John knelt down as he inspected the huge paw prints in the dirt and the broken bear trap. He let out an irritated sigh and shook his head.

These werewolves were certainly becoming more bold—more aware of their surroundings, of the traps.

He'd been tracking them for months, but it felt like the game had changed. No longer were they the cautious, primitive creatures they used to be. They were learning.

He grabbed the broken bear trap and tossed it into the back of his truck, his movements sharp with frustration. He glanced over his shoulder before he climbed into the cab, starting the engine with a grunt.

But no matter how many traps he set, no matter how many times he came close to catching them, they always slipped away. Smarter, faster, more dangerous.

They were evolving.

John drove away, his thoughts dark, but his attention shifted when he caught a flicker of movement in the trees. A black wolf. It watched him for a moment, its yellow eyes gleaming with a quiet intensity, before it turned and disappeared into the forest.

He didn't need to be a tracker to know this wasn't a normal wolf. Not by a long shot.

***

Phelan put on his backpack as he grabbed his lunch. Summer chuckled and ruffled his hair.

"You're growing up too fast," she teased, her voice warm, though tinged with a note of sadness.

He giggled softly, tilting his head up at her with a mischievous grin. "I'm still your little boy," he said, his eyes twinkling with affection.

Fallon, ever the instigator, wrapped his arms around both Phelan and their mother.
"We both are," he chimed in, his voice playful.

Summer laughed softly and kissed their heads, her smile full of love.
"Have fun on your trip. And be safe," she reminded them, her voice holding a quiet seriousness.
She knew something was off—had for a while, ever since the rumors started circulating in town.

Phelan smiled and nodded, his excitement barely contained. Fallon, however, grinned mischievously.

"You sure I can't come with you?" Fallon asked with a playful smirk.

Phelan punched his brother in the arm, though it was more for show than anything.
"Not a chance," he said with a mock glare.

The school bus pulled up to the curb, its brakes hissing with a sharp noise.

The normal, routine things were still the same... for now.

Phelan walked up the steps of the bus, the sun shining brightly overhead.
"Hey, Fallon! Hey, Miss Best!" Tala's voice called from the window. "Nice weather today!"

"Yeah," Fallon laughed, giving a mock salute, "Be sure to keep an eye on my little brother, will ya?"

Phelan pouted. "Hey!"

Summer chuckled softly as she waved them off, her smile faltering just a little as she watched the bus pull away, vanishing down the road toward the forest.

***

The forest loomed ahead as the bus drove deeper into the trees. Phelan looked out the window, the towering trunks stretching endlessly into the distance. His gaze was drawn to the thick shadows beneath the canopy. The sunlight barely made it through the dense branches, leaving the ground below shrouded in a perpetual half-light.

There was something about it today. The trees were quieter than usual, the air heavier. It made him uneasy, but his curiosity was stronger than the pull of caution.

"So do you think we'll see any animals while we're here?" Phelan asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

Tala shrugged, but her nervousness was evident in the tightness of her shoulders. "I mean... it's a possibility?" She offered a shaky smile. "But, I don't know. Something about this place feels... off."

Phelan furrowed an eyebrow. "You okay?"

Tala hesitated, glancing out the window before speaking in a quieter tone. "Yeah. Just... uneasy, you know? With the rumors and everything. People keep saying strange things happen here."

Phelan blinked in surprise. "I thought those were just rumors."

Tala shook her head, her eyes flicking briefly to the trees outside. Her voice lowered even further. "Some rumors turn out to be true, Phelan. Especially the ones about this place."

Her words hung in the air like a chill, making Phelan uneasy. He wanted to laugh it off, but he couldn't deny the odd feeling crawling up his spine.

The bus came to a stop at the edge of the forest, the engine's rumble dying away. The teacher, Mrs. Jenkins, stood up from her seat, her heels clicking on the floor. "Alright, everyone. Grab your assigned partner and stay close. Stay in my line of sight at all times."

Tala elbowed Phelan playfully. "Stay close, okay? I don't like this."

Phelan nodded but couldn't help but feel the draw of something deeper in the forest. He ventured a little ahead, distracted by the strange sense of anticipation building in him. He could feel the weight of the forest pressing in, like it was alive—watching.

"Stay in pairs and within sight!" Mrs. Jenkins called out again.

As Phelan walked alongside Tala, he noticed the faint tracks in the dirt—larger than any animal he knew. His heart skipped a beat when he saw them, and for a moment, the world felt still. There was an eerie silence around them now, the forest unnaturally quiet, as if the trees themselves were waiting.

"Tala, look!" Phelan whispered, pointing to the tracks. "Do you see these?"

Tala's eyes widened. She took a slow step back. Her voice was tight with tension.
"What is that?"

Phelan started to move forward, excitement sparking in his chest despite the uneasy feeling nagging at him.
"Tala, come see! These tracks aren't from any animal I know."

Tala's face went pale, and she stayed rooted near the trees, her wide eyes darting to the shadows. She didn't follow Phelan. She was too scared.

"Tala?" Phelan frowned, his voice thick with concern. "Tala, what's wrong?"

Suddenly, a twig snapped nearby.

Phelan spun around and froze. Standing in front of him, emerging from the trees, was a massive wolf-a dark, grayish-white creature with piercing brown eyes that glinted in the muted sunlight. It stood perfectly still, its body tense, muscles rippling beneath its fur. Its lips curled back into a low, menacing growl.

Tala gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as she stepped back, eyes locked on the wolf in terror.

Phelan took a careful step forward, slowly lowering his hands, trying to appear non-threatening.
"It's okay," he said softly. "I'm not going to hurt you."

The wolf growled louder, its eyes narrowing, but it didn't move closer.

Phelan held his ground, speaking again, his voice quiet but firm.
"Please. Just-just go."

The wolf's growl deepened, then, almost as if it were considering, it turned and bounded back into the shadows of the trees.

Phelan's heart pounded in his chest as he stared at the empty space where the wolf had been. He felt a mixture of awe and fear. There was something too intelligent in the way the wolf had looked at him. Something other about it.

Tala grabbed his arm, her fingers digging into his skin with surprising force.

"What the hell were you thinking?!" she hissed, her face twisted in anger and fear.

Phelan was taken aback, blinking in surprise at her sudden outburst. He hadn't expected her to be so... aggressive.

"I... I was just trying to-" Phelan began, but Tala interrupted.

"You were stupid! We're not supposed to be out here alone!"

Tala's words came out like a snap, sharp and accusing, but as soon as she said them, she realized what she had done. Her expression softened, guilt creeping in.

"I'm sorry..." she murmured, stepping back slightly. "I just-"

Phelan rubbed his arm where she had grabbed him, blinking in surprise. He had never seen her like this before.

"It's okay," he said softly, though he wasn't entirely sure it was. He looked over his shoulder at the trees, the strange tension in the air still clinging to him. "Let's just go back."

Tala nodded, her lips pressed tight in a thin line, and they began to walk back toward the rest of the class, the weight of the moment settling heavily on both of them.

Timber looked over at the two, arching an eyebrow.

"You two okay?" His voice was casual, but there was something in his gaze that seemed to be reading more than just their physical condition. "You look a little... shaken."

Tala gave a tight smile, brushing her hair out of her face as she nodded quickly.
"Yeah, just ran into... some animals."

Timber didn't look convinced. His gaze lingered on Phelan, his eyes narrowing slightly, as if sizing him up, before his expression shifted into something less friendly, though still playful.

"Animals?" Timber hummed, his voice low, almost too smooth. "Yeah... about that. You guys sure you didn't run into something a little... bigger than just an animal?"

Phelan blinked, surprised by the implication in Timber's words. "What do you mean?" His voice was cautious, but the question hung in the air like an invitation to something bigger.

Timber shrugged nonchalantly, but there was a glint of something unreadable in his eyes.
"Just seems funny, y'know? That a couple of kids bump into a wolf like that, and you both walk away without... more of a reaction." He looked between them again, his smirk widening just a fraction. "Anyway, no big deal."

Phelan shifted uncomfortably, the weight of Timber's comment sinking in. Something about the way Timber said it made him uneasy, like he knew more than he was letting on.

"Thought you were mad at me," Phelan said, trying to break the tension.

Timber chuckled, leaning back on his hands. "Mad? Nah. You didn't do anything wrong. Besides, not every day I get to see someone that close to a wolf." His tone was playful, but there was an undertone of something else. "Just... be careful next time, okay?"

Phelan opened his mouth to respond, but something in Timber's eyes made him hesitate. It was like he was being watched, though Timber was pretending not to care.

The night settled over the campsite like a blanket, the air cool and crisp with the scent of pine and earth. The fire had burned down to embers, casting soft orange light over the group of students, their sleeping bags and tents scattered in a loose circle around the dying flames. The forest around them was silent, the only sounds the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze and the soft murmur of distant animals.

Phelan lay on his back, staring up at the stars above the treetops, his mind still racing from the events earlier in the day. The encounter with the massive wolf kept replaying in his mind. He couldn't shake the way its eyes had locked onto him, almost... as if it had recognized him.

But that didn't make sense. Wolves didn't think like that, right?

Beside him, Tala was asleep, her breathing even and steady, though her features were tight with some dream or thought Phelan couldn't understand. The fire crackled softly, sending a brief burst of warmth across his skin. Everything felt oddly peaceful.

Too peaceful.

It was then that Phelan heard it.

A distant snap of branches breaking- sharp and sudden. The kind of sound a person might make if they weren't trying to be quiet. It was far off, but it was enough to make the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. His eyes shot open, heart pounding, every sense suddenly alert. He listened intently, trying to determine if it was just the wind or something else.

Another crack, followed by the soft padding of steps in the underbrush. It wasn't an animal. Not a deer. Not a bear. This was something heavier, more deliberate.

Phelan shifted quietly, careful not to disturb Tala. His breath caught in his throat when he saw how still the rest of the camp was- no movement, no signs of life. Everyone else was asleep, completely unaware of the strange noises creeping through the woods.

He slowly pushed himself up, trying to ignore the slight panic in his chest.

He was being ridiculous, right? Probably just an animal. Maybe a deer moving through the brush. But there was something off about it. Something that didn't feel right.

He reached for his jacket, pulling it over his shoulders before slipping out of his sleeping bag, careful not to wake Tala. The night air felt colder as he stood, the quiet of the forest pressing in around him like a weight. He tiptoed toward the edge of the camp, trying to move silently, but his heart was pounding in his ears.

The sound came again, closer this time.

A thud followed by the unmistakable sound of something moving through the underbrush. Whatever it was, it was large. Too large for a deer. Too deliberate for anything natural.

His pulse quickened as he crouched down behind a tree, peering out into the darkness. The moonlight filtered through the branches, casting faint silver beams on the ground.

Then-silence.

It was almost too quiet. The kind of quiet that makes skin crawl, like the world is holding its breath.

Phelan strained his ears, trying to pick up any sign of movement, but the forest seemed to have gone still.

The weight in the air thickened, and for a moment, he couldn't tell if he was hearing his own heartbeat or something else-something closer. He felt eyes on him.

And then-footsteps.

Louder this time, too distinct to be the wind or some animal moving in the distance. There was no mistaking it. Someone- or something- was walking around the campsite. A low growl rippled through the air, barely audible but enough to send a chill down his spine. It sounded... almost like the wolf.

His body tensed, frozen in place, not knowing whether to run or stay hidden. He felt the weight of the forest pressing in on him, the night alive with a tension he couldn't explain.

And then he heard it- a voice.

"Phelan?"

The voice was soft, but it came from behind him, and it nearly made him jump out of his skin.

Tala.

He whipped around, finding her standing a few feet away, her eyes wide, her face pale under the moonlight.

"What are you doing?" she whispered urgently, her eyes darting to the darkened forest. "You're not supposed to be out here alone."

Phelan opened his mouth to respond, but before he could speak, the sound of twigs snapping-louder this time- came from just beyond the camp's edge. The growl was unmistakable now, the deep, resonant rumble of something huge, something predatory.

Tala's expression darkened, her eyes flicking to the shadows. Her voice dropped lower, tense with warning. "We need to get back to the others. Now."

The growl grew louder, closer, and the hairs on the back of Phelan's neck stood up, a strange feeling stirring deep within him.

It wasn't just the sound. It was the air. Something had shifted. The night around him felt different- crisper, sharper.

He blinked, and suddenly, the world was clearer than it had ever been. The darkness that had once seemed impenetrable now felt like daylight. Every detail, every shadow was defined in sharp contrast- leaves rustling in the trees, the rough bark of a distant oak, the faintest movement in the underbrush.

His heart raced, but his mind felt clearer, more focused. There was something in the air, something close by.

It wasn't just the growl anymore.

He could see the shape in the distance, moving through the trees with purpose. A hulking figure. A silhouette, lit by the faint light of the moon, moving with an unnatural grace. Its form was different from any animal he'd seen- bigger, more muscular, more alive in a way that didn't make sense.

It was a werewolf.

Phelan's breath caught in his throat as his eyes locked onto the creature. The details clicked into place with terrifying clarity: its broad shoulders, its fur slick and dark, its eyes gleaming with an eerie, animal intelligence.

He knew, instinctively, that it wasn't just a wolf. It was something more. It was dangerous.

"Phelan?" Tala whispered again, her voice edged with worry.

But Phelan barely heard her. His gaze was fixed on the creature moving through the trees, its pace steady, deliberate. He could feel its presence like a weight in the air, like a predator that had marked its territory.

Without thinking, his feet began moving, his body already in motion before his mind could catch up. His senses, now heightened, were pulling him forward, drawing him toward the creature. The air seemed to hum with energy, his blood pounding in his ears.

Tala caught up with him in a few quick steps, her hand gripping his arm tightly.
"What are you doing?" Her voice trembled with panic. "It's too dangerous-"

But Phelan was already shaking his head, his voice low and urgent. "I have to follow it."

Tala's eyes widened in disbelief.

"What? No, Phelan, you can't!" Her grip tightened. "You don't know what that thing is-what it's capable of!"

But Phelan was already moving, faster than he ever thought possible. The sounds around him-Tala's voice, the crackling of the fire, the rustling of leaves- were all muffled, distant. He only heard the heavy footsteps of the werewolf, the sharp inhale of breath as the creature drew nearer.

His legs carried him faster, faster than he could comprehend, and despite Tala's desperate pleas, he pushed ahead. He had to see it. He had to understand it.

Behind him, Tala's voice was calling out for him to stop, but he was too far gone.

Then came a sudden flash of movement from the trees- Timber- and Phelan froze in place. Timber, faster than he could've imagined, appeared at his side, grabbing his arm with an iron grip.

"Phelan, stop!" Timber's voice was sharp, a warning in his tone. "You can't-"

But Phelan was too far gone, his senses burning with the need to chase. He tore his arm free, his eyes wild with something he couldn't name.

"I can feel it!" Phelan hissed, his voice shaking with adrenaline,"It's close. I have to-"

Without another word, Phelan took off into the woods, his body moving with an instinct he didn't fully understand. The trees blurred past him, the sounds of the world fading away as his focus narrowed onto the creature ahead. His senses were on overdrive- he could hear the rustle of the creature's movements, could see its outline through the trees, its dark fur almost glowing in the moonlight.

Tala and Timber followed him, their speed matching his own, but their calls to stop grew fainter.

Phelan's blood was pumping now, his pulse loud in his ears, and there was nothing in his mind but the pursuit. The forest no longer felt like a threat- it felt like his playground, his domain. He moved through it effortlessly, as if his body was finally in tune with something deeper inside him.

He felt like a predator. A hunter.