el's

ced leather bindings mingled with the crisp, dry smell of aged paper and dust, the hushed whispers, the rustl

glanced through some pages. "Hazel, are you sure?" Chloe had asked, brow raised as she scanned a particula

happenings; I had to. They'd mo

d its path down my spine. "I have to understand what's happening

eaning back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on h

rs, the question a heavy weight on my shoulders. I didn't know. All I knew w

irthmark. And the unsettling feeling

n my arm. "We're here for you, okay? But...this obsession with werewolves isn't

re's a new band playing at Th

is forehead. "Yeah, Hazel. A little distraction might

tory, their powers...it was all so fascinating, so terrifying. But Chloe and Liam we

, a genuine feeling of gratitude warming my ch

r face, her shoulders visibly relaxin

's laptop bag slung over his shoulder. As they headed towards the exit, Chloe ga

layful glint in her eyes. "Try not to g

mall smile tugging at the corner of his mout

on my lips. I let out a soft sigh, the

friends, solid and dependable. I was lucky to have them. A small pang of guilt ni

ned to move after coming face to face with a mighty wolf. He had helped by showing my friends an

him. He was drop-dead gorgeous. Kian. "My name is Kian," he had said, a slow, captiv

eaving its spin. Slavic werewolves, Nordic berserkers, African werehyenas-a global phenomen

at first, I hadn't paid much attention. But as I studied them, a chilling realization dawned: they were

ke Kian. Is he...one of them? A shiver, barely perceptible, trembled through me. My hands

lf again, Hazel?"

stack of books clutched in her arms. "Hey,"

ked, gaze lingering on the

by the unexplained, a willingness to believe in things othe

ch syllable, as if testing the words befo

orward eagerly, her grip tight

the note, the visions and the burning birthmark. The consistent pull towards

r eyebrows drew together, forming a deep furrow in her forehead. When I fi

he said finally. "B

stunned. "Y-you do?" I stammered

ld than we see. Whispers. Stories.

ow pack?" This was Izzy's hometown any

ient bloodline. Powerful. Secretive. Fore

"The forest...wher

, eyes shining. "I've heard stori

ike a missing piece clicking into place. Exp

red, my head spinning. "

with excitement. "This is amazin

ner of my mouth twitched upwards despite my appr

eather-bound volume. Its aged pages whispered as she flipped through.

glanced around, my hand going to the back of my neck, a nervous habit

Descendants of an ancient wolf spirit, shapeshifting,

I asked, my eyebrows s

. "Special connection to the moon pow

ible through the library window, hanging

as beginning to make sense. But with every discovery, a knot of fear

or was it extinction? The texts offered conflicting accounts. Some claiming complete

crossed, his posture relaxed yet alert. His gaze was fixed on me, intens

on as he walked towards me, his eyes never leaving mine. "Hazel," h

whisper, my palms suddenly slick with swe

" he said, his gaze flicker

ding against my ribs. About the wolf

icker of...something? Fear? Pain? He shifted his weight nervously. A shadow, not lit

nd twitching slightly as if he wan