Chapter 2 Second Chance

A large black wolf thundered down the narrow streets, its paws pounding the pavement as startled people scattered in fear. Someone hurled a stone. It struck the wolf's side, drawing a deep, guttural growl. But it didn't stop. It pressed on fast, until the concrete gave way to grass and trees.

The forest embraced it in darkness and silence. The wolf kept running, deeper and deeper. For another half hour, it pushed forward before finally collapsing beneath an old oak, chest heaving, limbs trembling.

Night was falling. The moon slowly rose above the treetops, casting silver light across the forest floor.

The wolf lifted its gaze to the sky. Tears glistened in its eyes, spilling slowly onto the earth. 'We shouldn't have got close to her', it thought. 'I never touched her,' a voice inside it replied. 'I never even wanted to. I only ever longed for our mate.'

But no one believed Ashton. He couldn't give the police what they wanted-he couldn't risk revealing what he was.

A heavy silence settled in the trees, broken only by the wind brushing against the leaves.

'We don't know who did that to her. But it was a werewolf. And now she's gone. And...I can't even prove my innocence.'

The wolf lowered its head.

'Lupus, How am I supposed to return now? How can we walk among humans again? They'd cage us. Turn us into something to be studied.'

A bitter exhale.

'So what now Ashton? Are we to wander these woods alone? A rogue.'

'I don't know.'

Lupus' eyes lifted once more to the moon, shining high above.

'Tomorrow's our mate's 18th birthday. The day he would have finally felt the bond between us. Will we ever get to see him again?'

Lupus stared at the moon, eyes full of regret.

'He must hate us now. After everything.'

The wind stirred again, and Lupus closed his eyes, breath catching.

'Moon Goddess... if we had a second chance, I'd never let things fall apart like this. Even if he rejected us... even if he never loved us back... I'd never let this happen.'

Lupus' eyes filled with tears again. He curled in on himself beneath the oak, swallowed by shadows and sorrow.

**

"James! James! Get up! It's already seven!"

James groaned softly as his eyes fluttered open. His grandmother stood at the edge of his bed, her voice laced with urgency.

She paused, frowning as she got a better look at him. "Oh my-your eyes! They're so puffy! Didn't you sleep at all last night?"

"I don't even remember when I fell asleep," James mumbled, his voice hoarse.

His grandmother brushed a hand through his hair. "James, are you really going to ask her out today? You sure you like her that much?"

James blinked at her, confused. "Grandma... are you feeling okay?"

She tilted her head at him. "Of course I'm okay," Her fingers paused in his hair. "I just wonder... don't you think you should wait a little longer? Maybe ask her out after you turn 18? Things might feel clearer by then."

His heart skipped a beat. This is the same thing his grandma told him the day he was going to ask Melanie out.

"Grandma..." His voice dropped, panicked. "She's dead."

"What?" The old woman squinted at him, clearly concerned. "Don't tell me you already confessed over the phone last night and she turned you down?"

James sat up abruptly, his breath hitching in his throat. For a fleeting moment, he thought his grandmother had wokem him up because today was his birthday. But that warmth twisted into confusion, then dread.

"Oh, it's alright, Jamie. You deserve someone better," his grandmother said with a grin tugging at her lips. She quickly turned away to hide it. "Anyway, come on now. I made breakfast. Get up and eat before it gets cold," she said, already heading out of the room.

He stared at the doorway for a long moment, baffled. What's happening?

Then he heard it. A soft meow.

His eyes widened. He bolted out of bed and rushed into the hallway. There, curled up in the corner was Meow.

"Oh my God... you're back!" he gasped, scooping the cat into his arms. "Grandma! Did you see? Meow's back!"

From the kitchen, his grandmother called out, "Back? What are you talking about? You fed him yourself last night, didn't you?"

James's voice trembled. "No... he went missing. I thought he died."

She let out a loud laugh. "What on earth, James? Did you have some crazy dream last night?"

James didn't respond. His heart was thundering in his chest. Something was wrong.

His gaze swept the room, suddenly landing on the clock on the wall. It was ticking steadily, its hands pointing to 7:05. But that clock had been dead for two days. The batteries were out.

What the hell...?

His arms loosened around the cat. Meow leapt down and padded away as James bolted back to his bedroom.

He skidded to a stop just inside the door.

His room was spotless. His books were neatly stacked on the desk-books he clearly remembered knocking over in frustration.

Then his eyes found the small calendar beside his lamp.

October 3.

His breath hitched.

Yesterday, it had been November 27th.

Did I go back in time?

Or... was it all just a dream?

No way!

Does this mean Melanie is alive?

Wait! October 3! It's the day I planned to confess to her...

And Ashton Everett beat me to it.