her.
"Let’s finish it off before it escapes," one of the men said, raising his machete.
"No!" another interrupted. "We should wait for the security officers. Let them handle it. If we kill it now, they might think we’re just making things up."
Aira’s ears perked up at the mention of the security officers. If they arrived and found her like this, there was a chance she could shift back to her human form and explain everything. But she had to buy time.
She stopped struggling and let out a pitiful whine, her golden eyes locking onto the man with the machete. He hesitated, his grip loosening.
"Look at it," he said softly. "It’s just an animal. Maybe it’s not the one causing all the trouble."
"Don’t be stupid," the first man snapped. "Wolves are dangerous. We can’t take any chances."
Before they could argue further, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the forest. The villagers turned, their lanterns swinging wildly.
"Who’s there?" one of them called out.
A group of uniformed security officers emerged from the trees, their flashlights cutting through the darkness. At the front was a tall man with a stern expression. His badge glinted under the moonlight.
"What’s going on here?" he demanded, his voice authoritative.
The villagers began talking over each other, each trying to explain the situation.
"We caught a wolf!" one of them said, pointing to Aira. "It’s been terrorizing the village!"
"It’s huge, Sir. Definitely not normal," another added.
The officer stepped closer, his flashlight landing on Aira. She froze, her heart pounding. The light was blinding, but she could feel his gaze studying her.
"This is just a wolf," he said finally, his tone dismissive. "You can’t go around setting traps like this. It’s dangerous and illegal."
"But, Sir—" one of the villagers protested.
"No buts," the officer interrupted. "Release it. Now."
The villagers exchanged uneasy glances. "But what if it attacks us?"
"It won’t," the officer said firmly. "And if it does, we’ll handle it. Now, release it."
Reluctantly, one of the men stepped forward and pried the trap open. Aira bit back a whimper as the metal teeth released her leg. She stumbled forward, her injured paw barely able to hold her weight.
"Go on," the officer said, waving his hand. "Get out of here."
Aira hesitated. She wanted to run, to disappear into the forest, but her leg wouldn’t let her. She limped a few steps before collapsing onto the ground.
"Wait," the officer said, his voice softer now. He crouched down, his flashlight still trained on her. "Something’s not right."
Panic surged through Aira. She could feel the shift coming—the telltale tingling in her skin, the way her bones ached as they prepared to rearrange themselves. She had to get away before it happened.
But it was too late.
Before their eyes, her body began to change. Her fur receded, her limbs lengthened, and within moments, she was no longer a wolf but a young woman, trembling and covered in scratches.
The clearing fell silent. The villagers stared at her, their faces a mix of shock and fear.
"What… what is this?" one of them whispered, his voice barely audible.
The officer stood slowly, his expression unreadable. "You," he said, pointing at Aira. "Explain yourself."
Aira opened her mouth, but no words came out. What could she say? That she was a werewolf? That she hadn’t meant to hurt anyone? That she was just trying to survive?
"She’s a monster!" one of the villagers shouted, breaking the silence. "I told you! She’s the one behind all of this!"
"No," the officer said sharply. "We don’t know that."
"But, Sir—"
"Enough!" he barked. "We’ll take her in for questioning. Until then, no one is to lay a hand on her. Understood?"
The villagers grumbled but didn’t argue. The officer turned back to Aira, his gaze softening slightly.
"Can you walk?" he asked.
Aira nodded weakly, though she wasn’t sure if she could. Her leg throbbed, and her body felt like it had been through a war. But she forced herself to stand, leaning heavily on the officer as he led her away from the clearing.
As they disappeared into the forest, the villagers began to whisper among themselves.
"Did you see that? She turned into a human!"
"What kind of creature is she?"
"Whatever she is, she doesn’t belong here."
Aira heard their words, each one like a dagger to her heart. She had always known this day would come—that her secret would be exposed. But she hadn’t expected it to happen like this.
As the officer helped her into the back of a patrol car, she glanced back at the forest. Somewhere in the shadows, she thought she saw a pair of glowing eyes watching her. Fenrir? Or something else?
She didn’t know. But one thing was certain: her life would never be the same again.