Chapter 1 The Wolf in the Night

MEREDITH

The night air smelled like rain, the kind that was soft, cool and comforting. The kind that cooled your skin and made breathing feel easy. I breathed it in slowly, It made me want to be in bed, warm and curled up, away from people, away from noise, wrapped in quiet where nothing and no one could reach me.

I ran anyway.

Running helped when my thoughts wouldn't slow down.

Tonight, they wouldn't.

My skin felt tight, like I'd been holding something in all day and it was tired of staying quiet. My wolf didn't like days like this. Sitting through meetings, being quiet, and acting normal.

Just one run, I told myself, and then I'd go home, take a warm shower, slip into something soft and loose, curl up in bed with the covers pulled close, hug a pillow to my chest, and let sleep find me slowly, quietly, like it always did when I was finally alone.

I turned the corner. The tall office buildings rose in front of me. Aurora Luxe glowing in the distance.

I slowed down. I remembered the file I left in my office.

Annoying.

I turned the corner and stopped because something felt wrong, a change in the wind made me pause, I heard fast breathing and then a scream, and my heart dropped as for a second everything went quiet like the normal city noise had disappeared, something was wrong, my wolf was already pushing hard inside me, very restless and without thinking I was already running toward the alley

A man had a woman against the wall. She was shaking, trying to push him away..

"Please," she cried. "Please-"

Before I knew it, I felt my bones crack, my sight going fuzzy, and pain rip through me as I hit the ground and felt my body change until I was on four legs

The man turned just as my gold eyes met his eyes.

"What the-?!"

I jumped at him and he fell back dropping the knife and tried to grab it again while the woman crawled away crying

The sound came from my throat before I even thought-wild and angry

The man screamed and swung the knife.

"Stay back!"

The knife cut into my side and wow it hurt so bad like fire shooting straight through me, I felt my knees go weak and almost faint.

He tried to fight back again but the anger hit me so fast, like I couldn't let him touch her again and I lunged and hit him and he went down hard. I didn't even think I just kept going until he wasn't getting back up.

I stepped back, breathing hard. Blood ran down my side. The pain was sharp and hot.

The woman stared at me, shaking so hard her teeth clicked, staring from the man to me, wide-eyed.

"I- I d-don't know what you are," she whispered. "Please don't hurt me."

I stepped back, slow and careful, hoping not to frighten her more.

"You... you saved me?" she asked

I couldn't say anything. I turned and ran, my side on fire as I moved. couldn't go into my office like this. There were cameras and people everywhere. It was too risky, so I slipped into the empty building next door under construction.

Once inside, I shifted back to human.

The pain from shifting always made me cry out.

I grabbed the small bag I hid there. Clothes. Supplies. I changed fast, pressing my hand to my wound.

"Damn it," I muttered.

I saw myself in the dusty glass.

Human. Mostly.

My hair was messy and my eyes still glowed a little.

When I stepped back outside, I wore my calm face.

Then I saw her, the woman was still there, sitting on the ground.

She looked up at me,she was looking confused and trying to figure something out.

"You just came out of that building," she said slowly.

I swallowed, holding my breath and tried to stay calm.

"That's the same building that big animal ran into," she said, looking very confused..

I gave her the polite smile I use in meetings when someone says nonsense.

"What animal? I was working late," I said softly. "I left something inside."

She nodded, but she didn't look sure.

Then police sirens filled the street, and I knew I needed to leave immediately.

"Help is coming," I told her. "You're safe now.

"Wait-" she started.

But I was already leaving, walking steady even though my side hurt like hell.

When I reached the corner and turned away from the scene, I let out a shaky breath.

I shouldn't have let her see me

I pressed my hand to my side.

"I didn't have a choice."

I used the side entrance, took the file, and left before anyone saw how pale I was.

Just as I reached the lobby of my building, my phone buzzed.

A text.

Unknown Number:

You shouldn't be out at night alone, Meredith.

My heart skipped.

I knew who it was.

Lucas.

I didn't reply.

As the elevator rose, city lights filled the glass.for the first time in a while, I felt like someone was watching me.