Chapter 1 Whispers in the Woods

I stood in the middle of my grandmother's antique shop, dusting off the glass case filled with relics from an ancient time. The room smelled vaguely of cedar and lavender, the scent my grandmother had used for years to hide the fusty aroma that was stuck to the old trinkets.

I glanced at the clock above the counter- 5:50 p.m., and the sun had already started to descend behind the trees with a slow descent. Even though there were no clouds in the sky, the air felt heavier today, like it was starting a storm.

I exhaled, dropping the cloth back on the counter. It had been one of those quiet days in Ashwood, where nothing happened, and nothing ever seemed to change. I was very comfortable with that. I liked my peace and quiet.

After losing my parents when I was younger, I found comfort in being alone. My grandmother, Maria, raised me but lately her presence seemed distant, as if there's an unspoken rift between us.

I shook my head as the bell above the door jingled. I looked up, expecting the usual local passersby, but instead, I saw a stranger entering the shop. The man was tall and broad-shouldered, and his dark hair caught the evening light. His sharp, almost unsettling gray eyes swept the room before landing on me. There was something about him, like an aura of authority lingered around him, which made me straighten my back immediately.

"Hello, can I help you?" I asked with a firm but curious voice.

He smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I was just passing by. I thought I'd take a look around."

I nodded, watching him closely as he walked around the shop.

He proceeded with purpose, inspecting objects without touching them, as if he had already figured out what he was seeking. Though I couldn't say why, his presence made me anxious. Although he seemed harmless, there was something about him- an energy that I couldn't quite identify.

"You're new in town?" I asked after some minutes.

He looked at me, wondering why I asked. " Yeah... yes I am. I just arrived today."

"Where from?"

He paused for a moment before answering, as if he was selecting his words oddly. "Just a few towns over. I've heard a lot about Ashwood. Thought I'd see what all the fuss was about."

I made a face. "Fuss? There's basically nothing here at all unless of course you're interested in werewolf stories and ghost tales as well."

He laughed, and it was deep enough that I felt a shudder run down my body. "Perhaps that is what I am exactly interested in."

My internal monologue was interrupted by his response. Most of the people going to Ashwood had at least some idle curiosity in its history, but none of them ever sounded as... informed as he did.

I folded my arms and settled on the counter. "Do you really buy into those fables?"

He shrugged. "Legends usually have some truth to them, right?"

Just as I was about to respond, the bell above the door jingled once more. This time my throat dried up. Another man walked in, nearly displacing the air in the way. This man was different- tall but a little more slender than the first man, and a mass of dark hair that brushed just above his eyes. His eyes met mine, and for a second, it felt like the world tilted off-hand.

He was good looking, very much so, but there was more to it. His eyes-dark and powerful-carried an extra edge. Something risky.

"Pardon me," he said, smooth and rich. "Am I interrupting?"

I took a deep breath, pulling myself together. "No, not at all. Just... looking around?"

He gave a slight smile, but there was something guarded in his expression. "You could say it that way."

The two men shared a glance that left me perplexed. The air between them crackled with tension, as though they were having wordless dialogue that I couldn't understand. I wasn't sure if they were friends or rivals, but the unsureness made me uneasy.

"Alright..." I said, trying to ease the atmosphere, "are you both here for the werewolf legends, or does one of you have a more particular agenda?"

The first man, with the unsettling gray eyes, stared at me with a blank look. "Let's just say we have a common interest."

My heart raced. This whole situation just felt wrong. I could feel it deep inside of me. Something was going on in Ashwood, something much bigger than my grandmother's antique shop or the legends people talk about.

Before I could ask further questions, the second man moved forward.

"I'm Asher fell," he introduced himself, extending his hand. His handshake was strong and warm. "And you must be Bonnie."

My eyebrows raised in shock. "How do you know my name?"

His smile dimmed a bit, but he kept going. "It's a small town. Word gets around."

"Okay," I said slowly, feeling more doubtful. He seemed familiar, but I just couldn't figure out why. The way he said my name made it seem like he had known me for years.

Asher looked around the shop and noticed a small, ornate box in the corner. "That's a unique item," he said, pointing at it. "Where did you find it?"

I directed my attention to where he was looking. The box in question was among my grandmother's most cherished possessions, a family heirloom that had been handed down through generations. I hesitated, uncertain about the reason for his inquiry.

"It's been in my family. Why do you ask?"

He remained silent, yet the seriousness of his expression deepened. The ambiance in the room grew increasingly oppressive, as though an unseen weight was bearing down upon them. The first man who still hadn't introduced himself, observed Asher with an expectant look, as if anticipating a moment to unfold.

Asher leaned in, his gaze intense as he spoke softly, "Bonnie there's something important you need to know."

My heart raced. "What do you mean?"

He moved a fraction closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "You're not just an ordinary person, Bonnie. You hold significance-more than you realize. There are people who are searching for you."

A chill swept through me . "What do you mean, 'people searching for me'? Why? Why would they do that?"

He paused, looking at the other man before he pressed on. "It's because you're more than just human."

My heart sank at his words. I looked at him, confused. "I don't understand. What do you mean?"

The man with the unsettling gray eyes finally chimed in. "You know the stories, right? About werewolves?"

"Absolutely," I replied, my voice trembling. "But they are merely tales."

"Not entirely," Asher replied gently.

I took a step back, shaking my head. "This is crazy. You both are crazy."

"We aren't," Asher replied, his tone steady yet resolute.

"And soon, you'll discover just how true those tales really are."

Before I could reply, a deafening crash resonated from outside the shop. I flinched, my heart racing wildly. The two men instantly stiffened, their faces clouded with concern.

"What was that?" I murmured.

Asher's face sharpened. "Stay inside."

He moved toward the door, but just as he got close, the front window exploded. Glass shards flew everywhere, and I let out a terrified scream as a huge figure crashed through the opening, landing in a crouched position on the shop floor. The creature was massive, with dark, mottled gray fur and glowing, menacing eyes.

A werewolf.

My mind struggled to understand the chaos happening around me. The beast snarled, showing its sharp teeth, and charged at me. Just as it was about to strike, Asher darted in with incredible speed, slamming into the creature and sending it crashing across the room.

"Bonnie!" he shouted. "Run!"

Frozen in fear, I stood still, my eyes wide with terror as I watched the two men undergo a shocking change right in front of me. Asher's body shimmered, his bones shifting and rearranging, while fur erupted from his skin, transforming him into a massive black wolf. The other man changed too, his look just as terrifying, but his unsettling gray eyes stayed the same.

I gasped for air, my heart racing. This couldn't be real. None of it made sense. Yet the sight of the two wolves clashing in my grandmother's shop was undeniable.

I needed to escape. I had to flee.

But, just as I was about to take a step, the black wolf-Asher-met my gaze, and in that brief hour, I understood. This wasn't the end. It was just the beginning.

And whatever danger Asher was shielding me from, it was only the beginning of something far more threatening.

The earth quaked beneath me, and a haunting howl resonated in the distance, a grim reminder that the threat was far from finished.