Moon's Shadow

The morning mist clung to the forest floor like secrets waiting to be discovered. Kai Blackwood stepped carefully through the underbrush, his ranger uniform crisp despite the early hour.

His boots made no sound on the damp earth-a skill that came naturally to him, though the hikers he guided would never understand why.

He paused at the edge of Silverbrook's main trail, scanning the area with eyes that caught details others would miss. A broken branch here, disturbed leaves there. Normal signs of wildlife, nothing more.

But Kai's enhanced senses told him a different story. The scent of last night's deer crossing lingered in the air, mixed with the earthier smell of raccoons and the faint trace of something else-something that made his jaw tighten.

Coyotes. Getting bolder.

Kai pulled out his radio and reported the signs to the ranger station. His voice remained steady and professional, though his pulse quickened.

The townspeople of Silverbrook didn't need to know that coyotes were the least of their worries. They didn't need to know that real predators moved through these mountains, predators that walked on two legs by day and four by night.

The radio crackled. "Copy that, Blackwood. Make sure the trail markers are clear for the weekend hikers."

"Will do, Sam." Kai clipped the radio back to his belt and continued his patrol.

The sun climbed higher, burning away the mist and revealing the true beauty of the wilderness he protected. Towering pines stretched toward the sky, their branches creating a cathedral of green and gold.

Somewhere in the distance, a hawk cried out. The sound made something deep in Kai's chest respond-a low rumble he quickly suppressed.

He reached the ridge overlooking Silverbrook and stopped. The small mountain town spread below him like a miniature village, smoke rising from a few early-rising households.

From this height, the people looked fragile, unaware of the dangers that surrounded them. It was his job to keep them safe, both as a ranger and as something else entirely.

Kai's phone buzzed. A text from his sister Sera: Pack meeting tonight. Don't be late.

He stared at the message, feeling the familiar weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders. Two worlds, two sets of duties, two versions of himself.

During the day, he was Kai Blackwood, trusted park ranger, protector of tourists and wildlife alike. At night, he was something else-heir to a legacy he wasn't sure he wanted, bound by ancient laws he sometimes questioned.

A family of hikers appeared on the trail below, their voices carrying up to him. A father pointed out different trees to his young son while the mother took pictures.

They looked happy, carefree. Kai envied them their simplicity.

He began his descent, knowing he would soon play his part. The helpful ranger who knew every trail, every safe camping spot, every danger to avoid.

They would never suspect that the greatest danger stood right in front of them, smiling and offering advice about bear safety.

As he walked, Kai felt the familiar tension building in his muscles. The full moon was still days away, but his body already knew. Already prepared.

Soon, he would shed his human skin and run through these same forests on four legs, seeing the world through different eyes, feeling the ancient call of the hunt.

But for now, he was just a ranger doing his job. Just a man walking through the woods, keeping the peace between two worlds that should never meet.

The hikers spotted him and waved. Kai raised his hand in response, his practiced smile sliding into place.

Another day of pretending began.

As he approached the family, something stirred in the back of his mind-a restlessness he couldn't name. Change was coming to Silverbrook. He could feel it in the air, smell it on the wind.

His life of careful balance was about to be challenged in ways he couldn't yet imagine.

But for now, there were trails to check and people to protect. The rest would have to wait until the sun went down, and his true nature could emerge.